D&D 5E Decoupling Smite from spell slots?

[Weiley31]

I like the idea (I think somebody mentioned it before in this thread) that the Paladin gets a "Free Stack" of Divine Smite every time they cast one of their Paladin Oath spells. So, you could spread out/build up your Stacks of Divine Smite, up to the standard 5E limit the class currently has, over the course of a day, or you could just pour your Spell Slots into it like usual if you want to get those Nova/Smite it NOW(!) moments in a pinch.

Hmmm.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I would personally love to play a "magic Paladin" who is better at spellcasting, even if that cost me other abilities. But yeah, rather than make Subclasses that let you specialize in one aspect of being a Paladin, we got the base package, and Oaths that kind of function like Cleric Domains.

Isn't that the war cleric? Paladins are half caster as is... a more castery half-caster feels like they should just round up.

There's a fighting style that gives you 2 cantrips IIRC. Some more weapon cantrips (particularly ranged weapon) would certainly be welcome and thematic.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I think the \bigest mistake with paladin was taking away the 10th dispell magic circle when holding a holy weapon. I miss the days when Magic users saw a paladin or antipaladin and wanted to run away.

It's still there, just part of the Holy Avenger now, rather than presented as a player facing ability, since they cant really use it without a DM grant. It would be like including Rod of Lordly might abilities in the Fighter class.

 

[James Gasik]

I guess you could see the War Cleric as filling that role. But that just shows how narrow the Paladin's niche is. Clerics can do most things a Paladin can do, they just need to expend more resources.