Paladins have built-in healing abilities and many stories paint them as healers and helpers of one sort or another but nearly everything else in 5e guides them to being tanks and damage-dealers and most I've talked to ignore their spells almost entirely in favor of Divine Smites. I joined a campaign last year playing as a paladin for the first time and built him as the usual knight in shining armor that takes hits and hits things back. Then I realized there are plenty of damage dealers and another tank. But the group doesn't have a bard or a full-time healer and the wizard is not one for battlefield control. Does anyone else play a control- or support-type paladin?

If you've tried (successfully or otherwise) to cross over with a paladin, tell me about your experiences! What oath did you take? What spells and features did you find the most helpful? I tried a few different things and finally homebrewed a subclass with my DM's help that I'm pretty proud of but I'm more interested in what others have done within the confines of 5e!

I play a Conquest Paladin and actually use my spell slots for spells instead of smite. It is really fun to play it this way as well. I can bless, heal, fear opponents, handle RP social, and still hit like a tank if I want to. It also fits my character that is designed to be more of the scary figure in the back that the enemies focus on while the real physical threat are the fighter and rogue beating the heck out of them. We also lack a cleric, just a paladin and bard. It works really well.

That's great to hear! It's encouraging to know other players approach the class this way as well. I find it much more fun than just seeing how much damage I can do at a time. It makes me think more creatively and try to create more compelling moments in combat at social interactions! I was getting bummed out seeing other people build and play just focused on nova damage.

I play Paladin of Devotion. It seems hard until it reaches lvl 14 - 15. Then it starts becoming a Demi-god, with flaws... xD