Does evil mean Evil? Is a paladin free to act against evil?

[Quasqueton]

A paladin meets a stranger in the wilderness. Detect evil reveals that the stranger is evil.

Does the paladin have the right and/or duty and/or option to attack and kill that stranger based solely on knowing his/her/its alignment? (Assume the paladin knows no complications or ramifications will come from the killing -- no children orphaned by a lost parent, no invasion held back by this loan stranger, no police to come arrest him.)

Does it matter if the stranger is a goblin, an ogre, a dragon, a druid, a soldier, an unarmed maiden, a demon?

Does evil (as detected by spell or ability) mean Evil? Or do you beleive there are degrees of evilness, passive evilness?

Quasqueton

 

[Piratecat]

 

[Arnwyn]

Beautiful Piratecat. But I'm going to bite anyways.

The correct answer is, of course:

"Do whatever you want in your campaign."

One cannot answer this except for his/her own campaign.

That was easy!

 

[tonym]

I go by the creature's teeth. If it has has molars in its mouth, don't kill it outright.

If it only has pointy teeth, kill it.


Tony

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Beautiful Piratecat. But I'm going to bite anyways.

The correct answer is, of course:

"Do whatever you want in your campaign."

One cannot answer this except for his/her own campaign.

That was easy!

Ditto.

I would use common sense. If common sense dictates that taking this evil thing down if I'm alone means i'm probably going to fail AND be eaten by creatures, I'm probably going to let it be until, and if the situation calls for action.

 

[hong]

It's really very simple. If it has a blue circle around its feet, you talk to it. If it has a red circle, you kill it.


Hong "subscribes to the Baldur's Gate theory of roleplaying" Ooi

 

[Quasqueton]

The correct answer is, of course:

"Do whatever you want in your campaign."

One cannot answer this except for his/her own campaign.

So the answer to "What would you do?" is "No, what would *you* do?"

I am asking this for *your* opinions on the subject. I know what *I* would do, so I don't need anyone suggesting I do it *my* way.

And are you suggesting that there is no (D&D) universal answer about Evil?

Quasqueton

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

It's very moral to kill evil things that look 'kinda funny'.

Oh and Nice Worms!

 

[the Jester]

imc, around a third of the npcs are good, a third neutral and a third evil.

Paladins do not go around wiping out a third of the population over philosophical differences.

 

[MerricB]

According to the Book of Exalted Deeds, (also known as the Paladin's Handbook), you must first see if the evil character wishes to repent. If he refuses, you may smite him down.

Cheers!