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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 7821351" data-attributes="member: 6801845">When I DM I do my best to create a living, breathing world.&nbsp; I think out logical organizations, allies, possible allies and protagonists.&nbsp; I try to run NPCs as individuals and motivations as appropriate.I don't design encounters with specific PCs in mind, I design encounters and base NPC reactions on their personality, goals and current situation.&nbsp; So while I try to avoid no-win choose-between-two-evils scenarios, if the BBEG is cornered by a paladin next to a pit of lava and they can grab an innocent child as a hostage they will.&nbsp; They may well give the paladin the choice of jumping in the lava themselves or throwing the child in.&nbsp; Because the BBEG is evil and will exploit any weakness they can.This kind of situation almost never comes up, but it wouldn't matter if the PC was a paladin or the barbarian.&nbsp; If the BBEG thought they could get away using this tactic, they would.&nbsp; I would not expect any PC to throw themselves in the lava.&nbsp; I would not punish any PC for not committing suicide.&nbsp; I would not expect the paladin to play lawful stupid.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 7821351, member: 6801845"] When I DM I do my best to create a living, breathing world. I think out logical organizations, allies, possible allies and protagonists. I try to run NPCs as individuals and motivations as appropriate. I don't design encounters with specific PCs in mind, I design encounters and base NPC reactions on their personality, goals and current situation. So while I try to avoid no-win choose-between-two-evils scenarios, if the BBEG is cornered by a paladin next to a pit of lava and they can grab an innocent child as a hostage they will. They may well give the paladin the choice of jumping in the lava themselves or throwing the child in. Because the BBEG is evil and will exploit any weakness they can. This kind of situation almost never comes up, but it wouldn't matter if the PC was a paladin or the barbarian. If the BBEG thought they could get away using this tactic, they would. I would not expect any PC to throw themselves in the lava. I would not punish any PC for not committing suicide. I would not expect the paladin to play lawful stupid. [/QUOTE]

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