Negative Levels, Multiclassing, and Lay on Hands

[caps]

I have an Aasimar Oracle 1 / Paladin 2 with 2 negative levels.?

Am I misreading the Negative Levels text when I assume that the negative levels affect each of your classes separately? So in addition to my Paladin being considered level 0 for purposes of his class abilities, my Oracle would be considered level -1?

If I am understanding correctly, that means his Lay on Hands is effectively at 0d6.

[Duiker]

No, you take it off the top in terms of character level, you don't subtract from every class you have.

[caps]

Okay. So I could apply one negative level to Oracle and one to Paladin. But then my Lay on Hands would still be 0d6 because we always round down. Right?

[Bob Bob Bob]

Energy Drain and Negative Levels wrote:

For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.

You don't subtract anything. You take a -1 to a bunch of rolls, reduce your HP, and are one level lower for level-dependent variables. In this case you'd have a caster level of 0 for the oracle and a paladin level of 0 for smite and lay on hands. Each negative level is a blanket -1 to level dependent variables, it would hit both of your classes for -2 to level dependent variables (in the example given).

[TOZ]

Moral of the story: Don't get negative levels.