Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Paladin Smites

Does anyone know if they're still planning on changing Paladin Divine Smites? If they are, it will absolutely kill Paladins as I know them, as plenty of the build ideas I have revolve around smiting after hitting, rather than their new interpretation of it.

What is their new interpretation of paladin smite and where might I read about it?

There's no "new interpretation" of smite per se, just that mechanics similar to paladin's smite have been implemented in BG3 differently than 5e.

In BG3, you choose to sneak attack and perform maneuvers before you make an attack role, via a dedicated icon that includes the attack.
In 5e, you can choose to do some maneuvers (e.g., Pushing attack) or add your sneak attack dice after you hit. Specifically, after you know that you've hit so you don't waste the resource on a miss.

Thus, if BG3's trend continues for smite, there will be a dedicated "Smite" icon in your hotbar that costs an action to use. You won't be able to choose to smite only after a successful hit or smite only on critical hits.

Could this not be resolved by having it only trigger and be used up if you hit in certain circumstances? So you’re basically saying

“if I hit (or if I hit and crit), then I will use smite/sneak attack”

If you miss you get to try again, if you don’t think it’s worth it you attack normally.

Honestly, even though Larians approach is different from the 5e rules it makes more sense.. you don't decide to ''cast a spell'' at the mili-second that your blade touches an enemy or misses. When cleric casts guiding bolt it can also miss and waste a spell slot, why can't paladin miss their smite?

Balance reasons. Not all choices are necessarily made for immersion, but to make sure each character can perform up to par. Not that I'm saying all classes are perfectly balanced.

Rangers, whom are also half casters, have concentration spells that also don't fail just because their attack misses. Ensnaring strike lasts till you hit within a minute or your concentration is broken. If it works like you are suggesting, it would become a terrible spell, but it doesn't because of balance purposes.

Clerics are full casters and get access to many spellslots and cantrips. They can afford to burn a spellslot. It sucks if they miss, but they have the spellslots to spare if it doesn't work. Half casters can't afford it.

I agree