I'd make it a leveled-equivalent to the ''blade'' spells from the SCAG.
So they would be 1) without concentration, 2) target self 3) include the effect of a normal attack + a rider
I'd be fine with some changing to that, though taking a whole action means I'd want to increase their damage a little, since pretty much all characters that use these spells have Extra Attack, and such spells would be incompatible with that feature.I'm really torn on the HM as a class feature debate, and by extension, this suggestion for Paladins. Having it as a class feature/spell w/o concentration is appealing just for usability within each class, but I think it makes them too ripe for dipping. (Especially if the changes were made to both classes, and you've got a paladin ranger with near permanent bonus damage.)
Also, w/o concentration, wouldn't the Smite spells then be stackable?
I think you misread the OP a bit. The suggestion isn't to give the Paladin any new feature at all. It's to take all smite spells, ie spells that are cast as a bonus action, last a minute with concentration, and trigger when you hit with an attack, and turn them into "cast as a bonus action when you hit with an attack" spells with the same effect. You only get one bonus action a turn, and can only cast 1 spell per turn, so they couldn't stack.I'd tend towards just rolling them all into the Holy Smite ability. When the paladin spends a spell slot to Holy Smite, they can either do a conventional Holy Smite or apply a specialised Smite effect chosen from a menu of options equivalent to those in the current spells, with some effects requiring spending higher-level spell slots. They can use specialised Smites a number of times per long rest equal to their proficiency bonus.
That's fine for Paladins, I guess. They aren't the only characters with these types of spells.Just keep it the way it is, smites don't need any help IMO.
They're, at best, on part with other 1 action non-concentration spells of the same level. Making them concentration brings them down a bit, or at least makes playing them much more frustrating than they need to be.Just for eases sake I'd keep them as they are but just remove the concentration. (Scratch that, no you should be able to choose when you hit - having to set it up in advance is just confusing when you first play a Paladin - I'm not even convinced the bonus action is necessary - just spend the spell slot.)
Unless someone can explain to me why they should have it? After all you still only ever get the one hit.
I agree that smites don't need to be more powerful, but most of the spells are not upgrades, they're just alternatives, and they often don't get used because Bless is so good to have up, and it helps the whole party.
I'd be fine with ditching the bonus action requirement, especially for the sake of the ranger and battlesmith artificers.My recommendation is to allow it to trigger when you hit, still take your bonus action, but keep the concentration.
How on Earth would that work? You'd be concentrating for the length of the attack? Sorry, but I don't understand what you're suggesting, here. Would concentration literally just be there so you can't use it while concentrating on something else? Why?Remove concentration. They NEVER get used.
So what if a paladin wants to stack them? Spend multiple spell slots and rounds in a row casting? Big deal. Keep the range of Self and 1 minute duration. The paladin gets a big hit on one enemy.
That is far too powerful.I am aware.
I am suggesting that paladins aren't a sufficient measure to decide what the smite spells may need.
This.They were up until the Artificer came out. However, because the Paladin is the class that gets them on their spell list and the fact that they are still primarily meant for that class, I would say that the fact that they typically do not use these spells should indicate that the spells need something.
Hexblades, for one thing. For another, ensnaring strike and lightning arrow are smite spells, too.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7prrWqKmlnF6kv6h706GpnpmUqHyzscyoraKml2KwsLrCnqWtqpGptrC6jJ%2BpqKVdqLqqwMRmqqmdnKHAbrXNnKOunJmjtG6%2Fz56jpatdobassYyepaymkae2r7OMrKuroZuae3eDlWtnbmeglrSmeZE%3D