In my Crimson Throne campaign, I am making my players convert their characters from 3.5 to Core PFRPG rules. (Core rules + anything from the Pathfinder setting)
My wife originally had a cleric/monk/sacred fist of Irori. However, when I announced the switch, she decided to go full cleric. Of course, I can suggest traditional cleric builds for her, but heavy armor and shields clash strongly with her original character concept.
How can I help her build an optimized cleric given these constraints? Should I suggest she go monk 1/cleric all? Up until this point, despite being a respectable fighter, she stayed behind and healed up the others (namely the Serithiel-wielding paladin and scythe-wielding dragon disciple). I know getting rid of her sacred fist and monk abilities will make her a much weaker fighter, but her healing and party support will rise exponentially.
The party is going into Crown of Fangs and is currently level 14.
What are her stats? If she has a high enough dexterity, she could maybe try something like two-weapon fighting with spiked gauntlets or cesti, and light armor would be as good as medium/heavy armor.
In my Crimson Throne campaign, I am making my players convert their characters from 3.5 to Core PFRPG rules. (Core rules + anything from the Pathfinder setting)
My wife originally had a cleric/monk/sacred fist of Irori. However, when I announced the switch, she decided to go full cleric. Of course, I can suggest traditional cleric builds for her, but heavy armor and shields clash strongly with her original character concept.
How can I help her build an optimized cleric given these constraints? Should I suggest she go monk 1/cleric all? Up until this point, despite being a respectable fighter, she stayed behind and healed up the others (namely the Serithiel-wielding paladin and scythe-wielding dragon disciple). I know getting rid of her sacred fist and monk abilities will make her a much weaker fighter, but her healing and party support will rise exponentially.
The party is going into Crown of Fangs and is currently level 14.
I would keep sacred fist. It is powerful enough to keep up with Pathfinder classes and maybe let her take a feat to let her monk and/or sacred fist levels stack with her cleric channel energy for healing, then she gets to kill stuff and can still heal the group in a pinch.
I am trying to keep everything within Core rules.
As for stats, I will let her re-allocate them however she wishes. All the characters in the party are built using 25 point buy.
Basically, I am wondering if a thematic cleric of Irori is viable in PF Core rules without 3.5 Splatbooks.
Also, what are the best tactics for her to use in combat? What buffs should she always have active? She already knows that her primary role would be that of a healer/buffer; the party already has a very powerful frontline duo in the form of the greatsword wielding paladin and scythe wielding dragon disciple.
We are going to finish up our Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign sometime this summer (they are about to start Crown of Fangs).
I'm playing a cleric of Irori at a much lower level, but I worked it out with my DM to trade ALL armor and shield proficiencies for the Monk AC bonus from Wisdom and by levels. It's not overpowered (so far, still pretty low level) and gives the character the flavor I wanted. Sling and fist are pretty much it. If I was going for a more "bruiser" role, I may have taken that first level in Monk just to get the saves, but over all, I really like my PC.
|
I am trying to keep everything within Core rules.
As for stats, I will let her re-allocate them however she wishes. All the characters in the party are built using 25 point buy.
Basically, I am wondering if a thematic cleric of Irori is viable in PF Core rules without 3.5 Splatbooks.
Also, what are the best tactics for her to use in combat? What buffs should she always have active? She already knows that her primary role would be that of a healer/buffer; the party already has a very powerful frontline duo in the form of the greatsword wielding paladin and scythe wielding dragon disciple.
We are going to finish up our Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign sometime this summer (they are about to start Crown of Fangs).
Hello Cesare,
Since she wants to focus on buffing and healing, then perhaps the Healing and Strength domains would be a good choice.
Healing - Nice 50% buff to healing spells
Strength - Good bonus spells like Enlarge Person. I'm sure the greatsword wielding paladin will be your best friend after this using spell on him :)
Edit: A wand of Enlarge Person would be a great deal too.
Thanks for your comments;
Ender, I like your suggestion about making her get monk style armor bonus in place of all armor and shield proficiencies.
MoFiddy, great suggestions on the domains. What are your thoughts on the knowledge domain -- is it too weak?
This is her original concept: she is a Vudran cleric of Irori, who ran a pro-bono clinic near the docks of Korvosa. During the earlier part of the campaign, she masqueraded as a man in order to avoid the Arkonas (she was betrothed to one of them). Anyways, my wife played her as an extremely insightful and knowledgeable healer/scholar. She learned her fighting skills in an all-male monastery in Vudra before being kicked out when her gender was discovered.
Anyways, the party needs her to stay in the back in order to support/heal. Thus, I wanted to build her as more of an archer. What are good cleric/archer builds? Also, I was thinking of having her hurl chakrams (as they are thematically perfect weapons). What do you think?
That same cleric has Knowledge and Rune domains, and honestly, has yet to really use either of them. They fit with my "itinerant scholar" concept, I just have yet to really run into any situation where they are really useful.
A thrown weapon cleric, vice archery, is a great choice, IMO, because then you are not tempted to stay WAAYY back out of combat, and just plink, but rather be up closer, where your spells can be effective. Short spears are another great utility weapon, And you can have several +1 Returning short spears in the air at once :) Or just use greater magic weapon a couple times on mundane spears.
Ponit blank and precise shot are no brainers, as is Quick Draw if you are using thrown weapons. Efficient Quiver would be a nice toy. Dodge/Mobility/Shot on the run are also good calls. Since she will not be a Monk, consider allowing her to take Improved Natural Attack to get her damage up, and possibly Stand Still (AoO stops opponent) or Step Up (Immediate 5' step to follow opponent) to help keep the bad guys out fo the back yard.
Defensive Combat Training has also come in really useful (Full HD in place of BAB to CMD), but my cleric is a halfling, so.. :)