Help: Paladin putting group in danger...

[jdavis]

This rule only applies if you have players that would try to exploit such fudging. I flat-out tell the players that I don't kill off any PC without a warning, and that if a PC dies then it will be after the player decided to go ahead with his chosen course. I also tell the players that I don't kill PCs for keeping in character. People who try to abuse that by playing PCs that are fearless and attack everything on sight will not be invited back.

If I approve of a PC that will, f.e., attack any undead on sight, then the player can count on me not to make an encounter that will require said PC to voluntarily flee from a lich or die with no other option. (In such an encounter I would probably, however, arrange for alternate means to escape, be that the party knocking out the PC and fleeing with the unconscious body, or a fear spell.)

It's rare that players don't exploit that, even if they don't mean too. Players act differently when they know they don't have to worry about dying, even if they don't realize it they game differently. Of course in D&D dying is really only the loss of a level in penalty, unless there is a TPK (I try not to step in unless I am worried about a TPK). I kill characters off all the time, it's part of the game, but I have never eliminated anybody's character from the game, in other RPGs I try to be more careful, not every game is so liberal with it's use of resurrections and such. I like for the characters to thing they are in over thier head and are fighting for their lives, if they know I won't kill them then it takes all the excitement out of it.

 

[William Ronald]

A paladin should be brave, but need not be foolhardy. I think the problem here is a player who seems to expect easy victories.

Perhaps it would be appropriate for a more experienced paladin to talk to the PC and show him that one man can defeat four others -- depending on the man and the situation. There is an opportunity for good roleplaying and character growth.

Lawful good should not mean lawful stupid. A paladin stupid enough to attack an army in my campaign would have to live with the consequences -- even if he wins. It would be perfectly honorable and perhaps best for the party to warn local citizens and the paladin's superiors about the army of undead mentioned in Sulimo's example. Personally, I think the superiors of the paladin should criticize him for vainglorious actions and placing glory above duty.

 

[Cpt. Anonymous]

Here is how i see the situation

foolish paladin believes that nothuing is all powerful except himself. he protects freind from doom monk (my favorite kind of monk) and then gets beat into bloody oblivion.

NOw the problem is can he get over it and not ever do it again. now speaking from experience as a low intellect paladin, even stupid people learn not to touch the burning pan. you as a paladin cxan learn from your mistakes, you now need to convince him that he isnt a stupid person.
The best way i have found to teach players lessons in humility is to land them in serious trouble wiht some one the respect their god a higher paladin the man who said he could go on adventures.

if he is part of some paladinic order then he probably needed approval to go questing with these hooligans. so just call him back to his home temple and let him have a heart to heart wiht a superior who tells him that idiocy gets you killed even when fighting thr good fight and revoke his "adventure license" for a few days mandatore full role played kp duty for a month gets the poiit across and it gives them time to think about it. or slowly simmer while cooking up a deliciously eveil plan to get back at the DM. (Check out the KP puns )
in any case if he doesnt shape up then ship him out. beign killed a few times does often make people think and even making a player sit out a few sessions until they can convince you to be a good player will work.

NOw if only someone convinced me to be good back when i was a little player.

 

[Lela]

Now if only someone convinced me to be good back when i was a little player.

I can't get you to be good now!