DM Advice: How strict should the paladin code be?

[LGodamus]

I have DMed for many moons but I never had anyone bother with the paladin class much, but now I have a player who is a paladin. My question is , how strict should the code be? I was thinking of using a point system to keep track of it, ala once you reach 10 points you lose your powers...with it being easier to gain a bad point than erase one. anyone got any advice on how strict I should be with these points though?

 

[Jeremy757]

I have DMed for many moons but I never had anyone bother with the paladin class much, but now I have a player who is a paladin. My question is , how strict should the code be? I was thinking of using a point system to keep track of it, ala once you reach 10 points you lose your powers...with it being easier to gain a bad point than erase one. anyone got any advice on how strict I should be with these points though?

Dont worry with a bunch of arbitrary point systems it will just slow your game down.

In my campaign I have player who runs a NG Paladin of Selune. Not being lawful hasn't been unbalancing at all and the character for the most part contributes equally to the game.

So to answer you question, I wouldn't worry about it if the character steps over the line every once in a while.

 

[LGodamus]

I have paladin type classes for all 9 alignments so if he didnt wanna stick to lawful good he could have taken one of them...but I see your point in the leniency

 

[BSF]

Chainmail Bikini Games has a nice PDF on Paladins called "Call of Duty". It has a very extensive commentary on the Paladin's Code. It might be worth looking at.

In some ways, the Code should be very strict. In other ways, there should be some leniency. Not a lot of leniency, but a little wiggle room that leaves the Code open to interpretation. Suppose a Paladin has Answered the Call and placed his Faith in a single God, something that is not required to be a Paladin. Suppose the Paladin is in a predominantly LG realm. Now, if the Paladin's Church has the same ideals as the Lord of the Realm, but differs in how to pursue those ideals, which Authority is more legitimate in the Paladin's view? Situations such as that should be left up to the judgement of the Paladin, so long as they remain consistent. If that situation ever came up, it would be an interesting RP experience for the player, and if you back off the code a little to allow them to make the decision w/o a penalty, you will probably see some interesting character development.

I don't think you should really pursue a point system. After all, intentionally committing an Evil act is an automatic out. If you do want to go with a point system, you should probably sit down with the player and provide examples of "bad conduct" beforehand. Otherwise, there may be differences of opinion that could be avoided.

 

[Crothian]

I sit down and work it out wit hthe player. It's their character and the code would be something the character was willing to except.

 

[Haradim]

Alongside going over it with the player, keep an eye on the rest of the party's alignments.

A party with a strong Chaotic and/or Neutral bent can make it very hard to be a Paladin, and you might aim to loosen the restrictions to keep the Paladin from weighing down the party - or to keep the party from swiftly driving the Paladin into ex-Paladinhood (accidental or otherwise - many gamers don't like Paladins much...).

 

[Nifelhein]

I am looking forward to use the "old code" from the Dragonheart movie... Denis Quaid made a good inspiration for a paladin, in my opinion...

 

[Jeremy757]

Well I think part of the point I want to make is that if your player doesn't feel like he wants to play a lawful good character that shouldn't disqualify him from the Paladin automatically. I think the paladin can work as is, not as a varient, at other alignments and still be balanced. You might have to change what kind of creature he smites and what he detects against but thats all really.

 

[Norfleet]

I don't see why people are so bent out of shape over the Lawful Good aspect of paladins: We accept that paladins are good, and that they have some sort of code: Following a code in such a manner is a strongly lawful tendency, so it follows that paladins are lawful good.

Lawful good isn't even really the restrictive part: The paladin's code is generally a smaller subset of lawful good behavior: Behavior that a lawful good non-paladin could engage in may be somewhat out of line for a paladin, but certainly nothing that a paladin does is out of line for a non-paladin. Therefore, paladin codes are a subset of lawful good anyway.

As for what, exactly, a paladin's code consists of, that really depends on the god that the paladin works for. I've read of examples of paladins that work for really strict and picky gods, just as I've read about paladins that work for gods that run it kind of fast and loose.

 

[dreaded_beast]

i believe that it all depends on what kind of game you and your players want to run.

whatever you, as a dm, feel comfortable with.

if you feel you are being to strict, then loosen up, or vice-versa.

question is, which is it, do you feel you are too strict, too lenient, or in that happy medium?