Ex-Paladin Spell Casting

[muskrat83]

My question is this: can an Ex-Paladin use a Wand of Cure Light Wounds?

Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Spell trigger items can be used by anyone whose class can cast the corresponding spell. This is the case even for a character who can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin. The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Ex-Paladins: A paladin who ceases to be lawful good, who willfully commits an evil act, or who violates the code of conduct loses all paladin spells and class features (including the service of the paladin's mount, but not weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She may not progress any further in levels as a paladin. She regains her abilities and advancement potential if she atones for her violations (see the atonement spell description in Spell Lists), as appropriate.

Case is this: Fighter wants to be able to heal himself with wand of Cure Light Wounds, becomes Lawful Good, takes 1 level of Paladin, ceases to be LG, is he still allowed to use the wand? Whole point of taking lvl of Paladin is to gain +1 BAB, and gain ability to cast CLW from wand, with out taking a lvl of another class with a +0 BAB.

I know Use Magic Device would solve the problem, but the point is to have highest BAB through out level progression, and all classes that grant UMD have +0 BAB at lvl 1.

[Bjørn Røyrvik]

Don't know what RAW says but I wouldn't allow it in my games. For one thing, the ex-paladin has no benefit from his paladin levels other than BAB, skill points, saves and hp. He doesn't have the potential to cast spells anymore.
For the other, this seems like a really stupid way of trying to game the system for a specific effect. You want to be a paladin to fight evil and serve a higher purpose but don't want to stick to that class your entire career, fine. You do it 'because of build' and I will smack your character.

[Claxon]

No, if you become an ex-paladin you loose all abilities from the class except BAB/skills/saves/hp. This includes all spellcasting abilities and the spell list.

If you are an ex-paladin you cannot cast spells using a wand unless you use UMD to do so. You are a basically a warrior.

However, you're player should be smarter. Just take a level in Ranger. They also have a spell list, which includes Cure Light Wounds. It increases you're BAB, and gets you access to a spell list. Done.

[AerynTahlro]

-inaccurate text removed-

A fighter can put ranks into UMD... You don't need to be a spellcasting class to take the skill. In the end, they're better off with UMD if they're in a party that doesn't buff or heal them. Skill Focus {Use Magic Device} will help, and if the fighter just has horrible Charisma there are other feats that can be taken for more of a boost. Ranks in UMD will give the fighter the capability to use a Wand of Blur, Displacement, Fly, Invisibilty, CLW, etc, etc.

[P33J]

PFS, which is essentially RAW, allows for 1st-3rd Level Paladins and Rangers to use wands and scrolls.

[AerynTahlro]

P33J wrote:

PFS, which is essentially RAW, allows for 1st-3rd Level Paladins and Rangers to use wands and scrolls.

I take it back, 1 level dip works. Couldn't find the text to support that while multi-tasking before.

PFSRD:

Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Spell trigger items can be used by anyone whose class can cast the corresponding spell. This is the case even for a character who can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin. The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

It was Scrolls that they couldn't use.

[Sniggevert]

AerynTahlro wrote:

P33J wrote:

PFS, which is essentially RAW, allows for 1st-3rd Level Paladins and Rangers to use wands and scrolls.

I take it back, 1 level dip works. Couldn't find the text to support that while multi-tasking before.

** spoiler omitted **

It was Scrolls that they couldn't use.

Right, a 1st level paladin or a 1st level ranger can use a wand of CLW w/out UMD, as spell is on the classes' spell list.

The question was for an EX-paladin. An ex-paladin loses all spell casting and class features of the paladin (of which access to a spell list is one of those features), and becomes a lackluster fighter. So, an EX-paladin would not be able to use a wand of CLW w/out UMD.

[P33J]

Won't edit, but thanks for the clarification Aeryn.

[LazarX]

muskrat83 wrote:

My question is this: can an Ex-Paladin use a Wand of Cure Light Wounds?

An Ex-Paladin has all the wand use capability of a Fighter. In other words... none, save by investing ranks in the UMD skill.