Monks & Paladins: Chaste?

[Angel Tarragon]

Not knowing too much about how Monks interacted with the first edition rules and how paladins interacted with second and first edition, I'm curious. A friend recently told me that having these two classes as racial preferred classes is not a good idea due to the fact that they must adhere to some sort of code about being chaste. I'm not sure, but is there an official answer to this under the 3.X madness?

 

[RigaMortus]

I am not quite sure what you are asking here. In 3.x there are no racial restrictions on any of the core base classes (Paladin, Monk, etc.). According to the CORE rules, Monks HAVE to be Lawful and Paladins HAVE to be Lawful Good. Those are the only restrictions. In addition to this, Paladins do have an additional "code of ethics" sort of thing they follow as well (which is purely a roleplay kind of thing).

Not sure if that answers your question or not...

 

[Jdvn1]

There's no official paladin code. It varies by game and by GM.

 

[RigaMortus]

There's no official paladin code. It varies by game and by GM.

Page 44 in the 3.5 PHB has "Code of Conduct" and "Associates" descriptions for Paladins. The code explains how a Paladin should "behave" and associates explains who they can hang out with (more or less). Since it is in the CORE 3.5 book, I would consider it "official".

However, I personally see it as more of a roleplay tool than a strict requirement for the class.

 

[hero4hire]

There is no official rule for being chaste. Depending on the Monk's or Paladin's Gods, Society, Dogma, etc.. A DM should rule arbitrarily (as all good DMs should) as to whether they should be Chaste or not.

I played a Paladin once that was a Tribal "Medicine Man". I've also a Monk who was Lawful Evil and about as Diabolical a Villian as you could get who actively went against the Lawful Good tenets his Monastary had taught.

Classes can be as varied as you want and still adhere to "Core Rules".

 

[Angel Tarragon]

What I am asking is: Is there anything anywhere in the RAW that sys certain classes have to be and remain chaste in order to continue advancing in their class?

 

[Darkness]

What I am asking is: Is there anything anywhere in the RAW that sys certain classes have to be and remain chaste in order to continue advancing in their class?

Yes, for prestige classes with Vow of Chastity (BoED) as a prereq. Beloved of Valarian is the only one so far, I think.
Other prestige classes could theoretically have a similar requirement, with or without VoC.

Neither monks nor paladins, though.

 

[Jdvn1]

Well, but as far as being chaste, that's not part the code. I was thinking in terms of the topic at hand.

Additionally, that Code of Conduct is purposely vague. Acting with honor, for example, varies from person to person. There are good examples of that in Le Morte D'Artur. And what happens when aspects of the code conflict?

A paladin's code is more specific than two sentences and can vary from god to god.

 

[Darkness]

A paladin's code is more specific than two sentences and can vary from god to god.

Paladins don't even need a god unless you're using house rules saying otherwise.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

A paladin's code is more specific than two sentences and can vary from god to god.

Thanks, Jdvn1! That is what I wanted to hear, as divine magic is more prevalent in my homebrew.