d20 Fifth Element Games Alignment Paragons.pdf

FEG904

MODULE 4

Alignment Paragons

Iain Fyffe

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A BRIEF NOTE ON ALIGNMENT

You should ask yourself “what is this character's

general outlook on the world, and how does he

behave?” The answers to these questions, and other

similar ones, determines which alignment should be

assigned to the character. Alignment is not a cause

of behaviour, it is an effect of behaviour.

Alignment plays an important part in the fantasy

d20 System TM game. Many spells deal damage,

reveal information, or provide protection based on

the alignment of the caster or the target, and some

classes have alignment restrictions. But alignment is

poorly understood by many players.

The reason there are no chaotic neutral paladins is

not the existence of an unrealistic, arbitrary

alignment restriction in the paladin class

description. It is because characters who are chaotic

neutral would not become paladins . Only those who

believe in certain things and behave in certain ways

would want to be a paladin, given how a paladin is

expected to behave. That is why all paladins are

lawful good.

These players often think of alignment as a

“straightjacket”, an unrealistic set of restrictions that

a character must follow. This is a misguided view.

Alignment

does

not

determine

behaviour;

behaviour determines alignment.

When creating a character, you should not ask

yourself “what alignment will this character be?”

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook, Third Edition, published

by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ‘d20 System' and the 'd20 System' logo are trademarks of

Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and are used according to the terms of the d20 System License

version 6.0. A copy of this License can be found at www.wizards.com/d20.

ALIGNMENT PARAGONS

Some gaming groups simple ignore alignment. This

presents several problems. Aside from rendering a

multitude of spells useless (or at least requiring a

great deal of revision), it also hamstrings the

paladin. How can a paladin smite evil if no one is

actually evil? If your group has declined to use

alignment due to the misunderstanding discussed

above, you should consider adding it back to your

game. You might be surprised to find what you've

been missing.

CONTENTS

Alignment Paragon Classes

Paragons of Good

Lawful Good (Crusader)

Neutral Good (Benefactor)

Chaotic Good (Rebel)

Paragons of Neutrality

Lawful Neutral (Judge)

eutral (

rbiter)

There is still, however, one legitimate problem with

the fantasy d20 System TM game's alignment system,

and it is one of definition. The dichotomy of law and

chaos is well-defined and well-understood by most

players. However, there is a good deal of confusion

about what is good, and what is evil. Most of this

confusion stems from the definitions that the fantasy

d20 System TM game provides for "good".

Chaotic Neutral (Free Spirit)

Paragons of Evil

Lawful Evil (Dominator)

Neutral Evil (Malefactor)

Chaotic Evil (Destroyer)

ALIGNMENT PARAGON CLASSES

Good is defined to include, among other things,

respect for life an concern for the dignity of sentient

beings. How is it, then, that good-aligned

adventurers routinely slaughter hordes of orcs and

goblins (who are all living, sentient beings) merely

for being evil? If evil creatures deserve to die simply

for being evil (according to good creatures), then

what is the difference between good and evil?

Characters in the fantasy d20 System TM game are

greatly defined, in game terms, by their race and

their class(es). While characters of the same

alignment will behave in similar ways, there are no

game mechanics that allow them to have similar

abilities, beyond what race and class coincidentally

provide.

Alignment paragon classes reflect the similarities

between characters of the same alignment. Lawful

evil overlords, for instance, can now have certain

abilities in common, whether they be human or

dwarf, or fighter or wizard.

In order to answer this question, one must reject the

above definition of good. It is misleading and

wrong. Instead, one must focus on another part of

the definition of good; that it involves altruism and

making personal sacrifices to help others. Evil

characters care only about themselves, while good

characters serve others as well as themselves. If

slaughtering orcs will save the lives of many good

people, then such slaughter can be a good act.

It may seem that lawful good and chaotic evil

already have paragon classes, in the guises of the

paladin and blackguard respectively. However,

these classes merely represent expressions of

alignment. Member of other classes may represent

one of these alignments at least as well, if not better,

than a paladin or blackguard. Therefore, alignment

paragons are presented to allow all characters the

benefits of epitomizing their alignments.

Good characters have loyalty and compassion for

their friends and others of similar alignment. Evil

characters have no compunction against turning on

their brothers and compatriots, as long as it furthers

their own ends. That is the real difference between

good and evil in the fantasy d20 System TM game. It

is, simply put, a measure of selfishness.

The only requirements to take a level in an

alignment paragon class are that the character is of

the appropriate alignment, and that he have at least

ALIGNMENT PARAGONS

5 character levels. The character must be an

excellent example of the alignment in question, and

must have gained enough experience to show that

he truly is a paragon of that alignment.

A crusader makes a much better leader than a

follower. He is certain there is a single best way to

do things, and will not follow orders that deviate

from it. A crusader excels at formulating plans and

strategy, but struggles when these plans must be

changed in mid-execution.

If a character changes his alignment, he immediately

loses all benefits of his alignment paragon class. He

may later take levels in another alignment paragon

class, provided that he qualifies for it at that time.

A crusader makes the best hero because he defeats

evil without sacrificing the rule of law.

Levels in an alignment paragon class never result in

an XP penalty for a multiclass character.

Game Rule Information

The following game rule information pertains to the

crusader.

PARAGONS OF GOOD

Hit Die : d8.

LAWFUL GOOD PARAGON (CRUSADER)

Skill Points at Each Level : 2 + Intelligence modifier.

A crusader has a strict set of morals and ethics that

he follows. He strives to do good while staying

within these rules. He believes in the importance of

honesty and forthrightness with regard to other

good-aligned beings. A crusader has incredible

discipline, something which is needed to combat

evil without deviating from the principles of

righteousness.

Class Skills : Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha),

Intimidate (Cha), Profession (Wis).

Weapon and Armour Proficiency : A crusader is

proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and

with light and medium armour, and shields (but not

tower shields).

Some crusaders believe that lawful good is the only

“truly” good alignment, that neutral good and

chaotic good stray too often from the right path. But

a crusader can sometimes be afflicted with crises of

conscience; while a neutral good character would

simply do what is good, a crusader must remain

within the rule of law. He can therefore be very

deliberate in his actions; he must take time to

determine the best course of action among the

possibilities, and this can cause him pause.

Sworn Oath (Ex) : At any time a crusader may swear

an oath as to a deed he will accomplish or a vow he

will uphold. After swearing this oath, he receives a

+2 inspiration bonus to all rolls and checks which are

directly related to the accomplishment of the goal.

Any checks or rolls made while doing something

that delays or interferes with the vow or goal are

made at a -2 penalty.

For example, a crusader might swear an oath that he

will defeat the chief of a tribe of orcs which has been

Table 1: The Crusader

attacking his homeland. Any

checks or rolls he makes to find

the chief, or to fight members of

this tribe would receive a +2

bonus. If the crusader were to

divert his attention to another

quest, such as the retrieval of a

family heirloom, he would suffer

a -2 penalty.

Base

Attack

Fort

Save

Ref

Save

Will

Save

Level

Special

1st

Sworn oath

2nd

Aura of menace

3rd

Mercy strike

4th

Leadership

5th

Inspiration

ALIGNMENT PARAGONS

NEUTRAL GOOD PARAGON (BENEFACTOR)

A crusader may have only one sworn oath at any

one time. If he changes his oath without replacing it

with a more noble goal, he suffers a penalty of 500

XP per character level. If he later accomplishes his

original goal, he regains one-half of the lost amount.

A benefactor is concerned with good above all else.

He seeks to help others whenever he can. He

respects the need for law and authority, and as such

prefers to bend rules rather than break them.

However, if a law stands between him and the

doing of good, a benefactor has no hesitation in

ignoring the law at that time.

Aura of Menace (Su) : At 2 nd level, a crusader

manifests a righteous aura when he is angered or in

combat. Any hostile creature within a 20-foot radius

of the crusader must succeed on a Will save against

DC 10 + the crusader's class level + Charisma

modifier to resist the effects. Those who fail take a

-2 penalty on their attacks, AC and saving throws

while within 20 feet of the crusader. The effect on a

particular creature is canceled when that creature

lands a successful blow on the crusader. A creature

that has resisted or broken the effect cannot be

affected again by the same crusader for a period of

24 hours.

A benefactor walks a thin line, and the

determination of what course of action would do the

most good in a particular situation can be a difficult

one. For the most part, a benefactor believes in the

principle of “live and let live”. However, the needs

of the many outweigh the needs of the few. This

belief may occasionally put a benefactor at odds

with his friends, in cases where he feels that the

needs of a village, for instance, outweigh their own.

A benefactor can act ruthlessly or reservedly,

depending on the situation. If he feels swift action

will be the most beneficial, he will rush to act. If he

feels patience is best, he will deliberate at length. A

benefactor will sacrifice his life, and even his morals

for the greater good. He is always mindful,

however, of not going to far, and straying into acts

of evil.

Mercy Strike (Ex) : At 3 rd level, a crusader is able to

defeat his foes with mercy. If he lands a blow that

reduces an opponent to -1 hit points or less, this

opponent automatically stabilizes and does not lose

any further hit points. This ability is useful in order

to take prisoners, rather than killing foes outright. If

the crusader so chooses, he can strike killing blows

without using this ability.

A benefactor makes the best hero because he does

what is best, no matter what the situation.

Leadership (Ex) : At 4 th level, a crusader gains the

Leadership feat, even if he does not meet the normal

prerequisites. If he already has the Leadership feat,

he instead gains a +2 bonus to his Leadership score.

Game Rule Information

The following game rule information pertains to the

benefactor.

Inspiration (Ex) : At 5 th level, a crusader is able to

inspire his allies with his words and manner. By

taking a full minute before a battle, the crusader

grants his allies an inspiration bonus to their attacks

rolls and saving throws equal to his Charisma

bonus, with a minimum of +1. The allies must be

able to hear and understand the crusader in order to

become inspired. The inspiration bonus lasts for the

duration of one battle.

Hit Die : d6.

Skill Points at Each Level : 2 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Skills : Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal

(Wis), Profession (Wis).

Weapon and Armour Proficiency : A benefactor is

proficient with all simple weapons, with light

armour, and with shields (but not tower shields).

ALIGNMENT PARAGONS

Aid Another (Ex) : A benefactor

excels at providing aid to others.

When using the aid another action

with respect to a skill check, the

bonus granted increases to +4 if he

is successful on his check. When

using the aid another action in

combat, the attack roll or AC bonus

granted increases to +4 is he is

successful in his attack roll.

Table 2: The Benefactor

Base

Attack

Fort

Save

Ref

Save

Will

Save

Level

Special

1st

Aid another

2nd

Persuasive

3rd

Provide aid

4th

Mercy strike

5th

Crippling strike

Persuasive (Ex) : At 2 nd level, a benefactor becomes

a master of diplomacy. He gains a +4 bonus on all

Diplomacy checks. He is not above a little

deception, however, and as such also receives a +2

bonus on all Bluff checks. To a benefactor, the ends

justify the means.

CHAOTIC GOOD PARAGON (REBEL)

Above all else, a rebel values the freedom of good

peoples, and quick decisive action against

oppression and evil. He cares not for rules and

strictures; the only important thing is to do good,

however it must be done. A rebel does not actively

seek to defy laws, he merely finds them irrelevant.

Provide Aid (Sp) : At 3 rd level, a benefactor can use

aid once per day per class level, as the spell. He may

use this ability only on others, not on himself.

A rebel believes in good and that all good people

should be allowed freedom of body and freedom of

mind. He detests arbitrary strictures as much as he

hates evil. When confronting evil, a rebel challenges

it directly, often acting rashly, taking whatever

action seems advantageous at the time.

Mercy Strike (Ex) : At 4 th level, a benefactor is able

to defeat his foes with mercy. If he lands a blow that

reduces an opponent to -1 hit points or less, this

opponent automatically stabilizes and does not lose

any further hit points. This ability is useful in order

to take prisoners, rather than killing foes outright. If

the benefactor so chooses, he can strike killing blows

without using this ability.

A rebel makes an excellent friend and companion,

but a weak leader. He provides advice and support

for those he cares about, but does not feel

comfortable giving orders. A rebel can be an

effective member of a team if the team has a

common goal which he shares. He generally works

best as a scout or outrider, allowing him to work on

his own much of the time.

Crippling Strike (Ex) : At 5 th level, a benefactor can

make melee attacks designed to cripple opponents

rather than kill them. Up to five times per day, the

benefactor may declare that he is making a crippling

strike before making a melee attack roll. If this

attack deals damage, the target must make a

Fortitude save against DC 15 + the benefactor's class

level + Intelligence modifier. If this save is failed, the

target is helpless and unable to act for 10 rounds plus

1 round per benefactor class level. This effect is in

addition to the normal damage caused by the blow.

A rebel makes the best hero because he values

freedom above all else.

Game Rule Information

The following game rule information pertains to the

rebel.

Hit Die : d6.

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