Oath of Excellence

The oath of excellence is a sacred vow that is internally focused and driven. It is a vow to become the very best, to become unrivaled, to become the ultimate form of one's self. This vow does not get made as the start of a greater cause, nor as a part of a holy mission, and as such, is generally made to deities who favor those that are powerful in their own rite, or that aim to employ them. For this reason, those who make this oath may be morally opposed to the divines who allow them to take their vow with them, or may align splendidly.

Many who take the vow of excellence have their own singular purpose they wish to achieve, and often times this purpose either aligns with or indirectly serves the purposes of the deity who accepts the oath and grants their blessings. Paladins of the oath of excellence are of diverse and personalized skill sets, and come from all manners of background. No greater order exists which is comprised of them. These paladins, instead, are but roving individuals who will serve any clergy or order that aligns with their own goals and does not directly oppose the deity which backs them. Such paladins can be seen in almost any order, but never in great numbers, and generally not working together.

The oath of excellence bares no direct tenets of their own. They borrow the tenets that most align with their views from other paladin orders, adopting them as personal additions to their own oath. This is what structures their oath, and each paladin of excellence begins with at least three tenets they already follow, but are free to either make these themselves or take them freely from other paladin oaths. Additionally, they often have more than three tenets, and will adopt any others which resonate with their personal sense of purpose and ambitions.

Oath of Excellence Class Features

Training Goals

Your very oath is one to improve your own skills and meet your own goals, and in order to attain your goals you train diligently. At 3rd, 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level, you reach one of these personal training goals, granting you a benefit from your hard work.

Training Goals

Agility Training

You have spent significant time training your agility and mobility. You gain a +1 bonus to your Dexterity Score and a +5 bonus to all movement speeds you possess.

Combat Practice

You have rigorously devoted yourself to training your combat abilities, gaining improved talent in the art of battle. You add your proficiency bonus to initiative and gain the ability to deliver an attack as a bonus action:

Followup Attack. After taking the attack action, you can deliver an additional unarmed attack or an attack with any weapon you are wielding as a bonus action.

Defensive Drills

You have spent long hours practicing defensive stances, maneuvers, and tactics. You gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class so long as you aren't incapacitated and access to the parry reaction.

Parry. In response to being the target of a melee attack from a creature you can see, you can add your proficiency bonus to your Armor Class against that attack, potentially causing it to miss.

Determined Tenacity

Your determination and tenacity have seen you through the harshest of training, the most difficult of situations, and the most grueling of battles. You have learned to draw upon this for additional reserves of energy, the ability to withstand great blows, and to push beyond your limits. You gain 1 additional hit point per hit die you possess and the ability to draw upon your determination and tenacity in combat.

Tenacious Determination. As a bonus action, you can draw upon your determination and tenacity to grant yourself a number of temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier. These hit points last for 1 hour, or until depleted. You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses upon completing a long rest.

Fitness Routine

Fitness has been a large part of your training goals, and your daily exercise has yielded you improved physical wellbeing. You gain a +1 bonus to either your Strength or Constitution score and 1 additional hit point per hit die you possess.

Higher Education

You have spent a great deal of your time learning, whether through diligent study or through observation and experimentation. You gain a +1 bonus to your choice of Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom, and proficiency with one skill based on one of these ability scores.

Manifested Magics

You have spent a great deal of time meditating and studying the usage of magic, and have manifested the ability to cast additional spells, whether through tapping into latent powers you hold, learning arcane algorithms, or channeling natural magics from the world. You gain an additional spell or your choosing from any spell list at 3rd, 5th, and 9th level, and a cantrip from any spell list at 3rd and 9th level. The spells you gain are paladin spells for you, and are cast using your paladin spell slots using Charisma as their spellcasting ability. The spells you choose are always prepared, and do not count against the maximum number of spells you can prepare.

The spell you gain at 3rd level must be a 1st level spell. The spell you gain at 5th level can be a 1st or 2nd level spell. The spell you gain at 9th level can be any 3rd or lower level spell. If you gain this feature at a level above one at which you would have gained a spell or cantrip, you gain all spells and cantrips from previous levels upon selecting this training goal. The manifested magics table below shows when you gain these spells, what level these spells may be, and how many cantrips you know at each level.

Manifested Magics

PALADIN LEVEL	CANTRIPS KNOWN	Spell Gained
3rd	1	One 1st level spell
5th	1	One 1st or 2nd level spell
9th	2	One 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level spell

Storied Skills

Tales tell of figures with incredible skills of all sorts. You want your skills to go down in history, and have trained hard to attain them. You gain a +1 bonus to one ability score of your choosing and proficiency with any two skills or tools.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options. See the Sacred Oath class feature for how Channel Divinity works.

Boon of Excellence. You can use your Channel Divinity to amplify your own excellence or endow another with a portion of it as an action. Either you or one creature within 30 feet of yourself that you can see gains a bonus to one ability score of your choosing equal to your proficiency bonus. This bonus lasts for 1 minute.

Boon of Perseverance. You can use your Channel Divinity to exude your drive for perseverance as an action, granting yourself or one creature within 30 feet of yourself that you can see a number of temporary hit points equal to the total of your proficiency bonus and your Charisma modifier and advantage on all saving throws. This benefit lasts for 1 minute.

Achievements of Excellence

Starting at 7th level, your continued training and hard work have begun to show the hallmarks of true excellence as your talents seem to grow without end. At 7th level and every 4 levels thereafter, choose one achievement of excellence to gain. Most achievements of excellence are gained through furthering the abilities you have gained through your training goals, and require a corresponding training goal to select.

Achievements of Excellence

Combat Expertise

You have trained hard to be an incredible combatant, and have achieved the ability to strike numerous times in succession. You can now make 3 attacks any time you take the attack action. Additionally, when you take the attack action on your turn, you can use your Divine Smite when making ranged weapon attacks.

Defensive Mastery

You have focused your training even more heavily on better defending yourself from impending perils. You gain proficiency with one saving throw of your choosing, and the protection reaction.

Defender's Protection. As a reaction to an allied creature within 5 feet of you being the target of an attack from a creature or other source you can see, you may grant that ally a bonus to their Armor Class against that attack.

Eclectic Skills

You have focused on diversifying your skill sets even further, aiming to be remarkably talented in numerous ways. You gain proficiency in three skills or tools of your choosing.

Great Feat

You have performed many a great feat in your time, and tales tell of your marvelous, maybe even miraculous, talents. You are not one to shy away from your own reputation, and have embraced one of these great feats as a staple of your identity and skill set. You gain one feat of your choosing.

Lightning Reflexes

Your diligent training in almost every conceivable way has made you sharp as a razor, quick to act, and near impossible to catch wholly off guard. You add your proficiency bonus to your initiative and gain proficiency in dexterity saving throws.

Martial Excellence

You are nothing if not skilled in combat, having trained for what seem like countless hours you have made yourself into the embodiment of a holy warrior. You receive a +1 bonus to all unarmed, weapon, and spell attacks you make, and your unarmed attacks deal 1d4 damage.

Master Mobilist

You have learned that mobility and maneuverability can spell victory even in the eyes of defeat. You gain an additional +1 bonus to your Dexterity Score and a +5 bonus to all movement speeds you possess. Additionally, you can take the dash and disengage actions as bonus actions.

Minor Magic Mastery

You have worked diligently on the lesser magics you have already manifested, practicing them time and again. Because of this repetitive, grueling training, you have pretty well mastered the ability to use certain minor magical spells, and are able to call upon them almost effortlessly now. You gain one additional cantrip, which is added to your paladin spell list and is cast using Charisma.

Additionally, select one 1st level spell and one spell of 2nd or lower level spell from any spell list. You gain the ability to cast each a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus without expending a spell slot or material components. The first selected spell is cast at first level, while the second is cast at 2nd level, even if a 1st level spell is selected. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells. You regain all uses of both chosen spells upon completing a long rest.

Phenomenal Physique

Through near constant physical training and emphasis on your physical wellbeing, your physique has become truly superior to most. You gain a +1 bonus to your Strength and Constitution Scores. Additionally, you now have advantage on all Strength (Athletics) checks you make.

Skills of Renown

You have found your niche and worked hard to become an expert in the skills you most rely upon. Choose two skills or tools you are proficient with, gaining expertise with each choice. Additionally, you gain a +1 bonus to any ability score you choose.

Superior Spellcasting

You have meditated long and hard on expanding your magical abilities, and have drawn deep from the magics you have already learned to tap into, granting you improves spellcasting abilities. Choose one cantrip, one 1st level spell, and one 2nd or lower level spell from any spell list. Each of these spells is added to your paladin spell list, and they are cast using Charisma as their spellcasting ability.

At or above 13th level, choose one 4th or lower level spell from any spell list. This spell is added to your spell list as a paladin spell and is cast using Charisma.

At or above 17th level, choose one 5th or lower level spell from any spell list. This spell is added to your spell list as a paladin spell and is cast using Charisma.

All of the selected spells granted by this achievement of excellence are always prepared for you, and do not count against your maximum number of spells prepared.

Unbreakable Resolve

Your resolve is unshakable, your boundless ambition driving you ever onward to achieving greatness. You will be the very best, and nothing can stop you, not even death. You gain 1 additional hit point per hit die you possess and gain the Unbreakable Resolve special reaction.

Unbreakable Resolve. In response to taking damage that would reduce you to 0 hit points while you are not incapacitated, you can use your reaction to instead be reduced to 1 hit point and instantly regain 1d10 + your paladin class level hit points. Once you use this reaction, you cannot do so again until you complete a long rest.

Well Educated

You have observed the world and studied at great lengths to improve your own education. You gain a +1 bonus to your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, one additional language of your choosing, and proficiency with one tool and one Intelligence-, Wisdom-, or Charisma-based skill of your choosing.

Epic Talents

By 15th level, you have reached a truly epic level of talent from the rigorous training you have undergone. Countless days and nights have culminated into you being a true living legend, nearing the level of mastery you so yearn for in your fortes. You gain one bonus feat upon gaining this feature.

At 16th and again at 20th level, you reach the true mastery from the culmination of training you've undergone.

Epic Talents

Epic Champion

Your prowess in battle has become unmatched, allowing you superb efficacy in combat. You gain an additional +1 bonus to all melee and ranged attack rolls you make. Additionally, once on each of your turns when you make an attack or use your divine smite feature, you can roll the damage twice and take the higher result.

Epic Defender

None can break your defenses, and you can stave off the mightiest of blows and spells with ease. You gain an additional +1 bonus to your Armor Class with or without armor, so long as you are not incapacitated and gain proficiency in one additional saving throw.

Epic Magus

Your abilities in using low to mid level spells have lent themselves to many of your victories, and calling upon the latent powers you possess you have become capable of casting additional spells almost reflexively. You gain one more cantrip and select one more 1st level spell and one more 2nd level spell from any spell list, gaining the ability to cast each of these spells a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus without expending a spell slot or material components. The spell chosen from the 2nd level spell choice is always cast at 2nd level, while the spell chosen for the 1st level spell choice is cast at 1st level when cast in this way. Additionally, select a 3rd or lower level spell from any spell list. You may now cast this spell at 3rd level once without expending a spell slot or material components. All spells gained through this Epic Talent are cast as Paladin Spells, using Charisma as their spellcasting ability score, and you regain the ability to cast all selected spells after completing a long rest.

Epic Mentalist

Your mastery of the mental arts has become a staple of your personality and your knowledge of all things is above that of the common individual, to say the very least. You collect lore, stories, and information anywhere you go, and have become something of a master at acquiring it. You gain a +1 bonus to your choice of Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, proficiency in Intelligence saving throws, and half proficiency in any intelligence, wisdom, or charisma based ability check or skill you are not already proficient in. You also gain two languages of your choosing.

Epic Physique

Your fitness and physical health have been the core of your training since the beginning, and now your physique rivals that of legendary heroes. You gain a +1 bonus to either Strength or Constitution, an additional hit point for each hit die you possess, and advantage on all Strength and Constitution ability checks and saving throws.

Epic Polymath

Every skill has a purpose, and you aim to fulfill every purpose you possibly can no matter where you travel. Diversifying your talents further, you gain proficiency with three more skills or tools of your choosing.

Epic Reflexes

Your reflexes have become such that many would think you to have precognitive powers. So long as you are aren't unconscious, you cannot be surprised. Further, you have advantage on all Initiative checks and gain expertise in Dexterity saving throws.

Epic Resolve

Your resolve has pushed you through the direst of situations and has been hardened by every near defeat, every crippling blow, and every obstacle that has stood in your way. You gain an additional hit point for each hit die you possess, and you can draw upon your truly epic resolve as a reaction to failing any saving throw.

Epic Resolve. As a reaction to failing a saving throw, you can use your reaction to reroll that saving throw and add an additional 1d10 to the new roll. You must take the new result. You can do this a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier, regaining all uses upon completing a long rest.

Epic Skills

You have honed your skills to epic proportion, surpassing even masters of the arts you most focus in. You gain a +1 bonus to any ability score of your choosing and expertise with any two skills or tools you are already proficient in.

Epic Spellcasting

Your emphasis on spellcasting has allowed you to outclass near any other paladin, your magical abilities granting you an incredibly potent insight into the workings of magic. Choose two spells from any spell list of 4th or lower level. These spells are now paladin spells for you, are cast using Charisma, and are always prepared. They do not count against your maximum number of prepared spells. Additionally, choose one 6th level spell from any spell list. You can cast this spell once, regaining the ability to do so upon completing a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell.

Epic Warrior

You have become a warrior worthy of epics in your honor. You can now make four attacks each time you take the attack action and land a critical hit any time you roll an 18 or higher on the d20 used to make an attack roll.

Epic Wayfinder

Nothing seems to slow you or hinder your progress when on the move, and you seem to possess an almost supernatural sense of direction. You can always tell true north so long as you are on the material plane, can always tell the direction to the last place you performed a short or long rest, and reduce the extra movement consumed to move through difficult terrain by 5 feet. You also gain a climb and swim movement speed equal to your walking speed and the ability to cast Find the Path a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus without consuming a spell slot or material components. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell, and you regain all uses of it upon completing a long rest.

True Excellence

At 20th level, you have become a true embodiment of excellence, reaching incredible capability in numerous arts, skills, or practices. As reward for achieving so much under the guiding hand of your divine, they grant you the long promised boon for this incredible accomplishment. You gain the following:

• You no longer age, and your apparent age is reverted to an age of your choosing. You cannot be aged magically, and are immune to dying from old age.
• Your hit points are set to the highest possible value (200 + 20* your constitution modifier + any other modifiers from class features, racial traits, or feats).
• You can now cast commune at will, though still incur a chance of failure if repeatedly used targeting the same deity.
• You can cast hallow and word of recall once, each, without expending a spell slot, regaining the ability to cast both spells upon completing a long rest. You must still provide the material components for these spells.