Why does a paladin resort to trickery?

[Frein]

My question is, why is a Paladin not allowed to stab something in the back and watch it bleed to death? I mean battles are fought to the death, one should use every advantage they can get. We're talking about killing monsters here, they wouldn't hesitate to do the same if they had the chance.

This. War is not a series of mutually agreed duels.

[Klive]

All is fair in love and war.

[Dragon]

I think this ability is for when the PLD loses hate again.

Yeah, exactly this.

My question is, why is a Paladin not allowed to stab something in the back and watch it bleed to death? I mean battles are fought to the death, one should use every advantage they can get. We're talking about killing monsters here, they wouldn't hesitate to do the same if they had the chance.

This. War is not a series of mutually agreed duels.

Naturally so; only in the past fifty years has there been an attempt to westernize war, and it still hasn't worked.

[Reynhart]

Yes, War is ugly.
But Paladins AREN'T WARriors.

Their traits are virtue and chivalry

[Akubikumo]

Yes, War is ugly.
But Paladins AREN'T WARriors.

Their traits are virtue and chivalry

Exactly, Paladins are meaningless without principles.

[Reynhart]

In fact, that's what this MMORPG lacks. The RPG part.
If you look back at the D&D Paladin, it's on par with a warrior in all stats. But it has roleplay issues.
Share a part of their wealth, fight with loyalty, help the needy, etc...

Why don't they give that to our PLD ? This way, when little whiners will argue "Why is the PLD better than the WAR, nerf ! nerf !" We could say "Because we have to follow a lot of principles to keep our powers ! If you think you can follow them too, be my guest, play a PLD !"

SE can implement mandatory quests that we have to do each day or week, fighting rules like "Can't attack a monster who didn't attack you", "Can't attack from the back", etc...and we don't follow, we get a temporary penalty, and we have to make amends.

[Icecylee]

Y'all know that Paladins in this setting aren't some elite order established to promote some 'holier than thou' ideals from a god and further its cause, right? That they were formed to protect the Sultan Ul'dah, then its people as the group grew larger? They're more like bodyguards, focused on keeping the people around them alive, rather than giving every enemy that crosses their path a fair and sporting chance to win. >>

[Reynhart]

You all know that the first use of the word "Paladin" refers to the title given to the best warriors of Charlemagne, right ?
So, by definition, Paladins are supposed to be better than common warriors. And they were supposed to represent Christian valor, too.
Replace "Charlemagne" with "Sultan", and "Christian" by "whatever god the Sultan worship", and you'll see some similarities ;-)

Besides, as personal guards, shouldn't we be on guard duty from times to times ? That could be a mandatory levequest.

[Astorlok]

You all know that the first use of the word "Paladin" refers to the title given to the best warriors of Charlemagne, right ?
So, by definition, Paladins are supposed to be better than common warriors. And they were supposed to represent Christian valor, too.
Replace "Charlemagne" with "Sultan", and "Christian" by "whatever god the Sultan worship", and you'll see some similarities ;-)

Besides, as personal guards, shouldn't we be on guard duty from times to times ? That could be a mandatory levequest.

That sounds like a great way to keep people from playing PLD. While I understand where you are coming from (tabletop RPG nerd here), it just doesn't mesh well with MMOs. PLD isn't a Paladin from D&D, it's just another variation of GLA. If you start making PLD take mandatory quests or guildleves then you are going to be making people log in to basically play a work simulation. And work simulators are not fun.

[Digirotta]

You sure some of you are not just overthinking this whole thing?

It really is a skill that a shield-wielder can use in case he loses hate and his taunts(as a general term) are on cooldown. Or to be used to claim from further away, if he wishes not to use his taunts.