So, the big change is Divine Smite has been codified as an actual Paladin Spell. This opens up some fun, like using charging up Rings of Spell Storing with Smites. It also eliminates the additional ruling about how you can't cast a spell (especially a Smite spell) and use Divine Smite together in a much cleaner way. It also is now a target for counterspell, so that can be ... fun? I'm a Blue Mage, I cackled at that. Also Arcane Trickster Rogues can steal it for themselves.
D&D (2024) Playtest 6: Paladin ... Divine Smite is a Spell now
Kinematics
Hero
Smites can no longer be used with ranged weapons, which everyone expected. However it's interesting that the casting time description for the smite spells is:
So you can still smite at range, but only with thrown weapons.
In other words, it's not based on the type of attack, but on the type of weapon. That is, if you throw a spear, that's a ranged attack with a melee weapon. (Just like you can make a melee attack with a ranged weapon such as a bow by hitting someone with it.)
So you can still smite at range, but only with thrown weapons.
Yaarel
He Mage
Unfortunately, that means no Smite punches.
Bolares
Hero
what do you mean? It says unarmed strike on the spell...
Yaarel
He Mage
My bad. I am still digesting the Bard class and havent looked thru the other classes yet. I misunderstood the post as a change to the spell description.
Yaarel
He Mage
This post is relevant for the Paladin class too. ...
These new "class spells" no longer participate in the balancing mechanism of spell slot levels. They are intentionally broken.
Any class spell (Paladin Divine Smite, Bard Vicious Mockery, Warlock Eldritch Blast, Ranger Hunters Mark, etcetera) needs to be removed from the list of spell descriptions and added to the class features descriptions instead.
It is extremely important to balance spells mechanically, especially in order to balance gameplay at the highest tiers and to balance between spell caster classes and non caster classes.
Because class spells are intentionally overpowered because they are borrowing from the class design space, they are no longer participating in the spell design space. It is extremely important to regulate the spell design space.
These new "class spells" no longer participate in the balancing mechanism of spell slot levels. They are intentionally broken.
Any class spell (Paladin Divine Smite, Bard Vicious Mockery, Warlock Eldritch Blast, Ranger Hunters Mark, etcetera) needs to be removed from the list of spell descriptions and added to the class features descriptions instead.
It is extremely important to balance spells mechanically, especially in order to balance gameplay at the highest tiers and to balance between spell caster classes and non caster classes.
Because class spells are intentionally overpowered because they are borrowing from the class design space, they are no longer participating in the spell design space. It is extremely important to regulate the spell design space.
mellored
Legend
I disagree with your reasoning, but agree with the results.
It would simply be better organized if the paladin exclusive spells where next to the paladin class.
Warlock invocations are not spread out though the arcane spell list. That would just be more page flipping for both the paladin and everyone else.
Yaarel
He Mage
That too.
Relatedly, flavorwise, the Divine Smite becomes plainly paladine when right there in the Paladin class description.
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Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
That’s kind of awesome, actually! Javelin Paladin or dagger-tossing Paladin sounds sick.
