The Paladin: Difference between revisions

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Paladins are warriors [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness|dedicated to furthering the cause of all that is good]]. Holy crusaders, they combat the forces of evil wherever they are found, and [[We Help the Helpless|defend the helpless as much as possible]]. Above all else, paladins are ''[[Always Lawful Good|good]]''. An evil paladin is a literal contradiction of terms; a paladin that turns evil [[Fallen Hero|ceases to be a paladin]]. As holy warriors, they're almost always associated with [[The Order]], which are usually religious, or at least spiritual, in nature. While their Order may be tied to a [[The Church|specific church]], they are just as often dedicated to a [[The Force|more general power]] (frequently [[Light Is Good|The Light]]). As such, paladins are frequently [[Church Militant|Church Militants]]s and may have aspects of the [[Warrior Monk]]. When not part of [[The Order]], they will instead be a [[Knight Errant]].

Paladins tend to fall in the middle of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]. They certainly believe that [[Humans Are Good]], but they tend to deal with most evil by hacking it into bloody chunks rather than trying to [[Heel Face Turn|redeem them]]. The archetypal paladin is a [[Lawful Good]] [[Knight in Shining Armor]] for whom [[Right Makes Might]], but this isn't always the case. Though always good, paladins are [[Good Is Not Nice|not always nice]]. They may even be a [[Knight in Sour Armor]] -- but—but never a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] or a [[Knight Templar]]. When faced with a [[To Be Lawful or Good]] dilemma, a paladin's best option is to [[Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right|choose to do Good]].

A popular [[Fantasy Character Classes|character class]] in both [[Video Games|digital]] and [[Tabletop Games|tabletop]] [[Role Playing Games]], Paladins tend to be [[Magic Knight]] variants who focus more on [[White Magic]] and defense compared to the [[Magic Knight]]'s offensive spell-slinging. As such, they usually fill the role of [[The Big Guy|the tank]] in groups, though they may be able to function as a [[Combat Medic]] as well; when not working with a party, they're usually a [[Mighty Glacier]]. Paladins in games are usually very effective against evil enemies, particularly [[The Legions of Hell|demons]] and [[The Undead]] -- they—they almost always have the ability to use [[Detect Evil]] and [[Smite Evil]] against such foes.

[[Tabletop Games]] have a special relationship with the paladin, particularly [[Dungeons and Dragons]], which [[Trope Codifier|codified]] many paladin tropes. Tabletop paladins are stereotypically exceptionally prone to being [[Lawful Stupid]] or [[Stupid Good]], and [[Killer Game Master|Jerkass DMs]] are extremely fond of encouraging this by setting up [[Sadistic Choice|Sadistic Choices]]s invoking [[To Be Lawful or Good]]. As noted above, the correct answer is "Good," but don't expect that to make much difference against [[Screw the Rules, I Make Them|determined GMs]]. Ideally a Paladin's fall from grace should be a terrible punishment for choosing to perform either a genuinely Disorderly or Evil act, not the result of forcing a sadistic choice.

* Priam Agrivar from [[DC Comics|DC]]'s ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' and ''Forgotten Realms'' titles back in the 80s, one of the better fleshed-out examples of the classic D&D-style (AD&D 2nd Edition in particular) paladin -- completepaladin—complete with all-too-human failings (like lingering alcoholism) and doubts but ultimately the determination to prove himself worthy as well. Interestingly, he seems to owe formal allegiance to no specific faith or other organization, or if he does, it's never shown; he always appears as essentially his own man trying to do good as best he understands it, and his powers seem to work well enough regardless.

** The Space Marines in general arguably have this flavour if seen [[Alternate Character Interpretation|sympathetically]], with their existence being militaristic and fighting in the most important warzones where needed, and generally their devotion to the cause of the Emperor and the Imperium (and by that extent, humanity in general) is encouraged to border on religious fanaticism (though also generally ''just'' off the mark from religion). Played dead straight by the Salamanders chapter, who are especially protective of Imperium citizens whenever the Salamanders see them, have their own chapter-personal cult which extols the values of self-reliance, loyalty and self-sacrifice, and mostly utilize flame weapons and [[Drop the Hammer|Thunder Hammers]] -- fire—fire and hammers being fairly common iconography of [[The Paladin]].

** The ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' paladin is a melee class with healing and auras, with specs that allow them to be a dedicated [[Stone Wall|shield-bearing guardian type]] (Protection), a [[Combat Medic]] (Holy), or a more light-focused [[Magic Knight]] (Retribution). The class is available to humans, dwarves, blood elves, and -- asand—as of ''Cataclysm'' -- any—any race with hooves and a tail.

* ''[[Dragon Age]]'' has the Grey Wardens, who are very paladin-like in flavor, but aren't locked into any given mechanical build. Also of note are the Templars, who have a bit of paladin feel (hunting down demons and errant, usually evil mages) but who invoke [[Good Is Not Nice]] due to the game's [[Crapsack World]]. However, Templars are rather un-paladin-y in that they're sadly prone to becoming [[Knight Templar|Knight Templars]]s and running into [[Light Is Not Good]]. Alistair, being both a Grey Warden and an ex-Templar with tank combat abilities, anti-magic, and (eventually) [[Smite Evil]], is the game's best example of the trope; he manages to combine Light, Good, and (mostly) Nice, though he's certainly willing to [[Shoot the Dog]].

* ''[[MARDEK]]'' has Vehrn, a Paladin of YALORT.<ref>The god who created Belfan ([[The Hero|Mardek]]'s home), Anshar ([[Higher-Tech Species|Rohoph]]'s home), and several other planets.</ref>. He is ''devastating'' against the undead, but is [[The Fundamentalist|insufferable]] if you allow him to get on the subject of Yalortism.

* ''[[The Water Phoenix King]]'' has Commander Corva, who fits this trope very well. She's not [[Lawful Stupid]] by any means, and though often [[The Quiet One]], a [[Deadpan Snarker]] when she does say anything -- fittinganything—fitting, as [[Fantasy Pantheon|her deity is a storm god]] who likes to make bad electricity-related puns.