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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Spell-less Paladin variant, lay on hands as main resource for damage.
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<blockquote data-quote="doctorbadwolf" data-source="post: 8838932" data-attributes="member: 6704184"><p>This is wild to me. </p><p></p><p>It’s 5 more damage than wrathful smite. You trade frightened which is a huge debuff for 5 damage. Thunderous does 2 less damage on average, and knocks a creature back and prone. In a melee heavy group, that enemy is probably dead by the time it’s turn comes around. The only reason to use divine smite over these is that you are already concentrating, which brings us to:</p><p></p><p>Bless. Bless is objectively more effective than smite. 2d8 extra damage once, or potentially a whole fight, but usually more like 2-3 rounds, of 3 PCs getting +2.5 average bonus on basically every check. Huge in a fight, even bigger in exploration or interaction challenges. </p><p></p><p>don’t like concentration? </p><p></p><p>Command. Incredibly good spell. Can turn a hard fight into an easy one, not to mention out of combat. </p><p></p><p>Aid. No concentration, 3 Allie’s get 5 max and current hp. Roughly equal to 3d8 damage once. </p><p></p><p>I’ve seen more battles swayed by Compelled duel than by 2d8 extra damage on a single attack. </p><p></p><p>Then we get to 3rd level slots, and it’s no contest. Unless it’s a clutch crit, any divine smite above 1st level is a waste of a spell slot IMO. Like almost every 3rd level spell is better than 4d8 extra damage on a single attack. </p><p></p><p>Clutch crit is actually almost the only time I actually see DS used in my group’s games, with occasional “this guy really needs to die right now” or RP moments where the character would hold nothing back. In actual play shows it’s maybe 50/50 usage of slots IME.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="doctorbadwolf, post: 8838932, member: 6704184"] This is wild to me. It’s 5 more damage than wrathful smite. You trade frightened which is a huge debuff for 5 damage. Thunderous does 2 less damage on average, and knocks a creature back and prone. In a melee heavy group, that enemy is probably dead by the time it’s turn comes around. The only reason to use divine smite over these is that you are already concentrating, which brings us to: Bless. Bless is objectively more effective than smite. 2d8 extra damage once, or potentially a whole fight, but usually more like 2-3 rounds, of 3 PCs getting +2.5 average bonus on basically every check. Huge in a fight, even bigger in exploration or interaction challenges. don’t like concentration? Command. Incredibly good spell. Can turn a hard fight into an easy one, not to mention out of combat. Aid. No concentration, 3 Allie’s get 5 max and current hp. Roughly equal to 3d8 damage once. I’ve seen more battles swayed by Compelled duel than by 2d8 extra damage on a single attack. Then we get to 3rd level slots, and it’s no contest. Unless it’s a clutch crit, any divine smite above 1st level is a waste of a spell slot IMO. Like almost every 3rd level spell is better than 4d8 extra damage on a single attack. Clutch crit is actually almost the only time I actually see DS used in my group’s games, with occasional “this guy really needs to die right now” or RP moments where the character would hold nothing back. In actual play shows it’s maybe 50/50 usage of slots IME. [/QUOTE]
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Spell-less Paladin variant, lay on hands as main resource for damage.
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