Jacob Marley
Adventurer
This is the question which has never been answered - Who makes these decisions, and how, in the @Hussar model. As I read his posts, Hussar must have exclusive rights to dictate whether his character is adhering to his code. To me, that's like having the exclusive right to determine whether the character's attack succeeds, whether he is hit in return and who wins the combat. And, like the former, sooner or later there will be two competing determinations of what happens ("I shot you - fall down" "no, you missed")
The general rule at my table is:
Authority rests with the player; a player may cede authority to the DM.
I assume that a player who creates a Lawful Good Paladin of Heironeous does so because the player is interested in:
- Altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the dignity of sentient beings. (Good)
- Honor, trustworthiness, obedience to authority, and reliability. (Law)
- Respecting legitimate authority, acting with honor, helping those in need, and punishing those who harm or threaten innocents. (Paladin)
- Duty to the People, Duty to the Arch-Paladin, and Duty to a Lady. (Heironeous)