laserllama
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Alternate Paladin - Preview II
🕑 Added 2024-01-29 04:04:44 +0000 UTCHey all, been working on the Alternate Paladin on and off in the background between the Exploit Classes and Savant updates, and I thought it would be a good time to show you another preview! As always, let me know what you think here or on Discord!
Remember, this is a Work-in-progress so nothing is finalized! All my stuff goes through a ton of iterations before it gets a public release (or even a Beta version).
~laserllama
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Fighting Styles: As the Paladin is a pretty martial class, I decided to see what it would look like with a Fighting Style at 1st level (just like the Fighter). I think I like it!
Sacred Oath: One of my main issues with the PHB Paladin is that it doesn't leave much room at all for subclass features - it's boxed in by Oath Spells, Channel Divinities, and Aura buffs. This (in my experience) leads to most Paladins feeling really similar. By moving the Sacred Oath up to 1st level (and removing Channel Divinity all together), each Sacred Oath can now have its own stand-alone flavorful features at both 1st and 3rd levels.
Spellcasting: This is still a "Spells Known" setup, and I don't see it changing. You do get your Oath Spells as soon as you hit 2nd level now though (instead of at 3rd level)!
Divine Smite: No changes here. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Harness Oath: I cannibalized the ever-popular TCOE "Harness Divine Power" Channel Divinity and made it into a base option for the class. Hopefully, this will encourage Paladins to improve their Charisma, motivate them to short rest, and motivate casting spells instead of just SMITE.
Combat Superiority: This is a bigger change I'm trying out as a replacement to Extra Attack for martial classes. You can attack twice, or get some much-needed battlefield maneuverability!
Divine Sense: This was moved up to 5th level and buffed. As you "come in" to your Paladin powers you get your super-Paladin senses. It also works on all extraplanar creatures now!
Aura of Protection, Divine Health, and Aura of Courage: No changes from last preview!
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Ancients: You can now communicate with plants and animals in Sylvan! Don't worry, you still have a massive AoE root (puns!) effect and the most powerful Aura buff at 7th level.
Devotion: The new home of Lay on Hands! I thought it made the most thematic sense here, and hopefully the most stringent set of Oaths (and lack of non-Paladin Oath Spells) balance it.
Vengeance: The oft-maligned 1st level feature of the PHB Ranger makes a thematically-appropriate return with Sworn Foe. Vow of Enmity and Sworn Avenger are still solid.
The Oathless: Defend yourself you narcissistic warrior - who needs friends?
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Smite Spells: A little preview of some ways I plan to spice up the Paladin's spellcasting in return for a few "nerfs" I've made to the base class (though I think it all balances out).
Comments
Personally I’m really torn regarding Lay on Hands being a subclass feature and not a base one, but overall the Alt Paladin’s first ten levels are looking really cool. The new smite spells are sick, and while it may seem odd I’m happy that the class no longer gets immunity to all disease at its 3rd level.
laserllama
What do you think needs changed? (Personally) I don't think it warrants an entire "Eldritch Invocation" style system.
Dracs
Certainly an intresting change, have you perhaps ever thought of 'editing' the smite system? I don't mean power but as in utilisation.
