Sin on! Sin off! Sin on sin off - The Paladin!

[thedungeondelver]

So I ran a one-player session for a character who's in the TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL campaign who died at the hands of Lareth. The character is a paladin who, just prior to his death, got high enough level to quest for his warhorse. Well, when hanging out on Elysium waiting to be resurrected (and this was the plan by the rest of the party), what better to do than get sent on a quest...?

So I picked up my copy of Anderson's excellent THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS (really, if you haven't read it, go do so now. We'll wait. Back? Okay.) and had a Ki-Rin approach the character, and say that to be worthy of the mount he was to be tested on three paladinic virtues: bravery, mercy, and wisdom.

I used the aforementioned novel for the three tests (briefly, the fight against the red dragon, saving/curing Sir Yve's daughter Raimberge's lycanthropy and figuring out who it was that was the werewolf in the first place), and later it got me to thinking...

I realize it's bending the rules a bit but I think it might be more effective to steer a paladin right by using the novel as a guideline (since that's where AD&D paladins came from anyway): when a paladin suffers a minor moral setback (f'rex, Holger saying "goddamnit" and losing the circle of protection, allowing Morgan to waltz right in and seduce him), why not impose at-the-moment loss of status or ability, to be regained by prayer and contemplation?

The big sins (robbing, murder, etc.) that don't just push the character into another alignment anyway, yes, keep those as by the book. But otherwise, I'm tempted to use what's in THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[Henry]

The DM in me says, "great idea" as it would be a good barometer for players to gauge what their DM's attitude toward paladinly virtues would be. (Heck, using 3H3L as the guide book would also be setting a standard for the code, something that Dms often don't do with their players!)

The player in me says I'd hate to suddenly lose my lay on hands at a critical time because I'd jaywalked earlier that day. I love the idea of using it as a standard for the war mount quest, though.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I like it but I would give the player some subtle pointers along the way so they didn't feel like they were playing whack-a-sin in the dark. It would also depend on the player; I can see some really running with it and generating some interesting role play but I can also see some players being frustrated with it; I've always found paladins a little prickly in that regard.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I have worked up a skills-n-feats Paladin ruleset for 3x, altho didn't get a chance to seriously playtest it.

The main conceit of the system was a new skill 'Devotion' that you take an entry level feat to access. Spending skill points on the skill builds up the characters effective level as a Paladin and allows for taking Divine feats.

Going astray would temporarily drain the Devotion skill ranks based on the severity of the straying, which would lower the Paladin's effective level and possible disable abilities selected by the feats.
The character could atone for the indescretion and regain the lost ranks.

This allowed for a wide variety in 'Paladins' and provided the player with a clear method of learning what could be the wrong action and the effects of straying.

I also use a 10 tenet code restriction that is designed with the player, altho I can't seem to find that link right now...

The HR thread is located here if you are interested in more.

 

[thedungeondelver]

I like it but I would give the player some subtle pointers along the way so they didn't feel like they were playing whack-a-sin in the dark. It would also depend on the player; I can see some really running with it and generating some interesting role play but I can also see some players being frustrated with it; I've always found paladins a little prickly in that regard.

Oh, to be sure...at least initially. Short of a bolt out of the blue a "feeling of unease" should be enough to prod the errant knight errant along the right path.