Another Paladin Thread: Throw Rocks!

[Thanatos]

I think the DM was implying that there was no infraction, in their eyes.

Doesn't seem that way to me:

Originally Posted by BLACKDIRGE
This is the first instance of questionable behavior by the paladin, and I consider it a pretty minor infraction, more LN than anything else.

So, how exactly do you get he was implying there was no infraction?

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Once again dipping into the RW, the chivalric code, inspiriation for the paladin's code, had a strong clause regarding mercy. It was one of the higher virtues and was, in some sense, the quintessential knightly quality.

HOWEVER, the requirement for mercy was usually interpreted to mean that mercy need be extended to Christians only. A pagan, a Muslim, atheist, lapsed Christian or other non-Christian could be dealt with as the mood struck- mercy to those persons was optional. It is quite unlikely that most knights would see anything wrong with slaying a known satanist, regardless of conditions.

Not only restricted Christians, but in practice mercy in martial conflict was only very inconsistently extended to those who were not of noble blood, i.e. someone who could recompense mercy with lucre or future political considerations.

 

[sckeener]

I wonder....if the father of the slain orc is a high level neutral npc in the orc camp and the paladin just shifted his opinion against the party.

or a child of the orc was of good alignment until the paladin killed his dad. The child now vows revenge.

 

[tonym]

I'll admit ... although the orc mook's summary execution did not sit well with me at the time, I'm not as sore about it now. Also, I realize that there are many ways to look at this matter ... and still fall within the guidelines of ethical behavior.

I'm taking the following steps:

01. I'm allowing the paladin to take responsibility for ALL interrogations; if necessary, I can translate ... or play good/bad cop.

02. I'm learning more divinatory magicks to compensate for fewer willing informants.
03. I'm encouraging the paladin's PC to learn speak with dead.

04. I'm starting a metagame discussion on PC expertise, so we can work out party duties without stepping on each other's toes.

Once again, I NEVER intended to compromise the paladin's code. Now that I have a better idea of what sets her off, then perhaps this unpleasantness can be avoided in the future.

-Samir

In my opinion, one of the best reasons to run a paladin is to get a healthy measure of respect from the other PCs. A paladin, after all, is a legitimate authority figure who commands respect even at 1st level.

Your list of steps is awesome and shows respect for the paladin's role in the party. I admire the logic and generosity of your list. I hope you have fun implementing it.

May your party prosper and kill many wicked monsters who deserve it!

Tony M

 

[DestroyYouAlot]

I wonder....if the father of the slain orc is a high level neutral npc in the orc camp and the paladin just shifted his opinion against the party.

or a child of the orc was of good alignment until the paladin killed his dad. The child now vows revenge.

Heh... Just stumbled on a comic that illustrates this pretty nicely:

http://goblinscomic.com/d/20050917.html

 

[Numion]

I wonder....if the father of the slain orc is a high level neutral npc in the orc camp and the paladin just shifted his opinion against the party.

The father of the slain orc would have had his alignment opinion shifted the instant the PCs attack the camp - which was their mission in the first place.

or a child of the orc was of good alignment until the paladin killed his dad. The child now vows revenge.

The child was most likely growing up to be eeevil.

Besides either the child or the dad would've been feeling ashamed instead of angry since their dad / son was a) a coward and b) a traitor.

 

[Slife]

Heh... Just stumbled on a comic that illustrates this pretty nicely:

http://goblinscomic.com/d/20050917.html

Been waiting for this to come up.

Canned response:
The author has explained that this isn't actually a paladin, but a CE guy who thinks he's a paladin.

 

[sckeener]

In my opinion, one of the best reasons to run a paladin is to get a healthy measure of respect from the other PCs. A paladin, after all, is a legitimate authority figure who commands respect even at 1st level.

<sigh> How come these sort of threads never (or rarely) start with the LG cleric?

The father of the slain orc would have had his alignment shifted the instant the PCs attack the camp - which was their mission in the first place.

I was thinking more similar to SG1 episode in season 3 called Point of View, an alternative universe episode, where Teal'c doesn't switch sides to fight for O'Neill because O'Neill sent a nuke through the stargate to his home world, killing Teal'c's son.

Heh... Just stumbled on a comic that illustrates this pretty nicely:
http://goblinscomic.com/d/20050917.html

Couldn't we instead send the kids to Orc Boarding Schools?
Surely that is a better way to handle it

 

[Marchen]

Orcs with wives and loving children are ridiculously lame. Orcs are brutish CE monsters. They rape, pillage, and burn. I don't imagine an orc warrior coming back to his camp and playing with the orclings...

The paladin does good by killing the orc.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Intolerance is ....

Orcs with wives and loving children are ridiculously lame. Orcs are brutish CE monsters. They rape, pillage, and burn. I don't imagine an orc warrior coming back to his camp and playing with the orclings...

The paladin does good by killing the orc.

Replace the word "orc" with the name of any good fantasy race, and read your statement again. Better yet, replace "orc" with the name of any FRCS ethnic group.

Sure, D&D is just a game ... but this line of thought can lead to a very dark place.

-Samir