bobc@tektools.UUCP (Bob Crane) (05/02/85)
With out a doubt, paladins are the best characters to play in AD&D. I currently have a 7th level paladin that strictly enforces control over other members of the party--his word is LAW. Maybe I like playing them so much because I despise paladin like people in real life with a passion--CLOSED minded people who are TOO religious. Anyway, I was wondering what the problem is with a Paladin slaying captured evil types (especially chaotic ones)? Isn't the main purpose of a Paladin to further the ideals of lawful good by exterminating evil? I don't see any thing wrong with killing captured orcs or kobolds because they simply can't be converted because they have been reared evil. It would be like trying to convert a Muslum to Christianity. My paladin believes in capital punishment. --------------------------- Bob Crane !textronix!tektools (503) 645-7770
ncg@ukc.UUCP (N.C.Gale) (05/07/85)
So why are orcs and hobgoblins evil? I see a number of possibilities: i) they are intrinsically evil, and like being evil ii) they were brought up from the cradle to be evil iii) they are under some sort of pressure to be evil from a greater power (if the god who takes their souls when they are dead is evil, then orcs are going to do their best to please him) For case (i), Paladins should do their utmost to kill as many of the little B*****ds as he can. For case (iii), probably the same - unless he can alter their afterlife prospects. But for case (ii)... Then they can undergo alignment changes. I've picked my brains for parallels in real life, but I can't think of one example of a hobgoblin changing alignment. But Atilla the Hun was persuaded not to sack Rome. And James Brooke, the White Raja of Sarawak, persuaded all the canabalistic pygmies to fight for him against the swarms of Borneo pirates. Remember, killing its carriers is not the only way of destroying evil - they could instead be cured of it. Especially if we take a Paladin to be a Christian, 'love thine enemy', and 'turn the other cheek' etc, were all directed at trying to get nasty people to have alignment changes. This is the approach I have taken in my campaign. Now whenever my players meet a goblin, they have to make sure which tribe he is from before using threatening behaviour ( there is no paladin in the party, so if the goblin is from the wrong tribe, then they'll cut his throat fast enough). I call the goblin 'he' and 'his', because female goblins are golddust for when they are dealling with the friendly tribe. -Nigel Gale
fung@daemen.UUCP (Kenneth Worzel Fung) (05/09/85)
> It would be like trying to convert a Muslum to Christianity. > > My paladin believes in capital punishment. > > --------------------------- > > Bob Crane > !textronix!tektools > (503) 645-7770 *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR DEATH WISH *** WELLLLLLL!!!! Your paladin believes in Capital Punishment, eh?? I see nothing wrong in it, as long as your deity supports you, or was the first one to say "Kill the sucker!" Also remember, you have clerics, how do THEY feel? Are they supportive? Are you SURE you can't persuade them about changing their alignments? REMEMBER: Your paladin is in the pursuit of good (or evil) and does not always have to resort to killing. In fact, a paladin will try (like others) NOT to kill, so as long as the creature encountered will, in the end, benefit goodness and purity. [Hip-high and shovels, right?] If you believe in Capital Punishment, good. So as long as it will have more good than evil in the end. (You might kill Mr. X, but later learn that Mr. X's unborn son WOULD HAVE lead a crusade against Hell, and conquer the first plane. Then you fucked up royally!) A DM. -- Kenneth "Worzel" Fung "For the Eternal Space--Mobile Suit Gundam" UUCP : {decvax/dual/rocksanne/watmath/rocksvax} !sunybcs!daemen!fung "...to be destroyed by an Earthling, a mere girl, an American even, would make him the laughing stock of the Universe!"