If paladins are suppose to be super good guys and act as paragons of the lawful and good gods, can they accept tribute, bounties, rewards of any sort? Or do they just have to smile and say all in a days work.
On top of this can they have any affiliation with Evil other than killing them? can they team up with them or make peace with them in anyway?
I think it would be logical for them to atleast be paid for their troubles/time/resources, but arguably that comes from loot.
Personally I woe say why not, but probably their would be SOME circumstances where the paladin (or other character) would do a job no matter what (out of emotion, self interest, old grudge, long-owed debt, etc...).
On top of this can they have any affiliation with Evil other than killing them? can they team up with them or make peace with them in anyway?
When they face a greater evil or otherwise believe that they can redeem the evil ally, I believe many gods will allow working together with someone who is evil.
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On top of this can they have any affiliation with Evil other than killing them? can they team up with them or make peace with them in anyway?
They absolutely can. Otherwise, redemption is a thing paladins could never take part in, and that just isn't right. (hell, the Redeemer archetype flat out disproves the idea that paladins can't deal with evil non-violently).
There's also the matter of evil people not necessarily needing killing at all. There are lesser evils and greater evils, and part of being a paladin is figuring out how to properly deal with each kind as it comes along. And a fundamental part of being able to win the hearts of others and pull them over to the side of good is to not murder them. ;) After all, there are paladins getting by in Cheliax.
Note that angels are working alongside demons and devils to protect dead souls from daemons on a daily basis. And Sarenrae and Asmodeus did team up along with almost every other god to take down Rovagug. And Miss Paladin herself, Iomedae, does listen to Asmodeus' advice at times.(but fat chance that she isn't taking it with ALL the grains of salt in the universe)
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They also might turn down a reward. If a town offers a reward for the death of a dragon that happens to be terrorising the countryside and ruining the farms (etc.), the paladin might refuse the reward simply because that money could be put to better use helping get the town back on its feet again. Or they might take it in non-monetary favours (free room and board at an inn, information when he needs it, or what-have-you).
What Would The Three Amigos Do? :)
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Been reading The Complete Paladin's Handbook for 2E AD&D, and it offers some insight into mercenary work. In times of peace, if there's no clear evil to fight, a paladin CAN offer their services as a mercenary for Lawful Good governments or organizations. They just don't gain anything special for it other than what's laid out in their contract, and when that contract expires, they're on the road again lookin' for evil to smite. Also, if the paladin's asked to do anything that violates code, the contract's void, and profits from the contract strictly go towards one of two things: the paladin's self-support and sustainability, and any extra must be tithed to the paladin's church or a charitable cause of his/her choice.
Granted, AD&D assumes a setting more like historical medieval Europe than what Pathfinder is, but those guys sure did their homework!
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They also might turn down a reward. If a town offers a reward for the death of a dragon that happens to be terrorising the countryside and ruining the farms (etc.), the paladin might refuse the reward simply because that money could be put to better use helping get the town back on its feet again. Or they might take it in non-monetary favours (free room and board at an inn, information when he needs it, or what-have-you).What Would The Three Amigos Do? :)
So we're saying paladins should ride off on the women and prune the hedges of many small villages?
And what do the horses have to say about it?
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I, as usually would respond with "Why not"? Its not like most paladin codes feature a poverty clause.
They should, of course be mindful that their actions reflect their status (that is, go towards the good of their community), but I'd be hard-pressed to explain why a paladin of Sheylin shouldn't have a private collection of paintings, even if they are worth a lot of money. Now, a certain amount of charity is probably going to be expected from someone who's really committed to good, but that charity need not be to the point of self-denial.
Same goes for your second question. My canonical example is the inn with the LE inkeep who gauges prices. A paladin won't like that guy one bit, but he should neither smite the man dead, nor be forced to sleep in the snow instead of renting a room.
everyone said yes so thats good
but what if its a paladin or Old Dead Eye? does that change anything that you've all already said?
I wouldn't expect a paladin of Old Dead Eye to be a wandering mercenary. Yet I could see one taking a job to support the folks back home.
I'd expect the paladin of Erastil to take the approach he thinks is best for the people around him or the people back home, as appropriate.
Heh. in Terra's example above, I could see such a paladin calling out the innkeeper for price gouging and then going and making himself a camp outside. (Then again, if I was a paladin of Erastil I'd definitely put points in survival.)
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everyone said yes so thats good
but what if its a paladin or Old Dead Eye? does that change anything that you've all already said?
I expect that a paladin of Old Dead Eye would look at it something along the lines of:
"Nothing wrong with an honest wage for honest work. No need for for a fancy contract, just tell me the job and we'll shake on it."
I imagine they'd be choosy in who they go after, and depending on what the target did they'd probably do it anyway even if they weren't being paid.
1.No problems with paladin taking money or other rewards after helping someone.
2.Taking reward if he himself did not contribute to the task would be on the other hand wrong. Example: Pete the paladin is hired to kill the evil lich. Pete goes to the tower lich is living in, but alas, the storm yesterday brought the tower crumbling down and lich is already dead.
3.Depends how he spends the money, taking money, even in form of justly earned reward and blowing it all in tavern...
okay then last question: Would it make sense in the Kingmaker campaign to play a paladin of Erastil that came from the rostlands? Is that the right location or should i pick a different one? also what excuse can i give for a Erastil paladin exploring and settling the greenbelt?
Been reading The Complete Paladin's Handbook for 2E AD&D, and it offers some insight into mercenary work.
And I must say it is still one of the best go-to sources of info on paladins, despite the edition change.
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Erastil is one of the major dieties in the inner sea region, and worshippers can come from pretty much anywhere. Rural Rostland is as good a place to start as any.
The greenbelt is full of bandits, that alone is probably very good reason for a follower of Erastil to go there. In addition carving a kingdom out of chaos means a lot of rural, down-to-earth frontier life. That's what Erastil is made for. Under these circumstances, a more sophisticated diety would probably be harder to justify than Old Deadeye.
I can not in good conscience recommend 2nd editions Paladin Handbook. It feels overly constrained and enamored with a notion of goodness that is more about what the character doesn't do ("I refrain from...") rather than what she does. However, as countless threads on this board attest, opinions about paladins are all over the place - so you've probably got to pick and choose an interpretation anyway. :)
I find the concept of understanding what they refrain from far better than having a limited set of things they 'can' do. Once you have the 'thou shalt not' down, the rest sorts itself.
What it also has is a lot of detail on the lifestyle and other considerations on what a Paladin might find themselves doing, which is far better than trying to make sense of the Hurr Durr Pally-Fall stuff we keep seeing - unfortunately.
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Don't get me started on negative vs. positive morality. ;) I find it very much add odds with my personal morality that you can be a good person by just not doing anything. But that's a topic for another time, and possibly another place as well.
That said, if paladins were to fall even nearly as frequently as some posters seem to imply - there would not be any.
Brisco. County.
Junior.
'Nuff said. :)
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My Paladin of Erastil in RotRL is a scion of an old family of Chelish aristocracy. He expects his due, in both respect and reward. He will not tolerate disrespect nor tax evasion. He will however be a just ruler to his subjects and a constant promoter of Erastil's values.
Also refusing an honest reward is insulting to the giver (and thus dishonorable).