How Should the Paladin Suffer?

[Liolel]

I wouldn't punish him at all. I would, however, start sending him hints that something is seriously wrong, and his attention is required immediately. If he fails to act once the hints have gotten strong enough, then punish him.

Can I add to the chorus of voices agreeing with Mouseferatu. That is exactly what should be done, not punishing the paladin unfairly but giving him a chance to correct his mistake as well as creating good roleplaying opportunitys and a new plot line for the party to focus on.

 

[BSF]

Spell-like abilities have no verbal, somatic, material, or focus components. Yes, they provoke AoOs in the same way the casting silent, stilled spells provoke AoOs, unless you cast defensively. But if you're not in combat, it should be possible to pause for a few seconds, perhaps before speaking or while the other person is speaking. Or perhaps when the paladin is waiting waiting for the other person to walk towards him. What about if a wizard took the silent spell and still spell feats? Would you allow them to use them outside of combat, or would you say that other people could tell, and it would be considered rude?

People cannot tell when a spell-like ability is being used. Even a 20th level wizard with maxed spellcraft can't. You provoke an AoO because you're in combat! And who's dumb enough to use a spell-like ability in melee unless they do it defensively anyway?

Since I also allow Disguise Spell as a metamagic feat, Silent & Stilled spells are not automatically hidden, just more difficult to detect. Spell-like abilities are still detectable as -something- even if the target & observers don't know what. In our society, staring intently at somebody is likely to make people uncomfortable around you. In a society where magic is pervasive and the guy staring at you might be trying to charm you, make you burst into flame, discern your ethos & morality, tell if you are lying, erase your memory, or any number of things, yes it might be considered very rude. does that mean you can't? Certainly not. But, you might have societal pressures that make it undesirable. Now, if you want to avoid being impolite, you could take "quicken spell-like abilty", or if you are a paladin, I also offer Knowing Gaze (from Call of duty).

EDIT: Missed part of my post, those it is implied within my post. I cannot find anything indicating that a spell-like ability is undetectable. While a wizard with maxed out spellcraft might not know exactly what transpired, there is nothing indicating that a spell-like ability is undetectable. Perhaps I have just missed the passage indicating this? If so, please point me in the correct direction.