|
In my mind the Paladin is a servant of the will of his or her deity, and serves in a fashion acceptable to that deity. Having every paladin run around as the same white bread sword and board worshipper of truth, justice, and the american way is boring, uncool, and outdated. I've spoken about a green knight before and I'm not going into it deeply, but obviously a paladin serving the interests of Tunare using the methods of elves and Tunare, are going to operate quite a bit differently than the human worshippers of Marr.
If elves did use hammers they would be weighted and constructed differently than those employed by dwarves.
I always wanted to serve Tunare, and shape the world in her image. In EQ I was forced to act under the banner of Marr and Nife more often than not, and to shape the world in their image. Furthermore there were paladins of Prexus, Erolissi, and Quellious. I would think the latter would be borderline enchanters with a detachment from combat. Perhaps certain gods shouldn't even have a paladin class. Why would they grant powers to a mortal who wouldn't operate within their realm? I never understood Prexus at all, and couldn't agree that he would be wholly supportive of our holy crusade. Perhaps he employs his own undead under the oceans. We never knew.
Since the stereotype for Paladins is so firmly entrenched in that figure represented on HOMM V, they might as well make the class Human only.
I like Paladins, but I love elves, and they don't approach problems from the same place as humans.
I can agree on a distaste for craven weapons, those built exclusively to deal death, but would a god(dess) of love not have an interest in spiteful rapiers? I think it might expect its crusaders to mete out whatever justice in whatever manner it deems appropriate. Would that make you any less a paladin? Have you not faithfully served your god? A god that serves the purposes of life and the living in a very direct manner. Is compassion truly a requisite for paladins, or is this another stereotype imposed on us by christianity?
Paladins should do as their gods bid them. Brell, Prexus, Mith Marr, and Tunare don't see eye to eye in the manner of execution, and the success of one's agenda might cost that of the other three.
I want to wield a (double) bladed staff, a couple rapiers, or an efficient and small sword such as a katana or a leaf-bladed short sword and a round shield. I want to be a Paladin, a very well armored knight, in the service to a deity with an affinity for nature and balance and a distaste for parasites, including most of the undead. Furthermore the balance may require the death of the weak to serve the greater good.
I'll probably end up wielding claymores, bastard swords, falchions and sabers, kite and tower shields, and my service will be focused around cleansing the undead in unquestionable devotion to the weak.
I don't have an issue with the white knight role. I have an issue with the lack of choice. The white knight is great, and I would deplore its removal even more fervently than I request choice.
|