Paladins: Which do you hate more - LE or CE?

[WayneLigon]

Most of the paladins I've played have hated LE much more, because the organized nature of such opponents allow them a much greater chance of affecting society than the unfocused or undiciplined madman-types. The LE court counsellor, dripping poisonous advice into the young heirs ear is a much much greater threat than the CE orc chieftain or crazed death cultist.

 

[Starglim]

Interesting question. A paladin would regard Chaotic Evil as the more destructive foe and the one hardest to understand or sympathise with, but would more often compete with Lawful Evil as the opposition to his cause.

 

[orsal]

IMO, paladins focus most on defeating evil. His lawful alignment is mostly a function of how he promotes good and fights evil.

I agree. For the paladin, good is a cause, while law is merely a mode. This is why chaotic good characters are often the paladin's allies, and even CN are acceptable comrades, but never LE characters. Also, it explains why they have no special powers specifically designed to fight chaos -- no detect chaos or smite chaos.

For some, law and chaos can be causes as much as good and evil, although it's less common. But that isn't what paladins as a class are all about.

 

[Odhanan]

But isn't "hate" against the Paladin's code, if it directly spawns actions against the code? If I play a paladin, and I'm asked "who do you hate more", my answer would be "none", whatever the two instances.

 

[Shadowbane2]

Interesting question. A paladin would regard Chaotic Evil as the more destructive foe and the one hardest to understand or sympathise with, but would more often compete with Lawful Evil as the opposition to his cause.

I think this one hits the bullseye dead on.

 

[Nightfall]

But isn't "hate" against the Paladin's code, if it directly spawns actions against the code? If I play a paladin, and I'm asked "who do you hate more", my answer would be "none", whatever the two instances.

No hatred/angry isn't a sin if channelled properly. To stand against evil, some times one must have angry in one's heart.

 

[Particle_Man]

In 1st ed, the Holy Avenger in a Paladin's hands did bonus damage vs. Chaotic Evil opponents (vs. Lawful Evil ones), yet the picture of the paladin in the 1st ed. phb is entitled "A Paladin in Hell". So I'd say it is a toss-up.

 

[Orius]

Neither, because as a paladin I have no way to personally work out whether someone is LE or CE, since I can't cast Detect Law/Chaos. So it comes down to the specific situation, not the alignment.

Shilsen once again displays his mastery of paladin knowedge.

Speaking of which, how much did the Cedric thread lose from the crash?

 

[Odhanan]

No hatred/angry isn't a sin if channelled properly. To stand against evil, some times one must have angry in one's heart.

We touch a wall here. For me hate is incompatible with Good as a moral value. This is certainly my Catholic self speaking, but I would put that into play if a player was to "hate for good" in the campaign.

 

[Orius]

I don't see why the paladin would make a distinction. They're BOTH evil.