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!