High saves + Necklace of explosive decapitation + fire = suicide bomber?

[Felix]

In effect it is all point of view.

If you play a morally relativistic game then this is absolutely true.

But at that point there's no meaning to Good or Evil, so being a paladin loses any meaning as well.

I use the Unearthed Arcana Paladins of Honor/Tyranny/Freedom/Slaughter variants.

Oh, sure: the other corner alignments should have their champions as well. They just arn't Paladins. They can serve the same function as paladins, and have similar mechanics, but Paladins they arn't.

And yet, for me, I think it adds value to have Paladins as LG and not have specific CG/LE/CE champions as well. It makes LG special. But that's a flavor issue and as subjective as it comes.

 

[werk]

Oh, sure: the other corner alignments should have their champions as well. They just arn't Paladins. They can serve the same function as paladins, and have similar mechanics, but Paladins they arn't.

And yet, for me, I think it adds value to have Paladins as LG and not have specific CG/LE/CE champions as well. It makes LG special. But that's a flavor issue and as subjective as it comes.

I also play with the paladins of other alignments, and the term paladin is not restricted to a lawful goody goody. PALADINS THEY ARE! Maybe not in your opinion, but that doesn't really matter, they use the exact same mechanics regardless of their alignment.

Paladin - A heroic champion; A strong supporter or defender of a cause.

Now, that said, I wouldn't suggest making a character that is a SUICIDE bomber...that's what commoners/lackeys/followers are for. Just make your extremist paladin, take leadership, and there you go.

 

[Vorput]

How did this become a paladin thread? honestly...

I think it would work as per RAW, but the prices of all those necklaces are going to add up... and... can you wear more than one necklace at a time? Even if you don't use them, does this violate the body slots rules?

Vorp

 

[domino]

Now, that said, I wouldn't suggest making a character that is a SUICIDE bomber...that's what commoners/lackeys/followers are for. Just make your extremist paladin, take leadership, and there you go.

As I said, the point is not to make him a suicide bomber, or a fanatic, or martyr. If this would definitely kill the character, I wouldn't do it.

I'm asking about it as an attack of last resort, brought before the evil king and his court, or surrounded by bad guys, that stuff.

NOT to go out and blow things up.

 

[frankthedm]

If you want to go out with a bang...

Here's a bright idea.

Helm of Brilliance
This normal-looking helm takes its true form and manifests its powers when the user dons it and speaks the command word. Made of brilliant silver and polished steel, a newly created helm is set with large magic gems: ten diamonds, twenty rubies, thirty fire opals, and forty opals. When struck by bright light, the helm scintillates and sends forth reflective rays in all directions from its crownlike, gem-tipped spikes. The jewels’ functions are as follows:

Diamond: Prismatic spray (save DC 20)
Ruby: Wall of fire
Fire opal: Fireball (10d6, Reflex DC 20 half)
Opal: Daylight
The helm may be used once per round, but each gem can perform its spell-like power just once. Until all its jewels are depleted, a helm of brilliance also has the following magical properties when activated.

It emanates a bluish light when undead are within 30 feet. This light causes 1d6 points of damage per round to all such creatures within that range.
The wearer may command any weapon he wields to become a flaming weapon. This is in addition to whatever abilities the weapon may already have (unless the weapon already is a flaming weapon). The command takes 1 round to take effect.
The helm provides resistance to fire 30. This protection does not stack with similar protection from other sources.
Once all its jewels have lost their magic, the helm loses its powers and the gems turn to worthless powder. Removing a jewel destroys it.

If a creature wearing the helm is damaged by magical fire (after the fire protection is taken into account) and fails an additional DC 15 Will save, the remaining gems on the helm overload and detonate. Remaining diamonds become prismatic sprays that each randomly target a creature within range (possibly the wearer), rubies become straight-line walls of fire extending outward in a random direction from the helm wearer, and fire opals become fireballs centered on the helm wearer. The opals and the helm itself are destroyed.

Strong varied; CL 13th; Craft Wondrous Item, detect undead, fireball, flame blade, light, prismatic spray, protection from energy, wall of fire; Price 125,000 gp;Weight 3 lb.

 

[werk]

As I said, the point is not to make him a suicide bomber, or a fanatic, or martyr. If this would definitely kill the character, I wouldn't do it.

I'm asking about it as an attack of last resort, brought before the evil king and his court, or surrounded by bad guys, that stuff.

NOT to go out and blow things up.

I guess, from your OP, I don't know exactly what you want to do... I thought you wanted to make a suicide bomber that had a chance to survive the bomb. As a character strategy, it seems rather...expensive.

 

[frankthedm]

I guess, from your OP, I don't know exactly what you want to do... I thought you wanted to make a suicide bomber that had a chance to survive the bomb.

Thatis the way it sounded to me too.

And for those who said it sounded un paladin like, let us not forget the character will have those 5 ranks in hide as a back up plan.

 

[Arkhandus]

Anything can be turned into a paladin thread.

D&D has defined alignments and morality, not subjective morality, so no, paladins can't be suicide bombers. That shows absolutely no respect for life and no honor. There are no qualifiers in the alignment descriptions that say "these aspects are all subjective to the character's own point of view"; ergo, you can't validly say that 'respect for life' in the Good alignment description really means 'respect for life that shares my own personal views and ideals'. Paladins are supposed to oppose torture, unfair punishment, and indiscriminate killing. They can Detect Evil at will, so they have no excuse for being indiscriminate, and they are supposed to respect the laws of the land. Punishments must fit the crime and such. So if the Player's Handbook paladin charges into a group of random, supposedly-evil (or confirmed evil) folks and blows himself up to take them out, he'd lose his paladinhood before finishing the act; no Divine Grace to help him survive the blast. It's not an honorable way to fight, anyway.

 

[domino]

I guess, from your OP, I don't know exactly what you want to do... I thought you wanted to make a suicide bomber that had a chance to survive the bomb. As a character strategy, it seems rather...expensive.

Yeah, I realize that now.

The idea was not to make a character who was a suicide bomber. It was just supposed to be an utter last resort tactic, when all else is failed, thing. Not a regular occurance.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Oops!

Accidental double post ... please delete.

-Samir