Random Moment: Paladin's Bad Rep

Chaser617 · Post by **Chaser617** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:17 am

You know, I just had a random moment (probably because of RH's current storiline and the fact I've started reading TotQ[after um... how many years I've been reading RH's strips?]) and going over a bunch of my old D&D characters. I play a Paladin most the time, mainly because, I like the idea of Champions of Light quite a bit (Considering I'm a Superman fan? is this any surprise?) but I've been noticing something when I've gone to a couple cons of late, the Paladin is being portrayed in a rather negative light. A lot of times they're seen as the guys that bring the whole party down, and I've seen some that while expressing the exact lettering of the Alignment, I would consider quite heartless.

Admitedly I probably never lived up to the LG requirement of a Paladin, but my portrail was a bit more... gentle you might say. Granted, there was party friction, considering we hac a CN Elf wizard that had an affinity for spirits of the liquid kind, a LOT of spells that made things go boom, and the tendency to try to cast spells while drunk *winces remembering having to pay for three burned down bars.* However, I never saw the Paladin as an inflexible, self-rightous braggart that I'm seeing a lot of now adays.

I know, completely random but hey, these are the things that hit me at times.

Mjolnir · Post by **Mjolnir** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:12 pm

All that means is that you're a better role-player than most people that play Paladins.

I've played a paladin once, but the party I was with didn't supprt it too well, so it's kind of turned me off of them for awhile. (Not that I have allot of chances to play, anyway.)

- Mjolnir

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:34 pm

It nowhere near the same thing...but I like playing as a Paladin in Fable. Champion of truth and good, yet humble. Not the same thing, but (shrug) thought I would mention it.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:09 pm

Chaser, I believe you have accomplished something quite rare. You have RPed a Paladin who does not have a giant stick up his butt.

That's basically the main problem with all those others. Consider yourself a great roleplayer. Most people are lazy when playing that type, and some of the portrayals might stem from their disdain for religion and/or the "goody two-shoes" type. How do you play someone when you don't understand them or hate what they are?

Truely, the world needs more paladins like your own. A humble man who is good, just, and honest is hard to find, and thus far more priceless these days. I applaud you and your skills.

Chaser617 · Post by **Chaser617** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:21 pm

*shrugs gently* Maybe its type casting, I really do not know. I have never ever been able to play the 'bad guy' or even the 'guy out for himself' for some strange reason, the one or two times I tried? *shrugs* fell flat on my face.

Dosen't mean that other party members didn't get get frustrated in character:

Me: look, all I'm asking for is that you hold off drinking tonight
Drunk Elf: Why, look I don't want a surmon...
Me: Talvious, you KNOW I'm not going to give you a surmon...
DE: Then why won't you let me drink?!?!
Me: Because, the last time you were drunk, the party ended up with two gold peices to its name, and our contact forever had a phobia of anything with pointed ears.....

Shyal_malkes · Post by **Shyal_malkes** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:09 pm

I've never agreed with the Baulder's gate version of the paladin.

to have a character class that MUST be only one particular alignment and also it MUST be human to be a paladin.

there was always something that just burnes me about that.

that many limitations and you might as well just say it's impossibable to find one that is even an adventurer.

LoneWolf23k · Post by **LoneWolf23k** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:24 pm

Y'know, the Paladin is probably my favorite D&D class as well.. What other class in D&D is there that's automatically a hero?

I also avoid acting like a huge *Ahem*, and basically just try to lead through heroic exemple. About the only unPaladin-like bit of behavior I might have is not holding on to chastity well..

Chaser617 · Post by **Chaser617** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 7:30 pm

If said Paladin is married to the White Sorceress that he's being ehhem... 'unchase' with, not really a problem

Granted... one must remember to make sure the tent your in is protected against nasty little thief tools for easvedropping.....

Most imberassing moment in a Roleplay goes toooooo......

DracoDei · Post by **DracoDei** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:26 am

Chaser617 wrote:If said Paladin is married to the White Sorceress that he's being ehhem... 'unchase' with, not really a problem

Granted... one must remember to make sure the tent your in is protected against nasty little thief tools for easvedropping.....

Most imberassing moment in a Roleplay goes toooooo......

Well, as long as such scenes are sufficiently lacking in detail from any PLAYERS who aren't actually married to eachother, then that is perfectly fine. (See thread on 'Drow Enchantress'....) Also remembering that it is the 'nasty little thief' who caused the problem here really, and explaining the matter to the individual in question (force, and even perhaps shouting are optional) is probably in order.

To give a context I once ran a campaign in which the characters were SUPPOSED to have the OPTION of marrying NPCs and doing so was a significant decision one way or the other even from a powergaming point of view (the NPCs were modified therenthropes of a type who only use the infectious version of their bite on their spouse). One of the NPCs in question ended up being a LG Monk (martial arts master who seeks development of mind, body, and spirit, and certainly NOT sworn to celebacy!) who was married to the CG elven cleric PC. Detail of a too explicit nature was avoided (although inuendoes, especially between the players abounded, and certain matters were covered as tactfully as possible (birth control, and the overlap of seasonal heat with normal humanoid sex drive for example)). I probably didn't do quite as good a job of finding the proper balance as Ralph has done, but I tried my best, and for approximately the same reasons as I tend to attribute to him. You see, the goddess that the therenthropes were especially devoted too was my translation of the marriage, family and sexuality sub-set of True Christian morality. Everybody knows its a game, so I didn't feel there was any idolitry in making this a focus, but at the same time, fiction can present a case (as Ralph has proven time and again, following in the august footsteps of John Bunyan["The Pilgrims Progress"] and C.S. Lewis["The Screwtape Letters", "Pilgrims Regress", and the "Perelandra" series, in addition to the obvious...], and also Walt Kelly["Pogo"]). Only time will tell if he (or even I???) have succeeded in standing on the shoulders of these giants.

Chaser617 · Post by **Chaser617** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:39 am

Well, um, both the Paladin and White Sourceress were PCs, played by a couple that was already married....

The tief just thought it'd be a nice little trick to easedrop on something that never normally was explained other than 'Kirian and Chasta go ot their tent' when we stopped for the night.....

DracoDei · Post by **DracoDei** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:34 pm

Chaser617 wrote:Well, um, both the Paladin and White Sourceress were PCs, played by a couple that was already married....

I certainly can approve of that.

Chaser617 wrote: The tief just thought it'd be a nice little trick to easedrop on something that never normally was explained other than 'Kirian and Chasta go ot their tent' when we stopped for the night.....

Which could be very good RP on the players part (depending on alignment), and which I would have handled by rolling appropriate checks, MAYBE asking for a breif statement of what sort of interesting things were overheard*, and then moving on with the game.

* Some examples include as follows:
A.)
5 minutes of relative silence followed by dueling snores (hard day of hiking!).
B.) "You wanna?", "Not tonight honey.", and a few relaxed 'hmm' sounds followed by snoring (or just sleep pattern breathing).
C.) Well... you hear one of them say something about "Did you remember the honey?", "Not only that I managed to find some with bits of rasberries in it..." and where it goes from there shall be left to the players imaginations.
D.) "Just a quicky, my soul and heart love you with unwaivering devotion, but my body's interest in your's varies as the winds of the air."

There, IMHO, you have just enough detail provided for roleplay within the group, acknowledging the gift of sexuality, while NOT overly supporting any purient interest on the part of the player (Especially if the GM and the players of the couple conspire to make sure that negative actions in character have negative consequences in character in this case.)