Paladin/Ranger Spellcaster Level

[AxeMental]

We have always used 1st level.

Do you mean, a paladin or ranger casts spells at 1st level regardless how high a level the character is?

When he first reaches the level he can start casting at (I don't have my books handy) its as if he's first. The next level he increases would bring that to as if he were 2nd, and so on.

[ken-do-nim]

Magic Missile is better than Protection from Evil, surely? Automatically cancel an opponent’s spell, automatically cause SOME damage (maybe to something you can’t hit otherwise)?

I trust my magic longbow, magic arrows, and dex bonus to hit most things. You don't get a dex bonus to initiative for casting a spell, but you do for shooting an arrow.

[T. Foster]

Magic Missile is better than Protection from Evil, surely? Automatically cancel an opponent’s spell, automatically cause SOME damage (maybe to something you can’t hit otherwise)?

I trust my magic longbow, magic arrows, and dex bonus to hit most things. You don't get a dex bonus to initiative for casting a spell, but you do for shooting an arrow.

Can you count on your ranger having a high Dex? Because of the high stat requirements in Str, Int, Wis, and Con I've found that most rangers actually tend to have pretty low Dex scores.

[godentag]

Magic Missile is better than Protection from Evil, surely? Automatically cancel an opponent’s spell, automatically cause SOME damage (maybe to something you can’t hit otherwise)?

I trust my magic longbow, magic arrows, and dex bonus to hit most things. You don't get a dex bonus to initiative for casting a spell, but you do for shooting an arrow.

Can you count on your ranger having a high Dex? Because of the high stat requirements in Str, Int, Wis, and Con I've found that most rangers actually tend to have pretty low Dex scores.

This is why, rather than counting on the ranger's own high dex, it's better to rely on followers to lay down the cover fire...mmm, storm giant lightning.