[Dragon] Dragon #307

[Agnostic Paladin]

I have no problems with Stannis as a paladin (at least, not from a morality / ethics viewpoint... I'm not seeing a whole lot of supernatural abilities going on there). Most of the knights would be Lawful fighters though. (Mostly LN, several LE; a few, like the Hound would be N)

I want to be perfectly clear before I get my copy though; are the articles spoilery for the third book (Storm of Swords), or for the fourth? (I've read the third, but won't read the fourth untill it's in paperback)

 

[Aitch Eye]

I want to be perfectly clear before I get my copy though; are the articles spoilery for the third book (Storm of Swords), or for the fourth? (I've read the third, but won't read the fourth untill it's in paperback)

It's supposed to represent the world as it is at the end of the third novel, and they say they tried their best to avoid spoilers even with that.

 

[Tiefling]

I think there is a place for the Paladin in Westeros. Though perhaps a less 'pure' version than one sees in most settings.

Barristan Selmy is a paladin if there ever was one.

 

[Spatula]

Re: Stannis Spoilers

I think, personally, that Stannis comes pretty close to being a Paladin. In spite of everything Melisandre does, he is pretty close to LG. LG/LN is a good alignment description for him.

Stannis pointed his shining sword at his brother. "I am not without mercy," thundered he who is notoriously without mercy. - A Clash of Kings, pg 479 (US mass-market paperback)

Stannis is an extreme case of LN. All that he cares about are rights, duties, laws. This one will never bend, Catelyn thinks of him. If he was a paladin, he would have broken his code as soon as he took on Melisandre as his foremost advisor (consorting with evil and all that) and burned his gods for her - not to mention his willingness to perform even fouler deeds at her command...




(Storm of Swords spoilers)




...like human sacrifice. Or in A Clash of Kings, whose shadow is it that Catelyn sees in Renly's tent? Even if he doesn't know how Melisandre is assassinating those that stand in his way, he knows she's doing it.




(End spoilers)




Stannis: LN, not a paladin, although he would probably like to think that he is. But I'll have to see this issue of Dragon myself to see if they explain the choice.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Even if haste does effect multiple targets, I think those changes would drop it to the bottom of the list of third level spells. The only ones that would be competing with it would be the revised Hold Person and things like Secret Page.

+1 AC and attack is a pretty insignificant benefit for a 3rd level spell. Prayer does as much. And it give +1 to saves, skill checks and damage and a -1 to the enemy's saves, skill checks, and damage (-1 to hit is similar to +1 AC). And prayer is not on the A-list of cleric spells as far as I'm concerned--more like the C-list.

+30 movement (yawn) doesn't make much difference in most situations--I certainly wouldn't use a 3rd level spell to solve movement problems. +1 attack/round (but only on a full attack)? That might make the spell worth casting if it effect more than one target. And if it's a static combat that's going to last a long time.

For the others, the polymorph change looks good. The harm change looks good.

The revised Hold person is pretty pathetic. For wizards, the only reason to take it is if you're an enchanter and have no other good choice (since you're not creative enough to make proper use of Suggestion). For clerics, Sound Burst would wipe the floor with a save every round Hold Person.

Unless haste can affect multiple targets, it sounds like it just went to the bottom of the heap for "most desirable spell." In fact, I can see this spell going from ALWAYS selected to NEVER selected, at least on some caster's lists.

I Like Harm revised, I don't like the Hold Person, even if it gives the person "something to do." I will have to see that one in play, but I'm personally biased. I liked my hold person, darn it!