Veteran Champion Paladin - Great Weapon Master D&D

Veteran Champion Paladin , Level 12 | D&D 5e

A battle-hardened veteran of countless campaigns, this imposing paladin stands as a living fortress of steel and faith. Clad in full plate armor adorned with radiant golden symbols of divine devotion, he rests both hands upon the haft of his massive hammer a weapon that has felled dragons, demons, and tyrants alike. His teal cloak, torn and weathered by years of war, billows behind him like a banner of hard-won glory. His bald head and silver beard speak of age, but his eyes burn with the unyielding fire of a warrior who has never knelt before evil.

Character Sheet

Class: Paladin 12 | Subclass: Oath of Devotion | Title: Veteran Champion (fluff)

Race: Human (Variant) | Background: Soldier | Alignment: Lawful Good

Ability Scores (after ASIs & feats):

• STR 20 (+5) | DEX 10 (+0) | CON 16 (+3)
• INT 10 (+0) | WIS 14 (+2) | CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws: STR +9 | CON +7 | CHA +8 (Paladin proficiencies)

Proficiency Bonus: +4 | Armor Class: 20 (Full Plate) | Initiative: +0

Hit Points: 114 (12d10 + 36) | Speed: 30 ft.

Class Features & Abilities

Divine Sense: Detect celestials, fiends, undead (60 ft). 5 uses/day.

Lay on Hands: 60 HP healing pool. Cure disease/poison (5 HP).

Divine Smite: Expend spell slots for extra radiant damage (max 5d8+1d8 vs undead/fiends).

Fighting Style , Great Weapon Fighting: Reroll 1s and 2s on two-handed weapon damage.

Spellcasting: CHA-based. DC 16. Spell Attack +8. Slots: 4/3/3/1.

Sacred Oath , Oath of Devotion: Channel Divinity x2/rest (Sacred Weapon, Turn the Unholy). Purity of Spirit (always under Protection from Evil/Good).

Extra Attack: 2 attacks per action.

Aura of Protection: +4 to saving throws for self and nearby allies (10 ft).

Aura of Courage: Allies within 10 ft. are immune to the frightened condition.

Improved Divine Smite: +1d8 radiant damage on every melee weapon hit.

Cleansing Touch: End one spell effect as an action. 4 uses/day (CHA mod).

Feats

Great Weapon Master (Variant Human bonus feat): When you score a critical hit or reduce a creature to 0 HP with a melee weapon, you can make one melee weapon attack as a bonus action. Additionally, before making a melee attack with a heavy weapon, you can take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the damage roll. Combined with Improved Divine Smite and Divine Smite, this feat enables devastating burst damage: a single hit can deal 2d6 (greatsword) + 5 (STR) + 10 (GWM) + 1d8 (Improved Divine Smite) + up to 5d8 (Divine Smite from 3rd-level slot) = average 60+ damage on a single smite strike.

ASI History (Paladin 12, Variant Human):

Lv1 (Variant Human): Great Weapon Master (bonus feat) | STR +1, CHA +1

Lv4: STR +2 (16 > 18)

Lv8: STR +2 (18 > 20)

Lv12: CHA +2 (16 > 18)

Combat Tactics & Roleplaying Notes

This character shines as an unstoppable frontline warrior and divine anchor. Combine Great Weapon Master with Reckless Power Attack (GWM -5/+10) and spend spell slots on Divine Smite for massive nova damage in critical encounters. The Aura of Protection ensures the entire party adds +4 to every saving throw within 10 feet , arguably the strongest passive aura in D&D 5e. Against undead or fiends, the Sacred Weapon channel divinity adds +4 to attack rolls, effectively negating the GWM attack penalty.

Ideal as a party champion, commanding officer, or a fallen veteran NPC who now serves as a quest giver. Equally fitting for an Oath of Devotion paladin, a crusader, or a city guard commander who has seen too much to look away from evil.

Miniature Details

This 3D-printable miniature features:

Full plate armor with golden divine insignia on the breastplate

Massive hammer resting on the ground (two-handed grip)

Teal battle-worn cloak with ragged edges

Decorative round base included

Scaled for standard 28-32mm tabletop gaming

Suitable for FDM and resin printing