Morality is more fun when it's gray. It makes 'good' subjective and people can play characters that are 'right' without being bogged down by morals.
Often villains get the lion's share of character development, because they do bad things for a reason. They are justified, in their own way, and the awful machinations of their motives are explained. While with the good guys, they are just... good, and they have no reason other than they are good. Saving the world is excellent motivation, but why do you want to save the world? What has it done for you? What does it mean to you?
Even when everything is gray and there is not definitive right and wrong, I think it's still important to have characters like the stalwart, faithful Paladin who does only good things. It gives the morality of the world context, that someone is selfless and will save the day.
It's just a character that is a little time worn. People have seen it before, and in an attempt to give their own spin on it, have spun off course. They take the neat bits and pieces of characterization that come from the other side of the spectrum. That's why the grizzled mercenary, the ambivalent anti-hero, and the well intentioned extremist are more popular than straight good/evil diametric anymore.
If it's what you like, rock on. Because there needs to be that presence in the world. There needs to be hope. If everyone thinks the world is a crap sack, then nothing will ever get better.
Often villains get the lion's share of character development, because they do bad things for a reason. They are justified, in their own way, and the awful machinations of their motives are explained. While with the good guys, they are just... good, and they have no reason other than they are good. Saving the world is excellent motivation, but why do you want to save the world? What has it done for you? What does it mean to you?
Even when everything is gray and there is not definitive right and wrong, I think it's still important to have characters like the stalwart, faithful Paladin who does only good things. It gives the morality of the world context, that someone is selfless and will save the day.
It's just a character that is a little time worn. People have seen it before, and in an attempt to give their own spin on it, have spun off course. They take the neat bits and pieces of characterization that come from the other side of the spectrum. That's why the grizzled mercenary, the ambivalent anti-hero, and the well intentioned extremist are more popular than straight good/evil diametric anymore.
If it's what you like, rock on. Because there needs to be that presence in the world. There needs to be hope. If everyone thinks the world is a crap sack, then nothing will ever get better.
