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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Al" data-source="post: 1549826" data-attributes="member: 2486">The Gods forbid that Good should ever be merciful, compassionate or understanding!Even in our flawed contemporary world which is certainly not Good, we only reserve capital punishment for the most heinous of crimes, and some countries have banned in- where it is implemented, it is after a full trial process and multiple appeals.The paladin does not have a 'right to smite' evil people.  If he did simply waltz up to someone and smite them, I'd removed his powers altogether and bump him to LN.  Killing an evil person is still murder.  That it should be done self-righteously does not in any way mitigate the act.  Evil characters are not EVIL and craven baby-eating demon-worshippers.  The experiences of the twentieth century ought to have taught us lessons about the 'mundanity of evil'.Evil is not caring about the lives and aspirations of others.  Neutrals at least have some empathy, some guilt, some remorse when their goals conflict, and do not set out to harm others gratuitously.  Evils just don't care.  The child who lies about his brother to get himself out of trouble is committing an evil act.  The kid who kicks the dog for his own pleasure is committing an evil act.  The husband beating his wife is committing an evil act.  Evil can just as easily be an amalgam of minor evil acts as dedication to the big E.  Evil is just as much about reaction as action.  The dutiful executioner who is determined to help fight crime might be LG, the one who does it out of duty or a need to feed his family LN, and the guy who likes lopping off heads LE.  The same action might have three different alignments behind it.  It's because alignment is as much in the heart and in the act that 'right to smite' is invalid.  Paladins punish those who commit major evil acts, not the minor evil dog-kickers and those with slightly twisted moralities.</blockquote>

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