There is Glamoured Studded Leather Armor, Mithral Armor, and several other magic items that can boost your AC as you go up in level. A paladin who doesn’t wear armor isn’t optimal, but it’s viable as long as the rest of your party isn’t min-maxing for combat to an extreme.
and the reason I wanted to try to use paladin is because as far as being the guy that carefully chooses when to draw their blade, strikes an opponent once, and then returns it to its sheath is concerned kensei doesn’t have the single strike damage to be able to do it to anyone that’s isn’t so far beneath them that it would be dishonorable. Not to mention compelled duel lets me go “hey you, I’m here to kill you” which fit the plan. Iaijutsu duels were what made my mind start on this course and kensei would be awesome for the lack of armor but wouldn’t cover heavy single strike damage needed to finish it in that way.
Ok, this is good info we can work with. You basically want an honorable alpha strike. I agree that Kensei can't really do that. But I don't think smites are the only way to achieve this either.
I'm guessing Rogue is off the table? Sneak Attack doesn't have to be flavored as underhanded or deceptive - maybe it's just an extremely calculated, precise strike. Weapon choice isn't great either - a rapier is not a katana after all. But you could very much argue that the type of samurai you're going for would fight with finesse (reminder we're talking pop culture anime stuff before someone goes off again on how katanas are heavy and would absolutely require strength etc etc). Personally I'd probably ask the DM if it was ok to make a katana weapon that was mechanically identical to a rapier except it did slashing damage instead of piercing. Then I'd pick a rogue archetype that could lend itself to this concept like Swashbuckler or Inquisitive and maybe dip into Ranger for that Gloom Stalker round one goodness.
But that's me. If you've got your heart set on smiting, that's fine too. Wish I had some Paladin advice for you. Sorry I misread your posts as snarky and good luck.
and the reason I wanted to try to use paladin is because as far as being the guy that carefully chooses when to draw their blade, strikes an opponent once, and then returns it to its sheath is concerned kensei doesn’t have the single strike damage to be able to do it to anyone that’s isn’t so far beneath them that it would be dishonorable. Not to mention compelled duel lets me go “hey you, I’m here to kill you” which fit the plan. Iaijutsu duels were what made my mind start on this course and kensei would be awesome for the lack of armor but wouldn’t cover heavy single strike damage needed to finish it in that way.
Ok, this is good info we can work with. You basically want an honorable alpha strike. I agree that Kensei can't really do that. But I don't think smites are the only way to achieve this either.
I'm guessing Rogue is off the table? Sneak Attack doesn't have to be flavored as underhanded or deceptive - maybe it's just an extremely calculated, precise strike. Weapon choice isn't great either - a rapier is not a katana after all. But you could very much argue that the type of samurai you're going for would fight with finesse (reminder we're talking pop culture anime stuff before someone goes off again on how katanas are heavy and would absolutely require strength etc etc). Personally I'd probably ask the DM if it was ok to make a katana weapon that was mechanically identical to a rapier except it did slashing damage instead of piercing. Then I'd pick a rogue archetype that could lend itself to this concept like Swashbuckler or Inquisitive and maybe dip into Ranger for that Gloom Stalker round one goodness.
But that's me. If you've got your heart set on smiting, that's fine too. Wish I had some Paladin advice for you. Sorry I misread your posts as snarky and good luck.
Swashbuckler with alert feat to get dex and cha and +5 to initiative would be good to get off that initial strike.
This topic is frustrating to read. Samurai? Yes. Fighter? No. A real samurai? No. Anime swordsman? Yes. Honor? Bushido? No. Just smiting stuff without armor. Katana? No. One handed sword. Ok. Multiclass? Level 12 Paladin? Not 2/18 or 6/14 split? Ok. Just go full paladin unless you feel like 4th level spellslots at 13 is somehow terrible? No? I don't know anymore...
Dex paladin, Eladrin Elf with a moonblade. Defensive Duelist, Critfishing with Elvish Accuracy.
Kensei Monk without armor a Paladin is a very weak striker and very vulnerable the unarmored movement and armor class will make you much faster and more durable although it could get pretty MAD with wisdom, dexterity, charisma, and constitution(for good measure and hit points), and if you don't do it right strength so really MAD I guess, but if you cut down on the Paladin levels Charisma and Strength really won't be that relevant and if you don't I'd recommend a rapier until you get to your monk levels because finesse, and your going to have to completely dump intelligence so you will about as smart as brick, but this is a sure cut way to achieve what you're asking for while maximizing you survivability.
I have no idea why people are telling you to go monk, they don't even know your wisdom score. At least go barbarian, then you at least get rage for resistance to regular attacks, maybe even reckless attacks for crits.
This topic is frustrating to read. Samurai? Yes. Fighter? No. A real samurai? No. Anime swordsman? Yes. Honor? Bushido? No. Just smiting stuff without armor. Katana? No. One handed sword. Ok. Multiclass? Level 12 Paladin? Not 2/18 or 6/14 split? Ok. Just go full paladin unless you feel like 4th level spellslots at 13 is somehow terrible? No? I don't know anymore...
Dex paladin, Eladrin Elf with a moonblade. Defensive Duelist, Critfishing with Elvish Accuracy.
A moon blade sounds great actually for this idea, it fits the theme rather well as well as letting you finesse a versatile bladed weapon. And the number of levels in paladin weren’t set in stone, merely the class itself. 12 just seemed a good number since 11 would add smite damage to every attack and 12 would give me another ASI, so if I’m already at 11 why not 12? I never said no honor or no bushido. And katana isn’t a weapon in 5e, so a longsword or shortsword shaped like a katana is the best option available.
The UA version of the Oath of Redemption had 16 + DEX unarmored AC. They removed it in the published version, so I would check with your DM first to see if they'd allow it
Every time I think of an unarmored fighting man I think of a barbarian. Could this support your concept with the right feats or one specific magic item to give you the smites. A barbarian can be a soldier that is highly focused on their honor, as one might think in a paladin.
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while it's generally speaking not a great idea to try for an armorless paladin, a level of barbarian to pick up his unarmored defense would help considerably. You can still rage and smite as well so the damage resistance would help as well.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
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There is Glamoured Studded Leather Armor, Mithral Armor, and several other magic items that can boost your AC as you go up in level. A paladin who doesn’t wear armor isn’t optimal, but it’s viable as long as the rest of your party isn’t min-maxing for combat to an extreme.
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Ok, this is good info we can work with. You basically want an honorable alpha strike. I agree that Kensei can't really do that. But I don't think smites are the only way to achieve this either.
I'm guessing Rogue is off the table? Sneak Attack doesn't have to be flavored as underhanded or deceptive - maybe it's just an extremely calculated, precise strike. Weapon choice isn't great either - a rapier is not a katana after all. But you could very much argue that the type of samurai you're going for would fight with finesse (reminder we're talking pop culture anime stuff before someone goes off again on how katanas are heavy and would absolutely require strength etc etc). Personally I'd probably ask the DM if it was ok to make a katana weapon that was mechanically identical to a rapier except it did slashing damage instead of piercing. Then I'd pick a rogue archetype that could lend itself to this concept like Swashbuckler or Inquisitive and maybe dip into Ranger for that Gloom Stalker round one goodness.
But that's me. If you've got your heart set on smiting, that's fine too. Wish I had some Paladin advice for you. Sorry I misread your posts as snarky and good luck.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Swashbuckler with alert feat to get dex and cha and +5 to initiative would be good to get off that initial strike.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
This topic is frustrating to read. Samurai? Yes. Fighter? No. A real samurai? No. Anime swordsman? Yes. Honor? Bushido? No. Just smiting stuff without armor. Katana? No. One handed sword. Ok. Multiclass? Level 12 Paladin? Not 2/18 or 6/14 split? Ok. Just go full paladin unless you feel like 4th level spellslots at 13 is somehow terrible? No? I don't know anymore...
Dex paladin, Eladrin Elf with a moonblade. Defensive Duelist, Critfishing with Elvish Accuracy.
Moonblade
If that's not right, I don't know, I'm not psychic
Kensei Monk without armor a Paladin is a very weak striker and very vulnerable the unarmored movement and armor class will make you much faster and more durable although it could get pretty MAD with wisdom, dexterity, charisma, and constitution(for good measure and hit points), and if you don't do it right strength so really MAD I guess, but if you cut down on the Paladin levels Charisma and Strength really won't be that relevant and if you don't I'd recommend a rapier until you get to your monk levels because finesse, and your going to have to completely dump intelligence so you will about as smart as brick, but this is a sure cut way to achieve what you're asking for while maximizing you survivability.
I have no idea why people are telling you to go monk, they don't even know your wisdom score. At least go barbarian, then you at least get rage for resistance to regular attacks, maybe even reckless attacks for crits.
No idea if that fits, but now I want to play a character that gets a moon blade just to see what it becomes and figure out its stories.
A moon blade sounds great actually for this idea, it fits the theme rather well as well as letting you finesse a versatile bladed weapon. And the number of levels in paladin weren’t set in stone, merely the class itself. 12 just seemed a good number since 11 would add smite damage to every attack and 12 would give me another ASI, so if I’m already at 11 why not 12? I never said no honor or no bushido. And katana isn’t a weapon in 5e, so a longsword or shortsword shaped like a katana is the best option available.
The UA version of the Oath of Redemption had 16 + DEX unarmored AC. They removed it in the published version, so I would check with your DM first to see if they'd allow it
Every time I think of an unarmored fighting man I think of a barbarian. Could this support your concept with the right feats or one specific magic item to give you the smites. A barbarian can be a soldier that is highly focused on their honor, as one might think in a paladin.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
while it's generally speaking not a great idea to try for an armorless paladin, a level of barbarian to pick up his unarmored defense would help considerably. You can still rage and smite as well so the damage resistance would help as well.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha