Possible paladin codes

[RangerWickett]

The paladin code as is can be interpreted many different ways. You could have violent bringers of justice who execute those they defeat in order to stop their threat. You could have merciful counselors who view it as their duty to try to turn enemies to the path of good. You could have stoic and stern knights whose only life is war, and you could have boisterous and vivacious celebrities who take great joy in doing good. Some paladins would shout every challenge and never use surprise, while others would view that such pride as a sin that could threaten the lives of innocents.

I think every player and DM who plan to have a paladin PC should prepare a code that their paladin will follow, describing what particular virtues the paladin must adhere to. That way the player can better understand how to handle morally ambiguous situations.

Six different paladins would respond six different ways when forced to deal with a defeated foe asking for mercy, a mission to kill the enemy commander while he's away from the bulk of his forces, or the dilemma of whether to pursue the fleeing villain or save the orphans in the burning building.

I wanted to make a paladin code I would enjoy playing, so I present my idea here:

1. You have chosen a life of sacrifice, honor, and service. You sacrifice by walking dangerous roads without fear, as the parent sacrifices years to raise a child, and the priest sacrifices comfort to teach a faith. You honor your foes by allowing them to depart with their pride and their lives before blood is shed, as a merchant fairly honors his customers by charging what he needs and no more, and the musician honors those whose tales she sings by keeping some things tactfully private. You serve by defending others with shield and sword, as the king serves with wise law and the commoner serves with sharing the toil of manual labor.

But you are not parent nor priest, merchant nor musician, commoner nor king. You are a paladin, and a burden of battle and blood is yours to bear.

2. Fear is the greatest motivator of evil. Your duty is not meant to be a heavy one. You are not here to break under the strain of impossible decisions. You are not as wise as the god you serve, so when faced with a challenge of morality, do not fear making the wrong choice.

3. Pride is fear's shining brother. Though you should not fear mistakes, you should also not let pride's light blind you to them. In quiet moments of reflection, consider the road you travel, spiritual and corporeal, and recognize your mistakes.

4. Both shield and sword can defend. Use as much force as is necessary to serve your duty, and no more. However, know that a foe who when shown mercy will still seek to harm you is not a foe defeated. Do not hesitate to stop those who threaten you as swiftly as possible.

5. Not every day has a battle, and no one can be a paladin every day. Some day your road may reach a destination, and that daya warrior will be needed less than a king or commoner, a musician or merchant, a priest or parent. That day you may rest, until clouds of gloom appear on the horizon, and you must take up sword and shield again.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Hell, that is exactly how I play paladins.

Archiving for House Rule book update.

 

[The Sigil]

I personally tend to work off a modified version of Asimov's Laws of Robotics. To wit,

1. A paladin may not knowingly harm an innocent, or through inaction, knowingly allow an innocent to come to harm. (Preservation of innocent life - "Goodness" - is first and foremost, and "knowingly" is inserted because paladins are not omniscient.)

2. A paladin should fulfill his duties, including protecting comrades-in-arms and obeying legitimate authority, except where such duties would conflict with the first law. (Preservation of order - honorably carrying out one's duties - is second only to preservation of innocent life).

3. A paladin should protect his own existence, so long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law. (A paladin must be ready to lay down his life for innocents or in the course of his duty; however, provided innocents are not in danger and duty does not demand otherwise, he is free to retreat from a battle. He's not "lawful stupid" and doesn't throw away his life for no reason - he is ready to sacrifice it if there IS a reason, though.)

Simple and seems to handle just about every situation I have had to handle as a paladin.

 

[Li Shenron]

Writing your own code is definitely a boon for anyone playing a Paladin, or any character who has powers depending on moral behaviour, e.g. a Cleric!

I always suggest to write a sort-of decalogue, it doesn't have to be a detailed description in legal language, it greatly helps the DM adjudicating how the player is keeping up with the roleplay his PC demands, and spares a lot of arguments.

I think that Rokugan does a good job (although there are some strange overlapping!) when dealing with honor, by summing up a few key concepts:

Honor
Courage
Duty/Loyalty
Honesty
Sincerity
Compassion
Courtesy

I think any divine character would already benefit simply from a short list of keywords, and a sentence or two to explain each of them.

 

[Yair]

I personally tend to work off a modified version of Asimov's Laws of Robotics. To wit,

1. A paladin may not knowingly harm an innocent, or through inaction, knowingly allow an innocent to come to harm. (Preservation of innocent life - "Goodness" - is first and foremost, and "knowingly" is inserted because paladins are not omniscient.)

2. A paladin should fulfill his duties, including protecting comrades-in-arms and obeying legitimate authority, except where such duties would conflict with the first law. (Preservation of order - honorably carrying out one's duties - is second only to preservation of innocent life).

3. A paladin should protect his own existence, so long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law. (A paladin must be ready to lay down his life for innocents or in the course of his duty; however, provided innocents are not in danger and duty does not demand otherwise, he is free to retreat from a battle. He's not "lawful stupid" and doesn't throw away his life for no reason - he is ready to sacrifice it if there IS a reason, though.)

Simple and seems to handle just about every situation I have had to handle as a paladin.

I like that A LOT. A very compact yet excellent code.

I think that Rokugan does a good job (although there are some strange overlapping!) when dealing with honor, by summing up a few key concepts:

Honor
Courage
Duty/Loyalty
Honesty
Sincerity
Compassion
Courtesy

I can't help but mention Atlas Games' Love & War, which does a lot IMO to expand about how a paladin should behave by expanding on the knightly virtues of Valor, Loyalty, Piety, and Love. I thought it was a very interesting way to look at things, and a very good guide to roleplaying all manner of virtuous characters.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I can't help but mention Atlas Games' Love & War, which does a lot IMO to expand about how a paladin should behave by expanding on the knightly virtues of Valor, Loyalty, Piety, and Love. I thought it was a very interesting way to look at things, and a very good guide to roleplaying all manner of virtuous characters.

Having just flipped through Love & War at my local HPB, I have to admit it does not look all that enticing. I own Relics & Rituals: Excalibur and happen to love that way it handles knight virtues and its chivalry system. Both of which could easily be adapted to standard campaigns to reflect [a] Paladin's codes/ethics.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Hmmm....

Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage

Nah ...

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Hmmm....

Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage

Nah ...

This coming from the man that has Honor & Courage as his byline?!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

This coming from the man that has Honor & Courage as his byline?!

Identify the source and you win a cookie.

Spoiler

"Honor & Courage" is the motto of the 8th US Cavalry Regiment.

Paladin Code?

 

[Yair]

Having just flipped through Love & War at my local HPB, I have to admit it does not look all that enticing. I own Relics & Rituals: Excalibur and happen to love that way it handles knight virtues and its chivalry system. Both of which could easily be adapted to standard campaigns to reflect [a] Paladin's codes/ethics.

Love & War didn't appear enticing to me too... until I read it. The content is better than it appears at first glance, IMO.

But perhaps Excalibur does it better, I'm not familiar with it. L&W is not a mechanical system a la D&D alignment, it's just that it - as I said - aids in roleplaying ideas and understanding of the aforementioned virtues.