Turn Undead Stacking

[Zelc]

Let's say you pick up Turn Undead from both the Cleric class and the Paladin class. How do they stack?

1) You get two types of Turn Undead, and Cha+3 uses of each. One uses your Cleric class levels, and the other uses your Paladin class levels.

2) You only get one type of Turn Undead, and Cha+3 uses of it. It uses your Cleric class + Paladin class - 3.

3) You get one type of turn undead, and 2x(Cha+3) uses of it. It uses your Cleric class + Paladin class - 3.

In this case, I'm more interested in RAW than interpretations or reasonable DM judgements. I've tried to see if there's been a more or less official ruling on this, and I couldn't find anything in the FAQ. Does anyone know if there's something I missed, or is this really a hole in the rules that requires a DM interpretation?

By the way, looking at PrCs that grant turning doesn't seem to help because most of them actually spell out a stacking rule to use (#2, usually).

 

[mvincent]

Let's say you pick up Turn Undead from both the Cleric class and the Paladin class. How do they stack?

I see nothing that would allow them to be combined somehow.

Edit: I stand corrected. There is such a rule here:
"In the special case of turning undead, both clerics and experienced paladins have the same ability. If the character’s paladin level is 4th or higher, her effective turning level is her cleric level plus her paladin level minus 3"

Thanks Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It's not in the FAQ because it's spelled out very clearly in the PHB.

Check p59, Multiclass Characters, Class Features, in the paragraph that begins "In the special case of turning undead..."

-Hyp.

 

[irdeggman]

I see nothing that would allow them to be combined somehow. Absent any rules that make provisions for them to stack or be combined, they would be treated as two entirely separate abilities (this fits with all similar rulings I've seen).

Yup unless otherwise specified (familiars and animal companions for example) class abilities do not stack.

The character would have more turn attempts since they are class based - so divine feats can be real useful here.

See Hyp's note above (he is real good)

 

[blargney the second]

Option 2 is the one that applies.
-blarg

Edit: Hyp beat me to it. (I wonder how many times that's been said on this board...)

 

[Hypersmurf]

The character would have more turn attempts since they are class based - so divine feats can be real useful here.

No, he wouldn't. He'd have an effective turning level of cleric level plus paladin level minus 3, as long as his paladin level is at least 4, with no extra turning attempts.

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

It's not in the FAQ because it's spelled out very clearly in the PHB.

Check p59, Multiclass Characters, Class Features, in the paragraph that begins "In the special case of turning undead..."

-Hyp.

Excellent find. From the rules:
"In the special case of turning undead, both clerics and experienced paladins have the same ability. If the character’s paladin level is 4th or higher, her effective turning level is her cleric level plus her paladin level minus 3."

 

[Zelc]

It's not in the FAQ because it's spelled out very clearly in the PHB.

Check p59, Multiclass Characters, Class Features, in the paragraph that begins "In the special case of turning undead..."

-Hyp.

Ah! Thanks Hypersmurf .

 

[Herzog]

although I agree with the effective turning level, I see no reason to discard option 3....

Since, from the same rules location A multiclass character gets all the class features of all his or her classes I would say the number of turning attempts the character can make is 2x(3+Cha Bonus)

Herzog

 

[Jhaelen]

although I agree with the effective turning level, I see no reason to discard option 3....

Since, from the same rules location A multiclass character gets all the class features of all his or her classes I would say the number of turning attempts the character can make is 2x(3+Cha Bonus)

Herzog

Well, since the rule says it's the same ability I don't see, how one could argue like that. Do you think a multiclassed Wizard/Sorcerer would get two familiars?