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You have to hit your target, so you may lose your channel, and if you hit, your target still gets to save. So you could have just Channeled and gotten the AoE.
Is the point to get the extra weapon damage vs. a single big bad? Otherwise, having a hard time justifying taking this feat, or its inclusion as a feature (specifically in the Holy Vindicator prestige class).
AoE Channel Energy is a standard action. With Channel Smite you can combine Channel Energy damage against single target with full round of attacks or single Vital strike making it a viable tactic against single foe where your chance on first hit is good and area channeling wouldn't be best use of standard action available. Still for Clerics not optimized for melee build it isn't good option - but for Paladins, Holy Vindicators and especially Antipaladins it might be one of the best choices.
EDIT: however, with the exception of Antipaladin it will be medicore at best if you don't expect lots of big bad solo Undeads.
Our cleric was using it, cept we didn't know that u could only use it on undead. He was using it on everybody.
I think channel smite rocks. its all about timing/targets, just like every combat feat EVA!
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Meet Jim, the Holy Vindicator of Gorum, who channels negative energy. Thanks to HVs BAB, he can now make optimal use of Vital Strike+Channel Smite and wreck any mook that comes his way, and still do optimal damage to BBEGs
Meet Jim. Thank Gorum this stupid feat ever got created, 'cause until now he was a vampire's biatch and spent his days healing the vampire...
Meet Jim, the Holy Vindicator of Gorum, who channels negative energy. Thanks to HVs BAB, he can now make optimal use of Vital Strike+Channel Smite and wreck any mook that comes his way, and still do optimal damage to BBEGsMeet Jim. Thank Gorum this stupid feat ever got created, 'cause until now he was a vampire's biatch and spent his days healing the vampire...
It's seems as though you are assuming that the character with channel smite is also the main or at least a big healer, I have never played a paladin that did much of any healing.
Heck I've never played a Cleric that did much healing. GO TEAM EVIL!
Honestly I think it works just fine for a Paladin who wants to smite the *expletive* out of someone. Chances are between Power Attack, Smite Evil, and whatever other buffs you got going you'll end up gibbing every vampire you come across.
And as an evil cleric I'd rather be channeling that into a hateful profane strike against my enemies than risk accidently scratching the party's paranoid and kill happy fighter.
I'd like to see a show of hands for everyone who played a high level paladin with Channel Smite and used it regularly. No lying!
My channels/lay on hands uses were way more useful to cast on my own pally as a swift action in melee... channel smite is a farce.
You still need a free hand to use laying on hands as a swift action in melee (I still consider it a silly ability promoting selfish paladin players btw).
A melee character not attacking in a round, is usually considered a waste of a round, not sure if I agree, but I will put it up here anyway. I haven't seen an option to channel energy as a swift action otherwise, I think.
Not sure if this is RAI but we allow channel smite to work on your alignment channel targets.
I've got a Cleric of Imodae (Archon, Heroism) Subdomains who took alignment channel. He uses a greymantle weapon and channel smites evil outsiders (common in most APs) for pretty sweet damage.
He's still only backup for the Fighter but pretty sweet vs Undead/Demons
I think it should be allowed, by the costs of two feats it isnt too much of a stretch
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It's seems as though you are assuming that the character with channel smite is also the main or at least a big healer, I have never played a paladin that did much of any healing.Meet Jim, the Holy Vindicator of Gorum, who channels negative energy. Thanks to HVs BAB, he can now make optimal use of Vital Strike+Channel Smite and wreck any mook that comes his way, and still do optimal damage to BBEGsMeet Jim. Thank Gorum this stupid feat ever got created, 'cause until now he was a vampire's biatch and spent his days healing the vampire...
sigh...
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AoE Channel Energy is a standard action. With Channel Smite you can combine Channel Energy damage against single target with full round of attacks or single Vital strike making it a viable tactic against single foe where your chance on first hit is good and area channeling wouldn't be best use of standard action available. Still for Clerics not optimized for melee build it isn't good option - but for Paladins, Holy Vindicators and especially Antipaladins it might be one of the best choices.
This!
My combat optimised cleric of orcus thinks that Channel Smite is a great feat :)
sigh...It's seems as though you are assuming that the character with channel smite is also the main or at least a big healer, I have never played a paladin that did much of any healing.Meet Jim, the Holy Vindicator of Gorum, who channels negative energy. Thanks to HVs BAB, he can now make optimal use of Vital Strike+Channel Smite and wreck any mook that comes his way, and still do optimal damage to BBEGsMeet Jim. Thank Gorum this stupid feat ever got created, 'cause until now he was a vampire's biatch and spent his days healing the vampire...
sigh...
