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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Paladins
Message-ID: <1368@shark.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-May-85 02:22:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: shark.1368
Posted: Wed May  1 02:22:34 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 03:48:07 EDT
References: <544@udenva.UUCP>
Reply-To: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 46
Summary: 

In article <544@udenva.UUCP> ttorgers@udenva.UUCP (Troy Torgerson) writes:
>*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR ANTI-PALADIN ***
>
>Ok, we all know that Paladins are a pain in the *, but what I'd like to 
>know is how do people play their Palidins? (Or DO they play Paladins?)

A pain in the asterisk?  I disagree!  Paladins are a wonderful tool.
They can get you into SO much trouble!  Paladins provide a REASON for
the players to be battling the evil dregs, rather than JOINING them.

For example, and this is only a possible scenario ...
A paladin leads the party because she's PAYING them.  He has access to the
coffers of his religion because she gains fame and he has the favor of the
deity or deities.  She can recruit or requisition the help of clerics of
his religion, especially if it is a martial religion (like, say, that odd
Spartan worship of Mars...)  The other players would in this case be the
specialists brought in for the express purpose of handling particular
situations.  They may not particularly agree with the paladin's religion
but they will certainly follow her leadership.

>How do all you DM's handle your Paladins PC's and NPC's?  
>Specifically, how do you handle a Paladin PC that is being played
>as a pain in the ass instead of a Paladin. . .

Easy.  Convince the player to roleplay in a more reasonable fashion.
(I disagree with the suggestions in the Player Handbook about the
personality traits which accompany Lawfulness.)  The LAW in question is
the one to consider.  Taoists can be considered lawful in some respect
yet their Law emphasised personal responsibility.  The specifics of the
Law are the responsibility of the DM but you can get the player to help
in the design work, which will make for better roleplay.

Or, have another player, who is better at paladining, run a paladin in
a mentor role.  The turkey will catch on with a lawful, good example to imitate.

If you still have problems, let the player know that the disruption is
wrecking the game, and getting everyone mad, and that it will have to
stop.  If the problem remains after that, then the player is out, and
good riddance.  There's likely no shortage of reasonable people who are
willing to act like adults when acting out murderous fantasies.

>
>			Troy Torgerson
>			udenva!ttorgers

- Hutch