Tenets of the Forge

The tenets of the Oath of the Forge emphasize rendering aid and fostering strength amongst the small, the weak, or the oppressed.

Warm the Furnace. Offer relief to those who suffer by standing among them and sharing in their burdens. Stoke the heat of courage through compassion and perseverance, and commit yourself completely to defending the weak and the defenseless.

Form the Shape. Share the knowledge of the hammer and the anvil with those around you so that they may forge their own path. Strengthen bonds among the weak so that they become mighty in their own works.

Temper the Steel. The working of any craft is an act of worship, for in every weaver's fingers or cooper's tongs lie the echo of primordial creation heard once again in the material world. Take pride in your work and submit to a lifetime of patient growth in your skill with tools.

Quench the Fire. Glory in creation by preserving it wherever possible. Extinguish the fire of unnecessary conflict by avoiding violence unless all other options have been exhausted, and when swords must be made from ploughshares, ensure they are not long kept.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of the Forge Spells

If you learn the Blessed Warrior fighting style, add the create bonfire and produce flame cantrips to the list of spells you choose from

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Blessed Alloy. At the beginning of a short or long rest, you may conduct a ritual to create a nonmagical item worth up to 150 gold which contains at least some metal. The ritual lasts one hour, and its end the item appears in an unoccupied space within 5 feet. You must provide metals and other raw materials of a sum value equal to that of the object you seek to create. Coins cannot serve as raw material unless the object is made from the same metal as the coins.

The appearance of the object is determined by you. You can precisely duplicate a non-magical object you possess throughout the ritual.

Hammer Strike. As an action, you call upon the hammer of the forge divine to reshape the world and drive back your enemies. Each creature in a 20 foot cube centered in front of you must make a Strength saving throw. A creature takes d10 + your Charisma modifier bludgeoning damage and is pushed back 20 feet and knocked prone on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 2d10 at 7th level and 3d10 at 15th level.

Aura of the Smith

Beginning at 7th level, your presence strengthens armor and sharpens blades. As long as you are conscious, allies within 10 feet of you gain a +1 bonus to AC and resistance to fire damage. Furthermore, when allies affected by your aura roll a 1 on a damage die for an attack made with a weapon, they can reroll the die, taking the second result. While within your aura, your allies' mundane weapons and armor count as magical for the purposes of determining resistance.

At 18th level, allies gain a +2 bonus to AC. Furthermore, weapons and armor worn by you and your allies cannot be weakened, damaged, or destroyed by any effect, and magic equipment cannot be rendered mundane.

Masterwork

Starting at 15th level, your body becomes as stalwart as the anvil. You have resistance to piercing, bludgeoning, and slashing damage from non-magical sources. Additionally, you may add twice your proficiency bonus to any ability check using a set of tools with which you are proficient.

Living Forge

At 20th level, as an action, you transform into the very tools of creation itself. You gain the following benefits for 1 minute:

• You have resistance to non-magical damage and immunity to fire damage.
• All allies within 30 feet gain +2 to attack rolls and deal an additional 2d4 radiant damage when they hit.
• Any enemy within 30 feet at the start of your turn is automatically affected by Heat Metal as if it had been cast at 3rd level. This effect does not require you to maintain concentration, and the damage is applied automatically without expending your bonus action. The effect ends when your transformation ends.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Tenets of Verminkind

The tenets of the Oath of Verminkind emphasize collective survival with no heed to individual comfort.

One for Many. You are but one of an uncountable mass, a vast and living will which exceeds you in every possible way. Live in allegiance to the teeming life which runs through every crevice of this world, and forbid yourself the corrupting pleasures of individuality. When the many hunger, so too you hunger; when the many turn on the comfortable and fed, so too you turn on the comfortable and the fed; when the many bare their teeth against the flesh, so too you bear your teeth.

Cherish the Abject. The sick, the hungry, the wounded, the hated, the unwanted -- these are the flesh of your flesh and spirit of your spirit. Place yourself among them and love more than your own life, for this world is one of debasement and suffering where all are as vermin, and no one stands above those who suffer most.

Survive. Those who enjoy the false comforts of this world look with contempt on vermin and will spare no effort to exterminate the objects of their loathing. Persist at all costs, subsist on whatever sustenance you can find, and make resist the temptations of pride.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of Verminkind Spells

If you learn the Blessed Warrior fighting style, add the infestation and primal savagery cantrips to the list of spells you choose from

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Ratskin. As an action, you descend beneath notice for one hour. Creatures who see you cannot clearly remember your voice or appearance. You can hide when only lightly obscured by shadows, debris, or other features of the environment, or in crowds, and may take the Hide action as a bonus action. At 7th level, you can add twice your proficiency bonus to stealth checks made while this effect is active. At 15th level, you have advantage on stealth checks made while this effect is active.

Flystrike. When you deal damage to a creature adjacent to you with your Divine Smite feature, you can use your Channel Divinity as a bonus action to draw the hunger of the swarm down upon your foe. The target must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failed save, the creature makes all attack rolls and ability checks at disadvantage for the next thirty seconds as they are harried by flesh-eating flies, or until the end of your next turn on a successful one.

Aura of Teeth

Beginning at 7th level, your allies share the burden of verminkind's voracious appetite. As long as you are conscious and not obscured by cover, allies within 10 feet have advantage on attacks against targets with half or less of their initial hit points remaining.

At 18th level, when an ally within 10 feet reduces a creature to zero hitpoints which had a CR equal to or greater than half your level, they recover hitpoints equal to your Charisma bonus (minimum 1).

Wormturned

Beginning at 15th level, your flesh has been transformed by a life amongst vermin. You can eat any organic material regardless of its suitability and are immune to poison. If you do not have the feature already, you gain Darkvision (60 feet).

Additionally, you gain a burrowing speed equal to half your base movement. You can only burrow through soft materials such as dirt, mud, or sand, and cannot pass through rock, worked stone, or wood. You must end your movement in unoccupied space or immediately begin to suffocate.

Saint of Locusts

At 20th level, as an action, you become the living embodiment of the swarm. You gain the following benefits for 1 minute:

• Your Aura of Teeth increases to a radius of 30 feet.
• You transform into a swarm of locusts occupying a 15 foot cube, gaining a flying speed equal to your base movement speed, resistance to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, and immunity to the charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, and stunned conditions, immediately ending any such effects on you. You can occupy the space of any number of enemies and allies. When this effect ends or you are reduced to 0 hit points, your body reconstitutes in an unoccupied space of your choosing within the area previously occupied by the swarm.
• When you first occupy an enemy's space, they must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d8 piercing damage and is poisoned, or half as much damage and on a successful save. On your turn, you may use your action to force all enemies within your space to repeat the save.
• While occupying your space, all allies are considered to heavily obscured to enemies, while enemies cannot benefit from cover when attacked by your allies.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Tenets of Plenty

The tenets of the Oath of Plenty emphasize merriment and contentment for the paladin's community.

Sow. Wherever you find your grounding, plant the seeds of merriment for the present and for posterity. Living for the joy and comfort of the moment is the best way to grow a healthy future.

Tend. As you walk through the orchard that is this world, nourish the life you find around you. Cultivate the strengths of your fellows and help them achieve their heartiest possible life.

Harvest. Take from the world only what you need, but remember that a truly joyous life is more than one of bare necessity. Do not diminish celebration through preaching moderation, but instead strive for the greatest contentment for this year and the next.

Share. Hoarding is the death of joy, for it deprives the world of contentment to the benefit of the few. It is injustice when the few are enriched by the detriment of the many.

Revel. Worldly joys and comforts were put here to be celebrated, not avoided, for they too are of divine creation and amenable to the nature of all who live. Seek out what pleasures this world has to offer, and encourage others to do the same.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of Plenty Spells

If you learn the Blessed Warrior fighting style, add the dancing lights and prestidigitation cantrips to the list of spells you choose from

Food you create using the create food and water spell is remarkably delicious.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Nourish. You can use your channel divinity to empower the restoration of life. As a reaction when an ally within 30 feet is the target of a spell or ability which restores hit points to that ally of an amount determined by a dice roll, you can maximize the roll of a number of those dice equal to your proficiency bonus.

Revelry. You can use your channel divinity to exude the warmth and comfort of the feasting day. For the next ten minutes, you have advantage on Charisma (Performance, Persuasion) checks and can add twice your proficiency bonus to any ability check using Brewer's Supplies or Cook's Utensils. Any food or drink you would prepare from raw ingredients instead produces twice as much food.

Overflowing Aura

Beginning at 7th level, your allies are granted the boon of the harvest unending. As long as you are conscious and not obscured by full cover, you and allies within 10 feet ignore penalties caused by exhaustion unless that penalty is death. Additionally, you and your allies can consume twice the normal amount of alcohol before experiencing negative effects.

At 18th level, the range extends to 30 feet.

Cornucopia

Beginning at 15th level, you can cast the spell heroes feast without expending a spell slot. The material components of this spell can be replaced with ninety pounds of cooked food or raw ingredients. Casting the spell using this feature takes four hours. Once you have used this ability, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Feastmaster

At 20th level, as an action you sound the horn of plenty and become a font of abundance and contentment. Otherworldly, joyous laughter rings from all angles, and your appearance becomes more vibrant. Plants turn their leaves to face you, and animals dance excitedly. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:

• The first time an ally begins their turn within 30 feet of you, they immediately gain the benefit of a short rest, but may only roll hit dice equal to half your Charisma bonus, rounded up (minimum 1). An ally may benefit from this effect once every 24 hours.
• Allies within 30 feet gain immunity to the fear, charmed, petrified, and paralyzed conditions, immediately ending any such effects.
• Within a 30 foot radius sphere, centered on and moving with you, environmental conditions become pleasant, temporarily negating weather effects such as wind or cold. The area is filled with natural light.

Once you have used this ability, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Tenets of Contemplation

The tenets of the Oath of Contemplation emphasize the development and transmission of ideas.

Observe and Reflect. Only through careful attention to this world can its deepest truths be understood. Turn not from any aspect, no matter how frightful or shameful, for incompleteness is the death of knowledge.

Deliberate. No one eye can see all, and so to understand truly means to understand multiply. Always be in dialogue, for reality is perfectly grasped only through the work of many hands. Practice humility of thought and speech when creating knowledge alongside others.

Expansive Mind. True knowledge of the world cannot be acquired while wholly sequestered from it. Be a nomad of the mind, learning from as many as you can, and sharing your knowledge with all who would hear it. Hear the lowest of the low and highest of the high, for from all places in the world comes understanding of it.

Unify Truth and Action. Discern and oppose to the utmost the deceptions of those who would have you see the world for that which it is not, for such lies serve their own needs to the detriment of all.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of Contemplation Spells

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Boon of Understanding. As a bonus action, you can use your Channel Divinity to draw forth a helpful insight. For the next minute, when you would make an ability check or saving throw using Strength, Constitution, or Dexterity, you may instead use Intellect, Wisdom, or Charisma (your choice). The effect ends once you have altered one roll in this way.

Bestow Lucidity. As a reaction when one of your allies within 30 feet gains the blinded, deafened, or charmed conditions, you can expend a use of your Channel Divinity to end that condition.

Pensive Aura

Beginning at 7th level, your presence refines thought and fortifies the contemplative faculties. You and allies within 10 feet can add twice your Charisma bonus (minimum total of +2) to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws, and have advantage on saving throws to resist spells from the Illusion and Enchantment schools.

At 18th level, the range extends to 30 feet and you and your allies become resistant to psychic damage.

Mindwarding

Beginning at 15th level, you are always under the effects of an intellect fortress spell.

Beacon of Clarity

At 20th level, as an action, you become a lodestone for the truth of reality, exposing the false matters which distract from perfect awareness of the world. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:

• You and allies within 30 feet gain Truesight (60 feet) and can understand all written and spoken language. You can see through solid matter to a distance of 10 feet.
• Your visual acuity allows you to see small details up to 1 mile away,
• If you or an ally within 30 feet make a Perception (Wisdom) or Investigation (Intelligence) check, the value of this roll shall be 20 before any bonuses are applied.
• You and allies within 30 feet gain immunity to the blinded, deafened, and charmed conditions, immediately ending any such effects.
• Once per round, you may use your Channel Divinity: Boon of Understanding on an ally within 30 feet without expending a use of Channel Divinity. The target of this ability selects the ability scores to exchange, and uses their own statistics when making this decision.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Tenets of Opulence

The tenets of the Oath of Opulence elevate the pursuit and preservation of material wealth.

Prosperity. Divine reward is received in the material world, and of the material world it must ever be. Wealth is a virtuous calling, for divinity desires wealth for all who have the will to achieve it. Accumulation of riches is the natural inclination of all beings, from the squirrel to the dragon, and to resist such habits is to court disaster.

All that Glitters. All things valuable are imbued with beauty and a richness of experience: protect and treasure that which is precious and coveted, for therein lie the highest attainments of worldly life.

Suffer No Thieves. There is no offense greater than the taking of what one does not deserve. Give no quarter to those who sneak about in the shadows, pilfering the treasures of others.

Spiritual Exchange. Bonds of obligation strengthen your good fortune, but do not be ideal and careless with dispensing your favor on those less prosperous. Give such that the recipient may give greater in turn, and never condescend to give without expectation of return.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of Opulence Spells

If you learn the Blessed Warrior fighting style, add the friends cantrip to the list of spells you choose from.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Turn Fortunes. As a bonus action, you punish those whose greed has led them to weakness. For the next minute, you have advantage on attack rolls made against creatures who have been charmed by you or your allies.

Vow of Avarice. As a bonus action, you claim the boons awarded to another. Select a creature you can see within 30 feet. For 1 minute, you gain one magical beneficial effect of an item carried by that creature, selecting randomly if there are multiple effects from the same item. If the creature is carrying multiple items, you select the item but must randomly select the benefit. If the creature is carrying no magical items, the effect fails and you gain no benefit.

Aura of Splendor

Beginning at 7th level, your radiance distorts the minds of those from whom you can win riches. So long as you are conscious, all creatures within 10 feet who you can see have disadvantage against Wisdom saving throws caused by your spells or abilities. Additionally, you know the exact number of coins and magic items carried by every creature you can see within 10 feet, though you do not know the precise features of the items.

At 18th level, the range of this effect increases to 30 feet. Additionally, if any of your possessions are stolen, you know instantly and can sense their location(s) up to a range of 30 feet.

Magnificence

Beginning at 15th level, the boons bestowed on others add to your own majesty. Any time a creature within 10 feet gains temporary hit points, restores lost hitpoints, or receives a temporary beneficial effect from a spell, ability, or class feature which lasts for 10 minutes or less, you may use your reaction to also receive that benefit. This includes spells and effects such as healing word or your Lay on Hands, as well as spells such as flame weapon or shadow of moil.

You do not receive a benefit if you already receive it from the original effect, such as a mass healing word spell targeting you and an adjacent ally. You cannot receive benefits that require you to act out of turn, such as taking an action on another creature's turn, or require the use of class features or traits you do not have.

You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma bonus. Once you have expended all uses of this feature, you must complete a long rest before you can do so again.

Grandeur Ascendant

At 20th level, as an action, your command over the luxuries of this world allow you to gild your flesh and set precious stones in your eyes. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits

• You instantly learn the complete properties of all magic items within 120 feet.
• You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls for every magic item you are currently attuned to.
• At the start of your turn, you restore 5 hitpoints per creature within 30 feet charmed by you or your allies
• Any creature not carrying or wearing at least one magic item or an item made of a material equal to or more precious than gold must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC in order to willingly move further from you. On a failure, the creature cannot move.

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Tenets of Frivolity

The tenets of the Oath of Frivolity emphasize ridiculing the powerful and spreading joy to the meek.

Bring Laughter. Despair is a powerful affliction indeed, and laughter stands among its most formidable cures. Raise the spirits of the hurt, the weak, and the oppressed.

Go Lightly. You too must be the object of laughter. Though you bring mirth to the many, forswear the pride which comes from renown. Your part in this world makes your voice loud indeed, but ensure that you temper such power with humility. You too must be the object of laughter.

Abjure Pride. Translate the fury of the small into derision towards the mighty. Expose them for the insecure fools that they are, and when their illusion of seriousness is dissipated, they will command none but fools themselves.

Laugh Together. Tearing down the powerful is nothing without bringing together the weak. Cheer warms more greatly the more who share in it.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of Frivolity Spells

If you learn the Blessed Warrior fighting style, add the minor illusion and prestidigitation cantrips to the list of spells you choose from.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Ruse. As a bonus action, you alter the appearance of an object you can hold in one hand. If you successfully convince a creature to accept the altered object as a gift or in trade, you can use your action to cause the object to spontaneously erupt in psychic energy. The creature holding the object must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes takes d10 psychic damage and makes Wisdom and Intelligence saving throws against your abilities at disadvantage for 1 minute, or half damage on a successful save. The damage increases to 2d10 at 7th level and 3d10 at 15th level. A creature affected by this ability is considered surprised during the first round of combat.

If it is not detonated, the object reverts to its original appearance after 1 week. If you use this feature on a different object before the effect expires, the first object reverts immediately with no other effect.

Vow of Levity. As an action, you can use your Channel Divinity to send your foes astray. Select an object you can see within 50 feet that is your size or smaller. All enemies within 30 feet of that object must make an Intelligence saving throw or be tricked for 1 minute. While tricked, the creature believes the object to be something helpful or important to their current goal. If the creature attempts to use the object, they must subtract a d4 from the number rolled on any attack roll or saving throw for the remaining duration.

Aura of Mirth

Beginning at 7th level, your presence inspires giddiness and joy, raising the spirits of your companions. As long as you are conscious, you and allies within 10 feet have advantage on Charisma checks and saving throws.

At 18th level, the range of this effect increases to 30 feet.

Insult to Injury

Beginning at 15th level, you can play more complex jokes and laugh yet more slightingly at the embarrassment of those you fool. As a reaction when a creature fails an Intelligence or Wisdom saving throw against one of your spells or abilities, you can cast suggestion on that creature without expending a spell slot.

Infinite Jest

At 20th level, as an action, you take on an appearance so supernaturally ludicrous, even the most cool-headed foes are brought to compulsive laughter. For 1 minute:

• Hostile creature within 15 feet burst into uncontrollable laughter. While laughing, the creature cannot hold its breath, use breath attacks, communicate intelligibly, take reactions, or cast spells with a verbal component. At the end of each of its turns, a creature can make a Wisdom saving throw to end the effect, becoming immune to the effect for 24 hours on a success.
• Creatures which are laughing subtract a number equal to your Charisma bonus from all attack rolls and saving throws until they stop laughing

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

Tenets of the Wild

The tenets of the Oath of the Wilds emphasize a return to the primeval reality of life.

Abjure Artifice. Forsake the deceptive nobility of technology, for much of it masks the inescapable struggle to acquire the rudiments of life common to all creatures. Take up only those tools which do not distract from the ultimate destiny of all things to wrest the means of life from the world around them.

The Pack Endures. Few and rare are those who truly stand alone. Necessity is a foe who can be conquered only through collective struggle. Build your pack and make it strong, for their strength is your strength just as yours is theirs.

Between Lions and Men. In true consciousness of the struggle for life there is no need to take more than you need or to needlessly impose upon others. Freedom, not tyranny, is the ideal state for all life, and freedom for the few through the suffering of the many is no freedom indeed.

Oath Spells

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of the Wild Spells

If you learn the Blessed Warrior fighting style, add the primal savagery cantrip to the list of spells you choose from.

Channel Divinity

When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options.

Bestial Faculties. As an action, your senses become as honed as those of beasts. For 1 hour, you have darkvision (120 feet) and you have advantage on Wisdom checks which rely on the senses, track creatures, or are related to beasts.

Ferocity. As a bonus action, you move with the calculated and collective ruthlessness of hunting lionesses. For 1 minute, you have advantage on all attack rolls against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and isn't incapacitated.

Aura of Alertness

Beginning at 7th level, the vigilance of the pack safeguards all from approaching danger. While you are conscious, you and allies within 10 feet have advantage on initiative rolls and cannot be surprised in combat.

At 18th level, the range increases to 30 feet.

Call of the Wild

Beginning at 15th level, beasts of land, air, and sea recognise you as one of their own. You are always under the effects of a speak with animals spell, and beasts are friendly towards you unless you attack them. Additionally, you ignore difficult terrain formed from natural objects such as boulders, swampy ground, or thick plant growth.

Red in Tooth and Claw

At 20th level, as an action, the violence of life-and-death struggle impels your limbs to greater feats of action and endurance. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:

• You can attack three times, instead of twice, when you take the Attack action.
• Your speed cannot be reduced below your base movement.
• You can take the Dash action as a bonus action.
• You have advantage on Strength and Dexterity checks

Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.

11-08-2021 (v2)

• Added the Oath of Opulence
• Proofreading and formatting changes throughout
• Buffed Oath of Verminkind's Saint of Locusts by giving it a flight speed
• Adjusted wording in Oath of the Forge's Aura of the Forge to prevent infinitely re-rolling 1s
• Cantrip options for Blessed Warrior were added to the Oath Spells sections

11-23-2021 (v3)

• Added the Oath of Frivolity and the Oath of the Wild
• More proofreading and formatting changes

Oath of the Forge

This oath emerged from a player asking me if they could play a "Forge Cleric but a paladin." I wanted to create something that maintained the flavour without being either too derivative or too powerful. Thus, I envisioned this oath offering limited improvements to overall damage while retaining some of the defense and utility benefits of the forge cleric. Any new features should adhere to these principals.

The original spell list included Spirit Guardians at level 9, but feedback from u/allolive at r/unearthedarcana suggested it was a bit out of place. In retrospect, this is accurate and, moreover, breaks my overall desire to limit the options for increased damage offered by this subclass. Spirit Guardians is a powerful spell, and for both reasons noted I removed it.

Replacing it provied more problematic. u/allolive suggested Elemental Weapon and adding a rider to Aura of the Smith to empower casting of this spell. I had considered Flame Arrows for this spot as well, and since Protection from Energy is a fairly good spell (though it does eat concentration), I wasn't necessarily unhappy with a spell that has a less than stellar reputation. Because I ultimately did not want to add anything more to the aura, I replaced the spell with Tiny Servant instead.

The channel divinity options were fairly straightforward, although I've never loved the Forge domain's ability to ritually make stuff, and so I'm not exactly pleased with Blessed Alloy. That said, I tried to differentiate it from the cleric version by restricting the use of coins while slightly increasing the value of the resulting product. Hammer Strike was intended to mostly be about battlefield control. A previous version used a larger effect (30 x 30) and created difficult terrain, but this felt like too many things so I shrunk the area and gave it a small damage component instead.

Ultimately, however, I didn't want to add any more effects to Aura of the Smith, as it already has three distinct effects at level 7 and two more at level 18. However, the suggestion that the Aura somehow improve buffs that Forge paladin offers to allies is appealing, and I'm considering an alternate version of the aura which removes the +AC and reroll effects for a more streamlined way to achieve something like what u/allolive suggested.

Oath of Verminkind

With this oath, I wanted to create a paladin oath that had some capacity for stealth, that would work well with a DEX build, and that focused on debuffing enemies. The spell list, I think, is very strong, with many useful abilities. The channel divinity options are also strong, with Flystrike in particular worrying me. I wanted this to have a guaranteed effect and also a built-in cost, which is why it keys off dealing damage with a smite. However, I still worry that it is too strong, but without the guaranteed effect, a paladin's spell save DC is likely to be too low for this to be consistently useful.

The strongest feature of this Oath is, in my opinion, Aura of Teeth (formerly Devouring Aura and Aura of Infestation). It is a very powerful and reliable buff, hence it never increases in range. I considered making it apply only the allies adjacent to the paladin as well, so strong does this buff seem to me. I felt that the Aura should have an improvement at level 18, but the +CHA heal on kill is not satisfying to me and I may just remove it completely and leave the aura without an improvement.

Because the spell list, channel divinities, and aura are so strong, I wanted to dial back the 15th and 20th level features. Wormturned does offer a useful movement option and Darkvision, though I expect by 15th level these will be less impactful than I might otherwise imagine. I had also initially considered granting natural weapons with this feature (claws, d8, etc) but felt it was too many things to add and left it off.

The capstone transformation creates a lot of vulnerability for the paladin, but offers a straightforward use-case for groups of enemies or protecting allies. I'm not really confident in the damage component as it is probably too high for something that can be imposed every turn.