Paladin Sacred Oath: Oath of Battle (5e)
The attack came with the sun's rise. Bursting from his yurt¸ Urag emerged to a village in chaos-the voices of his comrades only half discernable among the clash and clang of metal¸ and the cries of the dying. The Talons were here. Sent by the humans to drive us from our ancestral home. At the onset of winter¸ a death sentence. Barely able to hear his own labored breathing¸ his eyes searched frantically for Warleader Batul. Turning aside the thrust of a spear and knocking the man aside¸ he stumbled through the bitter snowfall¸ slipping on ice and mud. He spied Batul outside the tannery¸ a bullwark against enemy spears with a small company of warriors. Batul turned¸ their eyes locking momentarily. Bellowing a war cry¸ he charged to meet another blow. "Do not falter! Bathe your axe in blood!" The cry was taken up around the camp¸ and Urag could see the momentum beginning to turn. He found himself echoing the cry. He drew his axe¸ and charged. Why Play This Oath? Thematically ¸ play this oath if you want to inspire and lead your allies into battle as a clan chief¸ war leader¸ or an ex-soldier of rank. It also works great for anyone wanting the flavor of a barbarian while not being so hot on the mechanics¸ or in viking-themed games. Mechanically ¸ have you ever noticed how paladin oaths tend to fall into one of two categories: solo offense (conquest¸ vengeance)¸ and defensive support (the rest). Where are options/features providing offensive support and teamwork? Originally the brainchild of a member of our group seeking a similar alternative to the Oath of Vengeance¸ this oath aims to fill that gap by meshing the archetypal tank/support combat role of the paladin with the aggression of the barbarian or fighter (and-if we're being honest-possessing a more interesting flavor than just Fantasy Batman.) Take a Look! You can read the full archetype in the preview¸ so check it out! If the buttons aren't working you should be able to read the full oath in the image previews below. Page 4 is a copy of page 3 with colors removed for easy printing. Quick Preview: Creator's Note: This is the second in a series of personal player options scheduled for release in 2020. All of these sub/classes have gone through playtesting by myself and others¸ with each aiming to explore a theme or trope under-represented in official source material. If you like what you see¸ please consider showing your support by making a purchase! You can also join the mailing list ( https://mailchi.mp/62cb4e9f2fb3/heavyarms ) to receive notifications of new product releases (new release notifications only¸ no spam!) or find me on Twitter @DMheavyarms.