Blackguard PRC question

[Question]

If a level 11 fallen paladin goes into the black guard class, does he become a epic level 12 blackguard?

 

[Kieperr]

No. He would be a Fallen Paladin 11/Blackguard 1. His paladin levels do not become blackguard levels.

Due to his no longer being a paladin he would not have any of his paladin abilities (See PHB pg 44, Ex-Paladins) but since he now has a level in Blackguard he gains benefits from being a fallen paladin (See DMG pg 183, Fallen Paladins).

 

[Raylis]

No, the 11th+ Paladin doesn't gain levels in Blackguard, she trades Paladin levels for Blackguard levels. If the now ex-paladin chooses to do this she'd become a 10th level Blackguard/1st level ex-Paladin and have an additional 1 Smite Good/day.

Quoted from SRD:

[11 or more: A fallen paladin of this stature immediately gains a blackguard level for each level of paladin he trades in.

The character level of the character does not change. With the loss of paladin levels, the character no longer gains as many extra abilities for being a fallen paladin.]

 

[Aeric]

DMG pg. 183 says:

"A fallen paladin...immediately gains a blackguard level for each level of paladin he trades in. For example, a character who has twelve levels of paladin can immediately become a 10th level blackguard with all abilities if he chooses to lose ten levels of paladin."

The character in the example would be a fallen paladin 2/blackguard 10.

And from the ELH, pg. 19:

"A blackguard who trades in more than ten levels of paladin can gain more than ten levels of blackgurard, but only if his character level is 21st or higher."

Hope that helps!

 

[Question]

So the max levels he can trade to the blackguard class is 10, unless hes already epic?

In the above example that would mean a fallen paladin 2/blackguard 10?

 

[Kieperr]

Sorry, my mistake, didn't read enough. See above answers.