Xenthorn
2019-01-19, 02:43 AM
Hello all,
I am currently making a Paladin that I intend to dip Sorcerer at some point. I ran a human variant so I could pick up the Polearm Master perk to increase damage and the number of attacks of opportunity. The issue that I am having is what to do with my first ASI.
Now most of you who see this are probably thinking, "What? Why in earth would you choose War Caster over Sentinel for a Paladin?" The answer to that is it seems to me that Sentinel is redundant once you have both Polearm Master and War Caster, and War Caster seems to provide more benefits to Polearm Master than Sentinel does.
Sentinel
- When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature's speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.
- Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach.
- When a creature within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn't have this feat), you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the attacking creature.
War Caster
- You have advantage on Constitution saving throws that you make to maintain your concentration on a spell when you take damage.
- You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.
- When a hostile creature's movement provokes an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, rather than making an opportunity attack. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action and must target only that creature
So this brings me to my main issue. Once I dip Sorcerer, I can pick up the SCAG cantrips Booming Blade and Green-Flame Blade. As such, with War Caster I can use Booming Blade on an attack of opportunity which will either stop the attacker or inflict a fair amount of damage if they choose to move. This can, in a sense, serve the same purpose as Sentinel's first ability, to a higher DPR degree. Second, my DM has never used the Disengage action with an enemy and I doubt he will any time soon. Our battles have a last man standing vibe. Third, being a tank, I'm skeptical of how often I will not be the target of choice for my DM on anyone who is 5 feet from me. Additionally, if I only receive one reaction a round, there will likely be some interference with Polearm Master.
War Caster, on the other hand, provides multiple benefits. First off, you gain proficiency on constitution saving throws as a first level Sorcerer. The advantage from War Caster on concentration checks from taking damage will all but negate the chances of dropping a buff spell. Second, I can perform somatic components of spells with a polearm in my hands. Third, I can cast a spell on an attack of opportunity, which can be either a nova spell, or the Booming Blade Cantrip, as discussed above, and with a 10 foot reach on attacks of opportunity.
I could theoretically take both feats, but I would have to take the hits to my ability scores. I am willing to do so, but it just appears to me that Sentinel is unnecessary. Sentinel also doesn't pair with War Caster at all, as the reaction round attacks caused by Sentinel do not count as attacks of opportunity and cannot be exchanged for a spell.
I have perused many guides on this and every one of them has said that Sentinel is a near mandatory feat to take as a Paladin, including most that reference Sorcadins. I agree that Sentinel is a very powerful feat, but it just appears to me that having both Polearm Master and War Caster fills in most of the needs Sentinel can. I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on this.
I am currently making a Paladin that I intend to dip Sorcerer at some point. I ran a human variant so I could pick up the Polearm Master perk to increase damage and the number of attacks of opportunity. The issue that I am having is what to do with my first ASI.
Now most of you who see this are probably thinking, "What? Why in earth would you choose War Caster over Sentinel for a Paladin?" The answer to that is it seems to me that Sentinel is redundant once you have both Polearm Master and War Caster, and War Caster seems to provide more benefits to Polearm Master than Sentinel does.
Sentinel
- When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature's speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn.
- Creatures provoke opportunity attacks from you even if they take the Disengage action before leaving your reach.
- When a creature within 5 feet of you makes an attack against a target other than you (and that target doesn't have this feat), you can use your reaction to make a melee weapon attack against the attacking creature.
War Caster
- You have advantage on Constitution saving throws that you make to maintain your concentration on a spell when you take damage.
- You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands.
- When a hostile creature's movement provokes an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, rather than making an opportunity attack. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action and must target only that creature
So this brings me to my main issue. Once I dip Sorcerer, I can pick up the SCAG cantrips Booming Blade and Green-Flame Blade. As such, with War Caster I can use Booming Blade on an attack of opportunity which will either stop the attacker or inflict a fair amount of damage if they choose to move. This can, in a sense, serve the same purpose as Sentinel's first ability, to a higher DPR degree. Second, my DM has never used the Disengage action with an enemy and I doubt he will any time soon. Our battles have a last man standing vibe. Third, being a tank, I'm skeptical of how often I will not be the target of choice for my DM on anyone who is 5 feet from me. Additionally, if I only receive one reaction a round, there will likely be some interference with Polearm Master.
War Caster, on the other hand, provides multiple benefits. First off, you gain proficiency on constitution saving throws as a first level Sorcerer. The advantage from War Caster on concentration checks from taking damage will all but negate the chances of dropping a buff spell. Second, I can perform somatic components of spells with a polearm in my hands. Third, I can cast a spell on an attack of opportunity, which can be either a nova spell, or the Booming Blade Cantrip, as discussed above, and with a 10 foot reach on attacks of opportunity.
I could theoretically take both feats, but I would have to take the hits to my ability scores. I am willing to do so, but it just appears to me that Sentinel is unnecessary. Sentinel also doesn't pair with War Caster at all, as the reaction round attacks caused by Sentinel do not count as attacks of opportunity and cannot be exchanged for a spell.
I have perused many guides on this and every one of them has said that Sentinel is a near mandatory feat to take as a Paladin, including most that reference Sorcadins. I agree that Sentinel is a very powerful feat, but it just appears to me that having both Polearm Master and War Caster fills in most of the needs Sentinel can. I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on this.