D&D 5E Companion thread to 5E Survivor - Subclasses (Part IX: Paladin)

[Maxperson]

I think you mean NOT rising?

LOL I'm functioning on 9 hours of sleep over the last two days. Yes, that's what I meant.

 

[Ancalagon]

I'm going to disagree with both and say that to me it's more like a Fey Knight.

buuuut it's more like a ranger than a druid

In my first 5e campaign (the Yoon Suin one), for our "nature" person, one player made an Ancient paladin with the outlander background, and it was "good enough". I have to admit it is one of the features of 5e I like, this possibility to "soft multiclass" via background and subclass features.

 

[Undrave]

buuuut it's more like a ranger than a druid

In my first 5e campaign (the Yoon Suin one), for our "nature" person, one player made an Ancient paladin with the outlander background, and it was "good enough". I have to admit it is one of the features of 5e I like, this possibility to "soft multiclass" via background and subclass features.

I'm a BIG fan of the 'soft multiclass' through subclass and feats. Way better than the level based one. It feels more integrated.

 

[CleverNickName]

Okay let's see here. I've never played 4th Edition and therefore never played a "true" Warden, but a couple of folks have filled me in on what "makes a Warden" in 4th Edition. And by most accounts, a Warden is "a sticky nature-based melee tank with primal magic."

Here's how I would build one in 5E.

Spoiler

1st Level:
Race: Variant Human. Starting feat: Magic Initiate; choose druid. Cantrips: thorn whip, mold earth. 1st level spell: entangle.
Class: Paladin
Background: Custom, "Warden." Your choice of Outlander or Hermit (or even Sage, I suppose), but with custom proficiencies (Nature and Survival, one language, and one tool)

2nd Level: Choose Protection for her combat style.
3rd Level: Choose Oath of the Ancients for her sacred oath.
4th Level: Select the Sentinel feat. Multiclass with Warlock. Choose Archfey, and Pact of the Blade. Cantrips: eldritch blast, green flame blade. 1st level spell: hex.
5th Level: Take 2nd (and final) level of Warlock. Choose two invocations (eldritch mind, grasp of hadar). Choose 1 spell (protection from evil and good)

That's about as "sticky" and "tanky" as I can make a melee fighter.

There's lots of room here for flavor and campaign setting-specific details; the "archfey" that you've formed a pact with might be a powerful and ancient spirit of the grove, or somesuch. You'll want to change up your descriptions of your abilities and magic, as well, so that they are more thematic (describe your Grasp of Hadar as being vines and leaves that erupt from the ground, instead of wispy black tentacles, etc.)

Still, I'm pretty sure this isn't a 4th Edition Warden. And that's fine; this isn't a 4th Edition ruleset either. But maybe it's close.

How would you build a Warden, using only existing 5E rules and components?

 

[Undrave]

How would you build a Warden, using only existing 5E rules and components?

If I could home-brew I'd make it a new Barbarian Subclass, but out of existing components? Your is probably the best one can do.

Maybe a Way of the Beast Barbarian with the Sentinel feat at level 1? Level 4 feat to grab an extra saving throw proficiency?

 

[Argyle King]

buuuut it's more like a ranger than a druid

In my first 5e campaign (the Yoon Suin one), for our "nature" person, one player made an Ancient paladin with the outlander background, and it was "good enough". I have to admit it is one of the features of 5e I like, this possibility to "soft multiclass" via background and subclass features.

I think Druid, Ancients, and Ranger are the nature-y counterparts to the Cleric, Paladin, and Rogue.

 

[CleverNickName]

The Fighter:

Crunchy, salty, familiar, popular.
Exactly what you expect.
Some people are highly-allergic.

The Ranger:

Insipid, cheap, poorly-made.
Never as good as you want it to be.
Very few people actually like it.


The Oath of the Ancients Paladin:

Crunchy, salty, delicious, better than you thought it would be.
Exactly what you were looking for, where you least expected to find it.
Some people are still highly-allergic, though.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

I 100% prefer candy corn to any nut. And I prefer Rangers to Fighters. Lol

 

[CleverNickName]

I 100% prefer candy corn to any nut. And I prefer Rangers to Fighters. Lol

My analogy holds up!

 

[Gammadoodler]

I thought the ancients paladin was just the stoner paladin? There's more to it?