Paladin Ability Questions


Rules Questions


Hello fellow Pathfinders.

I'm starting a new Paladin Character (Because my sorcerer became dragon-food...). I just had a few questions concerning my understanding of the class abilities:

1. Theoretically, a Paladin can be using Smite Evil, Divine Bond (Weapon) & the Vital Strike Feat all at the same time. Right?

2. Divine Bond (Weapon) - I just want to make sure I am understanding the equation: A Level 17 Paladin can add a Maximum of a +5 Enhancement Bonus to his bonded weapon. If that weapon was a +4 Holy LongSword (+6 Total Enhancement), then the Paladin could only make it:

a) +5 Holy Longsword of SPEED (+5 Enhancement +5 Special Ability = +10 Total Enhancement)

or

b) +5 FLAMING KEEN DEFENDING Holy Longsword (+5 Enhancement +5 Special Ability = +10 Total Enhancement)

etc...

...either way, he "wastes" +1 of his potential Enhancement Bonus on this particular bonded weapon because no magic weapon can have more than a +10 Total Enhancement Bonus (+5 Enhancement Bonus +5 Special Ability Bonus). Right?

3. My next question has to due with the DISRUPTION & KEEN abilities that can be added to a bonded weapon with Divine Bond.

- The description of the KEEN ability states that only Piercing/Slashing Weapons can been KEEN (but the Improved Critical Feat does not limit the improved threat range to only Piercing/Slashing).

- The description of the DISRUPTION ability states that only Bludgeoning Weapons can have the DISRUPTION ability.

Do these limitations also affect which weapons a Paladin can choose to apply the DISRUPTION & KEEN abilities to when using his Divine Bond?

4. My last question still has to do with the Divine Bond (Weapon) Ability. Was there any particular design decision preventing BANE, FROST, GHOST TOUCH, ICY BURST, SHOCK, SHOCKING BURST and the THUNDERING special ability from being used with the Divine Bond Ability. Would they make the ability too powerful? Do any other DMs allow the abilities to be used with Divine Bond?

Thanks so much for reading and responding.


I have no clue if there is any errata or official posts on the subject. Clearly those will supercede my comments. :)

Nowhere in the Divine Bond description does it say +10 is the maximum bonus.
It says it stacks to a maximum of +5 enhancement bonus.

I would also say that you have to stick with the restrictions of both keen and disruption, simply because the Bond does not say it removes the restrictions.
The fact that keen has the same benefit of a feat does not alleviate the requirements of the weapon ability.

annnd no clue about the design decisions :) hehe

-S

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