I’m afraid I can’t offer an answer to this, but I am considering building a paladin for a new campaign, and I’ve had the same question. I’m not going to build a human paladin, and it seems that going the GWF route is feat intensive, so I think I’m going to stick with S&B. However, I’m intrigued by expert advice.
Is sword and board dueling, protection ordefense fighting style? any of those work as a sword and board type. Personally I think sword and shield with dueling style and take shield master for added sass. Great weapon fighting won't get any greater benefit from hunters mark or divine smite than another style so you might as well have the shield. And just to make you think, if you dual wield and pick defense; hunters mark will benefit from those bonus action attacks. Nothing says "vengeance" like two medieval weapons ...flailing around...axing the tough questions!!!
Is sword and board dueling, protection ordefense fighting style? any of those work as a sword and board type. Personally I think sword and shield with dueling style and take shield master for added sass. Great weapon fighting won't get any greater benefit from hunters mark or divine smite than another style so you might as well have the shield. And just to make you think, if you dual wield and pick defense; hunters mark will benefit from those bonus action attacks. Nothing says "vengeance" like two medieval weapons ...flailing around...axing the tough questions!!!
I like the way you think, Gigaflop! I think I’ll be axing some questions myself...
Public Mod Note(MellieDM): Please do not revive old threads from 2018 as per our Thread Necromancy rules. You are welcome to start a new discussion on this topic with our current community members!
1d12 and 2d6 both hit for 8.33 = 3.5+3.5 + 3 + 4 + 5 +6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 / sum = 2(3.5 + 3.5 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6)/sum so
1d12 => 6.5
2d6 => 7.
at most you're gaining <4 damage when you take extra attack.(2 attacks per action) the reality is that the averages favor GWF when you have many attacks, not 2 with a paladin.
Look at Dueling. that's a flat 2dmg bonus on hit. so it's 4 with extra attack.
Look at Defence, you can get an additional +1 AC and be able to jump between the 1h and 2h and not worry about losing your benefit.
In all honesty, I think Defence is the best of the fighting styles because you can switch between the two and not have any variation of dmg or buyer's remorse after the dmg you get is not of your fighting style. you can grab a shield for the hang-back encounters, and go 2h for the dmg dealing encounters.
Let's also be very clear about one thing. Sage advice explicitly states that GWF does NOT give rerolls on 1's and 2's to smite dmg.so it makes the fighting style even less appealing to paladins. overall GWF will give you what you want if you only care about optimizing for dmg per round. but consider this, if you're optimizing for dmg/rnd, don't play a paladin. play a barbarian/fighter with heavier built in dmg or more actions.
Paladins get their dmg from Improved Divine smite and smite dumps (especially on crits.) so max DPR is likely a dip in paladin with heavy fighter levels.
Consider the fact that if your AC is higher, you're less likely to be hit, which means less likely to need to heal, keeping more actions for attacks. 1 heal is worth 2 attacks in action economy.
I'd go Defence and do either or depending on which weapon and my role in the party/during the encounter
AS for your ability scores?
I'd switch Cha with Str and dip 1 level into Warlock(hexblade) you'll be a monster, vengeance + hex curse practically feeds you crit after crit.
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(MellieDM):
Please do not revive old threads from 2018 as per our Thread Necromancy rules. You are welcome to start a new discussion on this topic with our current community members!
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I have a Vengeance Paladin coming into the party at Level 6 and I thought I made my mind up about S&B fighting style, but now I am not sure.
Someone sell me on GWF or S&B
Strength
18
18 (+4)
Dexterity
11
11 (+0)
Constitution
14
14 (+2)
Intelligence
12
12 (+1)
Wisdom
13 +1
14 (+2)
Charisma
14 +2
16 (+3)
Without 4th ASI accounted for
I’m afraid I can’t offer an answer to this, but I am considering building a paladin for a new campaign, and I’ve had the same question. I’m not going to build a human paladin, and it seems that going the GWF route is feat intensive, so I think I’m going to stick with S&B. However, I’m intrigued by expert advice.
Is sword and board dueling, protection or defense fighting style? any of those work as a sword and board type. Personally I think sword and shield with dueling style and take shield master for added sass. Great weapon fighting won't get any greater benefit from hunters mark or divine smite than another style so you might as well have the shield. And just to make you think, if you dual wield and pick defense; hunters mark will benefit from those bonus action attacks. Nothing says "vengeance" like two medieval weapons ...flailing around...axing the tough questions!!!
Jesus Saves!... Everyone else takes damage.
I like the way you think, Gigaflop! I think I’ll be axing some questions myself...
GWF isn't that great
1d12 and 2d6 both hit for 8.33 = 3.5+3.5 + 3 + 4 + 5 +6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 / sum = 2(3.5 + 3.5 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6)/sum so
1d12 => 6.5
2d6 => 7.
at most you're gaining <4 damage when you take extra attack.(2 attacks per action) the reality is that the averages favor GWF when you have many attacks, not 2 with a paladin.
Look at Dueling. that's a flat 2dmg bonus on hit. so it's 4 with extra attack.
Look at Defence, you can get an additional +1 AC and be able to jump between the 1h and 2h and not worry about losing your benefit.
In all honesty, I think Defence is the best of the fighting styles because you can switch between the two and not have any variation of dmg or buyer's remorse after the dmg you get is not of your fighting style. you can grab a shield for the hang-back encounters, and go 2h for the dmg dealing encounters.
Let's also be very clear about one thing. Sage advice explicitly states that GWF does NOT give rerolls on 1's and 2's to smite dmg.so it makes the fighting style even less appealing to paladins. overall GWF will give you what you want if you only care about optimizing for dmg per round. but consider this, if you're optimizing for dmg/rnd, don't play a paladin. play a barbarian/fighter with heavier built in dmg or more actions.
Paladins get their dmg from Improved Divine smite and smite dumps (especially on crits.) so max DPR is likely a dip in paladin with heavy fighter levels.
Consider the fact that if your AC is higher, you're less likely to be hit, which means less likely to need to heal, keeping more actions for attacks. 1 heal is worth 2 attacks in action economy.
I'd go Defence and do either or depending on which weapon and my role in the party/during the encounter
AS for your ability scores?
I'd switch Cha with Str and dip 1 level into Warlock(hexblade) you'll be a monster, vengeance + hex curse practically feeds you crit after crit.
It doesn't matter how smart you think are you. No one will want to work with you if you're an *******.