Paladin poll: How do you see paladins?

[Dragonblade]

How do you see paladins and why?

 

[Nifft]

I voted Holy Warrior -- but IMC, the Earth is under constant threat by demonic forces, so they are also sort-of cops and also sort-of special ops army guys.

-- N

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I think that more than anything, just like a Cleric, how a Paladin acts and what they really are completely depends on thier Deity. A Paladin of a God of Healing will fill a completely different roll than a Paladin of a God of Justice.

 

[shilsen]

I voted "neither". IMC, a paladin of Heironeus will differ from a paladin of Pelor, who will in turn be very different from one following St. Cuthbert or one worshipping Wee Jas (no godless paladins, IMC). And two paladins of Heironeus can be very different. Cookie-cutter paladins (or anything else) are anathema to me.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Paladins aren't just cops who got around ticketing chariots for parking in the firelane. They're holy warriors who go around smiting evil and such.

 

[dead]

I voted Holy Warrior, but paladins are always gonna create controversy. Why? Because they are a personification of that great D&D bugbear: Alignment.

 

[Goobermunch]

None of the above.

The Paladin is the embodiment of the chivalric code, a knight in shining armor who acts valiantly, honorably, and nobly. Through the purity of his heart and soul, body and mind, he is able to alter the course of human events, whether through the intervention of his god or the force of his personal beliefs.

He's a knight first and a smiter second. His law-enforcement duties arise not from his role as a paladin, but rather from his position as a knight. It doesn't matter if he is noble born or sword to a lord, he is a knight in word and deed.

--G

 

[dead]

None of the above.

The Paladin is the embodiment of the chivalric code, a knight in shining armor who acts valiantly, honorably, and nobly. Through the purity of his heart and soul, body and mind, he is able to alter the course of human events, whether through the intervention of his god or the force of his personal beliefs.

He's a knight first and a smiter second. His law-enforcement duties arise not from his role as a paladin, but rather from his position as a knight. It doesn't matter if he is noble born or sword to a lord, he is a knight in word and deed.

--G

This was the attitude in 1E and 2E but I think they've tried to steer away from the "knight in shining armor" in 3E.

I haven't read the Paladin description in the core rules for a while, do they even mention the words chivalry or knight?

 

[DragonLancer]

I think that the Paladin is a bit of both and a little of something else.

Unless you are going to write out a paladinic/chivalric code then quite simply it should be based on modern morality which we all understand (You don't commit murder, don't desecrate the dead, obey laws...etc). I think if people stuck to using the modern morality there would less posts about "My DM screwed my Paladin."

 

[Squire James]

I suppose "both" might be a valid choice. Perhaps a clearer (and less deity-specific) poll might be:

Is a Paladin...

O Law's Master?
O Law's Slave?