New Paladin Homebrew Archetype (Feedback Welcome!)


Homebrew and House Rules


So here is one I am adding for an upcoming game I plan on running, wanted to get opinions:

Ascended Paladin

An Ascended Paladin is a Paladin who is sworn to an Empyreal Lord and has been granted a personal angelic celestial spirit with which to form a bond with. When they become powerful enough, and pure enough, they manage to form a direct connection to the spirit which grants the Paladin, for short bursts, access to new and more powerful abilities.

Angelic Bond
The Angelic Bond allows the paladin to allow herself to physically bond with their celestial spirit. Beginning at 5th level, as a standard action, the Paladin becomes one with their celestial spirit and is treated as though under the effects of the Angelic Aspect, Lesser spell for 1 minute per Paladin Level.

At 8th level instead of coming under the effects of the Angelic Aspect, Lesser spell, they are treated as coming under the effects of the Angelic Aspect spell for 1 minute per Paladin Level.

At 11th level instead of coming under the effects of the Angelic Aspect spell, they are treated as coming under the effects of the Angelic Aspect, Greater spell for 1 minute per Paladin Level.

A Paladin can use this ability once per day at 5th level, and one additional time per day for every four levels beyond 5th, to a total of four times per day at 17th level.

If the Paladin is reduced to 0 or fewer HP while bonded to their celestial spirit the paladin loses the use of this ability for 30 days, or until she gains a level, whichever comes first. During this 30-day period, the paladin takes a –1 penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Note: In order for the reduction to 0 HP or lower to "count" the Paladin must actually fall. If a Paladin is dropped to 0, but is stopped from falling via the Hero's Defiance or other similar immediate action spell then they are not to have considered to have been reduced to 0 or lower for the purposes of this effect.

There is another great danger with this ability. Should a Paladin die while bonded to their celestial spirit, the spirit is immediately ejected from the Paladin's body and takes the Paladin's soul with it to the afterlife. This means that a Paladin who is slain while bonded to their Celestial Spirit cannot be brought back from the dead short of a wish, limited wish, or miracle spell.

This ability replaces the Paladin's Divine Bond class ability.

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I think the idea is pretty cool: trading divine bond to gain angelic aspect. But there's some serious flaws here.

At 5th level, this ability is severely underpowered. At this level, Divine Bond grants the power of a 3rd level spell. Lesser Angelic is a 2nd level spell. I suggest having this ability also give wings with a fly speed of 30 feet. This makes the ability more in line with 3rd level spells and makes it competitive with the other options.

Secondly, I'd totally remove all of the annoying and complicated bits about the spirit disappearing if the paladin falls down or the spirit taking the paladin's soul away. Just say that if the paladin is knocked unconscious, the effect ends. Doesn't need to be more complicated than that.

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