|
Or at least once every 5 rounds. Under the current situation, a paladin has to keep track of as much as 4 different ability pools (channel energy, lay on hands, divine bond and smite evil). Considering that smite evil is in many ways inferior to rage powers like powerful blow, I don't think it would be that overpowering to allow paladins to use it at will. Binders already use such a power with less restriction every five rounds and it works fine, so it shouldn't be a problem for paladins. Aura of justice could easily be fueled by one of the paladin's other ability pools, probably lay on hands (by the way I like the integration of cure dieseases into lay on hands). Alternatively, smite evil could work as a standard action. A part of the problem is that all of the paladin's options are restricted by uses per day whereas fighters, rogues, rangers and even monks have options that can be used at will (sneak attacks might be a bit restrictive, but the same holds true for smite evil), even full spellcasters can now cast some spells and use additional powers at will, so paladins, too, should have something special to use all day.
I have to agree. The paladin has a host of abilities, most of which are defensive. Giving the Pal an at-will Smite would help balance the class a lot and be in keeping with the flavor.
I'd make this a Swift Action, though, usable at will. Thus, it is only for one attack per round, and prevents other swift actions that round (preventing it from being combined with swift spells).
I also favor letting a Monk use Stunning Fist on every unarmed attack they make, for many of the same reasons.
-Scott
|
|
I think that would be too much of a change. As I posted in another thread, adding 3 uses per day should be sufficient. There is a non-OGL feat that adds more uses per day as well. Also to consider is the Aura of Justice which expends 2 uses of Smite to share the bonus with allies. The current mechanic also lends itself well to Feats giving other uses for the Smite ability.
Even 10 uses won't be that much. A barbarian can expend 4 rage points to add his barbarian level on one damage roll. This equals about one round of mighty rage. He might not be able to add his charisma modifier on the attack roll, but he is able to use this power against anyone. A level 20 barbarian with a 20 constitution (not that high for that level) could attack people with this power for a total of 17 rounds per day while at the same time using mighty rage. The destruction domains destructive smite is even usable at will. So at least two other classes have a lot of smite potential than the paladin.
Aura of justice could easily be fueled by spending one of the many other pools of the paladin, either lay on hands or channel energy. Also to consider, the ranger gets to share half his favored enemy bonus with other characters by simple expending a move action and his animal companion.The problem is, that the paladin has nothing to do when he doesn't smite. He has some nice healing abilities and others get some bonuses in their presence, but especially their auras are not active (except aura of courage and that one uses a lot of his daily ressources). Considering that all other classes have gotten something to do all day there should be no reason for the paladin to lack them, except that maybe righteous people can't have nice things.
|
|
I agree that 10/day is not as much as some other classes abilities. While smite is one of the Paladin's signature abilities, it is not their only ability. They also get spell casting, lay on hands, energy channeling, and auras, plus their Divine Bond, Health, and Grace. They are also a full BAB class with a tendency toward heavy armor. Plus additional uses/day can be gained through feats (non-OGL, but they exist).
Smite isn't even a clerics signature ability, but they can get it at will. They are also a holy warrior class, including heavy armor. They may not have a full BAB, but they usually make more than up for this by using spells.
I do not see this problem. Not every class needs an at will all day offensive special ability. Paladins are capable of fighting in melee without using smite. The Paladin does not need to out fight the Fighter or out damage the Barbarian because they can also do other things. Always having a special ability that is better than a regular attack is a design goal of 4E and one I do not agree with and I feel many here would agree.When I said "too much change" I was referring to backward compatibility with 3.5, a major design focus for Pathfinder. From the turn this discussion is taking however I would also bring into question whether in addition to the Paladin's other abilities removing the per day limitation on Smite completely may be too much power creep. I prefer increases to be just enough to maintain relative balance levels rather than an arms...
I neither want the paladin to outfight the fighter, nor to outdamage the barbarian. Even with smite at will, the barbarian will still do more damage, thanks to his bonus from rage. And barbarian get lots of other stuff, too. Even 3.5 had classes that had an at will smite (among lots of other abilities), but binders weren't considered overpowered, merely adequate. If smite were a standard action, usuable every 5 rounds, would it be that overpowered?
The Rebalanced Paladin
By one winged angel
Hit Die: d10
Base
Attack Fort Ref Will
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +1 +2 +0 +0 Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/encounter
2nd +2 +3 +0 +0 Divine Grace, Lay on Hands
3rd +3 +3 +1 +1 Aura of Courage, Divine Health, Hero's Courage
4th +4 +4 +1 +1 Turn Undead
5th +5 +4 +1 +1 Smite Evil 2/encounter, specialization
6th +6/+1 +5 +2 +2 Panacean Touch
7th +7/+2 +5 +2 +2 Bonus Feat
8th +8/+3 +6 +2 +2 Aura of Devotion
9th +9/+4 +6 +3 +3 Revitalizing Touch
10th +10/+5 +7 +3 +3 Smite Evil 3/encounter
11th +11/+6/+1 +7 +3 +3 Vigilance
12th +12/+7/+2 +8 +4 +4 Refreshing Touch
13th +13/+8/+3 +8 +4 +4 Aura of Resolve
14th +14/+9/+4 +9 +4 +4 Bonus Feat
15th +15/+10/+5 +9 +5 +5 Smite Evil 4/Encounter
16th +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +5 +5 Break Enchantment
17th +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +5 Constant Vigilance
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +6 Aura of Faith
19th +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +6 Energizing Touch
20th +20/+15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +6 Smite Evil 5/Encounter,
emphasis mine...
here's a link to the rest but the relavent part is bolded...
|
|
You have mentioned "binders". Are you referring to the Binder class from Tome of Magic? I'm only passingly familiar with it, but I don't see any type of smite listed for them as a class feature.
Yes, those are the ones I am referring to. One of the vestiges, Andras, grants the binder, among some other things, the ability to smite good or evil every 5 rounds. The binder gets to add his binder level on damage and he adds his charisma bonus to the attack roll. A binder gets this ability on level 7 (level 5 if he uses a certain feat), so I could certainly see it being overpowered when given to a paladin of low level. So, maybe, a few uses per day at first and unlimited smiting at later levels.