It seems that paladins get proficiency to saving throws in charisma and wisdom. I believe charisma is their magic stat. Question: Why do paladins get proficiency to saving throws for wisdom? (It seems like it would have been better in strength or constitution.)
Think about what most effects that cause Wisdom saving throws are. Most of them are attacks on the sense of what is real/true vs what is fake/false. Paladins thematically are dedicated to a strong sense of personal truths through their selected oath, so having a strong resistance to attacks against their sense of truth is represented by Wisdom saving throws.
Paladins are the stalwart defenders against all those wicked nasties who like to tempt, manipulate & corrupt mortals.
…so they need to be good at those Wisdom-saving throws.
And Charisma, because they (perhaps a bit comically) gotta be those charming knights in shining armor.
But also from a mechanical standpoint:
Most of your martial characters get proficiencies in either Strength, Dexterity or Constitution saving throws.
…but Paladins are unique in that when they reach a certain level; their Charisma modifier gets applied to ALL of their saving throws.
Not only is this a really cool class feature…which can be shared by those to stand close to the Paladin; cementing them as a support class…
…but it also “smooths over” the fact that Paladins have a lot of stats that need attention…they need to be strong (Strength)…resilient (Constitution)…at least a bit coordinated (Dexterity)…Wisdom doesn’t get much attention (so your proficiency in Wisdom-saves helps a ton)…and finally, Charisma is your casting stat; so that tends to be a primary stat.
It’s actually quite impressive that all these little features weave together to help make the Paladin the powerhouse it can be.
I think from mechanical terms, all classes have proficiency in one of the three most used saving throws, and one of the less used saving throws.
Most used saving throws: Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, also the saving throws we used to have in previous editions (Reflex, Fortitude, Will)
Less used saving throws: Strength, Intelligence and Charisma
Notice how no class has proficiency in two of the "most used" ones, for balance reasons. So, Paladins have proficiency to Charisma, because that's their main spell-casting stat, and between Dexterity, Constitution and Wisdom, they chose Wisdom. Removing Dexterity from the mix, because a highly dexterous character doesn't scream "Paladin", we are left with Constitution and Wisdom. I think both could work on a Paladin, but Wisdom protects from Mental attacks, something that fits a heroic righteous warrior, like a Paladin.
Paladins must be wise in order to mantain control. They are weilding fragments, slivers if you will. Of a gods power. They need to be thoughtful and careful with who they affect with it. Unless your an oathbreaker, then just let loose!
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"Anyone can smith at the cosmic anvil, yet only I can forge a weapon as good as thee."
It is not clear if the OP is referring to wisdom in general or just the saveing throw proficiency.
Paladin's dont need wisdom in general, though there are disadvantages to relying on other party members to perceive things, and it can be useful for the face to be able to read what the body language of the person they are talking to.
Regarding saving throw proficiency they get it whether they "need" it or not, WotC give us the rules not the why behind it having said that we can assertain certain things. As has been said, Wis Con and Dex and far more important for saves than Str, Int and Cha, every class gets proficiency for one ability in the former group and one in the later. All spellcasters get proficiency in saves of their casting ability so in paladins get Char they will not (from a game designer ponjt of view) get str or int. The only spell casters with proficiencty in Con are sorcerers and artificers, for spell casters con saves are the most important (a paladin can just smite all the time but they do have the option of spells) I feels wthout the proficiency in con saves artificers and socerers would be relatively weak where the paladin is a strong class so con save proficiency would be something else would need to be toned down elsewhere. I also think that it makes sense for a paladins faith / oath to makes them more able to resist things like charm and fear effects (for fear in particular this makes sense when they are immune to fear completely when they reach level 10)
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It seems that paladins get proficiency to saving throws in charisma and wisdom. I believe charisma is their magic stat. Question: Why do paladins get proficiency to saving throws for wisdom? (It seems like it would have been better in strength or constitution.)
Think about what most effects that cause Wisdom saving throws are. Most of them are attacks on the sense of what is real/true vs what is fake/false. Paladins thematically are dedicated to a strong sense of personal truths through their selected oath, so having a strong resistance to attacks against their sense of truth is represented by Wisdom saving throws.
Because they used to be divine (ish) casters back in 1e, and divine casters use wisdom, and that carried forward.
Paladins are the stalwart defenders against all those wicked nasties who like to tempt, manipulate & corrupt mortals.
…so they need to be good at those Wisdom-saving throws.
And Charisma, because they (perhaps a bit comically) gotta be those charming knights in shining armor.
But also from a mechanical standpoint:
Most of your martial characters get proficiencies in either Strength, Dexterity or Constitution saving throws.
…but Paladins are unique in that when they reach a certain level; their Charisma modifier gets applied to ALL of their saving throws.
Not only is this a really cool class feature…which can be shared by those to stand close to the Paladin; cementing them as a support class…
…but it also “smooths over” the fact that Paladins have a lot of stats that need attention…they need to be strong (Strength)…resilient (Constitution)…at least a bit coordinated (Dexterity)…Wisdom doesn’t get much attention (so your proficiency in Wisdom-saves helps a ton)…and finally, Charisma is your casting stat; so that tends to be a primary stat.
It’s actually quite impressive that all these little features weave together to help make the Paladin the powerhouse it can be.
I think from mechanical terms, all classes have proficiency in one of the three most used saving throws, and one of the less used saving throws.
Most used saving throws: Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, also the saving throws we used to have in previous editions (Reflex, Fortitude, Will)
Less used saving throws: Strength, Intelligence and Charisma
Notice how no class has proficiency in two of the "most used" ones, for balance reasons. So, Paladins have proficiency to Charisma, because that's their main spell-casting stat, and between Dexterity, Constitution and Wisdom, they chose Wisdom. Removing Dexterity from the mix, because a highly dexterous character doesn't scream "Paladin", we are left with Constitution and Wisdom. I think both could work on a Paladin, but Wisdom protects from Mental attacks, something that fits a heroic righteous warrior, like a Paladin.
Paladins must be wise in order to mantain control. They are weilding fragments, slivers if you will. Of a gods power. They need to be thoughtful and careful with who they affect with it. Unless your an oathbreaker, then just let loose!
"Anyone can smith at the cosmic anvil, yet only I can forge a weapon as good as thee."
My Homebrew Please click it, they have my family.
Um, no. i disagree with #7, because 5e wisdom is not irl wisdom.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
It is not clear if the OP is referring to wisdom in general or just the saveing throw proficiency.
Paladin's dont need wisdom in general, though there are disadvantages to relying on other party members to perceive things, and it can be useful for the face to be able to read what the body language of the person they are talking to.
Regarding saving throw proficiency they get it whether they "need" it or not, WotC give us the rules not the why behind it having said that we can assertain certain things. As has been said, Wis Con and Dex and far more important for saves than Str, Int and Cha, every class gets proficiency for one ability in the former group and one in the later. All spellcasters get proficiency in saves of their casting ability so in paladins get Char they will not (from a game designer ponjt of view) get str or int. The only spell casters with proficiencty in Con are sorcerers and artificers, for spell casters con saves are the most important (a paladin can just smite all the time but they do have the option of spells) I feels wthout the proficiency in con saves artificers and socerers would be relatively weak where the paladin is a strong class so con save proficiency would be something else would need to be toned down elsewhere. I also think that it makes sense for a paladins faith / oath to makes them more able to resist things like charm and fear effects (for fear in particular this makes sense when they are immune to fear completely when they reach level 10)