D&D 5E Mike Mearls: Ranged Paladin doesn't break anything

[Jefe Bergenstein]

So you're saying that a paladin with lower stats is not broken?

Funny how that works.

I think they get a lot more than, say, a fighter, with 2 god stats, because their social stat is also one of their combat stats, allowing them dominance in two pillars. And not just theirs, everyone else. Imagine if the rogue gave everyone their Charisma/Intelligence bonus to attack rolls...

They're probably OP as is, but totally with a decent roll.

 

[Greg Benage]

I agree with Mearls: It doesn't break anything from a design perspective, and disallowing it for fluff (I prefer "aesthetic") reasons was the right call for vanilla D&D.