From: ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: Paladins
Date: 23 Aug 92 23:43:05 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <BtFy5w.GL@news.cso.uiuc.edu> dv52151@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Axly) writes:
>ccoprdj@prism.gatech.EDU (Jorge Diaz) writes:

>>In article <5082@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP> seawasp@vm2.cis.pitt.edu (Sea Wasp) writes:

>You are applying 20th century philosophy on the rights of man to a 
>medieval time period. People didn't have rights back then, at least
>not in the sense they have them today. If someone commited a crime
>that the local nobility could prosecute them for, the normal sentence
>was death..for just about everything.  Medieval justice was much harsher.
>If a peasant spit on the sidewalk at the duke's place, he would likely
>have lost his head. 

And you're applying a noble's reactions to the crime and trying to fit
them into a paladin.  Nobles tend to be vain, power-hungry, selfish,
and self-centered.  Of course one would kill someone for any petty little
crime.  That's how they get their kicks.  Paladins aren't supposed to
be vain, power-hungry, selfish, or self-centered.

I can't think of a better example, so I'm going to use Arthur.  Here's
an example of a King who was supposed to be pretty good to his people.
I don't think that he would have killed someone for spitting on the
sidewalk, nor do I think that he would have someone killed if the
victim didn't "press charges" (see below).  His line of thinking was more
in line with what a Paladin would do.

>Well, you again apply 20th century thinking here. It didn't really matter
>back in the feudal era if the victim "pressed charges". The criminal broke
>the law and he was punished, regardless of the victim's views on that.

Maybe if you have a tyrant for a judge.  A more compassionate, understanding
lord (which a paladin should be) would grant them mercy.

>Another important thing to keep in mind is the nature of the paladin.
>The paladin is appointed by GOD (TM) to do his job, and I don't think 
>GOD (TM) gives 2 coppers for the ranger's opinion.

I don't think that GOD (TM) gives two coppers for a +3 longsword, either.
Neither one of us knows what GOD (TM) thinks at all, but I would hope its
safe to assume that he isn't vain, power-hungry, selfish, or self-centered;
at least not a LG one (which it would have to be in order to have a paladin
following).

>>I see.  So anyone who commits a crime not only sacrifices all his rights,
>>but is also no longer a person?  What else happens?  They've already
>>given up their rights and their humanity.  What else do they lose?  I want
>>to know, because I'd hate to be the guy that drove over the speed limit
>>in *YOUR* world.

>See above - this isn't the 20th century we are dealing with, more like
>the late 12th given the tech level of most ADD games. Henry V buried
>a soldier up to his neck and let him die of exposure for theft. I'd
>say that's a good example of how late feudal era personages thought
                                                  ^^^^^^^^^^
>about crime. Henry was also especially pious and is a good character
>study of what one type of "Dirty Harry" paladin would be like.

BINGO!!!!  Personage.  I would hope that a GOD (TM) would be above such
petty emotions.


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