Follow up to Paladin Trial - Paladin Wars?

[Henry]

Um, who? If this Sepulchrave you speak of had a similar concept, they are quite clever. First I've heard of it though, as so far, I've only been visiting the General RPG Discussion section, and that by itself is more than I have time to read....

Oooo, I've never introduced you to Sep's Story Hour, have I? We spoke about it at one game early this year - the one with the Druid, Nwm, and the whole "no mercy" thing I told you about?

In one sentence: Is saving the soul of a Demon, worth sundering your church over?

Link to Compiled Story Hour

WARNING: Do not open this at work, as it is an enormous and well-written time sink.

 

[Nightchill]

I am (was) also one of the unelightened. Just started reading it (and about a third through). Sheer excellence

 

[Gothic_Demon]

This might sound like a bit of a cop-out, but won't the two sides know once they start losing their god-given powers?

I'd have to say that the lawful side would probably drop first (assuming the good side are still roughly following their oaths), becoming LN quite quickly. After that they are no longer paladins.

Whilst Paladins in conflict, and Paladins disagreeing are all well and good, Paladins fighting each other seems to be a thing that is too easily noticed. This kind of thing could only really occur if the Paladins had no powers to be taken away (more like knights), because the big sign of naughtiness would be missing.

However, this could work if you had different Paladin orders following different codes of conduct from their respective gods...

 

[Torm]

However, this could work if you had different Paladin orders following different codes of conduct from their respective gods...

Right. I'm not just talking about war between Paladins, but an actual argument between the Gods of Paladins.

It's a war that's tide I see the turn of being (possibly) when Divine Champions throw in with the Good, and when the Lawful Paladins realize the group that just bailed them out of a mess is a bunch of Blackguards - and some of them don't mind! But enough do that the Good side begins to gain a decisive advantage.

 

[Chroma]

Paladin against Paladin, both sides now determined that the other has been corrupted by some Evil force - and maybe they have

Now, what if it was more a force of Chaos not a force of Evil? The two are not synonymous, but are often conflated when it comes to these discussions. Has anyone ever had Chaotic Goods working against Lawful Goods as the source of conflict with no "Hand of Evil" pulling the strings?

I think one thing that is often over looked in debates about the LG behaviour of paladins is one of their special powers: Detect Evil. This, to me, indicates what a paladins true enemy is, and when it comes to a choice between upholding Good or Law, Good should win out based on that alone. Obviously this doesn't address the ethos of particular gods or religions, but just looks at the class on its own.

Of course, these debates can be great fun...

 

[Torm]

Has anyone ever had Chaotic Goods working against Lawful Goods as the source of conflict with no "Hand of Evil" pulling the strings?

Hmmm.... now I'm pondering the possibilities of a bunch of freewheeling teenage Chaotic Neutral adventurers who somehow became entirely too powerful too quickly, and are now messing with the Paladins just for fun.

 

[Chroma]

Hmmm.... now I'm pondering the possibilities of a bunch of freewheeling teenage Chaotic Neutral adventurers who somehow became entirely too powerful too quickly, and are now messing with the Paladins just for fun.

I think I might have a CG trickster god(dess) play a Celestial Prank of some sort...

 

[Torm]

I think I might have a CG trickster god(dess) play a Celestial Prank of some sort...

I said Chaotic Neutral because they would have to know the results this would have for the Paladins, and that certainly doesn't advance the cause of Good. Unless - there were some end result that they could see that would end up strenghtening what Paladins remained......?

Hmmmm.

 

[Chroma]

Unless - there were some end result that they could see that would end up strenghtening what Paladins remained......?

REMAINED?! Don't paladins fighting other paladins use nonlethal damage? *laugh*

If it was a *killing* conflict, no, I can't see how any Good diety could abide that. Of course, things have been known to get out of hand...

I've only had one instance of Lawful Good vs Lawful Good conflict in my campaign, and it did nearly come to blows, but, fortunately, diplomacy won out in the end.