Is it better to do good or to stop evil?

[Mark Chance]

Re: IMO

Given what I know of the god and the way monks are traditionally depicted vengeance would not be a motivation.

Not according to nearly every Shao-lin monk kung fu action movie I've seen.

"You killed Master! Now, I kill you!"

 

[Savage Wombat]

Always seek to do the most good you can, especially when you have capabilities others lack.

The monk could seek to do good around here, but the good she could be doing could also be done by others. I don't think the locals are qualified to hunt down an evil opponent.

Now, if the evil isn't threatening anyone, it's different - but if somebody has to do it, she should step up to the plate.

 

[Arravis]

First of all, I appreciate all the responses, they're great .

Anyway... I view D&D monks (including Illmater monks) in a non-eastern campaign, to be in the style of Jeremy Iron's character in The Mission or Sean Connery's character in The Name of the Rose but with kick-butt martial arts ability to boot. Jesuit-Shao Lin monks .

I do know that followers of Illmater get 10 days out of the year (I think it's called The Reprieve or some such, don't have my books in front of me...) where they can do as they wish, doing things they would not normally be able to.

Perhaps the monk spends her normal time helping those in need while passively resisting those that wronged her (the food idea posted above is a good one ), but for those ten days she turns into vengence incarnate and goes after the wrong-doers actively and dramatically.

As to the specifics of the NPC, who took the arm, etc... I haven't decided yet. I'm still forging out all the details. If anyone has suggestions, they would be most appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

I suppose it depends. Is this evil an evil that could potentially hurt others? Therefore it would be doing good to rid the land of that threat. Or is these evil people only after this character?

 

[Arravis]

I haven't decided yet to be honest. I'm just dealing with abstracts right now...

I know the feeling I'm trying to achieve with the NPC, that of wise-stoicism. I picture the NPC choosing not to have her arm healed until the wrong that took it is righted; but having enough wisdom to realize that there are much more important things in this world than personal vengence. Anyway, what that wrong is, I'm still working out .

 

[Praeco]

Maybe you should try thinking of it this way...

If in the modern world, what would your character think of the death penalty?

Would she think the death penalty is a just punishment for criminals, and they should suffer like retribution for their crimes? -then choose to 'stop evil'.

Or would she think the death penalty is just as evil as the act of the evildoer (murder itself is an evil act) - then choose 'doing good'.


Just a rough analogy, I guess, but I hope it helps.

 

[pawned79]

I think the answer lies in the knowledge she has of who those people were, where they are, and what their intentions are. To endlessly track evil to destroy it, you may overlook a lot of suffering that is at hand; suffering you know you can stop. But if you know that the danger is extremely great, the suffering at hand might not outweigh the catastrophy to come. Depending on her wisdom and intelligence she might find it more logical to help those she knows she can help. Or she might be reckless and passionate about it.

Patrick

 

[clark411]

Giving it some extra thought, does it really matter if it is what a "good" person would do or what a monk would do? If your character is motivated by it, it's a good motivation pure and simple- even if it's more of a character flaw. If he fights with his desires for vengence, it'll be great roleplay. If it's what is keeping him from attaining any higher enlightenment, more power to him.

It's fine to have traumatic life events like losing an arm have a significant effect on the actions and motivations of a PC. Heroes are nearly always dynamic characters who overcome personal demons as well as those in the world around them. I say go for the vengence thing, just as long as you realize that it sets you apart from everyone else and that covering it up with notions of do-goodery probably won't impact the actual mechanical neutral/evilness of it.

 

[Enkhidu]

Here's some food for thought...

I think you're going to have to think about how this NPC perceives what I call the Now. The Now is what is happening in real time - for example, I am typing this in, what is for me, the Now. It is what I am currently doing.

So let's look at an example of this. You, Arravis, are driving down busy highway at high noon on one of the hottest days of the year. In your trunk are gallons and gallons of water you are delivering to a homeless shelter. You know for a fact that this shelter could really use this water, as they've just been told that their water supply through the city is tainted and can't be used for drinking for the next few days. Its quite possible people might go thirsty for the next few days if you don't bring them their water, and that might mean dehydration and death for the less healthy.

Depressed yet? It gets worse...

On the way to the shelter, you run across a wreck where one of the cars is on fire. A person flags you down and tells you that one person is badly hurt in the burning car, and they can't get her out. If someone doesn';t do something soon, she could be burned or even die before the fire trucks get to the seen.

Here's the hard part: do you use the water in the trunk to put out the car fire and rescue the trapped woman, or do you hold on to the water and give it to the shelter? Both will save lives, and both are good acts - but the choice between them depends entirely on how the NPC views the importance of doing good deeds in the Now.

When you figure out what the NPC will do, let us know - I'd be interested in knowing!

 

[andargor]

When you figure out what the NPC will do, let us know - I'd be interested in knowing!

That's just basic crisis management. The woman is in immediate danger, the homeless are not.

Put out the fire with the water, and resolve the water issue for the homeless after that.

Andargor