Cleric holy vindicator build advice

[BlueAria]

I'll be playing in a carrion crown AP and was thinking of running a cleric 7/vindicator X using the spell casting mainly for buffs and heals when needed. We will be rolling stats so I have no clue what my scores will be but I was planing to go for the highest str I could and keeping my wis at like 14 or so using items to boost it up when I need to cast higher level spells it would mostly be a combat type character. So any advice tips or tricks I don't want to be the most powerful cleric ever just able to pull my weight in the party.

I'll be taking alignment channel and selective channel. I was thinking of taking shield bash feats and two weapon fighting what do you all think?

[Argus The Slayer]

BlueAria wrote:

I'll be playing in a carrion crown AP and was thinking of running a cleric 7/vindicator X using the spell casting mainly for buffs and heals when needed. We will be rolling stats so I have no clue what my scores will be but I was planing to go for the highest str I could and keeping my wis at like 14 or so using items to boost it up when I need to cast higher level spells it would mostly be a combat type character. So any advice tips or tricks I don't want to be the most powerful cleric ever just able to pull my weight in the party.

I'll be taking alignment channel and selective channel. I was thinking of taking shield bash feats and two weapon fighting what do you all think?

I've been looking at options for a Vindicator build and I think it comes down to whether you want to be a solid second-tier melee cleric with decent cleric skills, or whether you want to focus on basically being a heavily armored caster.

If you want to focus on casting I would go straight cleric: losing spell casting levels hurts if casting is your focus.

If you want more options in melee, I would suggest equipping a shield and wielding a good weapon (Khopesh?) to focus on Greater Trip. Your melee friends will love you (although any archers in your party may hate you ;) for tripping from a flank and giving your allies Ao's against your enemies. Going Cleric4/Fighter2 gets you to Vindicator a little faster, with less spellcasting power, but better BAB and more feats to work with.

1) Cleric 1 - Selective Channeling
2) Fighter 1 - Weapon Prof: Khopesh
3) Cleric 2 - Combat Casting
4) Cleric 3
5) Cleric 4 - Combat Expertise
6) Fighter 2 - Improved Trip
7) Vindicator 1 - Greater Trip
8) Vindicator 2
etc

Travel domain is a BIG help here, with the bonus to base speed and great utility/mobility spells like Fly and Dimension Door. Combine with Mithral Full Plate and three levels of Fighter (Armor Training 1) for super-sweet base speed (but again more loss of spellcasting power)

[Ardenup]

You don't have the feats for TWF, especially if you're taking channel feats.
Go cleric 8/Vindicator 10/Cleric 2

I'd beg for the DM to let you take improved Buckler defense (this allows you to 2h a weapon and retain your ac) even if he doesn't allow it use a Buckler anyway. You'll get the AC (including Vindicator's shield) when you cast and move (which you do a lot in combat) and you can 2h when you are buffed and want to melee.

You'll need to take the magical knack trait (get back 2 of those Caster levels) andDesperate Focus (equals 1/2 of combat casting)

Select a Deity. I reccomend either Gorum (negative channel, rage and wounding Subdomains) Greatsword+Rage+Divine Power+Furious Wpn+Reckless Abandon+Stigmata = all 4 of my beefed up attacks are gonna hit. Until you get a domain rage power (moment of clarity) casting while raging is out. Drop a group buff in rd 1, quicken a divine power and move to close. Rd 2 rage and full attack. You'll need the extra rage feat

Imodae is also awesome, (aura of heroism-swift action/aura of wrath- standard for 8 rds a day)
Rd1 swift aura of Heroism/standard aura of wrath (party now loves you), move action stigmata to hit
Rd2, 2H a Longsword+quickened divine power (or divine favor)+righteous might standard cast. Move to close.
Rd3 Kick a$$.

The Gorum cleric is a selfish Caster, TheImodae cleric can fight a round earlier depending on if the party needs the aura buff.

Now, selective channel IS worth it and so is Offensively channeling. If negative it saps enemy HP without hitting allies. If positive channel if you take alignment channel, depending on the campaign- Undead+evil outsiders are common enough.
Get a phalactary. 12d6 healing/hurting or 12AC on Vindicator's shield is great.
If you went with Imodae the glory domain even adds to channel dc.

[Ardenup]

Also- if you can swing the roleplay

a cleric of Rovag with the rage, demon subdomains is freaking awesome (probably better as a straight cleric though)

[caubocalypse]

Cleric 8 / Holy Vindicator X is the way to go. Considering it's Carrion Crown, you're going to fighting a lot of Undead. Positive Channeling does not hurt, especially when you take Improved Channel.

It's basically what I've done in PFS and I must say, I've never regretted it. My HV is a buff / heal bot, but I skimped a bit on adding to Wisdom to bump my Charisma for more channels (I'm at 11/day right now). Are you doing 4d6, 20 point buy, or what?

Also, you don't want to make your Wisdom 14. That means you can't access anything but 4th level spells. Yes, there are items but that is relying TOO much on what ifs. What happens when you fight a CR18 at the end that decides that it wants to disjunction your stuff? Strength is unnecessary as a cleric, especially when you'll be buffing your main damage dealers. You're really going to spread yourself thin. If you want to stick to buff / heal, upping your Wis and Cha is the way to go.

BTW, you'll want to do Cleric 8 / Holy Vindicator X because you'll have 6th level spells at 12th level. If you do Cleric 7 / Holy Vindicator X, you'll only have access to 5th level spells. Not to mention, if you're a healing bot and you have access to the healing domain, your heals will be empowered for everyone by reaching Cleric 8.