Spell-less Paladin

[bedir than]

We've seen WotC's mundane Ranger. Has anyone tackled the framework for a Paladin that doesn't get access to spellcasting? I'm less worried about Laying of Hands, Smiting, etc.

 

[bedir than]

The build I'm looking at is something that takes away spellcasting and replaces it with a dice pool. Those dice could be used to Smite, to grant Temp HP, and to Block Missiles. These dice would be smaller than superiority dice in size (d6), larger in quantity (to represent replacing those many spell slots), only on a long rest (like spell slots) and more narrowly used.

I may consider the Oath spells as rituals that could be cast.

 

[pBard]

Sounds more like a Fighter/monk hybrid to me.

 

[bedir than]

things that won't change Divine Sense, Lay Hands, Fighting Style (Defense or Protection). It's a conversion to a martial type that helps defense. The Auras are still there as well.

The only thing monk-like is the block missiles, that may wind up as part of an Oath.

 

[steeldragons]

My homebrew paladin uses the Channel Divine ability, at about half the rate of a cleric, but does not gain access to spells.

They can create auras of protection and valor, detect evil, lay hands, smite by infusing their weapons with divine energies. The immunity to disease, the steed, the whole kit'n'kaboodle without a spell in sight.

 

[bedir than]

I've started outlining the abilities. This is rather rough. It eliminates spellcasting except for rituals granted by Oath. First Oath is the Oath of the Shield, a defense specialist.

Drawn from the material on the mundane Ranger.
Unchanged: Divine Sense, Lay on Hand, Divine Health, ASI, xAttack, Aura of Protection, ASI, Aura of Courage, Cleansing Touch, ASI, Aura Improvements, ASI
Removed: Spellcasting, Improved Divine Smite
Changed: Fighting Style (can only choose Defense and Protection)
Add to Baseclass: Pool of Divinity (2d6 at 2nd level). These dice can be used the following ways
· Divine Smite per the PHB pg 85

· Grant an ally with 10’ Xd6 temp HPs from increased courage. This can stack. This is used as a bonus action. This ability can only be used on creatures with at least 1 HP and cannot be used on undead or constructs.

The Paladin gains more dice for their divinity pool at 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 20th level. Spent energy from the Pool of Divinity return with a long rest.
Oath of the Shield
At third level you can use the Pool of Divinity in the following ways as well.
· Deflect Missile attacks at Xd6 HP of damage as long as the Paladin has their shield. This can stack. This is used as a reaction.

· Shield of Faith, granting AC+1 to ally with 5’ as long as the Paladin has their shield. This ability cannot stack. This is used as a reaction.

At seventh level you gain Aura of Warding per PHB 87
At fifteenth level you gain Undying Sentinel per PHB 87
At twentieth level you gain Holy Nimbus per PHB 86
Rituals
At third level you gain sanctuary as a ritual
At fifth level you gain zone of truth
At ninth level you gain protection from energy
At thirteenth level you gain guardian of faith
At seventeenth level you gain scrying