Oathbound Priorities

[Xuldarinar]

Straight to the point: If an oath bound paladin's archetype specific oath ever comes to conflict with their code of conduct and associates as a paladin, which has priority?


Also, for the sake of discussion, what are some situations that this question would come into play?

[Twilightwyrm]

Thankfully the PF Paladin's Oath is much more flexible than it was in 3.5, so the situations in which an Oathbound Paladin's Oath and Code of Conduct come into play should be few are far between, and even then it probably won't be anything that some cleverness or diplomacy on the Paladin's part can't reconcile. However, as I understand it, the Oath's tenets become part of the Paladin's code, so there is no difference between violating said Oath, and violating one's code of conduct, and would likely have the same results.

[Xuldarinar]

Thankfully the PF Paladin's Oath is much more flexible than it was in 3.5, so the situations in which an Oathbound Paladin's Oath and Code of Conduct come into play should be few are far between, and even then it probably won't be anything that some cleverness or diplomacy on the Paladin's part can't reconcile. However, as I understand it, the Oath's tenets become part of the Paladin's code, so there is no difference between violating said Oath, and violating one's code of conduct, and would likely have the same results.

So, under the rare circumstance where they must violate their oath to keep to the base code of conduct, or go against the base code of conduct to keep to their oath, either way they become an Ex-Paladin?

[Pex]

The Oath is an extra set of tenets. The original Code is still there. If for some reason there is a conflict, and the paladin cannot find a way to reconcile the situation, presuming everything is still Honest True the paladin chooses the Code and can atone for the Oath if he wants to maintain it. If he finds he cannot maintain the Oath for whatever reason, he can still atone as part of personal conviction for failing to live up to the Oath, become released of it, and continue on as a normal paladin remaining in Good standing and no blemish on his Honor. Lawful Good deities and Philosophical Entity are quite keen on Forgiveness. There is a way to reconcile. As long as the Paladin Honest True tried to find it, failing is not a Sin.