I am considering a house rule for an upcoming campaign in Golarion using the new Pathfinder rules. I am considering making a small but important rule change to how clerics work in my world. I am considering allowing clerics to spontaneous cast their spells from their domain lists instead of healing spells of the same level.
For example a 3rd level cleric of Asmodeus has selected the Evil and Trickery domains. He may choose to spontaneously cast a previously prepared spell, say Hold Person as either Align Weapon from the Evil domain or Invisibility from Trickery but not as Cure Moderate Wounds.
This would mean that only clerics who had chosen a healing domain would be dedicated healers the rest would be closer in theme to the gods they have chosen to follow.
Ok this is at an early stage of development, but do you think that this is a workable houserule? What are the consequences of this change?
This has a bit less of an impact than in 3.5, since with Channel Energy clerics have less need to spontaneously cast their spells as cures (less not none).
It does actually make the Healing domain cleric a lot stronger eventually, allowing spontaneously cast Heal spells instead of having to memorize it. But it's theoretically on par with the other domains.
There's a few other spells that it's strong for a cleric to be able to cast many times (Fire Domain Fireball for instance). This emphasizes the different strength levels of the domain spell lists (some are just inherently better, or more situationally better).
It also compounds the "both spells are the same" annoyance for some combinations (such as Air/Weather/Water having many of the same spells).
Other than that, it's a nice house rule that adds a good bit of flavor - it's in the SRD from Unearthed Arcana.
Other than that, it's a nice house rule that adds a good bit of flavor - it's in the SRD from Unearthed Arcana.
Thanks Majuba, its reassussing that someone has developed similar rules variants. I think I am ok with multiple Fireball's, its no more than a Sorcerer of the same level can do. I also think I will take away the additional domain slot Clerics normally get.
I also think I will take away the additional domain slot Clerics normally get.
I don't think it's necessary, but certainly your choice. Clerics are tough enough without them. [My favorite class.]
The decision to make clerics spontaneously cast their domain spells instead of cure spells is ripe with flavor.
Having said that, let's look at the effects.
1) Clerics still have channel energy for healing. At lower levels, the cleric can still heal wounds in battle quite well. At higher levels, the cleric will not do quite so well while in combat but still be fine outside of battle. Note, however, that this situation will only apply while channel energy is available, or 3 + Charisma bonus + Extra Channel uses each day.
2) At higher levels, heal is more potent than channel energy vs. a single target, but channel energy is still pretty good vs. mass cure spells.
3) The adventuring day in Pathfinder will be limited, I think, by the uses of channel energy and spells of a cleric. Now, your clerics will be called upon to prep healing magics instead of swap them out as needed. Their spell choices will depend on how your group's style of play, but what you have to ask is this: will your clerics be extra-cautious and prep lots of cure spells, or will they prep other spells and a few cures in order to deal with the challenges of the day?
The potential exists to have your clerics now feel the need to keep lots of cure spells ready as a result of this choice. Or, they might keep few spells and tell the party to be more careful in battle while adding more spellcasting power to the fray.
In terms of flavor, gods with access to the healing domain will feel more like true healers in your world. Clerics that don't have access to the healing domain but choosing to worship that god could very well belong to a separate order of the faith, with healers on one side and a militant arm on the other (or however the domains lend themselves to division). Clerics of faiths that don't have the healing domain at all might be known for specific miracles, promoting more of a "marketplace" feel to things. As it is, if PCs are hurt, they'll usually just find a cleric of any morally acceptable god and get healed. Under this change, the cleric they'll seek out will belong to a faith with the healing domain. But farmers will seek out a different cleric if they want good weather. And so on. It'll emphasize the different roles of different faiths in the world.
Will this change also apply to druids who take a domain for nature's bond?
I've played this way for years and like it--it gives the clerics a more "custom fit to deity" feel in my opinion and makes Domain selection about more than just the domain powers. I'd say keep the two domains as I've not found it overpowering. The bonus domain spell per level basically becomes a "free" spell slot per day to cast the domain spell. I've also used a variant Favored Soul that gained spells known via domains only (I customized domains to match the deities and replaced the standard Favored Soul class abilities with domain-related powers). Worked out great as a spontaneous divine caster all the way through 20th level.
I am considering a house rule for an upcoming campaign in Golarion using the new Pathfinder rules. I am considering making a small but important rule change to how clerics work in my world. I am considering allowing clerics to spontaneous cast their spells from their domain lists instead of healing spells of the same level.
I've been doing it since 3E and it has worked great, and added a lot of flavor to the class. I'm a little disappointed that PRPG didn't allow it TBH.
Some people say that "clerics will be casting healing spells anyway, and that now they will prepare all healing spells", but that isn't true at all. Yes, some of your spells will be healing now. But now, when you need a utility spell that you wouldn't normally be able to cast and you wouldn't want to prepare, you can do it by sacrificing a healing or attack spell.
Also, since you can spontanously cast spells from 2 domains, it's a little more diverse than just being able to cast Cure spells. It's even more diverse if you gain domains.
Anyway, it works great. It always bugged me that a cleric of death and destruction would be able to spontaneously cast Cure spells.