Paladin poll: How do you see paladins?

[Liolel]

I see paladins as neither of those two. I see paladins as figures that seek to help those in need, and do the most good they can. They have considerable skills as fighters not for specifically killing evil but because in the course of the greatest good, they will often be pitted in combat against evil. The lawful part, I see as more orderly the law obeying. If theres a country ruled by an evil tryant, then they don't neccessarly obey the evil laws, but they also don't attempt to take down the tryant (if its within their power at all) without a plan or an idea of how to procceed. (To say they will not just attack whatever followers of the tyrant are nearest, unless that will help the defeat of the tryant, or the greater good.)

Of course I also hold the paladins are human like everyone else, and that they can make mistakes, without loosing their power to an extent. They can not mistakely kill an innocent without repurcussions (although it is very hard to mistakely kill an innocent. I don't mean a evil mage attacks them and a commoner dies from a fireball. I mean more of they don't consider what they know enougth, and some innocent dies from the lack of planning, or foresight. But even then attontment is possiable.)

But I have no mercy in stripping a paladin of their powers, if they willing commit an evil act (which I've heard a lot of stupid cases of. Those who read the Wotc boards might remember the paladin burning hobgoblin babies out of spite example)

 

[Bendris Noulg]

...Those who read the Wotc boards might remember the paladin burning hobgoblin babies out of spite example.

Actually I missed that one, but I well remember the one about knifing orc babies in their cribs.

 

[Aaron L]

I see paladins as knights. Sworn to BOTH their god AND a worldy lord. A champion of only a god is a cleric. A paladin is a Lawful Good upholder of King and God, protector of the weak and warrior against evil.


Not that all paladins have to be full plate wearing greatsword wielders.. tho the mandatory warhorse does make it a bit hard to go in another direction. I like the paladin prestige class from Unearthed Arcana. If you want a holy warrior of a god alone... thats a cleric.

 

[diaglo]

Actually I missed that one, but I well remember the one about knifing orc babies in their cribs.

there was an older one with kobold babies involved over there when it was www.tsr.com

the adventure was from 2edADnD

 

[qstor]

I voted for the Holy Warrior. Although its fun to play around with sterotypes. Like the justicar prestige class.

Mike