When Bad Things Happen to Bad People

[Tatsukun]

One of the best sayings I have ever heard when it comes to Paladins and prisoners was "I can not condone the torture of the currently innocent."

I like that phrase, 'Currently innocent'. It's a hobgoblin, so it's probably evil, but did it do anything do deserve torture today?

-Tatsu

 

[sfedi]

I think it was a pretty clear alignment infraction on the HW's part. However, it was the first, and I hope it won't be repeated. He's CG; how many such acts should I tolerate before switching his alignment?

That was clearly an Evil act.
A Good creature can't knowlingly commit an Evil act and remain Good.
I would drop him to CN inmediately.
And I would expect the Paladin to have a serious talk with him.

 

[Tatsukun]

That was clearly an Evil act.
A Good creature can't knowlingly commit an Evil act and remain Good.
I would drop him to CN inmediately.

For one act he changes alignment? So if my BBEG helps his mom make rent next month he'll have to stop being an evil BBEG because he's now LN? Seems odd.

If you're the spy in a town, and you see that a paladin is rounding up people to "check for taint" you just have to tip well for your ale and BOOM, you're not evil anymore!

No, I think it takes a lot more than one act to change an alignment. If it didn't every BBEG would just set up the classic Riddler trap for Bat Man.

“Now, Mr. Paladin, you can either save your friend, or you can put out the fire and save the orphanage. You don't have time for both! “

BAM, fallen paladin. Easy! !

-Tatsu

 

[Particle_Man]

I think he meant that the path of good is a hard one, so that it is hard to maintain a good alignment.

So while one good act will not make you good, one evil act will make you evil.

Oh, and the paladin would clearly save the orphanage (you save more people, and being orphans, they are innocent children to boot). He would not fall for this, because he is doing the "most good" action that he can, in those difficult circumstances.

 

[Prince Atom]

I think he meant that the path of good is a hard one, so that it is hard to maintain a good alignment.

So while one good act will not make you good, one evil act will make you evil.

Now, the path of the paladin has always been defined as a difficult one. You seem to be arguing that we should impose similar difficulties on anyone who is any form of good, not just paladins.

I would say that you have to weigh the number of evil or selfish acts against the number of good or selfless acts. If they're in balance, the character is neutral. If it is weighted towards one end, the character's alignment corresponds.

TWK