I have never played, but just started playing as a Paladin. It's way in the future (I'm only Level 3), but I was reading the section and have a question about Improved Divine Smite. Here's the scenario; I'm Level 11 and hit with a Melee Weapon attack. As a result, it deals an extra 1D8 Radiant Damage. On that successful hit, I opt to exercise Divine Smite. The book makes it sound like I can use an extra D8 of damage on both the Melee Weapon Attack AND the Divine Smite Attack (so altogether, I'm dealing an extra 2D8 damage). At Level 11, I'm already getting 4D8 on Divine Smite because I'm a Level 3 Spellcaster. So does that mean I'm getting an extra 5D8 whenever I choose to exercise Divine Smite on a successful attack? Or am I all wrong and you don't get the D8 double-dip on the action, you only get it on the Melee Weapon damage.
At level 11 you swing at your target and successfully hit it:
Roll weapon damage Roll 5d8 Radiant damage from Divine Smite (due to 3rd level spell slot, 6d8 vs Undead) Roll an extra 1d8 due to Improved Divine Smite --- If you've previously cast any of the Smite spells add that damage to the total.
Ok, yeah! That makes sense that way, to break it up. First the weapon damage by itself, then all the standard radiant damage associated with the hit, and finally the bonus damage that you get from the improved version. All of that will add up to the total damage. I was trying to understand it all as one enormous damage dealer and separating it out simplifies the whole transaction.
Ignore this sentence: "If you also use your Divine Smite with an attack, you add this damage to the extra damage of your Divine Smite." It was deleted in the November 2018 errata due to how misleading it was. Improved Divine Smite is only supposed to add 1d8 radiant damage.
Yeah, that line was the initial culprit! It's really unclear how it's presented. And like I said, still 8 levels away. But I feel like I have a better understanding of it, now that there's been some conversation.
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I have never played, but just started playing as a Paladin. It's way in the future (I'm only Level 3), but I was reading the section and have a question about Improved Divine Smite. Here's the scenario; I'm Level 11 and hit with a Melee Weapon attack. As a result, it deals an extra 1D8 Radiant Damage. On that successful hit, I opt to exercise Divine Smite. The book makes it sound like I can use an extra D8 of damage on both the Melee Weapon Attack AND the Divine Smite Attack (so altogether, I'm dealing an extra 2D8 damage). At Level 11, I'm already getting 4D8 on Divine Smite because I'm a Level 3 Spellcaster. So does that mean I'm getting an extra 5D8 whenever I choose to exercise Divine Smite on a successful attack? Or am I all wrong and you don't get the D8 double-dip on the action, you only get it on the Melee Weapon damage.
Thanks for your help, folks.
This is how I read it:
At level 11 you swing at your target and successfully hit it:
Roll weapon damage
Roll 5d8 Radiant damage from Divine Smite (due to 3rd level spell slot, 6d8 vs Undead)
Roll an extra 1d8 due to Improved Divine Smite
---
If you've previously cast any of the Smite spells add that damage to the total.
Ok, yeah! That makes sense that way, to break it up. First the weapon damage by itself, then all the standard radiant damage associated with the hit, and finally the bonus damage that you get from the improved version. All of that will add up to the total damage. I was trying to understand it all as one enormous damage dealer and separating it out simplifies the whole transaction.
Thanks for the answer!
Ignore this sentence: "If you also use your Divine Smite with an attack, you add this damage to the extra damage of your Divine Smite." It was deleted in the November 2018 errata due to how misleading it was. Improved Divine Smite is only supposed to add 1d8 radiant damage.
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Yeah, that line was the initial culprit! It's really unclear how it's presented. And like I said, still 8 levels away. But I feel like I have a better understanding of it, now that there's been some conversation.