Ok, so I had an old original THREAD here, about this, but since it didnt get me any helpful answers I thought I would repost it in the correct section.
I play a Cleric of Gorum, combat oriented with Heavy armor prof, in my local game. The party consist of:
Malenvoker (Wizard conjurior)
Paladin (halfing archer build)
Ranger (Dwarf, with splash of Barbarian/cleric, for insane movement speed)
Cleric of Sarenrae (took healing domain, mostly buffs, has an 8 str)
Cleric of Gorum (me)
Fighter Cleric (my cohort)
*Necromancer?* (New player entering the game, not sure but leaning this way)
Right now my cohort (Janvus) is our front line guy. While the Malenvoker's summons take the front line, Janvus plus up holes in the line and keeps bad guys off all the casters in the group with Combat Reflexes and Stand still (or tries anyway, feat isn't that easy to use). Mostly its Janvus, Myself and the summon monsters that are in the front line.
Reasons I took leadership? Cause in the first few games I was the only front line guy. And even with heavy armor prof, I was getting beat down. So at level 7 I asked DM to take leadership, and why i wanted it. He approved. During our adventures, DM "suggested" I give him a level of cleric. Not sure if its for story line or what.
He is currently Fighter 7/Cleric 1, he has the following feats:
Improved Initiative
Shield Focus
Combat Reflexes
Stand Still
Iron Will
Improved Iron will
Disruptive
Weapon Focus (longsword)
Weapon Spec (longsword)
Also I was allowed to use the Variant rules for Clerics in Pathfinder campaign book to give up Domains and get Full BAB and d10 hit dice.
So what my question is, Should I continue down the Cleric path? With Full BAB and d10 hit dice from the variant rules he still makes and effective front liner. Also when he gets 2nd level spells he can cast Silence on himself and charge casters. At 3rd level spells he will be able to Dispel Magic and Invisibility Purge. I thought this utility would be helpful. Is there any reason I should go back to fighter? Are there feats that would still be really helpful to making him that Iron wall?
I realize we are caster heavy, but it sucks for one of the full casters to use rounds and spell slots dispelling when I could have Janvus do it.
Ok, so I had an old original THREAD here, about this, but since it didnt get me any helpful answers I thought I would repost it in the correct section.
I play a Cleric of Gorum, combat oriented with Heavy armor prof, in my local game. The party consist of:
Malenvoker (Wizard conjurior)
Paladin (halfing archer build)
Ranger (Dwarf, with splash of Barbarian/cleric, for insane movement speed)
Cleric of Sarenrae (took healing domain, mostly buffs, has an 8 str)
Cleric of Gorum (me)
Fighter Cleric (my cohort)
*Necromancer?* (New player entering the game, not sure but leaning this way)Right now my cohort (Janvus) is our front line guy. While the Malenvoker's summons take the front line, Janvus plus up holes in the line and keeps bad guys off all the casters in the group with Combat Reflexes and Stand still (or tries anyway, feat isn't that easy to use). Mostly its Janvus, Myself and the summon monsters that are in the front line.
Reasons I took leadership? Cause in the first few games I was the only front line guy. And even with heavy armor prof, I was getting beat down. So at level 7 I asked DM to take leadership, and why i wanted it. He approved. During our adventures, DM "suggested" I give him a level of cleric. Not sure if its for story line or what.
He is currently Fighter 7/Cleric 1, he has the following feats:
Improved Initiative
Shield Focus
Combat Reflexes
Stand Still
Iron Will
Improved Iron will
Disruptive
Weapon Focus (longsword)
Weapon Spec (longsword)Also I was allowed to use the Variant rules for Clerics in Pathfinder campaign book to give up Domains and get Full BAB and d10 hit dice.
So what my question is, Should I continue down the Cleric path? With Full BAB and d10 hit dice from the variant rules he still makes and effective front liner. Also when he gets 2nd level spells he can cast Silence on himself and charge casters. At 3rd level...
I wouldn't do it. Since you've got 3.5 stuff mentioned there (Malconvoker) I assume, 3.5 stuff is cool. I would keep that 1 level of cleric for dumping Divine Feats into, and just make him a straight-tank. I mean, feat-wise, he practically already is. You could even take the Mage-Slayer chain of feats since he's got an amazing will score by now, and would be great at that. The caster level drop doesn't hurt you much, since you're at a minimum of one anyway. Maybe prestige into Occult Slayer; you've already got all the prerequisites.
Stay on the fighter path. Yes, spells are great and wonderful. But you'll be a 10th level character when you get 2nd level spells. Silence on yourself is nice-until you can't hear warnings. The buff spells that become available won't be all that helpful necessarily, as many of them will be too weak to seriously augment your power and others (the animal set of bull/bear/owl/eagle) can be replicated with magic items. By the time you get dispel magic, a straight caster has heal, disintegrate, and even more deadly stuff. Even with Practiced Spellcaster (if you can take that), you'll be behind schedule. Stick with fighter and enjoy the fact you got a bump to your Will save.
I'm going to go down an entirely different path here.
Does Janvus have a personality that has developed in the time he's been with you? Was his changeover to cleric a matter of conversion or a calling, or something lesser?
In short, take more Cleric levels if it feels natural, or stick with Fighter if that fits his personality better. Rather than worry about maximizing effectiveness, choose the option that works for you on the RP side.
Thanks for all the Advice
@ thegreenteagamer: DM has been edging away from 3.5 material. While he will still allow some of it, he does it cause we have someone like the malenvoker in the group. But My character, my cohort, the dwarf ranger, and halfing paladin are strait pathfinder. He started the game when pathfinder was in beta, so while he lets us pick up tidbits here and there, the push is to stay in pathfinder material. I dont thing he would let me prestige class out. But if you can tell me about those Mage-slayer feats and what book they are in. I could possible pick them up.
@ Lathiira: I was leaning strait fighter and swapping out some Fighter feats to let him attack with his shield with the TWF and shield feats. Thanks for the advice
@ Ramarren: I liked your idea the best, its habit for me to maximize and then build story around that. When i should be doing it the other way. I talked to the GM and we decided since he is spending some time learning from me we should sprinkles cleric levels occasionally. So maybe make his progression 2 fighter to 1 cleric from this point on.
Thanks for all the Advice
@ thegreenteagamer: DM has been edging away from 3.5 material. While he will still allow some of it, he does it cause we have someone like the malenvoker in the group. But My character, my cohort, the dwarf ranger, and halfing paladin are strait pathfinder. He started the game when pathfinder was in beta, so while he lets us pick up tidbits here and there, the push is to stay in pathfinder material. I dont thing he would let me prestige class out. But if you can tell me about those Mage-slayer feats and what book they are in. I could possible pick them up.
Mage Slayer and the rest, I THINK, are in Complete Warrior...if not there, Complete Arcane. Basically, your caster-level drops by three for effects related to it (which, unless it says "minimum of zero", all stuff has a minimum of one, so no penalty to you there) BUT nobody can cast defensively next to you. Ever. They always provoke an AoO (goes GREAT with your combat reflexes). It's also a prerequisite for Pierce Magical Protection (ignore all magic-based AC bonuses including magical enhancements to armor) and Pierce Magical Concealment (almost like having a constant true-seeing). Both those feats lower your caster level even more.
The reason I suggested Occult Slayer is all that stacks with it and theme-wise works great as a Mage Hunter. OS screws mages hardcore; he can "bounce-back" spells cast at him, and he's almost impossible to dominate, scry, etc, with a lot of other anti-magic bonuses. Its a measely 5-level prestige class in Complete Warrior, so maybe he will if you point out that PF doesn't really have that kind of anti-mage character available.