D&D 5E (2014) [Poll] Paladin Satisfaction Survey

[Sacrosanct]

Yes, we still work the weekends around here!

Once a year or so, I think it would be interesting to get a pulse on the satisfaction of the various classes. The game's been out for a few years now, and that's plenty of time to get a good experience on how each plays out.

For the purpose of this poll, I am keeping the answers to a minimum intentionally. When you have too many options, it's harder to really evaluate the results. And for the purposes of this, a general feeling is more than adequate.

This time? We talk about the paladin.

Long term goal: Have a survey of each class, then compiled results to be easily referenced for future discussions that may want said information.

Previous polls here (voting still open, so #'s may change):

Barbarian: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?571787-poll-Barbarian-Satisfaction-Survey
Bard: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?572038-Poll-Bard-Satisfaction-Survey
Cleric: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?572311-Poll-Cleric-Satisfaction-Survey
Druid: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?572570-poll-Druid-Satisfaction-Survey
Fighter: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?572847-Poll-How-Satisfied-Are-You-With-the-Fighter-Class
Monk: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?573153-poll-Monk-Satisfaction-Survey

 

[Sacrosanct]

So...I'm pretty sure how [MENTION=88539]LowKey[/MENTION] will vote


I'm actually fairly satisfied with tweaks. The only reason I didn't vote completely satisfied is because I still have this hang up about evil paladins. I know this stems from my AD&D days when people wanted to play the anti-paladin. I HATED that class. It was almost always wanted to be played by a player who couldn't stand not being the most powerful PC in the group, and wanted to be evil to satisfy their own personal sadistic nature by putting it in a game.

So yeah, I have a bias against evil paladins there.

Mechanically, I don't like divine smite either. Paladins are supposed to be half holy casters, and what I've seen is that players will actually not cast a spell that may be helpful to the group, because they want to save it for divine smite later on. That's....kind of jacked up to me. I would prefer to have divine smite limited to a number of times per long rest or something based on WIS modifier. or something like that.

 

[Blue]

I like the paladin. Strong without having to twink out the build but not too strong that it's OP, great team player, can help fill several backup roles, and can nova.

If I had a complaint about Paladin, it would be about the GWM feat. At my FLGS it seems there's a lot of Oath of Vengeance + GWM paladins because of the synergy between the two, pushing out other paladin subclasses that are equally viable on their own but lack such good synergy with that feat. I avoid playing Vengeance paladins because of that. I think my favorite mechanically is Oath of the Ancients, but they call are good depending on what you are envisioning for the morals and RP of the character.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Very satisfied, basically. There's a couple of quality-of-life tweaks I'd want (Divine Smite cap raised to 6d8 to accommodate 5th-level slots, maybe a CON save proficiency feature around 8th or 9th level), but that's about it. This is really the first version of the Paladin since 1e I've really liked. Strong, versatile, can be built toward a good number of roles, but not overpowered, either. It's pretty much the benchmark most other classes should be balanced against.

 

[Gladius Legis]

If I had a complaint about Paladin, it would be about the GWM feat. At my FLGS it seems there's a lot of Oath of Vengeance + GWM paladins because of the synergy between the two, pushing out other paladin subclasses that are equally viable on their own but lack such good synergy with that feat. I avoid playing Vengeance paladins because of that.

Devotion has pretty good synergy with GWM, too (Sacred Weapon).

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

The Paladin has a wonky progression. It's front-loaded, and Paladin levels up through 6-9ish are extremely attractive... but levels 11-20 are weak enough that going pure paladin is quite unattractive. Instead of a Paladin 20 (of any flavor), I'd rather be playing a Paladin 14/Mastermind 6, or a Paladin 12/Warlock 8, or almost anything else other than a pure Paladin 20.

Color me therefore dissatisfied.

 

[Blue]

Devotion has pretty good synergy with GWM, too (Sacred Weapon).

Regardless that I agree with you, the types that I see going for Vengeance + GMW don't. Perhaps for the players who are attempting to max out DPR, losing an action to trigger Sacred Weapon isn't worthwhile.

 

[Yunru]

I miss being able to be a ranged paladin (totally not reflavoured/played as a magical girl. noooope. honest).

 

[Xeviat]

My only "complaint" about the paladin is the way they did Divine Smite. I would have rather had it be used before you attack and give an attack bonus along with the damage bonus then allow you to declare it after. Reactive smiting doesn't match the image I see, of a paladin holding their sword high, the sword glowing, and them smashing it down. It's not a "twist the knife" maneuver you decide after. I do like the smite spells, but I wish they weren't concentration.

 

[DaveDash]

The Paladin has a wonky progression. It's front-loaded, and Paladin levels up through 6-9ish are extremely attractive... but levels 11-20 are weak enough that going pure paladin is quite unattractive. Instead of a Paladin 20 (of any flavor), I'd rather be playing a Paladin 14/Mastermind 6, or a Paladin 12/Warlock 8, or almost anything else other than a pure Paladin 20.

Color me therefore dissatisfied.

I've seen Paladins in play level 1-18 and seriously what are you smoking? The Paladin is uber powerful at higher levels still, and my group loves to optimise.