paladin alignment...

[vorpan]

First of all let me introduce myself. I'm from Brasil. I've played RPG for some 7 years now. Started with the old D&D, hen AD&D, Storyteller and now I'm back in a D&D campaign, playing a Paladin. My DM is also in this board so I gotta be carefull about stuff, if you know what I mean.
I had a discussion with my DM ovr my paladin's alignment. You see, I don't see why they'd all have to be Lawfull good. They could have the alignment of their respective deity. I could not convince him of such and I thought I could start my participation in this board with this post. Also, I just downloaded the epic Level handbook. I haven't really looked into it yet and I wanted to know, no need to extend the comments on this one though, cause I'm sure yu've talked plenty about it, what do you guys think of it....

 

[TiQuinn]

I've seen good arguments for and against paladins being alignments other than LG. In most cases though, the array of paladin abilities would also probably change, dependent upon the god that he/she serves. Maybe your DM can provide another option other than paladin for a holy warrior of a non-LG god?

 

[da chicken]

The Paladin has an explicit, writen code of conduct. That means he's gotta be lawful. The Paladin fights evil and protects in innocent. That means he's good.

If you want to be a "paladin" and not be LG, play a Fighter/Cleric. That's why there's multiclassing rules. But don't go around calling yourself a "paladin." 'Cause you ain't.

 

[takyris]

I agree with Da Chicken, but only up to a point.

I've got LN and LE knights in my campaign. They have their own code of conduct, their own rules, and are in their way every bit as restrictive as the paladin. I used the paladin class as a basis, and changed the abilities according to what made sense. Both sides Detect and Smite Chaos, Turn and Destroy Undead, and channel positive energy. They are socially accepted as being honorable and protecting the innocent. They are just progressively more and more ruthless about it.

In the good old hostage cliche, the LG paladin would be chastised if he didn't show enough concern for the innocent hostage. Most DMs would accept the paladin either refusing to step down ("If I let you go, more innocents will die") or making an agreement to save the innocent's life ("One hour's head start, on my word as a paladin, if you let her go.") The LE guy would be chastised severely if he did anything EXCEPT attack the villain. Code Behavior for that group states that once the villain has taken a hostage, the death of that hostage, however it happens, is the sole responsibility of the villain.

They don't call themselves paladins, but they are.

I honestly have less of a problem with LE paladins than I do with CG paladins. The paladin is all about following a code. What exactly the code is can vary, but there's got to be a code.

-Tacky

 

[JacktheRabbit]

I am surprised no one has yet ripped into you for downloading the ELH.

 

[reapersaurus]

vorpan - there are CG and NG "paladins" as prestige classes in DotF and Deities&Demigods.
Holy Liberator and i forget the other (sun soldier or something or other)

 

[takyris]

Oh, yeah. Missed that.

Bad, bad person. No ELH for you!

-Tacky