I got the xp cap remover and noticed the 2da files should be opened by notepad (at least it works with notepad anyway). So now I can make my paladin cast up to 7th circle spells if I wanted. My question is for you godly codebreaking ppl who know how to change the level 9 (seems hardcoded) that the paladin at max casts at. I would like it removed or brought to lvl 20 like a cleric or whatever. How to do this?

I think that's hard-coded. And it should be, as part of the 2e rules.

I think that's hard-coded. And it should be, as part of the 2e rules.Actually, hardcoding rulesets is almost always a bad idea, given that a game engine is typically used to create more than one type of game, employing sometimes widely divergent rulesets. If you hard-code the rulesets, you are limiting the usefulness and longevity of your engine.....and your ability to sell that engine to another gaming company when you are done with it since removing hardcoded engine features is a real pain in the ass and a new gaming company is likely to choose an engine that is more "plug and play" over an engine with lots of hard coding.

That said, I don't think there is a 2da that governs this, as Felinoid said. You could probably apply whatever effect they use to cause the varying caster level for wild mages to create a workaround. You would hypothetically (I'm not sure if they hardcoded the spell randomization for wild mages or used a more standard effect and am entirely too lazy to check) be able to create a spell that increases caster level by one (cumulatively with existing spell level and other castings of the same spell) and add it to the CLAB's of Paladins and Rangers every other level. Assuming this is actually possible (ie such an effect is available), making such a change would be a snap.

In IWD+HoW the paladin spell level is the character level and not limited to 9.
Since IWD uses the same base engine there might still be hope ...

In IWD+HoW the paladin spell level is the character level and not limited to 9.
Since IWD uses the same base engine there might still be hope ...Unfortunately, it's a difference which is hard-coded into the .exe and porting the BG2 enioronment over to the IWD or IWD2 is simply not feasible for a variety of reasons (it's been tried). The work around I suggested will work if the effect I referenced can be applied via a spell (I'm still feeling too lazy to actually check if this is feasible).

Thanks for the replies! What I did do so far was change the 2da's I've seen, giving a paladin about 40% the spells a cleric of the same level would have. Some reason it just seems fun to have a clerical SWORD wielder in the party. What other means is there to have a clerical caster who can wield any type of weapon?

What other means is there to have a clerical caster who can wield any type of weapon?Ashes of Embers or Victor's Weapons For All.