Paladins and killing evil people

CM · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:34 PM

OK i need help.
I play a paladin and just detected evil in 4 people.
I threatened them that if they do anything evil in my prescene their lives are done.
But then again...wouldnt a paladin just kill people who his god has deemed evil.
That is of course knowing that my god on argyle is Toran the god of justice.
Some help would be nice how i handle the situation.
I dont want to PK 4 people just for RP reasons.

Nippy · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:37 PM

This is always the interesting contradiction about Paladins, some would go and smite the evil persons, some sure as hell wouldn't, they haven't seen them do any evil, and murder for no good reason other than seeing that they are evil, is not an excuse.

My answer would be, go with Faisal (Your characters?) interpretation of how he should deal with evil...

Absolutely no answer there at all, but hell, sometimes an answer is given by NOT answering a question...

Weasel · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:38 PM

The Most Holy of the Holy Cavaliers says.... "Lay the smack down on them!!" (j/k)

At least in a RP sense. In a enviroment like argyle, hold them to your word.

"do anything evil in my prescene their lives are done."

Zelgadis · #4 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:38 PM

I say slaughter them and bathe in their blood. Fallen paladins are so much cooler

RandomThug · #5 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:40 PM

Just smite them, but make sure you attack without armor or a weapon, and that your outnumbered.

[black]go evil[/black]

CM · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:40 PM

Yeah i know....a Paladin wouldnt let an evil person lie around is what i think but dont want to PK people.
Next time i kill one of them i will say Weasel said i could do it.

That should make it all fine right?

Edit: What?
Fine!

*grabs his Holy COMMic Anti-DF sword +7 and smites Zel and dismembers Ramdomthug*

Weasel · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CM

Next time i kill one of them i will say Weasel said i could do it.
That should make it all fine right?

In my book, it's a OK.

CM · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:47 PM

As a Holy COMMic warrior, i follow your book

So PKing here i come.
Hope i dont get banned from Argyle

fable · #9 (**permalink**) 11-15-2002, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CM
But then again...wouldnt a paladin just kill people who his god has deemed evil.

Aren't you assuming here that all members of a given profession have identical backgroiunds and think, feel and act alike? Consider--

Why did your paladin join his profession?
Whom does he worship?
How long has he been a paladin?
What were his parents like? What did their actions teach him?
What is the mode of life demonstrated by his order?
How old is he? How many people has he killed?
Has he ever made any serious mistakes that he's acknowledged?
How does he consciously define good, and evil? How does he actually feel about each?
What emotions are stirred up when he sees specific acts of good or evil?

When you can answer these questions, you'll have a character who's a paladin, not a paladin character.

Demis · #10 (**permalink**) 11-16-2002, 12:36 AM

Hey CM

As another who likes playing Paladins i would say that you are actually doing an evil act if you choose to kill someone for just being evil. As far as i know if he actually did something wrong at your presents or you heard or have proof that the person did something bad then, and especially for paladins, you have a very good reason for PK.
But in Argyle you have to consider the clergy as well. For a Paladin of Toran, PKing a person that have committed an evil act is fairly reasonable, but not for followers of other gods and clergy IMO. Maybe you should try a Paladin of Wodan if you do not like PKing people.

KidD01 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-16-2002, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fable
What were his parents like? What did their actions teach him?

why I get the feeling this have something related with A###en ?

@CM : A swift cold steel on the throat is always a good answer for those evil people - so sayeth the stealthy one. And quoting from Minsc, "Go for the eyes Boo ! Go for the eyes !"

Maharlika · #12 (**permalink**) 11-16-2002, 03:27 AM

...would disagree what "Lawful Good" really is. IMO different Orders would have different interpretation on what kind of "Lawful Goodness" as well as the proper code of conduct a paladin must observe.

Afterall, it is the God, the Holy Order that he belongs to would decide if he is truly worthy of being his paladin --- if not, then the God strips off his paladinhood.

COMMrade Fas, if the Holiest Cavalier COMMander says it's okay, then go for it!

Seriously though, I personally feel that evil acts done in his presence is enough to give the paladin to rectify the "sin" as he sees fit, also the prevention of an evil act to be consummated would give the proper justification. Afterall, the God he serves (I assume) would be omnicient on what his vowed followers have been doing --- as it is the God concerned who decides who is worthy or not.

fable · #13 (**permalink**) 11-16-2002, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KidD01
why I get the feeling this have something related with A###en ?

Absolutely not!

But as a longtime RPGer, I think the best way to create a character who has more to offer than a kind of default, professional blankness is to build a past.

I once posted a list of something like 10 different thief types, in response to someone over in a Dragonrealms forum claiming that all thieves should be according to the image he perceived. I'll try to locate it, and post it here as an example of what I mean.

#14 (**permalink**) 11-16-2002, 10:04 AM

Sophistry!!!

If you are a Paladin you MUST opose evil. How far that oppisition goes is your choice...how you precieve the god's will. To me, Paladins cannot abide the presense of evil. If it means killing PK, well, May the Gods have mercy on their souls. Yet not every evil deed warrents death. The paladin can also hope for the miscreants redemption I suppose. You could try to save them rather than kill them.Failing that kill them to save others. If a paladin allows evil to live, he bears upon his immortal soul all the later deeds that evil does. He is a protector. He derives his power thru purity. A paladin who allows evil to continue is neither pure nor a protector.

I quit playing paladins. After being forced to kill my friends characters 3-4 times and being murdered twice that much I just gave up. It was just too much work.

The mastery of practising religious sophistry will help but sadly I lacked that ability to any functioning degree.

YMOS
tommy

Chanak · #15 (**permalink**) 11-16-2002, 01:58 PM

The paladin can be a difficult role to play. Without dimension to the character, something becomes lost in the fray. A mindless zealot, lashing out at everything he (or she) perceives to be evil, is the result...which makes the paladin no better than the foes he truly stands against.

A paladin's chief concerns are justice and truth, which serve to protect the innocent. He always seeks the truth of every matter, and as is often the case, this brings him in direct conflict with the forces of chaos and evil. His own actions are his primary concern, not the actions of others...for there are times when the innocent may indeed be stained by the taint of evil, and always he strives to walk in those things which symbolize his calling.

I have enjoyed playing paladins, and they are perhaps my favorite class to play, along with fighters, rangers, and the occasional mage.

To me, the paladin symbolizes purity in battle, a living example of the avenger of the innocent. It's quite a burden to bear, and the paladin should always feel that burden as he ponders the circumstances he finds himself in. In this case, a creature being evil is simply not good enough...there is always the possibility for change, and to deny a being a chance to turn from darkness is itself an injustice which a paladin could not, with a clear conscience, commit.