A Fighter Martial Archetype

Those warriors whom call themselves paladins derive power from sacred oaths made and bound under divine authority. There are many oaths - vows of devotion, bonds of vengeance, even promises of love - but each carries a sacred mandate: faithfulness to the word that was given.

However, the path of any oath is demanding. Each involves making sacrifices, accepting duties, and choosing a path that is righteous rather than easy. Many are unable to rise to the task in order to make the oath at all. Others succeed at first, only later to fall.

The Oathless are among these fallen paladins. They are the ex-lovers, the avengers who showed mercy, the paramanders who formed an opinion, the knights who forsook their king. Some fallen paladins turn to evil, maddened by their failings, but the oathless are those who follow a less self-destructive path. Some continue in service to the divine, albeit vested with much less sacred authority. Others go their own way, only barely retaining some grasp of the magics they once knew so well. Whatever their choice, to be an oathless is to have once known so much more, and to always ponder the choice to abandon it all.

Spellcasting As you cast from the dregs of sacred power you once commanded, you can cast paladin spells. See PHB chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting and chapter 11 for a selection of paladin Spells. Spell Slots. The oathless table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. Spells Known of 1st-level and Higher. You prepare the list of paladin spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the paladin spell list. When you do so, choose a number of paladin spells equal to your Charisma modifier + half your fighter level, rounded down (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For example, when you reach 7th level in this class, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level Spell Slots. With a Charisma of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six Spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell command, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared Spells. You can change your list of prepared Spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of paladin Spells requires time spent in prayer and meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list. Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your paladin spells, since you once drew power from the strength of your convictions. You use your Charisma whenever a paladin spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Charisma modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a paladin spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one. Oathless Spellcasting — Spell Slots per Spell Level — Fighter Level 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 3rd 2 — — — 4th 3 ─ — — 5th 3 ─ ─ — 6th 3 ─ ─ — 7th 3 2 ─ — 8th 3 2 ─ — 9th 3 2 ─ — 10th 3 3 ─ — 11th 3 3 ─ — 12th 3 3 ─ — 13th 3 3 2 — 14th 3 3 2 — 15th 3 3 2 — 16th 3 3 3 — 17th 3 3 3 — 18th 3 3 3 — 19th 3 3 3 1 20th 3 3 3 1 Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier Spell Attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier

Altar Apprentice Starting at 7th level, you have worked out how to manipulate your old magics to tap into additional, albeit slow and mild, uses. You can cast a paladin spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared.

Once Lionhearted At 11th level, you gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws. If you are already proficient in Wisdom saving throws, you gain proficiency in Charisma saving throws.

Minor Smite At 15th level, once per turn when you hit a creature with a weapon attack and have advantage on the attack roll, you can inflict an extra 1d8 radiant damage to the targeted creature.