Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Undrhil Aug 20, 2014 9:18:47	I have a Gnome Wizard who worships Oghma and is very knowledge oriented.  He even has a custom background called Knowledge Seeker that is basically the Acolyte background with the Sage feature: Researcher, instead.   Anyway, I'm going to have him multiclass into Paladin, as Oghma calls him into being more proactive in obtaining and protecting knowledge in the form of ancient tomes and such.  He will go Oath of Vengence.   My question really pertains to the Paladin.  I originally wanted to start as a Paladin and multiclass Wizard a couple of times when I got a bit higher level, but the DM said that, as a Paladin, I would "fall" if I stopped following the mandates of my Oath.  I don't see why taking a multiclass of Wizard would mean that I am no longer following my Oath.  Especially if I multiclass *before* I even get to the point where I pick an Oath.   Yes, I wanted to do it to start with heavy armor and a shield.  Multiclassing Paladin means I will only get proficiency with up to medium armor, so I will have to take a feat to get into heavy armor.  I find it kind of limiting that I cannot start as a Paladin with the heavy armor right from the beginning.    So, is there really something in the rules about a Paladin "losing their way" if they multiclass for a level dip or two?  Or is the DM being heavy-handed with houserules?
#2 mellored Aug 20, 2014 10:10:49	I don't see how MC mage would be against a paladin's oath.   Paticularly a god of knowlage.
#3 Mechatarrasque Aug 20, 2014 10:26:27	mellored wrote:
#4 Kentus Aug 20, 2014 10:44:57	The "falling" paladin is more a thing of 3e, where a paladin can't gain anymore paladin levels, if he multiclass. In 5e there is no such rule per se and the oaths so far don't forbid any class for multiclassing in general.   But your DM have the right to make it so, if he thinks that it falls more into his campaign setting or if he thinks it'd be too overpowered to gain the full benefits of the paladin class (more start hit points, maybe better save proficiency, better armor proficiency), while using wizard for most levels. I, personally, would like to have a long talk to you, why you might think that your character would be the true essence of a knowledge-seeker, starting as a paladin of vengeance, a mighty warrior who slays foes as his main-occupation, if I were your DM. I'm not and don't want any explanation, but as always, in conflicts there are multiple point of views.   Rule-wise there is no conflict here, but roleplay is much more than rules. Talk to your DM and if he still don't give in, just give up and take it as a DM-quirk. If you let a single person shoulder the whole world, than you should have some patience with her/him.
#5 NN1 Aug 20, 2014 14:18:42	This was a rule in 3e, but the only mention about oathbreaking in 5e is a sidebar on p86 of the PHB titled "Breaking your Oath".  While it doesn't say you can't multiclass explicitly, splitting your focus between the paladin path and your arcane studies might be seen as shirking your duties.  A paladin is supposed to be a steadfast champion of justice and their god, not something you generally do part time.  How your god responds to your actions is up to the GM. Personally, I'd think that, as long as you followed your oath to the letter and  didn't shirk your duties Oghma would support scholarly pursuits like arcane study, especially if you applied your arcane power to your paladin duties.  But since I'm NOT your DM, it really doesn't matter what I think.