Paladin code question/opinion...

[Shuffle]

I actually like the BLackgaurd PrC, but only because I agree that the fallen hero makes the best villan.
Perhaps the Anti-paladin (perhaps viledin?) as a 1-20 class
with the Blackgaurd being the same trade-in PrC to make a Blackgaurd more imposing than Joe-Viledin

 

[Khafre]

I'm a stickler for LG paladins myself, but I can understand why some people disagree. Conversly I think Blackguards should be CE only.

Certainly a valid way to play the game. It all depends on the flavor the GM wants for their campaign. It can be more striking to have LG and CE as the "absolute poles" to alignment.
Personally, I like the idea of holy warriors of all alignments (ala Unearthed Arcana), but tend to use the term "Paladin" to refer only to the LG ones.

Paladins aspire to everything that makes a strong good society. Compassion, fair laws, supporting of those less fortunate, defending those unable to defend themselves and other such things.

Hmm. I have a different interpretation. I see law as following two veins. The nations that came from the English crown use the common law system, where the law is judged much more on a case-by-case basis, which is why lawyers and judges play such a large role in their societies.

Most other nations in the world use the civil law system, where the law is precisely what is written in the text. That leads to much more certainty in 'what the law is', and less cases where being able to buy a good legal team keeps you out of hot water. On the flip side, it can often lead to unfair situations in the more unusual cases.

IMHO, the common law system is built for flexibility and individual adjudication, which is more akin to a neutral or chaotic society. The civil law system is much more akin to a lawful or neutral society. (I give a range is because what really matters is not the law on the books, but rather how the law is applied on the ground.)

I just point this out because when you are thinking of what is or is not a LG society, it is good to consider where your own society fits into the grand scheme of things.

Since we are talking about LG societies and LG paladins, I just offer this for food for thought to be used or not as you want. The usual rule - things are whatever the GM and players want them to be - is what really matters.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

As I mentioned on another thread, I think that paladins should be ABOVE such petty things as using poison, even against a "superior" foe. Either he concedes the fight with honor to fight another day when they may be on similar power levels or fight to the best of his ability. Fight as evenmatched as circumstances will allow him. Paladins shouldn't smackdown evil just because it is "there". If the evil guy does something evil within sight of the paladin, then he has all rights to "lay the smackdown on him" and take down the evil in his presence.

Granted, alot of this has to do with the paladin's deity and how the DM wants a paladin to act. That should be a conversation between paladin player and DM to clear up any confusion on the issue. That, in our game, took care of the DM wanting my paladin to utter battle cries to her god in a fight as the DM saw the paladin being CLOSER to her deity than a cleric(!). The rest of the group, including me, saw differently. And before the next session, we had a nice chat with the DM to clear this up.