Should my strength dictate my weapon?

My “main” is Paladin 1/Celestial Warlock X, so I need at least a 13 strength. Because of that, I’m not only thinking I should just go 15 strength for the heavy armor, but that I should use a two-handed weapon instead of the rapier/shield sword and board i used with my original medium armored fighter 1/celestial warlock X build with war caster.

i guess my question is should I use a two-handed weapon just because I can and should utilize the ability I have? I realize this may just be a matter of playstyle/opinion, but I’d still like some feedback on what I should do based on my build.

A side question: should I still use the war caster feat at level 5 if I’m not using a shield or go with a different feat and if so which feat for this build? I realize war caster has several good abilities besides casting spells with your hands full, but if I’m not using that ability than perhaps I should use a feat I can better utilize. 

(You’re probably starting to see a theme here.)

https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/138128127

I don’t think you need to go 2-handed just because of a 15 str. There’s plenty of sword-and-board 20 str characters.

Really, switching to a 2-handed weapon you’re looking at about 1-2 points increase in average damage, vs a +2 to AC with the shield. (Which the dueling fighting style will nicely compensate for.) So, to my my mind a lot of it comes down to you’re role in the party. If you’re the main melee tank, those 2 AC points are probably going to be more valuable to you.

And if you do go sword and board with heavy armor, you can just dump dex.

I suppose. The only things that are different are that

1. I’m going a Charisma Build as of right now, and

2. Since I’m only level 1 in Paladin I don’t get a fighting style.

Sorry, perhaps I should have brought up those points earlier. With those in mind though, do you still agree that sword and board is arguably the better option?

I don’t know about better as much as not worse. You trade a couple points of damage for a couple points of AC. Sometimes you’ll want one, sometimes the other. I don’t think there’s an objectively superior choice. 

With those in mind though, do you still agree that sword and board is arguably the better option?

It is a personal philosophy.  Some prefer higher AC, some prefer to use 2 hands to deal damage. (multiple weapons or both hands on the single weapon.

Fair enough. I do like the idea of the sword and shield more than the maul I was planning on using if I used a two-handed weapon. I had not considered using two one-handed weapons, but I thought they required too many feats and a fighting style. Thanks!

Quote from Xalthu >>

I don’t think you need to go 2-handed just because of a 15 str. There’s plenty of sword-and-board 20 str characters.

Really, switching to a 2-handed weapon you’re looking at about 1-2 points increase in average damage, vs a +2 to AC with the shield. (Which the dueling fighting style will nicely compensate for.) So, to my my mind a lot of it comes down to you’re role in the party. If you’re the main melee tank, those 2 AC points are probably going to be more valuable to you.

And if you do go sword and board with heavy armor, you can just dump dex.

 The only problem I have with this comment is dumping dex that's a horrible idea because you are lowering your initiative score (which is a pretty big deal in combat). not saying you have to max out dex or anything but having at least a modifier of 1 in dex is nice for the initiative bonus also a lot of spells use dex saving throws I believe

I see where you are coming from, but to me one point of dex versus getting heavy armor to me is a bit one-sided. I will say it makes some sense for rolled stats, but for what I’m doing with my build I need all of my points on strength, constitution and charisma (strength and charisma for the multiclass to an extent and constitution to revive with searing vengeance and the boon of recovery with as much health as possible.)