Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Paladins and Charisma? What's it affect?

I did a Google and tried to find out what Charisma is even actually used for for the a Paladin and the only thing I found it does in EA is it increases the amount of healing a Paladin following the Oath of the Ancients does with it's "Healing Radiance"? I read that it supposed to affect spellcasting? The spell save DC and the spell attack modifier. Does it affecting the spell attack modifier mean that your smites use your Charisma and NOT your Strength at all? Or do the Cha and Str modifiers stack? If this is all Charisma does extra for a Paladin it seems kinda like a waste. Is it really worth it? Honest questions, not complaints. Is it worth pumping Charisma at level 4 or should I take another feat? If so which one? I just realised that the Great Weapon Master feats first part (about the extra attack) works with ANY melee weapon not just great weapons. So that totally changed my opinion of that feat.

Charisma affects Paladin spells your other main Paladin-specific abilities:

• The number of spells Paladins can prepare (not cast) each day
• The attack bonuses and save DCs for those spells
• The bonus given to nearby allies through Aura of Protection (at level 6)
• The sacred bonus applied to your weapon from Sacred Weapon (level 3)
• (Likely) Healing from Paladin abilities like Healing Radiance(?)

Spells like Command and Compelled Duel (and Nature's Snare maybe?) that require an enemy to make a Saving Throw are less likely to be resisted if you have high Cha. However, as a Paladin, you'll likely rarely cast spells that call for enemy Saving Throws, and even more rarely cast a spell that is a direct attack roll.

Paladins make attacks with only Strength, **unless** they've cast Sacred Weapon on yourself, which should allow the stacking Cha+Str on to-hit rolls with that weapon.

If you find yourself attacking normally each turn (and Smiting), you'll probably want to increase Str or take a feat. If you find yourself always using Sacred Weapon, healing abilities, and/or other Saving Throw Spells, then you might want to increase Cha.

I didn't know it dealt with the number of spells per day.