Hey, fellow Paizonians - I'm looking for some help...
I was wondering what prestige classes are out there for clerics. I'm playing as a 6th level cleric in our weekly Pathfinder game and am wondering what options/directions are out there to take her, possibly in a more spellcasting direction. Fighting-based options aren't out of the question either, but I've been hitting duds lately when rolling to hit the nasties we come across...
Any advice/information/links/etc. anyone could provide is most appreciated. Thanks in advance for all your help! =)
There aren't too many unless going with 3.5 books. Keep in mind, you will need some buff spells with a cleric to hit more often. IMO clerics start hitting their stride in melee around level 8.
I always felt that "cleric prestige classes" especially should be part of the religion, or perhaps a religious focus. An example of the former would be Radiant Servant of Pelor, while an example of the latter would be Holy Liberator.
I've recently developed a Favored of Luthic PrC, which is good for half-orc clerics with moderate Wisdom scores. :-)
So who is your character. Which deity does she worship? What are her strengths, weaknesses, goals in life?
You should probably decide whether you want to melee or cast spells, because focusing in one area should really detract from the other. A PrC that focuses on spellcasting will probably have 1/2 BAB, while a PrC with full BAB will almost certainly restrict spellcasting.
If limited to Pathfinder Core, about the only option is loremaster (unless you want to go the mystic theurge route).
If you can use the deity write-ups in the Pathfinder Adventure Paths, you might want to look at the following:
Pathfinder 2- Spherewalker of Desna
Pathfinder 5- Ashvawg Tamer druid variant of Lamashtu
Pathfinder 8- Justicar of Abadar
Pathfinder 14- Chevalier of Cayden Cailean
Pathfinder 15- Demonic Initiate (additional information on demon lords in Pathfinder 18)
Pathfinder 26- Inheritor's Crusader of Iomedae
Pathfinder 27- Hellknight (additional information on the various orders in Pathfinder 28)
The write-ups for Zon-Kuthon (Pathfinder 11), Calistria (Pathfinder 17), Saranrae (Pathfinder 20), Rovagug (Pathfinder 23), Asmodeus (Pathfinder 29), and Erastil (Pathfinder 32) do not have included prestige classes.
Pathfinder Chronicles: Campaign Setting has the Harrower, a spellcaster PrC based around divination and the Varisan Harrow deck (and the source of your avatar).
It all depends on what you have access to, as mentioned the Radiant Servant is a very solid choice, pretty much a Cleric+. Though for an alternate and more spellcasty choice, you can look to the Contemplative from Complete divine as well, it isnt available before level 11, but offers some nice benefits in exchange for 1/2 BAB and lower HP. If your looking for more of a crazy powerful option, the Ruby Knight Vindicator from Tome of Battle fits that bill.
I am of the opinion that each religion should have at least one PrC. The concept of the presitge class seems tailored made for the specialty priest
A good dwarven militant cleric PrC is the Hammer of Moradin in the Player's Guide to Faerun. It could probably be converted into a generic military cleric PrC for any god.
Remember, Pathfinder was designed so that PCs did not _need_ to have Prestige Classes to be viable at higher levels. There's nothing wrong with going 20 levels as a cleric.
Remember, Pathfinder was designed so that PCs did not _need_ to have Prestige Classes to be viable at higher levels. There's nothing wrong with going 20 levels as a cleric.
There is that, but it would be interesting to see a pair of PrC, one which turns the Cleric into a greater melee combatant, giving a Full BAB and minimal casting, and the other into a better spellcaster, giving more spells per level and/or spell-like/supernatural abilities at the cost of the clerics BAB and Hit-Dice.
Then again, I want Monks to be able have 6 points per level and have different 'styles' they could pursue and Fighters to have 4 skill points per level and have social skills as standard in addition to their bonus feat bonanza, so what the hell do I know?
Wow...thanks for all the info & advice, everyone! :) I'll do some research, talk to my friends & GM, and see what happens from there.
Thanks for all your input! =D
A good dwarven militant cleric PrC is the Hammer of Moradin in the Player's Guide to Faerun. It could probably be converted into a generic military cleric PrC for any god.
That is a great PrC, full of flavor and pizazz. I do however wish it had offered something in terms of a spellcasting bump, maybe 5/10, as is those Cleric levels to qualify always felt like something of a waste.
The most comprehensive list of prestige classes I know of can be found at:
http://www.archivesofnethys.com/classesPrestige.htm
Nice site - I'll take some time to look at it; I also found a thread on the Order of the Stick msg. board that has some lists of cleric spells by offense, alteration, & defense + buff if I decide to go straight cleric. Thanks for the website!