Codes of Honor

[Mog Elffoe]

My group's starting a new campaign shortly and a few of us are going for strictly lawful characters (1 paladin, 1 fighter, & 1 monk). I've been reading the Druss books by David Gemmell recently and I liked the 'Iron Code' quite a bit, but it's not quite what we need for the paladin or the monk.

Anyone have any sample codes of honor that they'd like to post? I'm especially interested in one suitable for a lawful good monk (my character).

Thanks!

 

[Stormborn]

Here are two from a Midnight-esque campaign setting I am about to start in which an evil mindflayer has subjugated all but a few city states. In it Monks and Paladins are two sides of the same coin. The Paladin is the old way of fighting and the Monk is the new.

The Law of the Monk:
You shall bind yourself to this law, so that others might be free.
You shall protect the weak and the innocent, and never do them harm.
You shall fight the Aberration and its minions, wherever and however you may.
You shall seek the greatest good for the most people, even if it means sacrificing all you have and all you love.


and

The Law of the Paladin (there are many laws, with commentary, but these are the Three Laws at the heart of the code):
1.You are bound by your word, and you shall speak honestly with all good folk and be true in thought and in deed.
2. You are bound by your sword, and you shall neither sheath it nor cast it aside while your enemy stands before you, but stand and fight and never yield.
3. You are bound by your heart, and knowing good from evil you shall ever be the champion of the right and the enemy of the wrong.


There are several products (including Dragon) that have various codes of honor. Generally such codes should deal with three things: Allegiance,Attitude, and Action.

 

[dren]

Here's what I do, have them pick out their own. Paladins must choose 4, and then another every 5 levels. Clerics & monks 2 vows; anyone else may pick a free feat if they choose a vow.

Obedience: obey all leaders & those of higher level in their specific command
Loyalty: renounce all ties to family, guild & government. Live for their order.
Bravery: Never show fear. May retreat but not while defending.
Courtesy: show respect to those of higher level & station.
Challenge: You are open to a challenge in whatever form, at any time.
Humility: remain humble in spirit, rejecting adulation and reward.
Celibacy: remain chaste.
Neutrality: apolitical, do not get involved in politics
Minor Faith: Accept no aid from non-allied churches.
Major Faith: Accept no aid from another's alignment. (Counts as 2)
Truth: do not lie or misrepresent the truth.
Freedom: allow no intelligent being to remain in slavery
Minor Poverty: surrender 25% of all wealth attained.
Major Poverty: surrender 75% of all wealth attained. (Counts as 2)

 

[Dogbrain]

Obedience, for it kills the illusionary ties to self that enslave you to samsara.
Poverty, for it kills the illusionary ties to things that enslave you to samsara.
Mercy, for it kills the illusionary ties to righteousness that enslave you to samsara.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

I'm partial to Omerta myself...

 

[Dark Jezter]

This oath comes from the movie Dragonheart, I just replaced the word "knight" with "paladin"...

"A paladin is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak. His word speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked."

It works good enough as a paladin code that I decided to steal it.

 

[Mog Elffoe]

Thanks, guys!

This is much appeciated!

 

[Al]

Here's what I do, have them pick out their own. Paladins must choose 4, and then another every 5 levels. Clerics & monks 2 vows; anyone else may pick a free feat if they choose a vow.

Obedience: obey all leaders & those of higher level in their specific command
Loyalty: renounce all ties to family, guild & government. Live for their order.
Bravery: Never show fear. May retreat but not while defending.
Courtesy: show respect to those of higher level & station.
Challenge: You are open to a challenge in whatever form, at any time.
Humility: remain humble in spirit, rejecting adulation and reward.
Celibacy: remain chaste.
Neutrality: apolitical, do not get involved in politics
Minor Faith: Accept no aid from non-allied churches.
Major Faith: Accept no aid from another's alignment. (Counts as 2)
Truth: do not lie or misrepresent the truth.
Freedom: allow no intelligent being to remain in slavery
Minor Poverty: surrender 25% of all wealth attained.
Major Poverty: surrender 75% of all wealth attained. (Counts as 2)

Whilst I like a lot of these (though am dubious as to whether some e.g. Courtesy count for free feats for non-religious characters- I expect lawful good chars to be courteous as a matter of routine!), I'm not sure about apolitical. How does a lawful good character effect meaningful and lasting non-violent reform without becoming involved in politics? For example, if I took Freedom, the best way to achieve that end would surely be to lobby for abolition rather than going around beating up slavers and slave-owners (most of whom won't even be evil). Perhaps you could refine it to 'cannot hold a position in secular authority', though even that seems strange: surely a country run by paladins and good clerics is desirable?

 

[VirgilCaine]

On topic, the Dragonheart code is pretty good.

An interesting thing is that you could play a Lawful Neutral character who acts any way you want--as long as you solidly base his actions in a personal code. So you can have a "Chaotic Neutral" character who..isn't CN.

(most of whom won't even be evil).

So slave-takers and slave-owners are not evil?

 

[Emiricol]

That's a touchy subject, and one that has several volatile viewpoints. Heh.