Lore Bards in BG3 are plenty strong. Reducing one enemy roll by d6 is often weaker than reducing all attack, damage and ability rolls for entire enemy turn. Larian removed the saving throw part from Cutting Words, so you can't team it up with a save or suck spell, because they probably realized it made it way to strong.
There has never been a saving throw for Cutting Words. It's on page 54 of the Player's Handbook if you want to check.
Cutting Words can be used on an enemy saving throw roll in PnP, while it doesn’t affect enemy saving throws in BG3.
Lack of crit fishing doesn't really affect Paladin as much as you imply in terms of their power. Saving for random crits, while looks good on theory-crafted DPR, it really isn't that good in actual play. If you want to kill something as quickly as possible, you would just expend spell slots whether you crit or not. And if Larian implements it as an attack action you still can pair it with Incapacitated to guarantee the highest burst. Besides no crit fishing actually makes Paladin more interesting class to play rather than just a single gimmick Fighter.
There's no crit fishing *yet*. The game isn't even close to complete.
You are right, game isn’t complete. So why use Paladin sucking as an argument?
Also, consider that Divine Smite only matters if you hit something. Having to use DS before you attack means there's a real possibility you'll spend a spell slot to miss. Even if Larian makes it so DS will proc on your next *successful* hit, you still have to wait a whole round before you get another chance to use it. By then your other party members may be able to down the BBEG before it even comes back to you, and you'll have wasted one of your few spell slots for nothing.
Superiority Die is not spent if BM fighter misses in BG3. It would be surprising if Divine Smite would be implemented differently.
