Nope, there isn't any. It's not useful as a self-buff until later levels, when you have enough duration to make it useful. On the other hand, your fighter will love it, even at first level.
Whether or not it ought to be different, I'm not sure.
Nope, there isn't any. It's not useful as a self-buff until later levels, when you have enough duration to make it useful. On the other hand, your fighter will love it, even at first level.
Whether or not it ought to be different, I'm not sure.
The duration is 1 round no matter what level the cleric. I will be a level 10 cleric and will be able to buff for 1 round up to +5 as a standard action.
If this only works for others that is fine, but even the domain is quoted "Your faith gives you incredible might and power" and that seems odd if the cleric cannot use this ablity himself.
Oh, sorry. I was going off of memory, and I thought it was 1 round/level. So yeah, I agree that it's odd, and useless to the cleric themselves. It probably ought to be swift when used on yourself, but there isn't any errata to that effect yet.
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Cleric domain abilities are in desperate need of a major overhaul...
Nope, there isn't any. It's not useful as a self-buff until later levels, when you have enough duration to make it useful. On the other hand, your fighter will love it, even at first level.
Whether or not it ought to be different, I'm not sure.
The duration is 1 round no matter what level the cleric. I will be a level 10 cleric and will be able to buff for 1 round up to +5 as a standard action.
If this only works for others that is fine, but even the domain is quoted "Your faith gives you incredible might and power" and that seems odd if the cleric cannot use this ablity himself.
Totally agree with you. I'd houserule it as 1 round for every two cleric levels and make it a swift action for self-buff purposes.
As far as domain powers go this one seems awfully underpowered compared to some others.
Seems like Aeryn might have the right of it. Domain powers might need some tweaking if they want them to be balanced. If they don't want them all to balance well then it doesn't make much difference.
I'd probably let it last until the end of your next turn; I suspect that was the intent. Either that or let it be a swift or free action.
a LOT of the cleric domain abilities should be swift or free action to activate. doubt there will be any rulings on it anytime soon though.
+1 I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for anything official. I'm sure it falls under the heading GM Fiat as far as the devs are concerned.
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Strength Domain
Granted Powers: In strength and brawn there is truth—your faith gives you incredible might and power.
Strength Surge (Sp): As a standard action, you can touch a creature to give it great strength. For 1 round, the target gains an enhancement bonus equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum +1) to melee attacks, combat maneuver checks that rely on Strength, Strength-based skills, and Strength checks. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
Might of the Gods (Su): At 8th level, you can add your cleric level as an enhancement bonus to your Strength score for a number of rounds per day equal to your cleric level. This bonus only applies on Strength checks and Strength-based skill checks. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
Domain Spells: 1st—enlarge person, 2nd—bull's strength, 3rd—magic vestment, 4th—spell immunity, 5th—righteous might, 6th—stoneskin, 7th—grasping hand, 8th—clenched fist, 9th—crushing hand.
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Funny that. I did actually read the material first... The 2nd ability that one would gain at 8th level does not add to attack. So a cleric able to manifset his faith into great strength would get no gains from the 1st level ability himself? That seems pretty backhanded.Strength Domain
Granted Powers: In strength and brawn there is truth—your faith gives you incredible might and power.
Strength Surge (Sp): As a standard action, you can touch a creature to give it great strength. For 1 round, the target gains an enhancement bonus equal to 1/2 your cleric level (minimum +1) to melee attacks, combat maneuver checks that rely on Strength, Strength-based skills, and Strength checks. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
Might of the Gods (Su): At 8th level, you can add your cleric level as an enhancement bonus to your Strength score for a number of rounds per day equal to your cleric level. This bonus only applies on Strength checks and Strength-based skill checks. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
Domain Spells: 1st—enlarge person, 2nd—bull's strength, 3rd—magic vestment, 4th—spell immunity, 5th—righteous might, 6th—stoneskin, 7th—grasping hand, 8th—clenched fist, 9th—crushing hand.
And yet Domain Spells: 1st—enlarge person, 2nd—bull's strength, 3rd—magic vestment, 4th—spell immunity, 5th—righteous might, 6th—stoneskin, 7th—grasping hand, 8th—clenched fist, 9th—crushing hand.
Also, in all other examples that I have found "Creature touched" can include the caster.
Unless specifically stated, "Creature Touched" and "Ally" apply to yourself. You are a creature and you act as your own ally.
This is precisely why I brought this up. If I have a standard action to use this ablity and it goes away at the end of this current round, I get no effect from it for anything that I would do with it.
Yep...which is why I said that cleric domains need an overhaul. This is only one of many abilities that end up nearly being a waste.
Specific to this ability, I feel it should either be a Swift Action to self-cast (Lay on Hands ability model, Self=Swift, Other=Standard) or should act like True Strike--goes to the end of your next turn.
This is precisely why I brought this up. If I have a standard action to use this ablity and it goes away at the end of this current round, I get no effect from it for anything that I would do with it.
It goes away just before the start of your next turn, so the only way to use it on yourself would be to get an attack of opportunity.
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So the Cleric can boost himself up with spells. Then touch himself [snerk] to gain +5 to attack for this round and boost hist strength for non combat purposes by another +10 ..........At the same time? Talk about Giant Strength... He could kick any Giants ass handily [snerk] by himself, in one round.
So the Cleric can boost himself up with spells. Then touch himself [snerk] to gain +5 to attack for this round and boost hist strength for non combat purposes by another +10 ..........At the same time? Talk about Giant Strength... He could kick any Giants ass handily [snerk] by himself, in one round.
Versus buffing the party's fighter and then touching the fighter to have that player unleash utter destruction?
I think you're making a much bigger deal about this than it really is. If a cleric casts 2-4 spells to boost himself up to be close to fighter-level damage output for only a few rounds at most, how is the sky falling?
So the Cleric can boost himself up with spells. Then touch himself [snerk] to gain +5 to attack for this round and boost hist strength for non combat purposes by another +10 ..........At the same time? Talk about Giant Strength... He could kick any Giants ass handily [snerk] by himself, in one round.
Of course, since that +5 to attack is an enhancement bonus, it won't stack with the enhancement bonus to attack from his weapon. And getting an enhancement bonus to strength (which doesn't stack with bull's strength) on strength checks which doesn't help in combat....
Roughly, this makes the cleric on par with the fighter for 1 round (on attack rolls, not damage since he lacks the fighter's feats). This is a far cry from being able to handle a giant in one round.
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Except that both of these abilities are enhancement bonuses and won't stack with each other.
I would definitely be comfortable ruling that the cleric can use the first or eight level ability on themselves as a swift action. This doesn't seem unbalancing at all. Especially considering neither ability will stack with Bull's Strength or a Belt of Giant Strength.
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So the Cleric can boost himself up with spells. Then touch himself [snerk] to gain +5 to attack for this round and boost hist strength for non combat purposes by another +10 ..........At the same time? Talk about Giant Strength... He could kick any Giants ass handily [snerk] by himself, in one round.Versus buffing the party's fighter and then touching the fighter to have that player unleash utter destruction?
I think you're making a much bigger deal about this than it really is. If a cleric casts 2-4 spells to boost himself up to be close to fighter-level damage output for only a few rounds at most, how is the sky falling?
I never said it was. I just copied and pasted the relevant information. I did not design it. ~shrug~ I think the reason it is worded the way it is, is to prevent that Nuclear bomb effect. Basically a cleric who sucks most of the time but Pulls out the bomb and destroys the bad guy in one fatal swoop. It however gives really interesting abilities and makes him a great buff companion for fighter to, as you said, unleash utter destruction. Which happens to be the fighters job.
Don't like it, well you can always house rule it. I may do so. Doesn't change it. Not everything needs an official response nor an errata. Not every ability needs to be the same or even balanced. Just interesting. I for one feel it is.
So the Cleric can boost himself up with spells. Then touch himself [snerk] to gain +5 to attack for this round and boost hist strength for non combat purposes by another +10 ..........At the same time? Talk about Giant Strength... He could kick any Giants ass handily [snerk] by himself, in one round.Versus buffing the party's fighter and then touching the fighter to have that player unleash utter destruction?
I think you're making a much bigger deal about this than it really is. If a cleric casts 2-4 spells to boost himself up to be close to fighter-level damage output for only a few rounds at most, how is the sky falling?
I never said it was. I just copied and pasted the relevant information. I did not design it. ~shrug~ I think the reason it is worded the way it is, is to prevent that Nuclear bomb effect. Basically a cleric who sucks most of the time but Pulls out the bomb and destroys the bad guy in one fatal swoop. It however gives really interesting abilities and makes him a great buff companion for fighter to, as you said, unleash utter destruction. Which happens to be the fighters job.
Don't like it, well you can always house rule it. I may do so. Doesn't change it. Not everything needs an official response nor an errata. Not every ability needs to be the same or even balanced. Just interesting. I for one feel it is.
But he isn't going to destroy the bad guy in one fell swoop. Neither of these domain powers grants any bonus to damage. The 8th level one has no affect on combat rolls at all. They do stack with each other (one is an enhancement to strength, the other an enhancement to the roll itself), but they don't do all that much in the end. A 10th level cleric gets +5 to hit... oh wow, yup, he certainly took down the BBEG in one hit with that one.