Hey everybody. I'm currently playing a ranger in a Dark Sun-style pathfinder game, and I want to have a battle cleric as a backup. We are all currently level 6. Current party roster is archery ranger (me), a mounted paladin who likes to charge, and a TWF full-plate wearing fighter.
I want to make a human battle cleric with the Glory and War domains, who is able to do a respectable amount of damage. Mostly I was wondering what feats/weapons I should run with. I like the flavor of a shield-bashing cleric but the TWF penalties hurt for a non-full BAB character, and our GM tends to throw high AC enemies at us. The power attack->cleave->great cleave line and Vital Strike looks interesting for a greatsword/falchion cleric to make the most out of fewer attacks, and to consolidate enchantment costs into only one weapon.
A note on the setting: Crits are auto-confirmed, and healing spells are swift actions. So I could start off a round with heals and smash faces too.
I am NOT interested in being a healbot, and I am NOT interested in giving all my buff spells to the other players, because a dead cleric is unable to keep the party alive.
I want a good soldier who can do decent damage and still have the spells for versatility and keeping the party on their feet.
Any suggestions?
P.S. - I am planning to take Selective Channeling as my human feat.
Hey everybody. I'm currently playing a ranger in a Dark Sun-style pathfinder game, and I want to have a battle cleric as a backup. We are all currently level 6. Current party roster is archery ranger (me), a mounted paladin who likes to charge, and a TWF full-plate wearing fighter.
I want to make a human battle cleric with the Glory and War domains, who is able to do a respectable amount of damage. Mostly I was wondering what feats/weapons I should run with. I like the flavor of a shield-bashing cleric but the TWF penalties hurt for a non-full BAB character, and our GM tends to throw high AC enemies at us. The power attack->cleave->great cleave line and Vital Strike looks interesting for a greatsword/falchion cleric to make the most out of fewer attacks, and to consolidate enchantment costs into only one weapon.
A note on the setting: Crits are auto-confirmed, and healing spells are swift actions. So I could start off a round with heals and smash faces too.
I am NOT interested in being a healbot, and I am NOT interested in giving all my buff spells to the other players, because a dead cleric is unable to keep the party alive.
I want a good soldier who can do decent damage and still have the spells for versatility and keeping the party on their feet.
Any suggestions?
P.S. - I am planning to take Selective Channeling as my human feat.
I am playing a battle oracle and that thing kicks some serious butt! Tons of healing and self buff.
If you have the Pathfinder Campaign Setting the cleric variant gives you d10 hit die and full base attack for giving up your domain powers/spells
@Choant - Sadly, classes still in playtesting are not allowed.
@Laz - I'm a little wary of giving up my domain powers and spells for a marginal HP boost, and though the full BAB would be nice, I feel that my domain spells down the road will help me compensate (Righteous Might and Divine Power, namely). The 8th level War domain power gives me essentially a free feat to use in combat, which is pretty big.
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OK I play with a fellow that has what you are looking for As a Cleric of Gorum (see below)
Gorum (pronounced GOR-um)[1] is a god of battle above all other pursuits; it is said that if there is ever a time with no more conflicts to be fought, he would rust away into nothingness. Known as the Lord in Iron, his faithful believe he is present in every iron weapon of war that is forged.
I want to make a human battle cleric with the Glory and War domains, who is able to do a respectable amount of damage.
Your killing machine would have the choice between the Strength, Battle and Weapons domains. I know there is no Glory domain here.but these domains do rock. Oh and Gorums weapon of choice is the greatsword and these dude simply just want to be kill bots and nothing else check out the pathfinder srd.
Mostly I was wondering what feats/weapons I should run with. I like the flavor of a shield-bashing cleric but the TWF penalties hurt for a non-full BAB character, and our GM tends to throw high AC enemies at us. The power attack->cleave->great cleave line and Vital Strike looks interesting for a greatsword/falchion cleric to make the most out of fewer attacks, and to consolidate enchantment costs into only one weapon.
OK as a DM I have seen a lot and think that you might be better off with Vital Strike x2 dmg/ imp vit x3 dmg/ greater vit x4dmg as a Cleric since its damage benefits are huge and while greater cleave is great you have stated that your DM throws high AC enemies at you meaning that a reduction to your AC will hurt you -2 to use great cleave and furthermore you need to hit each high AC creature in the first place with a class that isn't as good as the fighter (usually) at striking in melle. Therefore you might focus on feats that increase you ability to hit high AC or improve your defenses. weapon focus and greater weapon focus do help.. take what you can kill bot take what you can. Oh you might look at a feat that increases the range of your weapon as well they can be super useful in hitting flighty opponents, or large ones.
A note on the setting: Crits are auto-confirmed, and healing spells are swift actions. So I could start off a round with heals and smash faces too.
This DM don't likey but hey have fun. A half Orc cleric of Gorum... Yeah baby..
what rules are you using for DS? The core rules alone or some conversion as Athases clerics were not the same as the standard clerics. Or are you guys just using them as is?
I would recommend using a greatsword/falchion if possible + pickup power attack at level 3. Don't take that full bab/d10 hit dice thing, it's not worth it in the long run as you lose out on your domains. Selective channeling isn't very good as it deselects guys based on your charisma. You will want an 18 strenght so take 16+2 from your racial bonus. And get heavy armor profiency.
Domains that are good for you are travel and liberation, so if you pick dysna as your god, then you can get those + use a mace as your weapon as another option.
I've played the Gurom cleric and although the weapon is great, the domain's suck as they aren't very strong. I'm playing a cleric of dysna now and it's is a much stronger option although I much less damage and am tank + secondary melee guy.
Ok, here's what I'm thinking.
Stats-wise, the dice gods must have been smiling on me. 13, 16, 16, 17, 17, 18. It doesn't hurt that our GM said roll 4d6, drop lowest, reroll 1s and 2s. This is a brutal game, which kind of justifies the generous stats. Right now Marcas (my cleric) is STR 18, DEX 17, CON 16, INT 13, WIS 20, CHA 16. I have the WIS as the highest because that gives me bonus spells and raises my spell DC, and I can always get STR bonuses from my spells and a Belt of Strength or something.
I am hotly debating whether to switch the DEX and the CHA and burn a feat to get Heavy Armor Proficiency to pick up some Mithral Full Plate. That would put me at a 22 raw AC without any enhancements or things like that. At this level, my buff spells would boost that to a 26 AC, and an amulet of Natural Armor will put that up to around 28 or so. As Shield of Faith and Magic Vestments scale, that will get even higher.
I think I would like to keep Selective Channeling, and here's why. I cast Eagle's Splendor pre-combat and get 8 Channels, of which I can exclude 5 targets. Once I hit level 8 that becomes 10 Channels with 7 targets excluded. This makes sure that only the good guys are getting healed, and it's a nice arsenal in case undead stroll by.
So feats-wise, I'm sitting at Heavy Armor Proficiency, Selective Channeling, Power Attack, and Cleave.
At 7th level, I take Great Cleave. I'm also tempted to pick up Extend Spell instead to make my buffs last longer. I also get access to Divine Power, which gives me a +2 to hit with an extra attack at my full BAB when I make a full attack. So at this point, I'm cleaving for as long as I can hit in the thick of things. Otherwise, I have two attacks at a decent to-hit bonus along with my Spiritual Weapon.
At 8th level, things start to pick up. My 8th level War domain ability lets me use any Combat Feat I qualify for. So, I could choose Vital Strike to boost my damage against a single foe, or I could pick up something like Dodge or Weapon Focus. Or, if I chose Extend Spell earlier I have access to Great Cleave as well.
Ah, 9th level. Do work son! Marcas gets access to Righteous Might. I get a bonus on attacks and damage from the boosted strength, and get some nifty natural armor and damage resistance, and a bigger reach. Which means even more cleaving options. I also pick up a feat, so that means I can use Weapon Master on something else if I want to, or pick up a non-combat feat.
Toss that in with flanking bonuses and I feel like I have a decent shot at hitting, especially since I can consolidate all my weapon enhancement costs into a single weapon. Tack on, say, a +2 or +3 shocking greatsword and Marcas is dishing out the pain.
what rules are you using for DS? The core rules alone or some conversion as Athases clerics were not the same as the standard clerics. Or are you guys just using them as is?
It's basically Pathfinder core with Dark Sun flavoring. Our GM said that he's ok with the Glory and War domains as long as they're aligned in some way with the elements. Glory and War do have sort of a Sun-crusader flavor to them, as they get you both Searing Light and Flame Strike.
He said we could use anything from 3.5 as long as Pathfinder didn't remake the content (i.e., we could not use a 3.5 rule that Pathfinder fixed/expanded upon). But honestly, I never was fond of prestige classes myself. I'd rather go straight cleric.
Half-Orc Cleric of Beating stuff
15 pt buy
STR 17
DEX 8
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 15
CHA 10
Feats
Lv1: Toughness
Lv3: Power Attack
Lv5: Cleave
And that's pretty much all you need to get started. Grab your falchion and get to whackin. Don't choose spells that allow a saving throw, focus on self-buffs and the occasional heal. Only use channel energy and heal spell inbetween combats, you should always try to use your actions to beat the snuff out of enemies.
It's basically Pathfinder core with Dark Sun flavoring. Our GM said that he's ok with the Glory and War domains as long as they're aligned in some way with the elements. Glory and War do have sort of a Sun-crusader flavor to them, as they get you both Searing Light and Flame Strike.
He said we could use anything from 3.5 as long as Pathfinder didn't remake the content (i.e., we could not use a 3.5 rule that Pathfinder fixed/expanded upon). But honestly, I never was fond of prestige classes myself. I'd rather go straight cleric.
I would say look at the conversion athas.org did. They made some interesting conversions of the cleric i I recall.
I have that book and this particular class variant seem over powered compared to the others. I limited the full BAB to only the deities chosen weapon.
I have that book and this particular class variant seem over powered compared to the others. I limited the full BAB to only the deities chosen weapon.
They are not reprinting that variant, it wont be showing back up under the pathfinder rules it seems.
I am NOT interested in being a healbot, and I am NOT interested in giving all my buff spells to the other players, because a dead cleric is unable to keep the party alive.I want a good soldier who can do decent damage and still have the spells for versatility and keeping the party on their feet.
Any suggestions?
P.S. - I am planning to take Selective Channeling as my human feat.
Unless you feel the party is going to absolutely need a guy who can cast Restoration and Raise Dead at the appropriate caster levels, I think, given the feel you want your guy to have, that the Paladin is probably a better fit. Better HP, BAB, weapon options, saves, smite evil, etc. That said, if you'd rather be a Cleric, you should probably take Craft Wand (unless someone else already has it) just so you can make the ubiquitous CL1 wands of Cure Light Wounds. You'll have to devote less healing to your daily spells that way. You might also want Scribe Scroll, so as to be able to scribe scrolls of useful, but situational spells so that, when the opportunity arises, you can cast stuff you wouldn't necessarily always want to prepare every day. Frankly, I don't like the self-buff cleric spells as much as I did long ago. The biggest nerfs were between 3.0 and 3.5, but some of the subtle stuff they did in Pathfinder is still significant. Divine Favor is +1 per every SIX levels, doesn't stack with Divine Power anymore, which also got nerfed, and I think they both don't stack with Righteous Might. I still like Healing as a domain anyway. The free empowered cures at level 6 is nice, and being able to put cure spells in the domain slots is a good way to use your domains. Anything you can do to up your chances of getting a Bestow Cure off successfully is really good too. That's one of the best spells you get.
@ FrinkiacVII
"Paladin is a better fit..."
At this point, we already have a paladin. If he dies, I might consider taking it up. The Weapon Bond looks really tasty. However, flavor-wise I'm not really feeling the Paladin. My original character concept was a living incarnation of glorious battle who revels in purging slavers, tyrants, and their ilk through trial by combat. Sounds more Chaotic than Lawful, though some parts of war are definitely Lawful in structure (tactics, chain of command, ranks, orders, etc). My character believes Undead are unworthy to exist because they either failed to survive because they didn't have the cojones to make it, or they died gloriously in battle in which case it is wrong to deny them the paradise of "Valhalla." Certainly the Paladin can smite evil undead but I feel like a high CHA cleric's arsenal of Channel Energy does more to that end. And since we already have two heavy melee types already, I feel like having the spell versatility of the Cleric would be more valuable. I'm not asking to be a damage monster (my current ranger is practically a sniper), I just want to be competitive and useful in melee.
Plus, Paladins tend to crimp the party's style all over the freakin' place.
"Divine Favor, Divine Power, Righteous Might, etc..."
You're correct, Divine Favor does not stack with Divine Power as they are both Luck bonuses. But I could cast Divine Favor on the TWF fighter to let him have a better chance of hitting. Also, there is nothing in the Righteous Might description that forbids the use of either Divine Favor or Divine Power.
If it was me, I would max Str, start with a 20 there. You need the accuracy/damage. A 17 in Wisdom will do nicely. Stick another 17 in Con. If you're taking Heavy armour prof, put the 13 in Dex, otherwise Int.
2H is a good idea, since you don't have the feats for anything else. If you're auto-confirming crits, I think falchion comes out on top mathematically. Certainly pick up Power attack ASAP. You may also want to consider lunge, combined with righteous might/enlarge, and perhaps combat reflexes if your dex is high. Personally I wouldn't bother with vital strike. Take Quicken spell too, since level 9 slots are only good for quickened righteous mights!
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@Choant - Sadly, classes still in playtesting are not allowed.
Just an aside ... the Oracle and the other 5 new base classes are in the APG which comes out in a few weeks. Unless you need this new character right now, it might be worth waiting until the book is released since an Oracle of Battle might be exactly what you are looking for, right down to the flavor and everything - at that point they are no longer "still in playtesting."