Can the gods strip a paladin of his class?

[Lord Wyrm]

If the paladin woprhips a deity, then yes, the deity can strip him of paladinhood. If the paladin reveres a set of ideals, however, then, no, no deity could strip him of paladinhood, although the same rules do apply if he violates the paladin code of honor.

And of course the dieties can always send representatives to "talk" to paladins who simply follow a code. Oh, and dieties can strip him of his paladinhood regardless of if he follows them or not. They are dieties and can do just about whatever they want, and while they might care less if you do not serve them specifically paladins still stick out like a sore thumb on the Divine-O-Scope.

And if you are going to ask if they can strip sorcerors of their powers as well then yes they can, its just a matter of getting around the other dieties.

 

[Agback]

If the paladin woprhips a deity, then yes, the deity can strip him of paladinhood.

Is that a house rule of yours, or an opinion on the rules of D&D? If the latter, what statement in the core books do you base it on?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Is that a house rule of yours, or an opinion on the rules of D&D? If the latter, what statement in the core books do you base it on?

Well, I dunno about him, but I'd base it on:

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.

Disobeying your god's wishes is not respecting legitimate authority, which could cause you to fall, given:

who grossly violates the code of conduct loses all paladin spells and abilities

 

[Peter Gibbons]

Disobeying your god's wishes is not respecting legitimate authority, which could cause you to fall...

Sure. But that in no way implies that it's the deity who strips you of your paladin-y powers.

 

[Artoomis]

The gods can do whatever they want, within the rules that the dieities follow - which certainly is NOT contained in the PHB. Any questions?

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That said, NORMALLY the gods can either be considered to be involved or not - I don't see that it makes any difference if you follow the rules as to what happens when you step outside the paladin's creed.

On the other hand, gods can do pretty much whatever they want with the limits imposed upon them by other gods.

 

[Agback]

Disobeying your god's wishes is not respecting legitimate authority, which could cause you to fall <snip>

Good point! I can definitely see that clause allowing a god in effect to add a codicil to the Paladin's Code. It wouldn't let the god suspend any part of the core code, but the god could impose extra requirements, and if the paladin habitually broke those provisions out of disrespect (rather than, say, because of exigent necessity or out of a higher respect) then he or she would lose his or her powers.

But that does not make the god the judge of whether the paladin loses his powers under the alignment restrictions, association restrictions, 'wilful evil' restrictions, or gross breach of the core code. In fact, it doesn't even give the god discretion to judge whether the paladin has broken the terms of the codici. And although it would allow the god to suspend its part of the code in advance, it would not allow the god to waive punishment. It makes the god a legislator for its own paladins, but not a judge of their conduct.

 

[Agback]

The gods can do whatever they want, within the rules that the dieities follow - which certainly is NOT contained in the PHB. Any questions?

Yes. First, why is it then that gods cannot make paladins of worshippers who are not Lawful Good?

On the other hand, gods can do pretty much whatever they want with the limits imposed upon them by other gods.

Is that a D&D rule, and if so where is it written?

 

[Artoomis]

...it would not allow the god to waive punishment. It makes the god a legislator for its own paladins, but not a judge of their conduct.

Any god, any time, can CHOOSE to be personally involved with a paladin if they want to. Who's going to stop them???

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

...

Which just brings up the question: is the "core code" the entire code, or is it just a part of it (the part that all paladins have in common)?

After all, it says, "A paladin's code requires ..." It does not say, "A paladin's code only requires ..."

 

[Artoomis]

Which just brings up the question: is the "core code" the entire code, or is it just a part of it (the part that all paladins have in common)?

After all, it says, "A paladin's code requires ..." It does not say, "A paladin's code only requires ..."

I'd call it the "generic" code and say that a player and DM could draft up their own code and be further restrictive of they wanted to be.