Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 4941297" data-attributes="member: 22424">Agreed.Incidentally, one of my first Dragon magazines (#149 I think) had a useful article outlining four different types of LG Paladins. Two of these lined up quite nicely with your descriptions. I found that article very useful.Oh boy... There are a couple of points here to respond to, but it's an inherently tricky subject (how does one discuss the Bible without getting into religion?).True, although I suspect this representation isn't based on an actual reading of the Bible, but rather a half-remembered partial reading and caricature.None of those "holy warriors" you mentioned would be Paladins - the Bible makes it clear that they were all deeply flawed people called upon to do necessary but distasteful things. Samson was basically a murderous thug, who casually violated the only three strictures placed on him (no alcohol, no touching dead bodies, no cutting his hair - it was when he broke the last of these that he lost his strength). Ehud was, quite simply, an assassin.(The book of Judges is the source of most of these characters. It's basically the story of the people repeatedly falling away from God, being punished, turning back, and being saved. Each time around that cycle, things get worse and worse. At the end of the book, the time of the Judges is basically past, and we move on to the time of the kings, which is rather better... for a while.)But it is King David who comes closest to the standard, being the only character the Bible describes as "a man after God's own heart". Unfortunately, he failed rather spectacularly, first in adultery with Bathsheba, and then in arranging the murder of her husband Uriah (in order to cover up the adultery). Even so, he did finally make his way back to grace, after a period of civil war and even exile. But when he did return, David proceeded to show a very great amount of mercy to his former enemies.So, perhaps the true OT Paladin would actually be a whole lot closer to NT than was formerly thought?(Of course, none of that really makes any difference to the way people actually play their games. Your analogy is a good one.)(Incidentally, I highly recommend "Testament" by Green Ronin, which provides an Old Testament-inspired campaign setting. Particularly of note would be the "Judge" character class, which does a much better job of modelling the "OT Paladin" than does the Paladin class, IMO.)Also true. Of course, history is also replete with figures who would better fit that OT mould, even AD.Ultimately, though, it's as you say: both types of Paladin are valid for the game, and both can be fun to play. But what's absolutely crucial is for the player and DM to discuss these things, preferably before the campaign starts, and make sure they're on the same page. (And, of course, it's much less of an issue in 4e.)</blockquote>

Verification