Whoa. It is my understanding the the divine challenge is applied each and every round until it is broken-off by the character not attacking or being adjacent to the target. A real paladin can then invoke a new challenge, but our tiefling mutliclassed character can't. If this is not the case, then both me and the player did some serious misunderstanding....
I believe you were right the first time. My understanding is that it lasts until the paladin either doesn't attack the target, doesn't end next to the target, or the target dies.
Whoa. It is my understanding the the divine challenge is applied each and every round until it is broken-off by the character not attacking or being adjacent to the target. A real paladin can then invoke a new challenge, but our tiefling mutliclassed character can't. If this is not the case, then both me and the player did some serious misunderstanding....
No, you're correct. The fighter's marks fade after one round; divine challenge lasts as long as the paladin attacks the target or ends his turn adjacent to it.
The way it reads, as long as you keep it marked, it will continue to take the damage if it doesn't meet the requirements to not do so. The power says the target is marked and remains marked unless you challenge a new target or you fail to engage the marked target. ( Though naturally if someone else marks it it removes yours, but that is another story ).
Why would you need to keep using the challenge to keep it marked?
As far as I can tell, the target remains marked and takes the penalty to attacks until the challenge is broken, but he only takes damage from it the first time he makes an attack that doesn't include you. Because the description says "the first time", not "every time".
Eyebite lasts until the beginning of the warlock's (or in this case paladin's) next trun. So the duration of Paladin's mark is irrelevent in this case, since next turn, the creature will be able to see and attack the paladin.
And for Paladin's Challenge, it remains active until some condition ends it such as:
The paladin failing to engage the marked target.
The target being marked by someone else.
And fighter's mark does not fade after one round. It remains until some condition ends it, such as the target being marked by someone else.
And this is not to be confused by say a Kobold Dragonshield's mark, which lasts until the end of his next turn.
Unfortunately each the wording for the different marking abilities need to be read carefully. The only common things about marks are:
1. You take a -2 penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn't target the creature that marked you.
2. A creature may be subject to only one mark at a time. A new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place.
You do not have to keep challenging it to maintain the mark. However, the time frame for when damage can be dealt is different.
"Also, it takes radiant damage equal to 3 + your Charisma
modifier the first time it makes an attack that doesn’t include
you as a target before the start of your next turn."
For the record, this was pointed out to me when I multi-classed to paladin with my Cleric. He's focused on ranged attacks, and I thought he'd be doing repeated damage as long as he could stay away and keep shooting. Luckily that's not how it works.
Each turn it is marked it is under the effect of divine challenge. It states that in the power. The first time clause is in reference to your next turn. When you next turn arrives, the "timer" is reset because it is the current turn, and you have a new turn that will be next. The reason the first turn clause is in there is so if a monster attacks more then one person that is not the marking paladin, he only takes damage once.
The whole unit of time being referred to is " the first time before your next turn".
As far as I can tell, the target remains marked and takes the penalty to attacks until the challenge is broken, but he only takes damage from it the first time he makes an attack that doesn't include you. Because the description says "the first time", not "every time".
It also says "before the start of your next turn." I understand the intent is that the paladin can apply this damage once per turn.
Looking at the length of Divine Challenge description, it's clear they mucked with the wording a lot. I have a feeling it will get further clarification some time down the road.
I don't see why that wouldn't work, James. When a turn goes by, it becomes the current turn and you have a new next turn during which the divine challenge is still active. It doesn't say only the mark is active. "Also" attaches the first and second parts of the challenge together. The effect is all one effect that remains until the mark is lost.
Sorry if this seems confrontational in some way outside of us saying the other guy is wrong. It's not meant in any negative fashion, if that makes sense.
