[RPG] Does anything prevent a paladin from taking levels in a prestige class

dnd-3.5epaladinprestige-class

The SRD on Ex-Paladins says

Like a member of any other class, a paladin may be a multiclass character, but multiclass paladins face a special restriction. A paladin who gains a level in any class other than paladin may never again raise her paladin level, though she retains all her paladin abilities.

My understanding is that, for example, a character that's a level 7 paladin who advances to level 8 and takes a level of rogue (so that he's a paladin 7/rogue 1) retains his paladin abilities but won't ever be able to become a level 8 paladin.

But how does that affect prestige classes? My understanding is that taking levels of a prestige class is different from multiclassing: taking a level in a prestige class is like a specializing in what the character already does, but taking a level in a base class—actual multiclassing—is like embracing a completely different and new path, position, or profession.

So some prestige classes are set up for paladins, like anointed knight (Book of Exalted Deeds 49-51), but does anything prevent a paladin from taking levels in a prestige class not directly related to paladins for which the character qualifies? I mean, can a paladin take levels in, for example, tempest (Complete Adventurer 81-2)?

So far as I can tell, nothing prevents a character with levels in paladin from taking a prestige class the character qualifies for, but one of my players says that if the prestige class doesn't specifically say a paladin can take levels in the prestige class, a paladin can't take levels in the prestige class.

So my question is this: Does anything in the rules stop a paladin from taking any prestige class for which he meets the requirements?

Best Answer

Prestige Classes are just like any other Classes, except where specific rule says something else.

From OGL content*:

Prestige classes offer a new form of multiclassing. Unlike the basic classes, characters must meet Requirements before they can take their first level of a prestige class. The rules for level advancement apply to this system, meaning the first step of advancement is always choosing a class. If a character does not meet the Requirements for a prestige class before that first step, that character cannot take the first level of that prestige class. Taking a prestige class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing.

Emphasis mine. So if Paladin takes a levels if PrC, he is multiclassing all right.

Now, your player is wrong. Paladin can take any PrC he meets requirements for. The only issue is - he cannot ever take a level of Paladin again, unless PrC says he can. If prestige class has a rule that says that character can get levels of Paladin later, then she can, because specific beats general.

Example of such class (courtesy of Charlie) is Knight of the Chalice (Complete Warrior, p. 53):

Multiclass Note: A paladin who becomes a knight of the Chalice may continue advancing as a paladin.

So this class is an explicit exception. Some classes in Defenders of the Faith are exceptions, too. Probably few more scattered across sourcebooks. And that's all to it.

* Note that part about no XP penalty never made it to 3.5 DMG. It was in 3.5 OGL SRD, in 3.0 DMG and in 3.5 Complete Warrior. And 3.5 FAQ but, surprisingly, not errata. And bit different wording in each place. In this answer, I took wording from SRD, because that's where OP got Paladin class from, so this makes most sense to me.

Related Topic