Hi Everyone,
Some thoughts on why when a Paladin thread starts, it then goes for over ten pages...
Dragonblade said:
IcyCool said:
In my opinion, it is because the Paladin class is, by it's very nature, not a team oriented class. And this is a team oriented game.
I completely disagree. Paladins are the epitomy of team-oriented,...
and now for the all important qualification
Dragonblade said:
...as long as the team is composed of like-minded team members.
Unfortunately that's a mighty big qualification. It epitomises the "It's my way or it's no way" philosophy that comes up here and there with paladins, knights and other dominant leaders in a group. Unfortunately, unless the PCs involved are buying into a single-dominant PC campaign, such roleplaying while true to a particular ideal will only cause resentment and frustration for the other PCs/players. In reality, Paladins can be played in many different ways. Some are quite team focused while others are me, me, me, me, I, me, me, you?... no me.
And another classic reason why when Paladin threads start, they then go on for so long:
tonym said:
Also, many DMs don't 'get' paladins. All the restrictions those DMs attach to the class are not in the PHB.
Nothing quite like telling people they don't "get" something to get people's backs up.
And on a previous thread in question...
tonym said:
I think paladins are instruments of their god's wrath and have been completely pre-approved to kill anything that is probably evil.
All I will say is that the game is more than just what's in the PHB. People do things differently; play the game in different ways. Does that mean that those DM's don't "get" paladins. Remember the important difference between opinion and fact. Just because people play things differently does not mean that they don't "get" an idea or that they are in a lower category because of it.
And finally, some great wisdom that could at the very least halve the number of paladin threads on this board:
Hypersmurf said:
I've always figured that a paladin's code is something the DM and player need to hammer out, at least roughly, before play begins.
Important to cover off right away:
1. Is the paladin obliged to attack anything that shows up as Evil on his radar?
2. What are the 'rules' regarding unconscious/sleeping/surrendered opponents, particularly when there is no way to safely confine them?
3. What are the 'rules' regarding noncombatants of traditionally evil races?
4. Is it okay for the paladin to 'turn a blind eye' to things like torture of prisoners for information if it's in a good cause?
5. Is it 'dishonourable' to use stealth or disguises, attack without warning, lie as a 'ruse of war', etc?
6. Can a minor evil be ignored in pursuit of a greater evil? (Is it okay to let the mugging in the dark alley continue, if intervening would mean letting the demon lord escape?)
Other things that might be worth addressing are attitudes to sex and alcohol, tolerance for other religions, tithing, and the like.
These can be fleshed out further if unexpected situations arise in game, but having at least those initial contentious points fleshed out in advance will help to avoid unpleasant surprises where expectations don't mesh.
I could see a very simple Paladin's code boiled down to 'What would Benton do?'
Thank you very much Hypersmurf.
Best Regards
Herremann the Wise