Master Malakie, a Half-Fiend born into rulership and stronger than any known Fiend before him (even for a Half-Fiend), he has taken a few levels as a Paladin, to repent for his evil Father's ways, but later realizing that no one could trust him, killed his teammates, and turned back into the fiery trails of his Father's footsteps, as a Blackguard.
SO! My question is this:
If Malakie was a 15th level Paladin, traded in 10 levels to become a 10th level Blackguard, would he still have "Lay on Hands", "Turn Undead", "Remove Disease", etc.??? I know he gains "Lay on Hands" when he becomes a Blackguard and trades levels of Paladin in, but would he retain anything (i.e. Smiter Evil) from his past as a Paladin? Or are the Holy aspects of him totally lost forever? (I personally think it's cool that he can command and destroy undead minions with both worlds of Paladins). ^.^ Thanx again adventurers! B*B
The way I understand it, a Paladin who becomes evil loses all paladin abilities and becomes a warrior basically.
He has good HP, good BAB, but does not retain any of the special abilities. A fallen paladin without blackguard levels is a Fighter without the extra feats (IE: A warrior NPC class from the DMG). The only abilities a Paladin/Blackguard gains from retaining his Paladin levels are the special benefits described in the Blackguard class for having paladin levels.
This may not be very helpful, because I can't remember the issue number, but someone else might: I think there was a Dragon article that gave classes for various types of "Anti-Paladins". That might be what you're looking for if the PHB doesn't have what you're wanting in having a evil-aligned PC retain Paladin-type abilities.
Unearthed Arcana covers Paladins for other alignments - still cool without the "Anti" part.
Yeah I played a Lawful Evil paladin using the Unearthed Arcana rules, if you can get a hold of them its realy cool, instead of the Aura of Courage you get an Aura of Despair(all enemies within 10ft get -2 to all saves), etc... Its a shame he died... damn evil party members looted him and left his corpse in the woods following a nasty encounter with lycanthrope highwaymen... oh well you play in an evil/fun game its too be expected haha