What happens if a paladin gives up his Paldinhood?

[sword-dancer]

What happens with a character who resigns from Paldinhood because he didn`t want or believe he couldn`t bear the burden longer?
Or believe he couldn`t longer follow the path of duty?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Is he still "lawful good"?

 

[kengar]

Well, I would say it would be similiar to what happens when they are 'stripped' of the abilities for violating their "Paladin's code", only perhaps with less social stigma, etc.; he wouldn't necessarily be seen as a 'villian', he just couldn't take the pressure any longer. As a DM, I would say the character would simply lose and Paladin class abilities (Aura of Courage, Remove Disease, Cleric Spells, Mount, etc.) and then only if they A) formally renounce their membership in their Order or B) act in a definitively non-LG manner. They'd retain their BAB, Hit Points, Saves, Skills & Feats, though.

I've always thought the descent of a fallen paladin into Blackguard would be interesting to see or play. Folks talk about it, but I've never had it happen in a campaign I was involved in.

 

[Rashak Mani]

Hhhmmm ... a straight change into fighter in 3rd edition isnt as simple as it was before. Especially if he still is a follower of his god, a follower who wants less responsibility or something similar.

Yet as a fighter he wouldnt have the feats that make fighters good combatants...

Would he keep any ability if he remained LG ?

 

[Sodalis]

he becomes a gimpified fighter- without the feats

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

Would he keep any ability if he remained LG ?

Why would that matter? His powers are a gift because of his code. Alignment is just a tool to help measure that.

It would make sense that he'd be a "gimpified fighter" as Sodalis suggests (with the exception of his skills). He's been relying on his horse and his holy powers to some extent throughout his career to keep him on par with more specialized combatants. With those taken away, he would have significantly less martial skill than a fighter of equal level.

Perhaps a very kind DM would allow him to train for extra feats (i.e. expend gold and time to be trained in fighting skills that he would have missed). That would catch him up to a fighter somewhat. But I wouldn't let him go all the way to parity, that wouldn't make sense. SOME cost would have to be paid for setting aside his oaths.

 

[Voadam]

If he chooses to do other things and multiclasses into X he still has the paladin powers until he actually fulfills the conditions for being stripped of paladinhood. I could see him keeping his powers if he does no evil etc. and just progresses as a ranger or fighter or whatever.

 

[Skarp Hedin]

If I had a PC who did that, basically resigned from paladinate but remained lawful good and remained a devout worshipper of his patron, I'd have him retain some abilities and lose the rest. I'd leave him with Divine Favor (or whatever the save bonus ability is called), and immunity to disease, along with his present paladin mount (if any), but the mount couldn't advance any further. That way, while he wouldn't be a paladin, he wouldn't be totally left behind in terms of class abilities, etc. The abilities would remain as a reward from his patron for loyal service, etc. I'd probably tailor the remaining abilities to his past service, in terms of length and quality of service versus which abilities retained. Certainly not spellcasting or healing, though.

 

[Tsyr]

How I would do it, IMC...

He would become a fighter with less feats and spellcasting, but would keep his mount unless he did something to violate his alignment (Personal choice here)... and if he took cleric levels, I might alow him to regain some/all of his spellcasting, if they were cleric levels of the same god... I dunno.

 

[Voadam]

from the srd:

Code of Conduct: A paladin must be of lawful good alignment and loses all special class abilities if she ever willingly commits an act of evil. Additionally, a paladin's code requires that she respect legitimate authority, act with honor (not lying, not cheating, not using poison, etc.), help those who need help (provided they do not use the help for evil or chaotic ends), and punish those that harm or threaten innocents.

Associates: While she may adventure with characters of any good or neutral alignment, a paladin will never knowingly associate with evil characters. A paladin will not continue an association with someone who consistently offends her moral code. A paladin may only hire henchmen or accept followers who are lawful good.

Ex-Paladins: A paladin who ceases to be lawful good, who willfully commits an evil act, or who grossly violates the code of conduct loses all special abilities and spells, including the service of the paladin's warhorse. She also may not progress in levels as a paladin. She regains her abilities if she atones for her violations, as appropriate.

So

A paladin who chooss to move on but does not grossly violate the code, stays lawful good, and does not commit any evil acts should still retain their full paladin powers even if they choose to become another character class, a politician, a lawyer, etc.