I couldn't find an answer over several searches, so...
Assume I take the appropriate prerequisites to take levels in Battle Herald. For this question, assume I go cavalier (hussar) 4/bard 1. My next 5 levels leave me a cavalier (hussar) 4/bard 1/battle herald 5.
At this point I finally gain the Banner ability (the 5th level battle herald ability), which states it is identical to the cavalier ability of the same name, save for stacking battle herald levels with cavalier levels.
Does the banner function as a level 9 cavalier or is it some other effective cavalier level? If I took one more level in either cavalier or battle herald, would banner function as a level 10 cavalier?
Thank you everyone for your help.
FIG
Understood, but the Battle Herald grants the ability:
Banner (Ex): At 5th level, a battle herald may fly a battle standard that inspires her allies. This ability is identical to the cavalier's banner ability, and cavalier levels stack with battle herald levels to determine the bonuses provided by the banner.
It would function as a 9th level cavalier. Not having Banner in the Cavalier class yet does not matter... you gained the ability from Herald.
It would function as a 9th level cavalier. Not having Banner in the Cavalier class yet does not matter... you gained the ability from Herald.
This is what I was thinking: Banner wouldn't function like Sneak Attack (and stack all instances to determine the final rolled die count). This may make for a worthwhile gestalt character one day.
Thank you for the help/affirmation!
Fig
You're lv9 for the ability. If it said levels of a class with banner stack, like ki, then it wouldn't but it says to count cavalier levels with these level, so you do always.
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It would be 5, not 9th level because he doesn't have any cavalier levels with banner to stack.
I guess you can say it will be table variance, because it's not going to stack at any table I'm playing or GMing.
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Also, if you allow this to stack then you run into problems with:
- Sohei players claiming that because they have fighter weapon training, it works.
- druid 4 -> take shaping focus -> retrain 3 levels of druid to 3 levels of fighter retaining shaping focus.
- Any number of other violations of "you don't have a class feature until you do" issues.
It's the wording It says, "cavalier levels stack with battle herald levels to determine the bonuses provided by the banner"
Not
"levels of a banner providing class stack with battle herald levels to determine the bonuses provided by the banner"
So it says to stack all the levels together to figure out the bonuses. That's why it's different from anything else.
What do you feel is another RAW interpretation?
It never says nor suggests that, "cavalier levels stack with battle herald levels only if the cavalier has the banner ability to determine the bonuses provided by the banner."
It would be 5, not 9th level because he doesn't have any cavalier levels with banner to stack.
I guess you can say it will be table variance, because it's not going to stack at any table I'm playing or GMing.
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Also, if you allow this to stack then you run into problems with:
- Sohei players claiming that because they have fighter weapon training, it works.
That what works? That they stack? Neither class' feature entry says anything about levels from the other class stacking. Now, it would make no sense to select the same weapon group, and the bonuses granted from one class will not rise when you get another group from the other class because, again... nothing says the levels stack.
druid 4 -> take shaping focus -> retrain 3 levels of druid to 3 levels of fighter retaining shaping focus.
You no longer have the class feature and no longer qualify for the feat. This has nothing at all to do with or relates in anyway to the class feature granted by the Battle Herald.
Any number of other violations of "you don't have a class feature until you do" issues.
He already has the class feature... from Battle Herald. It doesn't say "you gain this ability when you gain it from Cavalier levels". He doesn't have to have the class feature at all from the Cavalier class for the level stacking to take place.