Unearthed Arcana New UA Paladin and Bard.

There's a new Unearthed Arcana in town! "The bard receives a new Bardic College feature: the College of Eloquence. Additionally, the paladin gains a new Sacred Oath feature: the Oath of Heroism."

 

[Kurotowa]

The Oath of Heroism could fit anywhere in the alignment spectrum, but I'd argue that believing in the idea of Destiny or Predetermination is philosophically lawful on many levels because it asserts the reality is orderly.

I don't parse the Oath as having to embrace predetermination. Not every destiny has to involved predictions of fixed points in the future. It can simply be a matter of being someone with a heap of potential, or being the anointed champion of a particular divinity. And it's really darn easy for someone who's embraced their status as a Chosen One to believe that it puts them above the laws of lesser mortals.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I decided that the Paladin of Heroism talks like some combination of Thor, Drax, and Lothar of the Hill People. Might have them hail from Faerun's Old Empires --- maybe one of the Mighty Sons of Gilgeam the God-King?

Nothing passes over the hero paladin's head...

 

[Undrave]

I decided that the Paladin of Heroism talks like some combination of Thor, Drax, and Lothar of the Hill People. Might have them hail from Faerun's Old Empires --- maybe one of the Mighty Sons of Gilgeam the God-King?

The previously mentioned Aquaman is a good basis too

 

[Paul Farquhar]

One does fell that Oath of the Hero is something of a comedy archetype.

Minsc and Boo say this should be a ranger archetype.

 

[Undrave]

One does fell that Oath of the Hero is something of a comedy archetype.

Minsc and Boo say this should be a ranger archetype.

What makes you think it's particularly comedic? And I'm curious how that would work as a Ranger archetype and why it feels more like one? Is it because of the destiny of fighting monsters thing?

 

[Parmandur]

One does fell that Oath of the Hero is something of a comedy archetype.

Minsc and Boo say this should be a ranger archetype.

Not really seeing the humor, it is a gonzo mythic archetype...? Hercules, Gilgamesh, etc.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Not really seeing the humor, it is a gonzo mythic archetype...? Hercules, Gilgamesh, etc.

Even gonzo suggests something I don’t think is there, any more so than in the case of “wizard” or indeed, “Paladin”.

 

[Parmandur]

Even gonzo suggests something I don’t think is there, any more so than in the case of “wizard” or indeed, “Paladin”.

Larger than life, then. Not funny at all? The Expeditious Retreat bit is somewhat ironic, but Crawford discussed in the Dragon+ stream that this is unintentionl humor as they wanted the spell for what it does (Speed of Mercury!) not the legacy name.

 

[gyor]

You know 3rd party Greek themed 5e Setting used Barbarian for Herules themed subclasses, but it's interesting the WotC uses the Paladin instead. I like that because it means less overlap.

 

[Undrave]

You know 3rd party Greek themed 5e Setting used Barbarian for Herules themed subclasses, but it's interesting the WotC uses the Paladin instead. I like that because it means less overlap.

They probably used Barbarian for the unarmored defense.