Originally Posted by
Story Time
...too sleepy to post...
...normally wouldn't make such an issue of this, but I like this. When I think of a paladin with a connection to a higher...entity, this is the kind of thing that I think of. A paladin's willful and non-coerced betrayal of their code -- a betrayal of their relationship with their deity -- should result in zap.
But...since it is a home-brew class for a game? I recommend using the wording, "which destroys their physical body," or possibly, "destroys their physical body and possessions." I would also add, "The templar's choice to violate their code ( and betray their deity ) must be made willfully and can not be in response to mundane coercion or other super-natural influence."
It's just an idea. The reason why I put those thoughts out there is that a character won't learn anything if their spirit is crushed. Okay, sure, it's a perfect judgement in some senses, but for a game it's more fun to role-play a character that got to go to another plane of existence for a while and learn why violating their code ( pledge / oath ) was wrong.
I comment on this for more than one reason. It'd be helpful to know just exactly what the code is. You know, is it a refusal to eat cheese on Tuesdays? If so, then zap is probably easy-ish to avoid. I'd like to recommend that some example codes be provided, probably with some flavorful text, to help the audience see and feel why zap is the appropriate response to the betrayal of the code.
...Also, that's a lot of work to make that class. Good dedication. Keep refining it.