GreatLemur
Explorer
Yeah, I'd rather see D&D lose alignment completely, too (or at least remove all of its mechanical effects). Paladins definitely seem like the biggest hassle to adapt, what with all the smiting and detecting. I'd love to hear just what StGabe's group did about that.
I've toyed with the idea of "Smite Heretic" and "Detect Heretic" Paladin powers, with "heretics" being defined as anyone whose actions (or even beliefs?) directly opposed the specific mandate of the Paladin's god, but obviously that could easily become a real hassle to adjudicate. A simpler alternative would be to just let them smite and detect the undead, and outsiders and divinely-powered characters (Clerics, etc.) not allied with their god. Or allied with deities opposing the Paladin's god? I guess this could be a hassle, too.
Of course, you could always just let the Paladin smite anything, and take away the detection all together. That would be simplest, and really might be best in a campaign that tries to maintain its moral gray areas.
I'm also curious about what can be done about DR/[alignment descriptor] situations. Honestly, I think I liked DR/[enhancement bonus] better. Or maybe just make everything DR/magic (with the occasional DR/adamantine for constructs and DR/silver for lycanthropes). Unfortunately, getting rid of DR/[alignment descriptor] impacts some other stuff, such as the Monk's Ki Strike ability.
Alignment is annoyingly interwoven with a wide array of different game mechanics.
I've toyed with the idea of "Smite Heretic" and "Detect Heretic" Paladin powers, with "heretics" being defined as anyone whose actions (or even beliefs?) directly opposed the specific mandate of the Paladin's god, but obviously that could easily become a real hassle to adjudicate. A simpler alternative would be to just let them smite and detect the undead, and outsiders and divinely-powered characters (Clerics, etc.) not allied with their god. Or allied with deities opposing the Paladin's god? I guess this could be a hassle, too.
Of course, you could always just let the Paladin smite anything, and take away the detection all together. That would be simplest, and really might be best in a campaign that tries to maintain its moral gray areas.
I'm also curious about what can be done about DR/[alignment descriptor] situations. Honestly, I think I liked DR/[enhancement bonus] better. Or maybe just make everything DR/magic (with the occasional DR/adamantine for constructs and DR/silver for lycanthropes). Unfortunately, getting rid of DR/[alignment descriptor] impacts some other stuff, such as the Monk's Ki Strike ability.
Alignment is annoyingly interwoven with a wide array of different game mechanics.
