Roleplaying Lawful good paladin types.

TheGeoff · Post by **TheGeoff** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:21 pm

Im playing through as a female Paladin/cavalier named Vala. Just got started and am planning on getting the following NPCs for the permanent group.

Keldorn (What Paladin wouldn't enjoy having another paladin in the gorup?)
Mazzy (Yep LG female halfing "paladin")
Anomen (for the 'romance' and being a snooty knight)
Arie (She is LG!)
Yoshimo ( Since Vala lost Imoen she needs someone to snoop out the traps. Plus he is a bounty hunter and not 'evil' what could be the harm?)

*Eventually Imoen will 'replace' Yoshimo.

I've just started and have completed the Copper Coronet quests. But as I was going over what quests Vala would or woulnd't accept I kinda got confused. Just about every non evil quest a good two shoes would do but ive isolated some.

*Valygar and the planar sphere-She wouldn't do this because the mage requires her to give her word before telling her whats it is all about...She would not give her word freely like this.. (o well, no gauntlets of ogre power or Crom Fear for this group ever....)

*Trademeet and the druid business- Im thinking she may not go help out Trademeet because it doesnt sound like 'serious' paladin business. animals and druids and genies o my?

*Renal bloodscalp-Hahahahaha. Do I need to explain why not?

*Helping Xar find Montoran-Nope and double nope.

*Finding the serial killer in the bridge section- Im thinking she wouldn't engage in this because it seems like a job for the police and a noble cavalier should leave it to them.....

Anyone have any other ideas about what a properly roleplayed LG cavalier/paladin type might NOT engage in? Or you might disagree with me as to why she should do these other quests?

By the way She did turn in Jan for selling bruiser mates. She just had to turn in the criminal.

Jeff

Aranan · Post by **Aranan** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:36 pm

Well, two of your quests you said you wouldn't do make no sense to me.

*Trademeet and the druid business- Im thinking she may not go help out Trademeet because it doesnt sound like 'serious' paladin business. animals and druids and genies o my?

*Finding the serial killer in the bridge section- Im thinking she wouldn't engage in this because it seems like a job for the police and a noble cavalier should leave it to them.....

Erm, why WOULDN'T a paladin (or any LG) character particpate in those two? Your reasons don't make a lot of sense to me..

I play pen and paper D&D, and this is a description I "borrowed" from another DM about alignments (Just using the LG section)

Lawful Good
I. Thou shalt uphold the word and spirit of the law wherever thou shalt travel, and permit the system of justice its way unless such a system proves itself antithetical to justice for the community. Expose corruption for the system of justice and respect the agents of justice for their authority in these matters.
II. Thou shalt put forth all thy strength to protect the weak from those who would exercise their strength unjustly and in the service of Evil.
III. Exercise the virtue of respect for the community by invoking harmony.
IV. Thou shalt always grant mercy to those who are truly repentant, aiding them in the expedition of penance of all sins against the community and against Good.
V. Thou shalt always ply all resource toward the healing of mind, body, and soul in the service of compassion, the service of Good, and the community.
VI. Thou shalt always exercise thy strength of arms and spirit to the measure necessary to effectively oppose, diminish, and nullify the source and ends of Evil. Thou shalt always exercise enough strength to defend thy well-being and health, or the well-being and health of another and no more.
VII. Thou shalt not use thy divine gifts to misrepresent the source and ends of Good to serve thy own ends.
VIII. Thou shalt always uphold the tenets of order to build for the greater good, rather than to destroy or oppress.
IX. Thou shalt always exercise the virtue of charity for the material and spiritual well-being of others.
X. Thou shalt uphold honesty and truth as sacred; the choice of a man to serve the Good is worth nothing if its essence is obscured and unknowable. Keep all promises and oaths and remain sensible of honor.

TheGeoff · Post by **TheGeoff** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 6:08 pm

Hmm

Well being a PnP old school D&Der myself I can honestly tell you that not every LG character is exactly the same LG. Vala is a paladin/cavalier. More attuned to the noblility and knightly sort of stuff. Legends etc.

As far as the birdge district killer is concerned Vala isn't into skulking about interogating people, searching for clues and so forth. It isnt apprent that a demon/dragon or great evil sorcerer is at work. Plus noone of consequence was killed. Just transients. So she would leave it to the authorities to handle. Her time would be better spent elsewhere.

Trademeet on the other hand...The only hook to go there is that guy in the bridge district asking for help. He says that animals are attacking the town. Regular ones. No trolls, ogres, dragons, demons. Heck not even goblins, or even lowly kobolds. Just wolves, bears, mountain cats and the like. hardly something that should occupy her time. IF he mentions the efreets (not sure if he does) He only says they are interferring with trade. More of a political/economical problem and not something for her to actively go after since she is going to be busy Saving a Noble House from Seige (Nalia's Quest), and saving the windspear hills from Ogres and trolls (As Lord Firkraag informed her ).

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:19 pm

Originally posted by TheGeoff

1. Valygar and the planar sphere-She wouldn't do this because the mage requires her to give her word before telling her whats it is all about...She would not give her word freely like this.. (o well, no gauntlets of ogre power or Crom Fear for this group ever....)

2. Trademeet and the druid business- Im thinking she may not go help out Trademeet because it doesnt sound like 'serious' paladin business. animals and druids and genies o my?

3. Renal bloodscalp-Hahahahaha. Do I need to explain why not?

4. Helping Xar find Montoran-Nope and double nope.

5. Finding the serial killer in the bridge section- Im thinking she wouldn't engage in this because it seems like a job for the police and a noble cavalier should leave it to them.....

6. By the way She did turn in Jan for selling bruiser mates. She just had to turn in the criminal.

1. You can go to Valygar's house and talk to him without accepting the quest from Tolgeiras. Once you realize what is going on I think his quest is perfectly suited to a Paladin. Unless you have scruples about walking into his house uninvited, in the first place...

2. When you get Mazzy in your party, she will eventually want to go back to Trademeet to help out her family. You can do the town-related quests while you are waiting for her sister to heal. Again, quite a noble cause once you find out what is going on.

3. Mmm, you are probably right here but I would do it because you get a chance to wipe out a torturing, murdering scum. Also you would be helping Yoshi. But maybe I tend to think more in Chaotic Good categories. (On the other hand, Mae'var's activities are against the law...)

4. You are probably right here.

5. The police officer specifically tells you he doesn't have enough manpower to keep innocent people safe, so there is no harm in lending a hand.

6. Yes!

One other problem you might run into from a role-playing perspective is the Kangaxx quest. You might justify it on the grounds that you believe his story that he has been unjustly imprisoned, but you would have to have fairly low WIS and INT to pull this off.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:36 pm

Perhaps you could have Yoshi talk to people, and imagine that he asks you to help in some of "his" quests?

In any case, I think the murderer in the Bridge district is a must do for a Paladin, innocent people getting murdered but you are going to let them die through inaction because they aren't rich or noble enough? Not very paladinesque IMO.

Another thing you should do as a Paladin is hand over the Silver Sword to the "rightful owners" IMO. You probably also shouldn't enter the guarded compound.

TheGeoff · Post by **TheGeoff** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:36 pm

The Kangaxx quest

She definetly wont be doing this one at all because it involves breaking into an unknown house (that is locked and trapped) Plus the evil eminating off kangaxx and the other 2 sarcofiggi(sp)? Is so evil even non paladins sence it heavily. No rings o kangaxx fer her either Im afraid heh.

Hmm, yah the Mazzy thing might be ok but i wont be getting mazzy until AFTER spellhold, I think....She wont know about the Umar hills until then because of **SPOILER** the bad things that happen to love interests and you need to go in that area to help em**

As a side note...I have her detect evil every area she enters and she tries to confront those that are evil.

*Lehatin(sp) Owner of the Copper Coronet ISNT evil, but Joluv (cd merchant is).

*There is this Rylock guy and this Ferov guy in the docks area that are evil but I kinnae find them.

*I gave a coin to a beggar and Minsc says
"Give a man a coin and you feed him for a day, but give a man a sword and he will feast on evil forever!"

TheGeoff · Post by **TheGeoff** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:46 pm

The bridge district

She is a Cavalier, if she spent all her time hunting down criminals she would be more of a bounty hunter or stalker. She believes her time should be spent hunting demons and dragons. If the serial killer were hunting peasants or commoners this might cause her to help defend the people. But he is targetting people that arent any social good. This isnt her main reason for not helping the police chief do hid job but in all not something I believe a paladin/cavalier would waster her time doing.

This type of quest would fit more to thieves/rangers. I was playing a LE assassin before and i roleplayed the reason that he searched for the killer was because whoever was doing it was hurting business in the area (prostitution, dealing drugs, stealing) because people were staying home. He didn't care people were dying, he cared because his pockets were hurting (He has the thief stronghold).

For the same reason I am going to have him do the Trademeet quests because (from a roleplaying standpoint) one of his means of income is 'protecting' the merchants of Trademeet. With this character it was one of the two quests that I had him leave Athkatla for. The other was killing Valygar and returning his body (which he did cause he thought he was going to make friends in the cowled wizards). Of course roleplaying a LE thief/assassin should be for another post.........

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Wed Mar 19, 2003 12:00 am

A man was buried alive in the cemetery, an injustice if there ever was one. But if a demon or a dragon didn't do it, it's not worth your time to punish the perpetrators? I have trouble playing Lawful Good characters, but I guess I will never understand Paladins.

By the way, why are so many of you calling Yoshimo "Yoshi"? As Yoshimo explains to Renal, "Where I come from, such a pet name is only used by... well, let us say that you and I have not become so familiar just yet, hm?"

Also, I don't believe than any Good character should wear the Ring of Gaxx, but that never seems to stop anyone.

jim0525 · Post by **jim0525** » Wed Mar 19, 2003 7:30 am

the big picture

your main goal is to raise money in order to save your "sister" from the evil clutches of a madman. the other "quests" give you the opportunity to be the noble paladin that you are to obtain this money and imoen's freedom. paladin's are kind of weird in their sense of what is right or wrong and often times this will class with society's own morals. they are like religious zealots who are very one sided. in this case, as long as they are not killing innocents, you are role-playing correctly.

DraySkullan · Post by **DraySkullan** » Wed Mar 19, 2003 9:41 am

I play a paladin/cavalier alot of the time as well, so I know where you're coming from. I do disagree a little though. While the cavalier side of you may not like doing dirty work, you are first and foremost a paladin. And ignoring people in danger because it's too low a chore for you borders on an evil act, at least if I was the DM. The Trademeet and Bridge district killer quests would be a must in my book.

The problem I had in playing a paladin was that you have a point where you HAVE to choose between two bad choices. My paladin normally would never work with a thieves guild or a clan of vampires. I think the designers of the game should have worked something into the game where paladins wouldnt have to compromise their integrity.