Why aren't paladins liked?

[Hussar]

I've noticed a recurring theme in this thread, namely, why not just have a fighter/cleric over a paladin?

Well, realistically, why should a LG cleric be ANY different from a paladin. The only reason paladins exist in the game is because people refuse to properly play clerics to their alignment. A LG cleric should be every bit, if not more, righteous and rigid as a paladin.

Think about it for a second. A paladin receives his code from his diety (generally). That diety usually also has a priesthood. Now, how logical would it be for a diety to hand down one set of rules for one group and another set of rules for another? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense for the religion to have one set of rules for everybody? Sure, you might have special dispensation issues, but, then again, usually that's not to INCREASE the strictures an agent of the diety has to operate under.

Even if a cleric is not lawful good, every cleric out there must adhere to the strictures of his or her religion. Clerics, whether it's outlined in the PHB or not, ALL come with a code. That it's not specifically outlined in the PHB just means that each faith will have a different code based on its alignment, not that the code doesn't exist at all.

It blows my mind when people say they'd rather have a priest in the party than a paladin. There should be absolutely no difference when it comes to restrictions from having either one in the party. Sure, a chaotic good priest of Farlagn (sp) would have fairly lax strictures regarding many things. But, then again, the God of Travel might have some serious problems with imprisoning things or shackling them, or even tying them up. Wouldn't limiting movement be seen as wrong to a priest of the God of Travel? This is a fairly spur of the moment example, but, I'm sure with a bit of thought, you could come with more.

I have no idea why people get so bent out of shape about having a paly in the party yet welcome a priest with open arms. It's shows more that far too many players play the cleric of combat medicine rather than a true follower of a faith.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

People don't want to play a "goody-two-shoes". Which is the only way a lot of people understand Lawful Good to be (which simply isn't the case).

 

[Particle_Man]

4. Protection from evil. This power has saved me many times. My DM still hasnt learned that I am the only person that can truly stand up against some of the demons he throws at us. He makes them use natural attacks and they cant hurt me with their hands so I end up slaughtering them.

How? As soon as you attack them your protection from their natural attacks goes away. And they can try to beat that protection anyhow if they have spell resistance, which most demons do.

From the SRD:

"Third, the spell prevents bodily contact by summoned creatures. This causes the natural weapon attacks of such creatures to fail and the creatures to recoil if such attacks require touching the warded creature. Good summoned creatures are immune to this effect. The protection against contact by summoned creatures ends if the warded creature makes an attack against or tries to force the barrier against the blocked creature. Spell resistance can allow a creature to overcome this protection and touch the warded creature."

 

[Hypersmurf]

... oh, it's a paladin thread. That explains it.

Folks, remember - keep the discussion civil. Let's not get into any bickering or name-calling, okay?

Thanks.

-Hyp.
(Moderator)

 

[Brennin Magalus]

You have also proven that you are "misinformed" when it comes to using "basic" spelling and "basic" grammer.

Grammer?

 

[LordBOB]

the thing i never understood was what was meant if they recoil, i think it means the Feetle position. I thought of it as falling to the floor like a baby and curling up. We have done it where this happens, the demon is knocked prone and we stab it in the head instantly killing it.

If i was wrong about the rules with protection from Evil I dont want to be Right. My DM hasnt caught it so i wont tell them. Lucky we dont encounter many evil things yet so it isnt a problem ( yet )

 

[Aus_Snow]

Low will save. (Blackguard, too.) C'mon, these folks are the stalwart heroes of their respective causes with even more stringent discipline requirements than clerics and they've got a weak will? Whatever.

Heh. Wish I'd seen this before posting in House Rules just now. I could've simply pointed this way. A bit less effort that way.

edit --- Oh yeh, the topic. Well, basically something like (for example) a fighter/cleric would wipe the floor with them. Stuff like that. Anyhoo, I've changed them in a few ways. All better now.

 

[Numion]

What happens to a paladin that utters the following sentence: "I am lying"?

 

[JoeBlank]

Paladins and thread necromancy make strange bedfellows.

 

[Desdichado]

Well, it seems to me that the problem most people are having with paladins is their "holier than thou" attitude. I can see how that would be annoying, but I think that people who play their paladins like that are playing them wrong.

I wouldn't have a problem with that, at least in my current group. We don't have the type of boneheaded RPers that make the paladin a headache for everyone else.

The problem I have is that that paladin is just plain boring.