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Forum Chat.

Posted by Lord DubuFor group 0
Lord Dubu
GM, 32 posts
Wed 11 Jan 2012
at 19:31
  • msg #1

Forum Chat

Here you can discuss anything (within reason, no political debates, religion bashing etc. Try to be mindful that people in this forum are mostly here for topics at least vaguely related to pathfinder or the fantasy genre).
LoreGuard
player, 6 posts
Sat 21 Apr 2012
at 01:49
  • msg #2

Re: Forum Chat

A question... the new Shackles adventure path, it has come up that it basically says that Paladin's are not really appropriate for the campaign area.  You can download it from the link below.

http://paizo.com/products/btpy...ackles-Players-Guide

However, I wonder, if it might not necessarily be so cut and dry.  Now I also don't know about exactly the specific adventures that will make up the Adventure Path they are going to publish, but I could see some options for even a Shackles area.

As an example, rather than playing pirates in that area, one could play a ship of Privateers whom prey on the 'enemy' ships of a neighboring country.  They might even do things like freeing slave and other decidedly good things that a paladin could enjoy.

I even had an old Swashbuckling Paladin of Pelor character concept that came from the old 2nd edition rules that had been fun to play, especially since circumstance conspired to take him directions I had not intended for him to go.

Could one even make a concept of a Priate who preyed on other pirates?  Is there a way to make that work for a Paladin.  Could a palidin be forced to help pirates due to a debt of honor?  Especially if the pirate ship was working to some goal the Paladin saw as being a greater good?

Any thoughts, anyone think it is worth discussing?
Jarilye
player, 13 posts
Sun 22 Apr 2012
at 22:41
  • msg #3

Re: Forum Chat

  Perhaps if the paladin were mistakenly apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, only to later discover that he was in fact born in leap year on the 29th of February...But that would involve all sorts of musical numbers, and I'm not sure that's what you're looking for.

  Kidding aside, there's absolutely no reason a paladin couldn't lead a group of privateers.  I think playing as a pirate who preys on other pirates could be problematic.  As a privateer, you generally have legal recourse for your income, usually through looting the other pirates' ship.  That's fine and dandy, but if you're just a random guy who decided to fight pirates outside the law, then killing them and taking their stuff suddenly seems a lot less lawful.  Good, perhaps, but not lawful.  Also, what happens when he is ordered by the law to lay down arms and surrender?  As soon as he chooses to flee or fight, he has broken his code of conduct by not recognizing the proper authorities.

  tl;dr: A privateer can have both legal authority and moral obligation to stamp out what he sees as evil.  A pirate could have moral high ground, but could not suvive long before running into legal trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:54, Sun 22 Apr 2012.
Dairius_Chi
player, 12 posts
Sun 22 Apr 2012
at 22:57
  • msg #4

Re: Forum Chat

Well, keep in mind that a single chaotic act does not sap a paladin...evil(or working with evil characters knowingly, barring extreme circumstances) is what does that. So as a GM, if he prayed, was truly apologetic, and then went all Robin Hood and donated most of his earnings(as the captain gets half the booty), then I'd call it a wash.

Alternatively, he could actually work for official Privateers, that are being employed by the state, country, or church(this one sounds a little off). I think an inquisitor would definitely fit better while sort of filling the role of a paladin, but those are just my thoughts.
LoreGuard
player, 7 posts
Sun 22 Apr 2012
at 23:08
  • msg #5

Re: Forum Chat

Inquisitors would obviously fit the bill very easily in the Shackles, as they are commented as being more concerned with the ends, rather than the means, willing to even break their own conventions for the ultimate purpose of what they see as for their beliefs.  (And inquisitors are far more flexible in their alignments anyway.)

The problem with being wantonly chaotic frequently, the paladin can't really continually revert to chaos and then claim to be apologetic again and again, unless they are multiple personality, in which case I'm not certain their other personality would have access to the paladin abilities.

Privateers, would certainly fit in the genre and would allow for a Paladin.  I'm curious what other 'explanations' one might have.  I suppose a Robin Hood of the seas, who has reason to see 'country' controlling the seas as being corrupt.  I don't think constant chaotic acts would be tolerable though that well, but for the sake of the common good, the paladin could probably put up with a rather chaotic band of companions aboard the ship.
Jarilye
player, 14 posts
Sun 22 Apr 2012
at 23:21
  • msg #6

Re: Forum Chat

  As LoreGuard stated, a life of piracy isn't one single chaotic act.  It's frequent, and easily leads to evil.  From the paladin code of conduct:

  A paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, using poison and so forth), help those in need (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends) and punish those who harm or threaten innocents.

  While there's no explicit number of times listed that you can break this and get away with it, it is a defining feature of a paladin, and if you don't want to follow it, I'm not sure why you'd want to play one.  As mentioned earlier, inquisitors are much more willing to work outside the law.

  As a GM, I'd give a max of one mistake in each category.  You had to threaten a militiaman to escape?  Find, you are wracked with guilt and spend the night praying and cleansing yourself.  Had to do it again?  Lost your abilities until you atone.  It wasn't some unforeseen consequence; you willingly went down a path that you knew would lead you there again, and so you're moving away from paladin ideals.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Mon 23 Apr 2012.
Zag24
player, 19 posts
Sun 22 Apr 2012
at 23:54
  • msg #7

Re: Forum Chat

The distinction of pirate to privateer is a fine one, but probably is enough of a loophole to let a paladin slip through.  Especially if the paladin restricts his attacks to ships flying the (chaotic evil) enemy's banner.
LoreGuard
player, 20 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2015
at 15:41
  • msg #8

Re: Forum Chat

Things have been quiet here, but if people are interested in encouraging new blood, we might ask Lord Dubu if he would like to put a RTJ into Heaven and ask for this Forum to be listed in the RPOL Discussion lists which are listed there.

link to a message in another game
willvr
player, 2 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2015
at 16:00
  • msg #9

Re: Forum Chat

Given Lord Dubu hasn't logged in since August last year; I don't think there's much point in that.
KainTheSeeker
player, 24 posts
Fri 27 Mar 2015
at 23:43
  • msg #10

Re: Forum Chat

Yeah.. I fear this forum is as dead as disco..
Lord Dubu
GM, 39 posts
Mon 4 Jan 2016
at 15:14
  • msg #11

Re: Forum Chat

Yeah. I died for a while. Sorry about that.
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