New Design & Development: Paladin Smites!

[Hussar]

Yes, but please note that I included that description. It was not included in the original article.

Yes, but, in the original article, they didn't include ANY flavour description. How can you possibly judge the flavour they will use?

Why are we even discussing flavour when there is zero to discuss?

 

[Umbran]

I think you'll find with most of these folks the actual equation is;

Anything WE didn't think of = lame

Okay, that's enough.

We are all gamers here, right? We are here because we love the game. We shall treat each other - and each other's opinions - with respect, or we will shut up. This snide sniping trying to dismiss large swatch of people in a stroke as having opinions of no value is a cheap trick, and it will cease.

If, somehow, this is confusing, please feel free to e-mail a moderator.

 

[Sammael]

Yes, but, in the original article, they didn't include ANY flavour description. How can you possibly judge the flavour they will use?

Why are we even discussing flavour when there is zero to discuss?

That's not flavor, that's a basic attempt at trying to make any sense out of an utterly nonsensical gamist ability.

 

[neceros]

So far the most I've seen is people saying they can't stand WotC to impart it's own flavor into the mechanics. They want to be able to make up their own reasons for events to happen.

So, they finally leave out the flavor and give us straight mechanic, giving no reason as to why things are happening and people still complain?

Make up your own reason as to why the smites do what they do:
The Paladin prays for it to be and his sword is his testimony.
The Gods choose to bless an ally due to the Paladin's efforts.
The paladin imparts it herself because she is just that bad ass.

Choose one.

 

[KingCrab]

Several things here.

Roland - well if you need a justification for healing or AC then often seeing a knight fight well is accompanied by word like 'his companions took heart'. Heart being a reference to courage, recovery, regain of ability, better fighting as a result. It is a pretty standard literary approach to saying that the Champion fought well which meant that everyone else suddenly got better.

Then there's the issue of why only one of the paladins allies should get the AC bonus. The whole party watches the paladin's awesome smite and then Gary over there gets the boost. I could see two ways to fix this. Either everyone within a radius of the strike gets inspired (I like this) or the AC bonus only applies to attacks from the crature the paladin hit.

 

[Badkarmaboy]

What DM is actually going to allow a player to "smite" a rock and gain some sort of bonus? I don't see how, in reading the power description, that could occur. The spirit and description of the ability support the player attacking a foe to gain a divine advantage. Johnny Munchkin saying, "Ah, but I hate the earth!" fails the common sense test. Seems silly that folks would even get wound up about that. I don't find the abilities all that hard to explain either, "I channel the might of my god through sheer force of will to smite my enemies. Coincidently, my deity rewards me by protecting one of my allies."

My favorite thing thus far- Paladins seem to be moving away from a crappy fighter/crappy cleric to something that stands on its own. Making their wis and cha matter in combat seems to be a good move from where I stand.

My two cents.

 

[Smerg]

Then there's the issue of why only one of the paladins allies should get the AC bonus. The whole party watches the paladin's awesome smite and then Gary over there gets the boost. I could see two ways to fix this. Either everyone within a radius of the strike gets inspired (I like this) or the AC bonus only applies to attacks from the crature the paladin hit.

It is almost a 10 to 1 bet that there will be a feat to turn a single strike bonus into an aura bonus either in the PHB or some supplementary material within a year.

With no 'spell' levels, likely there will be a reduced bonus mechanism to do this effect.

 

[Andor]

I agree. The idea that a paladin can harness the act of striking a foe in the same way a wizard can harness the fireball potential in bat guano works for me.

I dunno. I have some flavor issues with:

Paladin: "The Gods in their greatness and mercy have granted me the power to cure wounds."
Farmer: "Wonderful! So you can heal my hurt child?"
Paladin: "Well, I can only heal while punching someone in the face."
Farmer: "What? You need to hit me to heal my child? I guess so..."
Paladin: "Well, really it requires murderous intent. Maybe you have a spare chicken I can smoosh?"
Farmer: "Who did you say you worshipped again?"

 

[neceros]

I dunno. I have some flavor issues with:

Paladin: "The Gods in their greatness and mercy have granted me the power to cure wounds."
Farmer: "Wonderful! So you can heal my hurt child?"
Paladin: "Well, I can only heal while punching someone in the face."
Farmer: "What? You need to hit me to heal my child? I guess so..."
Paladin: "Well, really it requires murderous intent. Maybe you have a spare chicken I can smoosh?"
Farmer: "Who did you say you worshipped again?"

And hopefully paladins will have supplemental abilities to counter this problem. I doubt that will be the paladin's only healing ability: That would just be silly.

The smite is an attack, and is meant to aid in battle. The healing portion of the smite is meant to assist with keeping people alive, not be all inclusive.

We still need clerics and real heals.

 

[Simia Saturnalia]

EDIT: Whoops! Nevermind. Old.