What is your paladin's personal code?

[iwatt]

My Dwarf Paladin:

1) Duty before Death. A dwarf doesn't quit until his job is done. A dwarf paladin will keep coming back until his job is really done. And believe you me, it's hard to kill one of these Pallies.

2) Don't Lie. The world is really black and White. There are no small lies, merciful lies, etc.. Dwarves don't lie, dwarf pallies never lie. IF answering compromises you or you friends, don't talk (that +2 to saves really comes in handy to resist interrogations).

3) If it's an orc, kill it. If it's a drow kill it. If it's a giant......kill it. If it's scaly, and sitting on gold....kill it.

 

[Maxboy]

This is the Old code from Dragonheart

The Old Code

"A Knight is sworn to valor,"
"His Heart knows only virtue,"
"His Blade defends the helpless,"
"His Might upholds the weak,"
"His Words speak only truth,"
"His Wrath undoes the wicked,"



Cheers

 

[wizofice]

For whatever reason, I thought 10 was the right number when I adapted this from a 2nd Edition supplement. This is what I worked up for my FR Paladin of Ilmater years ago (the game ended after about 10 sessions or so). It differed from what I'd have done for Tyr or Torm (who were more Lawful-oriented than Ilmater, who I thought of as Good first, Lawful second). Of course Paladins don't have to worship a deity at all.

The Holy Warrior of Ilmater’s
Code of Behavior
Order of the Yellow Rose
St. Sollars
v. 1.2

1. Cause the greatest good through the least harm.
2. Goodness radiates from the heart.
3. Protect all living creatures, especially the weak and innocent; suffer in their place.
4. Show mercy when you can.
5. When you cannot show mercy, fight with all your mind, body and soul.
6. Do not seek the easy way nor the hard way; seek the best way.
7. Give your time, energy and money selflessly to charity and the poor.
8. Always follow the laws of the land, as long as they are just.
9. If the law is not just, overturn or change it in the most positive way possible.
10. Lead by example.

 

[wizofice]

Found this as well, when discussing playing a paladin up front with the DM (which I think is necessary for a successful game, BTW). This was my view on paladins and how one can differ from another (despite the PH comment to the contrary, which I think is silly).

Assumption One:

"Not all paladin orders are alike."

Case in point: Tyr tolerates no mockery, parody or questioning of their faith. Ilmater accepts mockery as part of their burden and questioning as part of the journey. Paladins from each order must reflect this difference.

Another might be: a battle has just ended. Some friendly soldiers are wounded. The paladin can 1) hunt down the fleeing evil guys or 2) heal the wounded soldiers. IMO, a Tyrian would chase the baddies and an Ilmateri would stop to heal the wounded.

Assumption Two:

"A paladin will encounter situations where different parts of his code, beliefs or aspects of his alignment conflict (a la I, Robot)."

Examples: (L vs. G) laws that do not serve the greater good; (Do Not Lie) speaking the truth causes innocents harm; (Justice vs. Mercy) chase the evil doer or help the wounded?

Assumption Three:

"Intentions and actions are both important, but intentions are more so."

A paladin should not seek the easy way out (poison, sneak attack, lie, etc.), but under extreme circumstances such actions may be necessary and not evil.

Assumption Four:

“A paladin’s code of behavior consists of three ideals: goodness (Good), order (Law), and tradition (Honor).”

Some of the paladin’s duties relate to making the world a nicer place (protect the weak, heal the sick), some a more ordered place (uphold the law, protect the king), and some are based on time-honored traditions of etiquette (fair and respectful treatment of the opposite sex, proper use of titles) and combat rules (duels and challenges, face the enemy full front).

 

[Terry Edwards]

1. Tea time must always take place at mid-day, or as near to it as possible.
2. If tea time is late complaints must be made, preferably loud and often.
3. One's moustache must be kept well oiled.
4. If one finds an attractive maiden over the course of adventuring he must immediately vow to love her for eternity (or until they next part or a lovelier woman comes along).
5. Prior to entering combat it is courteous to announce your violent intentions to your enemy, sometimes it may be appropriate to offer tea before vanquishing them.
6. One should have a hobby or trade. Artistic hobbies are great. "let us hold here fellows, this scene cries out for a charcoal sketch."
7. Always be too self absorbed to notice the other party members activities that normaly cause moral conflict.
8. Cheese should not be allowed to travel uneaten for more than 3 days.
9. One should always announce their presence and intentions prior to entering a dungeon, tavern or privy.
10. Any other warrior types in the party shall be dubbed "squire"
11. If none of the above codes apply to a given situation it is probably time for tea or ale and bragging of ones exploits.

 

[KenM]

How about this code for a paladin:

Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lametation of the women.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Mine worships Tyr in the Forgotten Realms. So it's a mix of a basic code and Tyr's dogma.

-Thou shalt not kill unarmed or mind-controlled people.

-Thou shalt not automatically kill anyone non-evil.

-Thou shalt not automatically kill bystanders unless they cause harm to either other bystanders or the party.

-Thou shalt not use poison.

-Thou shalt not strike a foe from behind.

-Thou shalt deliver vengeance to the guilty for those who cannot do it themselves.

-Thou shalt uphold the law wherever you go and punish those who do wrong under the law.

Heck. Maybe I should copy this down....

 

[Impeesa]

"The right to swing your fist ends where someone else's nose begins."

Mind you, he's a CG Paladin of Freedom (aiming for Frenzied Berserker) from a monstrous race, whose primary goal is to wander around fighting the good fight against prejudice and oppression. Since he's of a monstrous race, this goes both ways - both the corrupt baron and the closest red dragon are terrorizing the townsfolk, both need to be taken care of.

--Impeesa--

 

[Torm]

"A paladin will encounter situations where different parts of his code, beliefs or aspects of his alignment conflict (a la I, Robot)."

That movie is both A) Nothing like the book AT ALL, and B) Somewhat like a desecration of Asimov's corpse (not that I'm a bitter long-time fan of his works, or anything), and the Three Laws of Robotics preceed it by more than half a century.

That said, I like what you were implying with this, and wish to take it further (and get back on topic <g>):

The Three Laws of Paladinship

1. A Paladin may not commit an Evil act or, through inaction, allow an Evil act to be perpetrated.

2. A Paladin must obey the laws of man, except where such would conflict with the First Law.

3. A Paladin must protect their own existence and dignity (as well as that of those they have chosen to make identifiable with themselves) as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

And, of course, should they violate the above Laws too intensely, they should seize up or their heads should explode.

 

[wizofice]

That movie is both A) Nothing like the book AT ALL, and B) Somewhat like a desecration of Asimov's corpse (not that I'm a bitter long-time fan of his works, or anything), and the Three Laws of Robotics preceed it by more than half a century.

I haven't read the book in well over a dozen years and wrote that in 2001 or 2002. So, I was referring to the book, or my faulty memory thereof.

And, of course, should they violate the above Laws too intensely, they should seize up or their heads should explode.

LOL!