Dhampir Cleric as primary caster

[Anselth]

So, I'm playing in a party of all Dhampir characters, where I will be playing a cleric filling the role of primary spellcaster. The role's been given to me, and while I have flexibility within the class, the race/class/role are not - just trying to preemptively avoid the "play this class instead" replies.

We're starting at level 1, so my basic concept is:

Cleric of Zura (Madness/Undead)
Stats (20 point buy)
Str: 10
Dex: 12
Con: 10
Int: 12
Wis: 16
Cha: 16

Feat: Control Undead
Traits: Sacred Conduit, Dangerously Curious

Skills: K: Arcana, K: Religion, Spellcraft, UMD.

I figure to play this as a debuff/SoS/SoD character, without much in the way of direct damage spells except for potentially spontaneous inflict spells. Having never played a PF cleric before, am I on the right track here?

[Drejk]

Str 10 (0 points)
Dex 10 (0 points) +2 racial
Con 12 (2 points) -2 racial
Int 12 (2 points)
Wis 16 (10 points)
Cha 14 (5 points) +2 racial

It looks to me you have 1 more point to spend on ability scores.
Depending upon the rest of party, you might consider taking Selective Channeling at 1st level instead of Command Undead. This way you will be able to use channel negative energy to deal damage to living creatures in 30 feet area while being able to not affect up to 3 creatures.
Of course if you think that Undeads will be common enemy from the very start you will be better with Command Undead feats.

[Shalafi2412]

You will be channeling negative energy?

[Gideon Shroudwalker]

I also have a Dhampir cleric in PFS.

The importance of having a few potions of inflict wounds can't be overstated. You can't count on someone else in the party being able to UMD a scroll or wand of inflict to get you back on your feet in the event you're knocked out.. but as a primary caster, presumably 'hanging in the back' this shouldn't be a crippling consideration even at low levels.

I notice the undead domain, I also like that.. useful to keep baddies from leeching heals on channel and also offensively to subject them to undead-nuking. Or protecting a party-mate from negative energy life-harms, which stacks with selective channel.. see below!

With the +3 cha bonus, I'd recommend Selective Channel for the 1st level feat. I'm not familiar with Zura, but if that deity is neutral your (presumably) neutral dhampir is well positioned to make use of Versatile Channel as well. (channel both negative AND postive energy.. not only can your Dhampir heal himself, it gives interesting options with the undead melee touch power)

[Drejk]

Zura is Chaotic Evil Demon Lord of vampires IIRC. So channel positive energy is not an option. Neither is Versatile Channeler.
The cleric won't have porblem with self-healing due to channeling negative energy and ability to spontaneously cast inflict wounds spells. I guess that for healing others wand of cure wound will be vital.

EDIT: I have reread Undead subdomain. It will partially solve healing others.

[Anselth]

Well, as the entire party is dhampir, selective channelling is less necessary, as I will heal my party or hurt (non undead) baddies. And if there's a non-party friendly nearby, kiss of undeath will cover me. Hence taking command undead to cover the inability to just outright blast them.

Yes, channeling negative energy, CN cleric of a CE goddess. Zura's the (presumptive) first vampire. Domains Chaos, Evil, Madness, Death.

I'm not the only person with healing in the group, but the potion advice is well-taken.

I'll have to recheck my math on the scores. I might have a 13 in there somewhere.

[Gideon Shroudwalker]

Healing one's self isn't really an issue for any healer, dhampir or not. What needs to be respected is how hard it is for someone ELSE to heal your Dhampir should you be unable to do so (at negative HPs and bleeding..)

And yeah, evil deities make for no option to channel positive energy. :(

I got around that by being a cleric of Pharasma (neutral goddess) and still getting access to Undeath via the Forbidden Rites ability of the Seperatist archetype.

A Pharasmin cleric with the Undeath Domain? it makes for interesting character introductions at the table :D

[Drejk]

Consider putting that last point in Constitution, it will delay your agony by 1 round ;)

Entire dhampir party does render Selective Channeling less useful, at least until GM sends a whole swarm of goblins on you while you will be escorting a living NPC(s).

[Anselth]

Drejk wrote:

Consider putting that last point in Constitution, it will delay your agony by 1 round ;)

Entire dhampir party does render Selective Channeling less useful, at least until GM sends a whole swarm of goblins on you while you will be escorting a living NPC(s).

Understood. I need to look at some of my feat options for higher levels.

Now with cause fear/lesser confusion (1st), ghoul touch/touch of idiocy (2nd), animate dead (3rd, rage seems fairly useless), confusion/enervation (4th), nightmare/slay living (5th), and phantasmal killer (6th), I think it's a fairly strong set of domain spells for debuffing/SoL. It's just a question of filling in some of the gaps with regular spells

[Anselth]

Also, just so I'm positive on things, Sacred Conduit gives a +1 to the save DC of channeled energy. Even though control undead uses a channel energy use, this bonus would not apply, correct?