Paladin Variant Multi-classing Cavalier, order of the star

The 1st ability granted by the order of the star for cavalier states:

“In addition, the cavalier adds 1/2 his cavalier level to any levels of paladin or cleric he might possess for the purposes of determining the effects of channel energy or lay on hands.”

Does this mean that a 7 level paladin, using the variant multi-classing option with cavalier order of the star as a secondary class would count as 14 level paladin for the purposes of the effects of lay on hands?

It doesn't make sense for a character to have more effective paladin levels then character levels. So this is definitely a no even on the reasonableness scale.

Given how 'Order Ability' is written, you add 1/2 your character level. A paladin 7 (with no other levels) makes it to an effective level of 10 = 7 + 7/2. I'd go so far and allow the player to pick up their level 9 mercy at level 7.

It doesn't make sense for a character to have more effective paladin levels then character levels. So this is definitely a no even on the reasonableness scale.

I agree that most likely did not take account the multiclass variant, and that they could meant to add "maximim as character level". But having a higher than character level effective level is not impossible. Many abilities and feats can give you a higher caster level and totem animal archetype druids can use shapeshift as druid level +2 when taking the form of the chosen animal.

Given how 'Order Ability' is written, you add 1/2 your character level. A paladin 7 (with no other levels) makes it to an effective level of 10 = 7 + 7/2. I'd go so far and allow the player to pick up their level 9 mercy at level 7.

you are right, i forgot the level was halved

The abilities you mention were obviously intended to go over the normal character HD amount because they state it to be so.

The ability was definitely written before VMC was written, and this is just a corner case that is created by a weird interaction of the rules.

As a GM I would allow you to go no higher than your HD for effective paladin level, which would mean you would gain no benefit if you stayed single classed as a paladin.

VMC has all sorts of problems and weird interactions like this that aren't really intentional.

The ability was original written to reduce the penalty for multiclassing between cavalier and paladin. It was not written to take into account the eventual idea that you could "multiclass" without multiclassing.

In effect your cavalier levels are your paladin levels. So you have paladin saying =7 and cavalier saying =7+1/2 * 0 = 7

On a related note, does an Order of the Star Cavalier add half his Cavalier levels to the Channeling he gets from a Cleric VMC, or Lay on Hands from a Paladin VMC?