I'd suggest looking up a class from heroes of horror (3.5) I can't remember the name, but it was basically a divine wizard.
I'd suggest looking up a class from heroes of horror (3.5) I can't remember the name, but it was basically a divine wizard.
That would be the Archivist. Basically, a cleric that uses a spellbook (as opposed to a deity providing them with every spell) and has some knowledge-related abilities.
I would base his concept on the witch and replace hexes with unlimited use of some of the inquisitors lie-detector abilities (or whatever he wants).
Replace familiar with spellbook + need to use holy symbol.
Spells, well give him a few more per day perhaps, as arcane is slightly more powerful than divine, even tough the witch doesn't have access to everything arcane.
I completly agree that unlimited use of every spell either leads to a spell progression that ends at second level spells or is broken. (who wants unlimited time stops and wishes?)
I'm not really sure what he wants. It sounds like light armored divine caster. I suggest the Oracle, many of them have a revelation that gives an AC boost, or use Cha instead of Dex. If his idea of a priest is more related to being a spell prep caster, then I guess Witch does make the most sense, since the Witch gets some traditionally divine spells at the cost of missing out on some traditionally arcane spells. The Witch is also an excellent "Pacifist" class, in that it can disable enemies non-violently. You miss out on being the holy bane of undead via witch though.
or the Tome of secrets priest could be a good place to look.
Actually, I'd do this :
1) Reduce the Cleric to Light armor and Simple weapons only.
2) Give him a Spell Book instead of a Prayer time.
3) Increase the die by one level on his channeling (d8) OR reduce it by one step (d4) but allow it to both harm & heal simultaneously (Heal living/harm undead at the same time).
4) Give him Scribe Scroll for free at 1st level.
5) Give him Arcane Bond (item) at 1st level, but it works with his divine spell book instead.
6) Can spontaneously convert memorized spells to cure spells (or inflict, depending on choice per normal cleric rules).
7) Allow him to always memorize cure/inflict spells, even if he's lost his spell book.
A player in my upcoming campaign wants to play a custom class. Basically, he wants an unarmored cleric who wears a priest outfit and role-plays like an Inquisitor.
Seems like he recently saw Priest. ^^
Ok, NO letting this guy design a class. I really wouldn't try to design a class with him either. His idea of "balanced " is likely to be so overpowered that even meeting him halfway will result in something horribly balanced.
Cloistered Cleric (Archetype)
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Cloistered clerics are proficient with light armor and with the following weapons: club, heavy mace, light mace, quarterstaff, and sling. They are not proficient with shields.
Class Skills: The cloistered cleric's class skills are Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Diminished Spellcasting: A cloistered cleric chooses only one domain from her deity's list of domains, and her number of non-domain spells per day for each spell level is one less than normal (for example, a 4th-level cloistered cleric has three cantrips, two 1st-level spells, one 1st-level domain spell, one 2nd-level spell, and one 2nd-level domain spell). If this reduces the number of spells per day for that level to 0, she gains only the bonus spells she would be entitled to based on her Wisdom score for that level, plus her domain spell for that level.
Breadth of Knowledge: At 1st level, a cloistered cleric gains a bonus on Knowledge skill checks equal to half her class level (minimum +1) and can make Knowledge skill checks untrained.
Well-Read (Ex): At 2nd level, a cloistered cleric gains a +2 bonus on skill checks, caster level checks, and saving throws if such rolls pertain to mundane or magical glyphs, runes, scrolls, symbols, and other writings.
Verbal Instruction (Ex): At 3rd level, a cloistered cleric can use the aid another action to assist an ally within 30 feet on a skill or ability check. The ally must be able to hear and understand the cleric's instructions. For every three class levels beyond 3rd, the cloistered cleric can instruct one additional ally. If all allies are not engaged in the same task, using this ability is a full-round action rather than a standard action.
Scribe Scroll (Su): At 4th level, a cloistered cleric gains Scribe Scroll as a bonus feat.
"priest" from the movie has no spells. He's a straight monk with some cool toys.
I had a friend who played what was essentially, an unarmored, wizard-like cleric. We converted the Unearthed Arcana Cloistered Cleric (do NOT confuse with the utterly lousy archetype from Ultimate Magic) to Pathfinder, and the character took a Pathfinder converted Contemplative PrC from Complete Divine. There were some ability swaps we did to customize the character and make sure everything was balanced---I don't remember all of it, but I think instead of an extra domain, the character got a couple extra abilities.
It worked pretty well, and if you really wanted to go this route, I would say doing your own conversion of Cloistered Cleric (maybe swap out the extra domain for a dodge bonus to Armor Class) would be the best route.
THAT SAID: the feedback I got from my player, who was the one who wanted to go through with this conversion, was that the character got frustrating at high levels because so many cleric spells are circumstantial. Clerics (for whom the cleric spell list was originally designed) are designed to be melee support characters in addition to full spellcasters, and if they stand back and cast, the gaps in the spell list become very apparent.
And ON THE OTHER HAND: The player I allowed to do the custom conversion was someone I very much trusted to keep things balanced. Your player, based on what you've said, clearly wants a broken character. My inclination as GM with a player like that would be to put my foot down and say, "Sorry, I would only like to work with published classes. You'll have to make your concept work with the existing Cleric, Oracle, or Inquisitor or try a different character concept."
Another thoroughly different route, if he really wants to focus on the unarmored aspect, is play a Monk. Consider his ki points "faith points" and pick one of the more mystical archetypes to do miraculous thing with his faith. (And I've just been ninja'ed by TinyCoffeeGolem with a note that suggests this might be the best route if he's really being inspired by this movie.)
I'm the one who played the cloistered cleric for Deathquaker. I took a straight UA cloistered cleric into her campaign. I had 3 domains, I just literally never used my 3rd one :) I still tinker with the character and the class now that the campaign is over, and Deathquaker has quoted my thoughts exactly. If the player wants a character that is the divine equivalent to a wizard, then the cleric spell list will need expansion unless they're very very good at summoning and/or buffing the party. I don't know how well adding inquisitor abilities would work to the CC chassis, as it's definitely not meant for melee.
Ask him to take a look at complete champion. Reverse engineer it from there. Each level a divine character can cast a next level of spells, they get a feat. In this case, mess with the domains in the sense that he gets a bit of the equivalent spellcasting from spellbook etc. But not the unlimited charges thing. That is just downright wroughty. Regardless of how experienced a player and GM he is, the balance of power across classes should not be thrown out the window. I agree with the option you've gone with that armor proficiency will be only light armors since he is in a sense not an actual cleric with the full training in donning breast plate or half-plate. Alot has to go out the window if he wants the equivalent of arcane spells since they seem to constitute alot. I know its pathfinder should be referring to but in 3.5, wizards got abit from class, bonus feat every 5 levels and spellcasting. One good save, poor BAB progression and d4 hit die. The cleric gets d8 hit die with turning/rebuking, two good saves, divine spells and moderate BAB progression. The comparison of the two classes seem to hint that arcane spellcasting is in a sense more powerful than divine. Divine spellcasters have trouble specializing but not arcane. Hence the divide. Sorry for the rant but he needs to give up fair bit of cleric stuff. Wizards being able to cast in heavy or medium armor is a joke in itself and not a funny one.
This player sounds pretty dodgy to me!
You can say only your approved classes, or, if we wants to play a priest, suggest the 3.5 healer (very good at what they do).
I find myself in agreement with the norse wolf.
The guy is reminding me of the dread necromancer, I want spells, and I want armour, and I want this and that, and that, and I can make cleric type negative attacks without a holy symbol. Gah.
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My basic idea is to permanently limit the armor and weapons to light. Scribe scroll at level one. Each cleric domain spell slot gets an additional inquisitor spell sitting next to it and/or judgements replace 1 or 2 channel energies/per day.
Any ideas?
There is a Priest class by a Adamant Entertainment FOR Pathfinder.
You can read it up here. All information is there.Its a complete conversion of the 3.5's Cloistered Cleric. Aka a "spellcaster-focus" cleric.
This Priest class has most of what you are looking for. It gives the knowledge domain and an extra domain spell a day and restrict Armor to light, without shields. You get more skill points per level and a slightly boosted channel (d8s in place of d6s).
Things like the Scribe Scroll feat could be picked by the player with one of his feat slots.
You do not and should not give feats/powers just BECAUSE the player in-mind wants it in a "custom" class. If you do that you might as well let him/her pick whatever they want and slap "custom class (broken)" onto it.
Hope this Priest class is what you are looking for.
Actually, I'd do this :
1) Reduce the Cleric to Light armor and Simple weapons only.
2) Give him a Spell Book instead of a Prayer time.
3) Increase the die by one level on his channeling (d8) OR reduce it by one step (d4) but allow it to both harm & heal simultaneously (Heal living/harm undead at the same time).
4) Give him Scribe Scroll for free at 1st level.
5) Give him Arcane Bond (item) at 1st level, but it works with his divine spell book instead.
6) Can spontaneously convert memorized spells to cure spells (or inflict, depending on choice per normal cleric rules).
7) Allow him to always memorize cure/inflict spells, even if he's lost his spell book.
More or less this, except no armor.
"Danger! Danger Will Robinson!"
I sense a GM trying to change your campaign to be more like his. You might have a fight for identity on your hands here.
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Soo monk 1/Cleric X. Unarmored cleric. ;-)
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Soo monk 1/Cleric X. Unarmored cleric. ;-)
Not complicated enough.
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I once played a "Priest/Inquisitor" style cleric, but I didn't need a custom class to do it. I did age him two categories so that he had a higher Wis/Int/Cha and was too weak to wear anything beyond padded armor. I made his domains Law and Knowledge and he became the party face & knowledge guy. In practice, he ended up functioning very similarly to a bard.
Cool character, but he would have done better in a larger party.
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I removed a post that didn't belong in this thread. Or anywhere.
I tried to create a pacifist unarmored priest here...
There are close to 20 classes with several archetypes. And don't forget about multiclassing too. I would encourage him to find something already existing.
Good on you!
Just direct him towards monk 1/cleric x, as has been suggsted.
Between all the monk archetypes, and the cleric domains, it should be pretty dang customizable.
Exactly. And don't forget the archetypes. You can acces all of the on d20pfsrd.com.