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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GoodKingJayIII" data-source="post: 3304147" data-attributes="member: 13804">Now keep in mind these are just my opinions Gareth's character and actions throughout the story and don't have any bearing on the way Gareth (or any other character for that matter) is played.  Not criticism in any way.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> See, for me it's not even that.  The paladin code is incredibly strict and as such most people will not meet its standards.  I think it's very reasonable that arrogant, self-righteous personalities develop out of this kind of stricture and the powers that come along with it.What bugs me about Gareth is his paranoia.  He's detecting thoughts and evil almost everywhere he goes.  Now I'm not saying he shouldn't use those abilities, but I think the way in which he uses them belies his confident facade.If this paranoia had developed from the experience with Kizmet, I'd be more sympathetic, but the reality is that he's always had this personality quirk, and I think that paranoia is really the root of all his problems.  He's a little greedy (mostly for better arms and equipment, rather than monetary wealth) because he's not confident in his own abilities (though he really should be).  He tows the paladin code and lectures most of the time, but he's also not above saving his own skin.  And he refuses to play the politick game because he desperately--though futilely--wants to believe that his faith and powers put him above all that.  He's incredibly brash but lacks self-confidence.Imagine if, after mouthing off to the Boromars, Lalia had been the target instead of himself?  Would he still be so arrogant if one morning he'd found her lifeless body in a box?  One of these days his actions are going to hurt someone else rather than himself, and he's not going to be there to save the day.I think Gareth has a lot of potential character development.  He could learn a lot from his new weapon.  Six and Nameless are good at playing politics.  And of course there's Cedric too.Edit:  I should clarify further and say that it's not that I don't like Gareth.  On the contrary, I think he's had a lot of interesting things happen to him over the course of the campaign and he's got plenty of personality potential.  After all, who couldn't like the self-conscious hero on some level?  But on the other hand, his stubborn refusal to cooperate and paranoia also make him difficult to relate to.It's like the guy who's always first to say "No, you're wrong and here's why."  Many times, Gareth is that guy.  No one likes to be told they're wrong all the time; it's tactless and rude.  Makes him hard to like.I gotta admit the guy's interesting.  Brings into question whether or not one can still be Lawful despite debauchery and drunkness and that sort of thing.  It's a very stark contrast, one that I have a hard time reasoning.  But it also makes the nature of paladinhood mystical and mysterious, not something attained but rather bestowed.  Says a lot about the campaign metaphysics and cosmology, which I really like.</blockquote>

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