What are the strictest interpretations of a paladin's code?

[RangerWickett]

I'm going to be playing a paladin in a friend's campaign, and he's very fond of the 'knight in shining armor, Goody McGoodguy boy scout' style paladin, and while it's not how I would run paladins, I know this conception of them is very important to him, so I want to play it the way he wants. Understand that he fully understands that these are not what the core rules say about paladins. This is just the way he thinks they should be.

I want some ideas on things I might need to bear in mind when playing such a character so that I don't step astray. I'm starting with an idea sort of similar to the classic samurai, who holds his honor in such high regard that he would be willing to punish himself if he was forced to take the lesser of two evils. I won't loot, lie, or fight uneven battles, and will view those who do so as misguided. As long as their goals are noble I will still assist them, but when I have the chance I will try my best to convince them that such tactics are unnecessary. I will try to encourage everyone to be goodly, while striving to the utmost to avoid being a prick, since I don't want to piss off the other players.

Some examples of things I was informed of while making my character are:

1. I cannot use a bow against enemies. I must engage a foe in melee, or at most use thrown weapons, since those are powered by my natural strength.

2. Spiked armor or gauntlets are out. They're cruel, and I should not need their help to wrestle a foe.

I'm a paladin of Torm in the Forgotten Realms, 9th level.

Suggestions? And honestly, guys, I'm not looking for bashing here. I know some of these ideas are pretty silly in a world where monsters don't fight by the rules, but I want to see if I can do this. And I want to do it such a way that I'll be unimpeachable.

I want a list of all the weird quandaries and challenges that would arise for my character. Can I kill a prisoner? Do I have to offer him a chance to fight for his life, and if so do I have to give him time to heal fully so it's a fair fight? If a foe is bleeding do I have to heal him so he doesn't die? If a foe asks for mercy, then breaks his word and tries to kill me, then asks for mercy again, do I have to give it to him? If there is a horde of enemies on the ground and I'm on my griffon mount, do I have to land to face them man-to-man? Does my mount have to land too? Am I allowed to let my allies plan an ambush, or do I have to announce our presence even against overwhelming odds? Am I allowed ever to run from a fight? Am I allowed to cut my way out of the gullet of a dragon, or would that be unsporting because he loses his Dexterity modifier against my attack?

Things like that.

 

[Slife]

Honestly, it looks like your friend is going for Book of Exalted Deeds stuff. Try looking in there for inspiration.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

If bows and spiked armor are out perhaps you shouldn't flank people or use lethal weapons either, magical gear is out too. In fact using just your fist might be even going a bit to far.
Perhaps you should run around blind folded with your hands tied behind your back beating orcs to death with your forehead while your squire blows a trumpet loudly proclaiming your presence.

 

[Dross]

Lets see, and going devil's advocate in some cases

Some examples of things I was informed of while making my character are:

1. I cannot use a bow against enemies. I must engage a foe in melee, or at most use thrown weapons, since those are powered by my natural strength.

Check with DM, but does enemy = everything that your paly fights such as unitelligent vermin and undead, animals etc or just sentient beings? there could be a case for "preventing harm to my allies against something that does not have the brains to accept a formal challange" afterall. And does natural STR mean no gauntlets of ogre power?

2. Spiked armor or gauntlets are out. They're cruel, and I should not need their help to wrestle a foe.

Self defense then? never grapple a foe but try to escape. actually to me this is a more reasonable request then the others, but YMMV.

I'm a paladin of Torm in the Forgotten Realms, 9th level.

Traips around the net and get some info on him if you have no access to Faiths and Pantheons to check the dogma section, it may have something for you to consider.

Can I kill a prisoner?

After a trial where the punishment is death, yes. Note that as a paladin, you do (or should) have some authority in this regard.

Do I have to offer him a chance to fight for his life, and if so do I have to give him time to heal fully so it's a fair fight?

No, at least not for those that are inheritly evil (orcs, demons etc). You should consider that some foes will not be saved despite your best efforts, and if that is the case then a quick painless death is your best option.

If a foe is bleeding do I have to heal him so he doesn't die?

Only heal foes that have surrendered. Unconscious foes can be dispached quickly and as painfully as possible if the detect as evil.

If a foe asks for mercy, then breaks his word and tries to kill me, then asks for mercy again, do I have to give it to him?

A person that has proven that they cannot be trusted should not be trusted to keep their word. Add lying to authorities (and whatever crimes commited since such as attempted murder) to the list of sins and judge appropriately. Dishonourable behaviour often lead to death in ancient Japan.

If there is a horde of enemies on the ground and I'm on my griffon mount, do I have to land to face them man-to-man? Does my mount have to land too?

That is a maybe, check with the DM. For me, i'd say no, IF you used melee, natural or thrown weapons to attack (given your earlier restictions).

Am I allowed to let my allies plan an ambush, or do I have to announce our presence even against overwhelming odds?

No, but only to proven enemies (see below).

Am I allowed ever to run from a fight? Am I allowed to cut my way out of the gullet of a dragon, or would that be unsporting because he loses his Dexterity modifier against my attack?

Paladins should not be suicidal, they can sacrifice themselves (to let others escape say), but simply staying and dying is a stupid suicidal act IMO. Cutting youself out of a foe isn't unsporting, and may save allies.

Other bits:
Never initiate a fight against someone unless they are a proven enemy. Do not unsheath your weapon unless you KNOW that you will use it on someone. Give the benefit of the doubt (you can still be wary however). Everyone gets a fair trial, but you as a chosen of Torm have authority and the responsibility in unclaimed lands to be judge, jury and if need be executioner. No prisoner will be tortured. If a prisoner willing gives out information of their own free will without being asked then they have earned the right to a lighter sentence or freedom (provided they have not proven that they can not be trusted).

As always, check with your DM that this is acceptable.

 

[Ferghis]

Give the benefit of the doubt (you can still be wary however). Everyone gets a fair trial, but you as a chosen of Torm have authority and the responsibility in unclaimed lands to be judge, jury and if need be executioner.

If you do have the authority to judge someone, remember that where a normal tribunal might condemn the act, a paladin might not, becuase you have a strong obligation to give the benefit of the doubt, which prevails over a mere probability of guilt. In other words, if you're not dang sure the guy's done the bad deed, you gotta let him go, even if you think he's the one. While regular law enforcement might just take the guy, beat him until he fesses up, and then sentence some forced labor. So having authority might actually turn out to be more of a pain in the neck than just handing over a prisoner to some other authority.

The cases that confuse me the most are where authority conflicts with good. So you catch the fact that the sheriff is evil, but he's still the one formally empowered to administer justice. That's a tough call in my book. Especially if I only have the alignment to go on, but no evil acts...

When the number of enemies is over a certain amount and acheives a certain homogeny, you can call the enemy an army, and the rules of war are different. There you can flank, use missile weapons (the bigger the better), use tactical advantage, oil and siege weaponry. As long as you are leading your troops, not doing anything shady (no poison, no ambush, no hostages) offer a chance to surrender if the odds are clearly in your favor, and always be open to parley, you should be okay.

 

[Kwitchit]

As for the evil sheriff- maybe he detects as evil, but that could be because he cheats on his wife, takes too much pleasure in hangings (even though he only hangs people who deserve it), or any other sin which doesn't impact on his duty as sheriff.
A Paladin should only try and stop him if he is committing evil acts which obstruct justice or is punishing the innocent and/or letting the guilty go free.

 

[Wraith-Hunter]

Lawfull Good does not equal Lawfull Stupid. (ETA I have seen a few DM's rule this way which is why I mention it. And most of the paladins I've seen played have been lawful stupid - not a slight against any other post, just what I hve seen)

If you look at Christianity (using as example not debating religion) there are the pacifist type (thou shalt not kill) or the martial (for lack of a better term) type. Thou shalt not murder. The praise the lord and pass the ammunition type. 2 twists on the same faith. Put your self in both places and think of arguments and situations to prove both points. Contrast this with some other faiths.

The wheel of time series has some interesting discussions about the 'way of the leaf' and self defense. This might give you some ideals. Also study the interaction of the Quakers and the Indians in pre-revoltion times in this country.

Also in modern terms if you ever look into getting a CCW permit (carrying a firearm for self protection). When you take your class or read the literature you are taught to shot to STOP the attacker. Not shoot to KILL or shoot to WOUND but shoot to STOP. In D&D terms think of it like this. Like a modern CCW permit holder you will not INITIATE violence, but you will act to STOP it instead. You will keep attacking with the goal of stopping the attacker. They stop you stop. Since you did not initiate the violence you are under no obligation to heal or offer medical aid to those who started it. Especially since they may do the same to another once they are healed up. If you make your bed you have to sleep in it. (Though in our system of justice you call 911 get an ambulance and let the court system handle the rest of the outcome).

Here is the Shaolin Moral code. I got this when I was studying with my sifu this might also help give you some ideals (though to our culture some of it seems silly):

1.	Respect the Sifu.
2.	Train Gung-fu devotedly and build and healthy body.
3.	It is forbidden to rape or molest, it is also forbidden to lead astray.
4.	It is forbidden to show off the arts or to offend the seniors.
5.	It is forbidden to laugh without reason or to tell lies.
6.	It is forbidden to bully those under you or to take advantage of a position or an office for the settling of personal differences.
7.	It is forbidden to quarrel loudly and to wave the hands wildly.
8.	It is forbidden to kick about aimlessly or to stand at a fighting stance or to make accusations against others.
9.	It is forbidden to spread false rumors or to boast of ones strength and oppress the weak.
10.	It is forbidden to be greedy, to rob or steal other peoples property.
11.	Be humble and soft-spoken, but be unbashful in seeking advice for knowledge.
12.	Develop self-control, be cooperative, and be helpful.

The Ten Obligations:

1.	To maintain the peace.
2.	To eliminate the bullies and help the weak.
3.	To save lives and contribute to humanity.
4.	To eliminate the cruel and villainous.
5.	To protect the lonely and oppressed.
6.	To be chivalrous and generous.
7.	To right wrong doings courageously.
8.	To learn self-defense and overcome calamity.
9.	To spread Shaolin teachings and Gung-fu
10.	To pass on self-defense art of Shaolin Gung-fu unselfishly and to select good and loyal disciples.

The Ten Forbidden Acts:

1.	To molest or rape.
2.	To rob someone else’s wife or to force someone into marriage.
3.	To bully kind and gentle people.
4.	To rob, cheat, or steal.
5.	To take advantage of an intoxicated person to do evil.
6.	To torture or be cruel.
7.	To be involved in improper activities.
8.	To show disrespect or non-consideration to parents, elders, seniors, or master – especially the Sifu.
9.	To associate with miscreants. Or villains.
10.	To rebel against the Sifu.

Most importantly talk to your dm. Bring up some hypothetical situations and ask how HE views good/evil, and how he would rule in game terms because this is going to effect your play more than anything else. Different people have different moral systems and how they define good and evil. Some of the DM's I played with in the past I would NEVER play a paladin in their game because their view on what the "good" thing to do or what constitues an "evil act" are at odds on certain things that we would say are grey areas.

Also watch star wars, pick up the core book for ideas, as the jedi are good.

But if you have to kill make it quick don't torture.
Perhaps say a prayer or offer last rights.
Ham stringing yourself by not using ranged weapons is silly unless it specifically fits in with a certain ethos. And with the expcetion of alligned weapons a weapon is just an object, a tool. You use what is at hand to do your job. If the weapon is designed specifically to hurt or wound but NOT kill then you could consider it cruel. But if it is designed to simply kill then it is just a tool. You use the best tools you can afford and the most appropriate ones for the job, and what you have at hand.

Hope some of these ideas help. History is full of decent ideas.

 

[Umbran]

In fact using just your fist might be even going a bit to far.

What part of RangerWickett's statement, "I'm not looking for bashing here," did you fail to understand?

Keep it constructive, folks - the OP has asked for advice in how to work along with the restrictions, rather than a chorus of folks saying varieties of, "This is teh stoopid!"

 

[Rhun]

I believe they have a code very similar to this in the AD&D Unearthed Arcana for Paladins and Cavaliers. I'll have to check it when I get home later and see if there is anything to add from it.

 

[delericho]

Also watch star wars, pick up the core book for ideas, as the jedi are good.

The Jedi are most certainly not Paladins. In many cases, they're not Lawful, and some of their actions are not Good either. Qui-gon Jinn, the supposed Jedi saint who learns how to cheat death, spends Episode I lying, cheating and stealing his way across the galaxy.

Obi-Wan Kenobi lies repeatedly, disregards legitimate authority ("These are not the droids you're looking for"), and leaves the man he claims to think of as his brother to die in burning agony, rather than putting him out of his misery.

Yoda, the great and wise Jedi master, shows a remarkable callousness when asked for help by a very troubled young padawan ("Mourn them do not. miss them do not."), sending the young Anakin directly to the one person who actually could help him (and, incidentally, the closest thing he ever has to a father).

Mace Windu, when arresting Palpatine, initially starts with good intentions, but after defeating the Chancellor and rendering him helpless, he then casually casts aside those good intentions in favour of a summary execution, even when the nascent Darth Vader reminds him that that is not the Jedi way.

Frankly, Luke is the only decent one amongst the lot of them.