RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Alright, I'd like some feedback for my idea about tweaking the cleric's Channel Energy ability. Here it is:
Instead of using d6's and gaining a die at each odd level, you use d4's and gain a die at level 1 and each even level. For comparison:
L01 - 1d6 vs 1d4
L02 - 1d6 vs 2d4
L03 - 2d6 vs 2d4
L04 - 2d6 vs 3d4
L05 - 3d6 vs 3d4
L06 - 3d6 vs 4d4
L07 - 4d6 vs 4d4
L08 - 4d6 vs 5d4
L09 - 5d6 vs 5d4
L10 - 5d6 vs 6d4
L11 - 6d6 vs 6d4
L12 - 6d6 vs 7d4
...You get the idea. And then (since the d4 model falls behind in power a bit) perhaps after a certain level you can start adding your CHA mod to the output or something.
Why do I suggest this change? Not for power reasons, but because as it is clerics get everything important at odd levels and don't get squat at even levels. You're already getting your next spell level at level 3, 5, 7, etc. Getting your Channel dice at the same levels takes some of the excitement away from that (or away from the Channel dice, depending on how you look at it). Staggering the new spell levels with the extra Channel dice would make the level progression for a cleric "feel" better. That's the only reason for this idea.
Thoughts?
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I also noted that clerics get all their goodies at odd levels and nothing at even, and it's one of the reasons I don't play clerics (I prefer oracle because they get class features at odd levels and new spell levels at even levels).
Personally, I'd be more into the idea of giving them 1d4 channel at 1st level, change it to 1d6 at second and then upgrading by d6s from there to keep them more-or-less in line with normal clerics. Or even just let them have that extra d6 and do a 1d6 at 1st and +1d6 every even level.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I also noted that clerics get all their goodies at odd levels and nothing at even, and it's one of the reasons I don't play clerics (I prefer oracle because they get class features at odd levels and new spell levels at even levels).
Personally, I'd be more into the idea of giving them 1d4 channel at 1st level, change it to 1d6 at second and then upgrading by d6s from there to keep them more-or-less in line with normal clerics. Or even just let them have that extra d6 and do a 1d6 at 1st and +1d6 every even level.
Yeah, I thought of both of those ideas too. Frankly I'm indifferent to the method, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who sees the serious aesthetics issue with the cleric!
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Yeah, I thought of both of those ideas too. Frankly I'm indifferent to the method, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who sees the serious aesthetics issue with the cleric!I also noted that clerics get all their goodies at odd levels and nothing at even, and it's one of the reasons I don't play clerics (I prefer oracle because they get class features at odd levels and new spell levels at even levels).
Personally, I'd be more into the idea of giving them 1d4 channel at 1st level, change it to 1d6 at second and then upgrading by d6s from there to keep them more-or-less in line with normal clerics. Or even just let them have that extra d6 and do a 1d6 at 1st and +1d6 every even level.
You're not alone! Frankly, I find their class features disappointing in general. Their domain abilities are quite unexciting, and channel needs investment to be more than "extra healing". Hell, the Oracle of Life can be just as good of a channeler as the cleric with one revelation! Mostly thanks to the charisma focusing, of course.
Oddly, I think that "knowing all spells" is part of the problem for them. You don't feel it with druid thanks to getting things at even levels, but with cleric you can get extra spells per day and change nearly nothing about your character. Even wizards get new spells known at even levels.
Yeah, I thought of both of those ideas too. Frankly I'm indifferent to the method, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who sees the serious aesthetics issue with the cleric!I also noted that clerics get all their goodies at odd levels and nothing at even, and it's one of the reasons I don't play clerics (I prefer oracle because they get class features at odd levels and new spell levels at even levels).
Personally, I'd be more into the idea of giving them 1d4 channel at 1st level, change it to 1d6 at second and then upgrading by d6s from there to keep them more-or-less in line with normal clerics. Or even just let them have that extra d6 and do a 1d6 at 1st and +1d6 every even level.
It is very jarring when you see the lack of "dead levels" in most of the core classes to see that cleric list. Either way is not imbalancing to positive clerics/ paladins. is there any major issue with this for negative energy channelers as i don't want to have two sta blocks for one class.
Is 2d4 or 2d6 AOE too much at 2nd level? That's really the only level I can see where it might be a game changer.
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Yeah, I thought of both of those ideas too. Frankly I'm indifferent to the method, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who sees the serious aesthetics issue with the cleric!I also noted that clerics get all their goodies at odd levels and nothing at even, and it's one of the reasons I don't play clerics (I prefer oracle because they get class features at odd levels and new spell levels at even levels).
Personally, I'd be more into the idea of giving them 1d4 channel at 1st level, change it to 1d6 at second and then upgrading by d6s from there to keep them more-or-less in line with normal clerics. Or even just let them have that extra d6 and do a 1d6 at 1st and +1d6 every even level.
It is very jarring when you see the lack of "dead levels" in most of the core classes to see that cleric list. Either way is not imbalancing to positive clerics/ paladins. is there any major issue with this for negative energy channelers as i don't want to have two sta blocks for one class.
Is 2d4 or 2d6 AOE too much at 2nd level? That's really the only level I can see where it might be a game changer.
The only way for channeling to be something to do in combat is if you have decent cha and take selective channeling, which means you've spent a feat for a minor AoE that loses effectiveness over time. Or if you're fighting undead, of course, but even then it's relatively minor.
The only way for channeling to be something to do in combat is if you have decent cha and take selective channeling, which means you've spent a feat for a minor AoE that loses effectiveness over time. Or if you're fighting undead, of course, but even then it's relatively minor.
I agree that one low level is really a corner case but the forums have taught me to look for the hyper geometry corners as some one will cry foul about it.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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The only way for channeling to be something to do in combat is if you have decent cha and take selective channeling, which means you've spent a feat for a minor AoE that loses effectiveness over time. Or if you're fighting undead, of course, but even then it's relatively minor.It is very jarring when you see the lack of "dead levels" in most of the core classes to see that cleric list. Either way is not imbalancing to positive clerics/ paladins. is there any major issue with this for negative energy channelers as i don't want to have two sta blocks for one class.
Is 2d4 or 2d6 AOE too much at 2nd level? That's really the only level I can see where it might be a game changer.
Even burning a feat for Selective Channeling, you could build a negative-energy cleric with low-ish WIS, focusing instead on CHA and DEX. He can use domain powers that shoot rays (aimed with DEX) to deal damage independently of WIS. Then channel for an AOE against any living enemies, and use your spell slots on healing, buffs, or other things that don't grant saves.
In that case, 2d6 at level 2 might be a bit much. :P
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Okay, those aimed rays suck. Just gonna put that out there. You need to invest in Precise/Point-Blank to have a shot in the dark of hitting with them (even with touch AC), and even then you most likely have to deal with the soft cover your own allies provide.
Also, we had a cleric that could channel negative energy and heal himself with it (Dhampir) and took selective channel. With 16 Cha they could use it 6 times per day for 1d6 damage each. They were still the LOWEST damage dealer at level 1, even compared to the finesse rogue. Give them 2d6 at level two and they still would have been the lowest damage dealer because by then the rogue took combat trick for dervish dance (and the other two were well above in DPR anyway). The fact that they heal themselves with it has only been relevant when we were attacked by a swarm and the cleric was the only one that could hurt it.
Even with the above defense of 2d6 at level 2, however, I'd still be willing to concede to 1d4 at 1st level, 1d6 at 2nd and +1d6 at even levels afterwards just to get the cleric something interesting at even levels.