Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Logain08 Aug 22, 2014 7:20:34	Hello everyone   I have a quick question concerning the smite spells that paladins get. They all say "The next time you hit a creature with a weapon attack before the spell ends". Does this mean that every time you strike a creature while you concentrate on the spell you get the bonus damage and the effect from the spell (e.g. branding smite)? Or you only get it once? Because I think you could interpret it both ways. After all, as long as you strike and you're concentrating on the spell, any strike could be your next hit.   Also, how do these type of spells interact with multiple attacks. If a 5th level paladin can attack twice with his attack action and he hits both times, and he has cast one of his smite spells beforehand. Does he get the damage bonus twice? I understand this question is moot if the effect of the spell occurs for the entire duration of the spell.   Also (but this is maybe not something for the rules forum), what is the best way for a paladin to be decent at concentration checks since he gets no proficiency in constitution saves?   Many thanks in advance!
#2 Yunru Aug 22, 2014 7:45:51	Except your next hit from casting will only be *the next hit you make*. So all of them *could* be, but there can only be one (that will).
#3 Proletheus Aug 22, 2014 7:47:00	The next time is singular, meaning you only get to use your smite spell extra damage once.
#4 2Chlorobutanal Aug 23, 2014 0:21:55	Logain08 wrote:
#5 Logain08 Aug 23, 2014 2:25:31	Thanks for the replies! This cleared up a lot for me. I was hoping the smite spells would last for their entire duration, but I see now this was stupid of me.   I have a small additional question, when you use the divine smite feature and you sacrifice a spell slot, does the extra damage go to both your weapons attacks starting from level 5?
#6 Proletheus Aug 23, 2014 2:51:25	Logain08 wrote:
(Reply to #6) Logain08	Proletheus wrote:
#8 UnknownMourner Aug 24, 2014 20:44:43	Unless you really need a condition on a foe, the smite spells, at least the low level ones, aren't worth a prep slot compared to just dumping anything into divine smite, the class feature.
(Reply to #8) GladiusLegis	UnknownMourner wrote:
#10 PetardoMauriti Aug 25, 2014 15:38:41	Meh, they made these smite spells almost useless now that you cannot expend them when you hit, instead you must retain concentration, which you can easily lose before you do that extra damage.
#11 KarlB Aug 25, 2014 18:19:05	Actually, all the smite spells use a bonus action. So unless you're meeting someone who can specifically counter your spell casting self targetting with a reaction, you can just cast the spell first as a bonus action, and then use your actual attack action to swing your sword at your target. It just states that it's a concentration spell in that you can hold it until you use it ... but really, you'll be using it the same turn.   Come to think of it, given that you can cast a spell as a bonus action to prepare a smite, and then use two additional Divine Smites, one per attack, for three smites total, plus the other 2D8 from Improved Divine Smite, I think the Paladin is a strong challenger to the Fighter's Action Surge in terms of burst DPR. Would there be anything in the rules, or logically, that would prevent a Paladin from using, say, Wrathful Smite and Divine Smite in the same hit? Only one of those two requires a bonus action.
#12 tallric_kruush Aug 25, 2014 18:31:15	I don't believe there is anything wrong with doing just that. I am playing my first Paladin in ages, since the 5E Paladin finally combines appealing mechanics with that flavor.   I am playing my paladin as a divine striker, and fully anticipate burning most of my spells on the Divine Smite class feature. The paladin can bring a swift end to a many a dangerous foe with that feature, as long as he has the spell slots to fuel it.
(Reply to #12) Danny_Montanny	tallric_kruush wrote:
#14 tallric_kruush Aug 25, 2014 19:55:59	I'm not a huge fan of 5E's multiclassing. By design, you sacrifice a lot in search of those gains.   For this character, at least, a Sorceror MC wouldn't make much sense. He's a human noble of Sharn, and not one I've imagined with any arcane potential. While I could easily reflavor Sorceror features and powers as needed, I'll likely go straight Paladin for this first 5E PC.   I do look forward to learning the ins and outs of the system, mechanically, as time passes. Some of my later PCs will no doubt be made with a greater emphasis on optimization via various avenues. I think, at this early stage, optimizing within the base class is the way to go for me.   EDIT: I forgot in which thread I was posting, as I had a different thread going in which I'd mentioned my paladin. The above advice naturally might be relevant to the OP or other readers. ;)
#15 Logain08 Aug 26, 2014 2:00:08	I was considering paladin 12/bard 8 for extra spell slots and more skill versatility and extra utitlity in the form of bard spells. Like Danny_Montanny said, this would also give my paladin extra spell slots to smite with. I play a vengeance paladin and I'm not the biggest fan of the level 15 feature that he gets, nor the level 20 one. I would miss out on cleansing touch.   Also, returning to my original question, I reread the spell "Banishing Smite" and now I'm a bit confused. The spell is phrased like any other paladin smite spell, and has the added effect that it can possibly banish a creature to another plane. If you do so, the spell says "It remains there until the spell ends, at which point the target reappears in the space it left or in the nearest unoccupied space if that space is occupied."  The thing is, the spell effectively ends after you hit something with it, thus returning the creature immediately from its banishment, making the spell useless aside from the extra damage (which is a lot: 5d10). Or am I - again - missing something?
(Reply to #15) 2Chlorobutanal	Logain08 wrote: