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Paladin with a Magic Sword

The Sacred Bond: Playing an All-Paladin D&D Party

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Picture this: a group of holy warriors, each a champion of divine ideals, united in their sacred mission. An all-Paladin party is a sight to behold—literally, since their gleaming armor and radiant Paladinauras are hard to miss. But beyond the epic visuals, this party configuration opens up unique opportunities for roleplay, combat, and campaign storytelling.

So, grab your holy symbols, mount up, and let’s explore what it means to venture forth with a divine team of Paladins. Want More? Check out our video content on this idea here.


The Challenges of an All-Paladin Party

While a party of Paladins sounds like a force to be reckoned with, even the most radiant knights face some hurdles:

  1. Limited Diversity in Skill Sets
    With Paladins being primarily melee-focused, your group might struggle with ranged combat or skills requiring finesse. Sure, one of you might dabble in Stealth or Sleight of Hand, but let’s face it—discretion isn’t your strong suit.
  2. Aura Overload
    Having multiple Paladins means overlapping auras galore. While this can be a boon, it also means you might lose out on variety from other supportive or utility classes.
  3. Moral Conundrums
    Paladins are guided by oaths that demand strict adherence to specific principles. What happens when your Oath of Devotion party member clashes with the Oath of Vengeance one? Or when the Oath of the Crown insists on serving the law, but the Oath of Ancients seeks to protect nature at all costs? These conflicts can create fascinating roleplay but also complicate decision-making.
  4. Spellcasting Limits
    While Paladins have access to divine magic, their spell slots are relatively few. Managing resources becomes a real challenge, especially in prolonged dungeon crawls or campaigns with limited rest opportunities.

The Benefits of an All-Paladin Party

Paladins come in all shapes and sizes. Visit Hero Forge to create your paladin exactly how you imagine them.

Despite the challenges, an all-Paladin party can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s why:

  1. Tanky and Resilient
    With heavy armor proficiency, decent hit points, and Lay on Hands for healing, your party can endure battles that would crumble other groups.
  2. Divine Synergy
    Auras stack in beautiful ways. Imagine everyone benefiting from boosts to saving throws or resistance to damage types. Add in shared divine spells, and you’ve got a team that’s incredibly hard to take down.
  3. Built-In Theme
    An all-Paladin party feels cohesive from the get-go. Whether you’re holy knights on a crusade, a council of divine champions, or rival agents of different gods forced to work together, the story practically writes itself.
  4. Roleplay Opportunities
    The diversity within the Paladin class shines in roleplay. Each oath provides a distinct flavor, from the serene protectors of the Oath of Ancients to the relentless avengers of the Oath of Vengeance. These differences can create compelling group dynamics and moral dilemmas.

One-Session Adventure Ideas

  1. The Relic of Radiance
    Your party is tasked with retrieving a stolen holy relic from a powerful necromancer. Along the way, you’ll confront undead hordes, navigate cursed ruins, and face moral questions about how far you’ll go to achieve your goal.
  2. The Pilgrimage of Light
    A legendary artifact tied to your deities lies at the summit of a perilous mountain. Your group must ascend, facing natural hazards, divine trials, and rival pilgrims seeking the artifact for their own ends.
  3. Judgment of the Fallen
    A once-great hero has fallen from grace, now leading a band of brigands in terrorizing nearby villages. Your party must decide whether redemption or retribution is the proper course—and face the consequences of your choice.

Campaign Concepts

  1. The Divine Concord
    The gods themselves have called your group together, representing various oaths and ideals, to thwart an ancient evil threatening the cosmos. As the campaign progresses, divine mandates clash, and the party must navigate these tensions to stay united.
  2. The Crusade of the Unholy
    A powerful lich has raised an army of undead, threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness. Your party embarks on a holy crusade, rallying kingdoms, cleansing corrupted lands, and confronting the lich in a climactic battle.
  3. The Celestial Court
    The party serves as an elite group of Paladins under a divine kingdom’s banner. Charged with protecting the realm from planar incursions, you’ll traverse between worlds, mediate conflicts between gods, and uncover the kingdom’s hidden past.

Tips for Playing an All-Paladin Party5E D&D Tasha's Cauldron of Everything oath of glory

  • Diversify Your Oaths: With six unique subclasses, each Paladin can bring a distinct flavor to the table. One might be the party healer (Oath of Devotion), another the ultimate damage dealer (Oath of Vengeance), while someone else focuses on crowd control (Oath of Conquest).
  • Coordinate Spells: Paladins have limited spells, so plan ahead. If one person focuses on buffs like Bless or Shield of Faith, another can prepare offensive options like Smite or Compelled Duel.
  • Embrace Conflict: Lean into the differences between your oaths. These moments of friction can lead to powerful storytelling and memorable roleplay.
  • Leverage Auras: Coordinate your auras for maximum impact. For example, a mix of Oath of Ancients’ damage resistance and Oath of the Crown’s protective boosts can make your party an unstoppable force.

Conclusion

An all-Paladin party isn’t just a collection of holy knights—it’s a powerhouse of divine energy, moral dilemmas, and epic storytelling. Whether you’re charging into battle under the banner of a shared god or struggling to reconcile your differing oaths, this setup offers endless opportunities for drama, combat, and camaraderie.

So, if you’re ready to don your plate mail, polish your holy symbols, and channel divine energy with a squad of your righteous peers, then grab your party and embark on a campaign that’s sure to be the stuff of legends.

The question is: whose deity will take the credit?

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!

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Ted Adams

The nerd is strong in this one. I received my bachelors degree in communication with a specialization in Radio/TV/Film. I have been a table top role player for over 30 years. I have played several iterations of D&D, Mutants and Masterminds 2nd and 3rd editions, Star wars RPG, Shadowrun and World of Darkness as well as mnay others since starting Nerdarchy. I am an avid fan of books and follow a few authors reading all they write. Favorite author is Jim Butcher I have been an on/off larper for around 15 years even doing a stretch of running my own for a while. I have played a number of Miniature games including Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy, Heroscape, Mage Knight, Dreamblade and D&D Miniatures. I have practiced with the art of the German long sword with an ARMA group for over 7 years studying the German long sword, sword and buckler, dagger, axe and polearm. By no strecth of the imagination am I an expert but good enough to last longer than the average person if the Zombie apocalypse ever happens. I am an avid fan of board games and dice games with my current favorite board game is Betrayal at House on the Hill.

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