The PHB says that a paladin who breaks his oath can become an Oathbreaker Paladin or “abandon this class and adopt another.” Does this just mean begin mutliclassing as usual? Does a 10th level paladin who breaks his oath and switches to Fighter or Rogue retain all his existing Paladin powers and just become unable to learn new ones, or do some of them go away? I always had the impression that a fallen paladin (who does not become an evil paladin from the DMG) would lose his divine abilities temporarily or permanently.It’s based on the DM’s campaign. You can go two ways – the paladin can multiclass and keep the existing paladin powers, or the paladin rebuilds as a character with levels in a different class (most likely fighter).
In the first case, you’re saying that paladin is something that people can learn. As you level up in the class, you unlock secrets that you get to keep.
In the second, you’re saying that once you anger the gods, they take your power away.
In a campaign where paladins aren’t tied to deities, the first approach makes sense. The second one fits if you see the gods as tightly tied to what makes a paladin a paladin.Comment from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, Co-Designer of D&D 5, Head of D&D R&D.
In the first case, you’re saying that paladin is something that people can learn. As you level up in the class, you unlock secrets that you get to keep.
In the second, you’re saying that once you anger the gods, they take your power away.
In a campaign where paladins aren’t tied to deities, the first approach makes sense. The second one fits if you see the gods as tightly tied to what makes a paladin a paladin.Comment from discussion AMA: Mike Mearls, Co-Designer of D&D 5, Head of D&D R&D.