The Review/Adult Stories/Dungeons and Dragons

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Revision as of 16:39, 28 May 2017

Fredhot16's notes of Dungeons and Dragons:

You know, I looked up the Dungeons and Dragons Paladin Code on google and I couldn't find a definite, set-in-stone, code. I did find a "A Guidebook to Clerics and Paladins- Defenders of the Faith" for the edition (3.5) of this CYOS. The Code, according to this guide, doesn't really allow lying, cheating, or poison. I saw ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about sex being forbidden. So, this internal conflict this paladin girl is supposed to be having somewhat? Shouldn't actually exist. So, it's just made-up garbage. Just as I expected.

Also, pretty sure that the type of paladin this girl is supposed to be wouldn't be a bandit, rapist, or child killer. Not only would she normally have a strong core of ethics, but her becoming a bandit just comes out of nowhere.

You know, I'm not exactly getting an great feel for the god Bane. Not getting his ethos or why people worship him. It's just so...paltry, so nominal. It's just token information.

Halford's Amendment to the above: Paladins are required in any version of D&D (and it's various offshoots) to be Lawful Good, and the world does not operate in relativistic terms of what good and evil are. There are explicit Gods of good and evil and stated acts for both. A paladin who commits an explicitly evil act will find quickly (if not immediately) that they become an Ex-Paladin (some rule sets allow for Anti-paladins, which allow for the same mechanics but openly serving Evil gods).

The Book of Exalted Deeds in 3.5 touches sexuality for good characters, and states the following:

There is nothing inherently evil about human (or humanoid) sexuality, and being a good character doesn’t necessarily mean remaining a virgin. Certain religions and cultures in the D&D universe encourage or at least condone some people taking vows of chastity, but these are similar to vows of poverty or abstinence, rooted in the belief that giving up the enjoyment of a good and natural thing can have positive spiritual benefits, not derived from an attitude that sex is evil.

However, a good character is bound to realize that sexuality is laden with traditions of exploitation and abuse, an area of interpersonal relationships where power dynamics are often manifested in unfortunate—really, evil—ways. A good character is not opposed to sex in principle, but will not condone exploitative or coercive relationships such as prostitution, the use of slaves for sex, or sexual contact with children or others without the power to enter freely and willingly into a relationship of mutual respect.

While it's counterpart, the Book of Vile Deeds, is oddly quiet on the nature of how sex ties into being evil, it's impossible to consider how rape could be considered anything other than evil.

Underside's clarifications:

Excerpt from the 3.5 Paladin class SRD:

Code of Conduct A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all class abilities if she ever willingly commits an evil act.

Additionally, a paladin’s code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not 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.

This is absolutely not the case. Forth edition Dungeons and Dragons required Paladins to match the alignment of their patron deity, therefore if your God wasn't Lawful Good you couldn't be Lawful Good. Many, if not most 4e Paladins weren't Lawful Good​.

The current Fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons doesn't state an alignment requirement for Paladins, though depending on the Sacred Oath taken at third level some alignments are more favorable than others.

Many "offshoots" don't have such requirements and often have no alignment system.

Paladin's (in most circumstances) are required to be Lawful Good in older editions of Dungeons and Dragons and many, but not all, similar role-playing games based on those particular editions.