For a new character, I was thinking of creating a cleric of Ashava (Goddess of dancers, moonlight and lost souls). However, it doesn't seem fit to me that such a cleric would use medium armor and shields. So I was thinking an archetype is in place.
A Grace of Ashava is proficient with light armor and all simple weapons. They are not proficient in medium armor or in shields. Due to Ashava's favored weapon they gain proficiency with the bladed scarf
The Grace of Ashava's class skills are: Acrobatics (Dex), Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis) Knowledge (religion) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perform (Dance) (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int)
Since the Grace of Ashava loses medium armor and shield proficiencies, it seems to me they should get something to compensate, but here I'm not so sure: maybe AC bonus similar to monks? maybe free imp. disarm and imp. trip with bladed scarf only? maybe something else?
I would advise against taking away medium armor from any cleric that is going to be in combat. Keep in mind that to use mithral armor you still need proficiency in the original armor type. Also consider that a lot of costumes used in the theater are encumbering. Proficiency in medium armor may reflect training needed to dance while in full costume.
If you want a noncombat cleric look at the cloistered cleric. They lose armor and the deities favored weapon but gain among other things 4 skill ranks per level.
The difference in AC between chain shirt and breast plate is only 2. I think this is something I can live with.
With dodge, +2 chain shirt, +1 ring of prot and DEX +2, I get AC 20 for my level 5 cleric, which I think isn't that bad.
cloistered cleric also loses 1 spell per spell level and a domain. not really worth it for what you get.
Hmm, I would keep Medium Armour but drop the Shield Proficiency.
Diminished Spellcasting in favour of adding a bonus against Ghosts/Undead and on Light-based spells.
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cloistered cleric also loses 1 spell per spell level and a domain. not really worth it for what you get.
Agreed.
I think the loss of shields will hurt more than the loss of medium armor - the latter is only +2 AC, the former could be up to +7 AC at high levels when you can't carry around a +5 Heavy Shield (plus properties).
I'm not great with balance, but here's some ideas for alternate abilities:
Light Themed:
1) +1 CL to light spells
2) Free extend or widen to all light spells, without increase of spell level
3) Low-light vision
Undead themed:
1) Threnodic Spell as a bonus feat (at level 6)
2) Ghost Ward: AC bonus that only applies to attacks vs Incorporeal Undead (scaling from +1 to +5?) Ability to treat armour as ghost touch might also be neat, but I'd worry about balance.
3) Guarded Soul: Bonus vs energy drain/negative energy effects/death effects (scaling?)
Dance Themed:
1) Dancer's Grace: Dodge bonus to AC (scaling from +1 to +5?) when wearing light or no armour (so no taking Medium Armour as a feat or multiclassing and still getting the bonus)
Dancer's Grace seems like the simplest to implement and that would probably about balance the loss of armour/shields. I might add the +1 CL to light spells or a +2 sacred or morale bonus vs death effects and energy drain for flavour.