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I wasn't sure if this should go in advice or rules, so I'm taking a shot at rules and figure it may get moved on me.
for the past several weeks, there has a been a kid showing up at our local PFS sessions, often 2-3 nights each week, and he always insists on playing a paladin. very poorly constructed paladins. he's had at least five of them killed outright, and I don't know of a single scenario where he wasn't at least dropped. this is mostly poor character design and even worse tactics, but he's also just flat playing the paladins wrong.
many of us have tried to help him, it's like talking to a brick wall. I spent two hours with him after a game helping him build a fighter class, pure min/max tank, lots of HP, AC and damage dealt. and most importantly, a CN or CG alignment was recommended.
the kid doesn't understand what lawful good means. the last time he sat at my table, he tried to steal a boat. not even a bad guy's boat, but just a boat that was moored at the dock. I had to remind him that PALADINS DON'T STEAL. "well, I could just leave a note..." *facepalm*
I'm growing weary of having to remind him of these rules. I figured the first time his paladin lost its abilities and needed to seek atonement, that might get through to him. however, I can't find any rules dealing with this. "commits an evil act or violates code of conduct" is pretty open-ended. what's the best way to deal with a rogue paladin?
keep in mind, his characters rarely make it past level 1, it's doubtful he could even afford an atonement spell.
any advice would be appreciated.
This should be moved to the Advice section, as this isn't a rules debate. :P
To the matter at hand, yeah, whoever is GMing needs to put their foot down and say, "Look, you clearly do not know how to roleplay a paladin. Either play something more your speed like a fighter, or frankly you're not welcome here."
This is a definite 'just say no' moment.
I'm growing weary of having to remind him of these rules. I figured the first time his paladin lost its abilities and needed to seek atonement, that might get through to him. however, I can't find any rules dealing with this. "commits an evil act or violates code of conduct" is pretty open-ended. what's the best way to deal with a rogue paladin?
He's just a kid right? Let it slide... though this is PFS, so your expected to play things RAW and kick the player in the face because paladin's are supposed to have a hard time and held to a higher less fun standard.
Really though, this is PFS. Its complicated because he'll meet all sorts. If by kid you mean like 12... I hope they just let it slide and give lenience, but if he's like 17, just talk with him about things, nicely. I haven't met him, I don't know his character, but in PFS your going to meet all sorts of people and dealing with them really isn't supposed to be your job as a player, just putting up with them long enough to get out.
Requiring an atonement for a level 1 paladin is the same as telling him "you are dead."
Thinking about it, this sounds like a really young kid. Just pretend he is playing a CN fighter and let him have fun. Don't worry too much about it.
You said "the last time he sat at my table..." emphasis mine, so I'm presuming you're the DM.
Is the kid having fun, even though his characters keep dying? Is his presence ruining the fun for the other players?
If the answers are yes and no, I'd just let it go. Not everyone is looking to get the same things out of this hobby of ours. The only important thing is that everyone is having fun.
Now if the answers are not yes and no, we have a problem...
If I were the GM, I would make him fall, strip his powers, because of these un-paladinly acts. It is not any more heavy-handed than killing him.
But then I would try to help the player by exercising that PFS rule about rebuilding characters before 2nd level and rebuild him as a fighter - same character, race, name, ability scores, etc. (well, maybe adjust that WIS and CHA if he had invested in them), but new class, probably fighter.
Then, as a GM, I would insist that this is his new character. If that one dies, I will tell him to remake a similar non-paladin character for the next game he attends because I won't allow him back into the table if he shows up with a paladin again.
Is that too harsh?
Maybe, but it SEEMS that the guy doesn't want to deal with all the paladin rules/restrictions/behaviors anyway - he wants a carefree alignment and no restrictions on his behavior, so my guess is he will be much happier with a simpler class (well, simpler in the sense of having fewer restrictions).
Pretend he is a Paladin of Nethys in his good aspect and is just roleplaying the conflict his character feels from his patron deity.
Can't worship Nethys as a paladin in PFS. Has to be within one step of your alignment.