lawful evil paladin code?

[gallagher]

hey all, i was wondering what would the paladin code be for one that is lawful evil?

for those who would prefer to not look at the books for comparison, here is the traditional lawful-anal paladin code, according to 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.

[hamishspence]

Unearthed Arcana has Paladin of Tyranny. It has a similarly restrictive evil code- lose all powers if they commit a good act.

Dragon 312 has a LE paladin variant (Despot) with their own code- not quite as restrictive as Paladin of Tyranny. For one thing, it only forbids chaotic acts and associating with those who are chaotic.

Quintessenial Paladin 2 has an a guide to making your own code, using the various tenets listed, a basic code built with this guide, and an Anti-Paladin PRC which must "design their code, as a dark reflection of the paladin's code, and every bit as restrictive"

[Vizzerdrix]

hey all, i was wondering what would the paladin code be for one that is lawful evil?

This!

[Tale]

I'd generally go with anything that sounds lawfully evil created by the person controlling the Lawful Evil Paladin. If it's a player, let them make it up. If it's the DM, find the best way of fitting it in the setting context.

Obey the orders of your superiors would be a good one, reflecting an organized lawful evil.
Never lie is a reasonable option, focusing on the lawful aspect.
If it's a Paladin of a specific Lawful Evil faith, the evil can be reflected in the tenets of the faith and how the Paladin espouses them.

Lawful Evil is a territory with many different understandings, which is why I suggest the personalized touch of allowing the one creating it to create their own code. That way it reflects their understanding of Lawful Evil.

[rockdeworld]

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

Additionally, a paladin’s code requires that she deny and undermine legitimate authority, act with derision (lying when possible, cheating to further her cause, using poison when needed, and so forth), ignore those in need (unless they use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and support those who harm or threaten innocents.

[Swordgleam]

Just replace each statement with the evil equivalent.

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.

A paladin's code requires that she respect strength, act as befitting her strength (not lying, not cheating unless it's a way of using your own strengths against your opponent's, and so forth), treat the weak as they deserve (unless helping them helps you), and destroy those who threaten her or the things she holds valuable.

[Swordgleam]

Additionally, a paladin’s code requires that she deny and undermine legitimate authority, act with derision (lying when possible, cheating to further her cause, using poison when needed, and so forth), ignore those in need (unless they use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and support those who harm or threaten innocents.

Undermine authority? Helping people if they're going to use the help to be chaotic? That sounds chaotic.

[Foryn Gilnith]

Take the Code of Conduct for the Blackguard.

[hamishspence]

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

Additionally, a paladin’s code requires that she deny and undermine legitimate authority, act with derision (lying when possible, cheating to further her cause, using poison when needed, and so forth), ignore those in need (unless they use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and support those who harm or threaten innocents.

That works better for CE than LE though:

"undermine legitimate authority" in particular.

[Grumman]

Personally, I think a Paladin of Tyranny should be forbidden from acting against his deity, not from performing good acts.

[hamishspence]

The Despot was only forbidden Chaotic acts and associating with the Chaotic(though they must have LE minions)

Just as the Paladin comes across as Good first, Lawful second, the Despot comes across as Lawful first, Evil second.

[graeylin]

just take a look at the oath Mafiosa swear.. use something similar, as suggested by Tale: Place the paladin/deity's goals first, never lie to the agents of the deity/organization, never reveal secrets, expand the goals of the organization into new arenas, never bring shame or dishonor to the name, never get caught..

I can't see the point of "never do good"... Some of the most evil people in the world donate money to charities, treat their mothers well, give to their church, are kind to pets, etc.. To me, the evil in LE is that they put themselves and their goals/organizational goals above the concept of greater good for society. they aren't above a little evil to get what they want. for them, the sacrifice of a few for the better of others IS acceptable, and the sacrifice of others for the better of a few, select people is also acceptable.

[Yzzyx]

Here is the code for the Paladin of Tyranny.

Code of conduct
A paladin of tyranny must be of lawful evil alignment and loses all class abilities if he ever willingly commits a good act. Additionally, a paladin of tyranny's code requires that he respect authority figures as long as they have the strength to rule over the weak, act with discipline (not engaging in random slaughter, keeping firm control over those beneath his station, and so forth), help only those who help him maintain or improve his status, and punish those who challenge authority (unless, of course, such challengers prove more worthy to hold that authority).

[Longcat]

Try this.

Alternatively, take a look at Darth Vader. He pretty much embodies the Lawful Evil Paladin trope.

[Mando Knight]

Alternatively, take a look at Darth Vader. He pretty much embodies the Lawful Evil Paladin trope.

Also, the rather Machiavellian "Tarkin Doctrine" may come in handy, i.e. Fear will keep the local systems in line... fear of this battle station. The projection of power brings order. Through the fear of your power, you can prevent the weaker--in terms of both strength and will--beings from opposing your goals, causing order. Through order, you can organize the strong beneath you and further your own strength.

[ondonaflash]

The motto of the brotherhood of nod? "Peace Through Power".

[ShneekeyTheLost]

The Anti-Paladins in my games are LE. They are the dark side to the Paladin's coin. They are Evil, in that they worship an evil deity (usually Hextor, but can follow others) and generally don't give a damn for the well-being of anyone else. They fall if they commit selfless acts, unless told to do so by a superior who has the strength to back up their command. Or of they blaspheme against their deity.

However, they are very Lawful, and do tend to follow laws. They rules-lawyer them where they can, and manipulate the legal system, but work within it and a part of it. Think of a completely unscrupulous lawyer... completely legal, completely legitimate, completely amoral.

Therefore, they tend to follow the laws, and simply exploit loopholes within the laws to evade justice. They also use the legal system to impose their tyrrany, by imprisioning and/or fining into poverty those who would stand against them.

So a Paladin trying to unseat an Anti-Paladin would find himself under arrest for Inciting Riots, Rumor-mongering, Failure to Disperse, and fined for Public Protest without a Permit, Defamation of Character on the part of the Anti-Paladin, Slander and (if written) Libel, and Failure to Register any Holy Items in an Living Impaired-Friendly zoned area. So he'd be seeing twenty to life, and fined 50k.