IcyCool said:
Unless I have all foes/enemies attack him on-sight, he's got a decent chance of talking them down, giving him all of their stuff, and starting new lives as farmers.
Easy, peasy. That 1 minute requirement for Diplomacy gives you all you need.
"Halt travelers! Dick Turpin demands his tithe!"
"Greetings Sir Turpin, I will gladly pay your tithe but wish to speak with you for a moment-"
"Thank ye kindly traveler but I've already found my religion."
"Oh, it's no religion I meant to give you though I can help you in that regard as well-"
"You can help by handing over your purse with less lip."
"I mean no offense-"
"Nor do I but you may receive it. Now the next man to speak 'thout handing over coin will be gifted by a dozen clothyard shafts."
"But I-"
*twa-twa-twaang*twang*swish*woosh* thud-thud-thud-th-th-thud!
"Ouch!"
or
"Raaarh! Gronk hungry!"
"Mighty Gronk, I bow before your awesome might. You truly are ruler of the forest...."
"Thank you little man! Gronk like you! Talk pretty while Gronk kill your friends and maybe Gronk let you go."
"Err, that wasn't quite where I was going..."
"Raaarh! Gronk hungry!"
Plus there's the rules on Sense Motive.
SRD said:
SENSE MOTIVE (WIS)
Check: A successful check lets you avoid being bluffed (see the Bluff skill). You can also use this skill to determine when “something is up” (that is, something odd is going on) or to assess someone’s trustworthiness.
Sense Motive could then show "hey, he's screwin' wit my head!" and make them hostile all over again.
That's fun? Maybe for the paladin. I know the player would enjoy it. But I run a game with four other players. Watching the Paladin smack everyone around with Diplomacy is probably not high on their fun list.
You can help that by using non-sentient creatures or those who don't speak his language. Go ahead, diplomacize the gray render, I dare you.