Under normal circumstances, I'd not choose to play a cleric. I prefer the hit them and then... hit them again classes. Now that I've read the Crusader archetype, I think maybe they're not all that bad.
Str 19 (16+2, ABI)
Dex 12
Con 14
Int 8
Wis 19 (ABIx4)
Cha 10
20 pt buy
Traits: Reactionary (+2 Init), Bully (+1 Intimidate, class skill)
Feats:
1 Heavy Armor Prof, Improved Init
3 Power Attack
5 Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Craft: Arms and Armor
7 Dazzling Display
9 Shatter Defenses
10 Weapon Specialization: Greatsword
11 Improved Critical: Greatsword
13 Craft: Staff? Wand?
15 Greater Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Deadly Stroke
17 Craft: ??? Something else entirely?
19 No clue
20 Greater Weapon Spec: Greatsword
Single Domain: Glory, -1 spell per level
Channel positive energy, spontaneously casts cure spells
Skills: Lots of Intimidate and enough Spellcraft to craft. Smatterings of other good stuff, like perception and necessary knowledges.
Strategy: Cast a weapon buff or a self buff or two and go to town. By the time 15th level hits, I can have a fear effect on myself and anyone I hit gets flat-footed, able to be Deadly Struck on my next attack. before that point, use the domain 1st and 8th level abilities and dazzling display to make everyone shaken, and then start combat when my side is ready.
The party's cleric left (as in has to work nights now) so I'm going to be picking up the slack. I CAN heal, but that's not my main job. My main job is to be scary and hit things hard.
What do you think? Have I missed anything obvious? Any suggestions for the blank feats?
Craft rod, you can't have too many quickens if you want to be hitting stuff.
Furious focus, don't want to miss that Deadly Stroke.
Dazing Assault is pretty nifty.
IMHO: Craft(Wand) > Craft(Staff)
I would say Furious Focus would be good. Maybe pick that up early on?
Ooh, yes, Furious Focus sounds like a plan. No I do not want to miss that deadly stroke! I'll probably pick that up at 13th.
For craft rod, do I need to have the metamagic feats themselves? Rods. Never used them before. I guess I'll have to read up.
Dazing Assault is an interesting option. A very late entry for the cleric, but interesting nevertheless. The -5 to hit hopefully could be offset by whatever excellent buffs I have up by that point.
And if I still have a spare feat I'll make some wands. Yeah.
I really think Glory is the coolest of the options available for a battling cleric. The powers themselves are so-so, but the Paladin spells are just excellent! Improved Critical with Bless Weapon, yes please! Holy Sword at 14th? Groovy. I don't think the other domains or subdomains have as neat things to offer, spell wise, although I'll be glad to hear evidence to the contrary.
For a Battle Cleric Glory is the best Domain.
Craft Rod just requires a +5 DC if you don't have the Feat.
Heroism would work as well...
Yeah, I'm certain Heroism would be. Sadly its not the purview of Gorum, but Saranrae and Iomedae. I'll ask the DM if he'll allow it, but it's not too likely and I'm not that upset about it. We have a character in the party that Gorum would probably be cool working along-side, but those other two would possibly take issue.
If I could be in a position to take the Heroism domain, I'd have just been a Paladin. They also get all those neat Paladin spells. ^_^
+5 DC to craft a rod without the feat. Hrmm... Yah, I think I'll go with that. Clerics only need the rods at daytime, right? Or whenever it is they stock their spells. As I said, I have to do a bit of research on that. Spells are tricky. The ones I like are the ones that say, 'You know all that hittin' you been doin'? Now you does it better!'
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Human
N Cleric Crusader
Strength (Ferocity) Domain
Str 15 (+4 leveling)(+6 item)(+5 tome) =30
Dex 12
Con 12
Int 8
Wis 16 (+2 racial)(+1 leveling)(+6 item) =25
Cha 10
20 pt buy
Traits: Reactionary (+2 Init)
Feats:
01 Heavy Armor Prof, Martial Weapon Prof Greatsword Power Attack
03 Furuios Focus
05 Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Dazzling Display
07 Cornugon Smash
09 Vital Strike
10 Weapon Specialization: Greatsword
11 Shatter Defenses
13 Intimidating Prowess
15 Greater Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Improved Vital Strike
17 Devastating Strike
19 Channel Smite
20 Greater Weapon Spec: Greatsword
U will want a Greatsword enchanted with Spell Storing. Domain will allow u to up ur str by 20 and add an additional 10 damage to ur attack. Vital Strike will make the great sword do 6d6 damage and Devastating Strike grants an additional +2 per vital strike feat u have for a total of +4. Channel Smite will allow u to channel ur positive or negative energy, since u would be neutral, into ur weapon for an additional 10d6 damage. The Spell Storing Greatsword should be charged with the Harm spell when ever possible unless fighting undead in which case the heal spell for a nice 150 points of damage. In total on average the character should push a nice 254 damage on a single target with 1 attack.
Also tact for this character would be intimidate, which adds str to cha for roll via Intimidating Prowess, any thing it hits with power attack via Cornugon Smash and make them flat footed on top of normal shaken debuff.
I forgot Gorum doesn't have Heroism...
But Glory is still nice.
Actually I think the Rod is a Spontaneous Usage Item...
Hi Psion: Not a bad build, however Power Attack can't be taken at first level with BAB 0. I also don't have access to Cornugon Smash as it isn't in any of the books my GM allows. Also, the only way to channel both Pos and Neg is with the Versatile Channel feat, otherwise you're locked into a choice. And for a channel focusing build, I'd be best going Holy Vindicator since they get the bonus feat. Those guys are absolutely sick, though not what my party needs at the moment.
For practical purposes, I'd be better off channeling positive and getting spontaneous cures. My GM really puts us through the grinder, so one of us has to be able to pick up the pieces afterwards.
Roleplay: "Get up, you sniveling wimps! You call that an injury? There's more fighting to be had!"
That said Vital Strike is an interesting career path. With stuff like Righteous Might, you enlarge your size and therefore your weapon.
I'll stick with the full attack. Divine Power goes well with it.
@Fayth: I wonder if I could be a cleric of Saranrae. She's not exactly the godess I'd like to roleplay a follower of, but she does come with the Heroism domain and the Scimitar. We did have a Cleric of hers previously who left. It's certainly true I'd get much more use out of those Heroism abilities. A LOT more.
But then its about working for a god of Good or working for a god of War. War is easy. Are you fighting? Good. You still cast spells. Are you doing the right thing? Questionable. You're on thin ice!
It doesn't help that one of the team players is a CN summoner with a CE eidolon, who for roleplay reasons considers itself a god of fire and evil and who's catchphrase is "Perish in FLAAAAME!" Somehow I think Saranrae would take issue with that.
Gorum it is then...
Hmm... Isn't there a war deity that has the Falcion(Spelling?) as a Favored Weapon?
Design Manager
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I ran a similar build but went with the Rage Subdomain. Gaining Rage like a barbarian combo'd up with the damage boost from the destruction domain and a little channel smite action makes for a pretty potent destructive force. Moment of Clarity or rage cycling items open that up even further.
@Ssalarn: Ooh! Moment of clarity. Yes, that would make a lot of sense. A raging cleric. +4 boost to STR is nothing to sneeze at. Can you take the Extra Rage rounds feat with that? Or Extra Rage power at 13th and beyond?
Also, is that destruction domain weapon boost usable more than once each round?
I will have to compare and contrast the two.
@bbt: Looked up Uruskreil on the PathfinderWiki. A neat choice. Neutral evil maybe? I wonder how that jives with the Good spells listed in the Glory domain. I can't find further info.
All the same, I don't think I can take it unless my GM has the book.
@Psion: No worries! I do appreciate the effort. I make the same sort of mistakes. I'm so used to full BAB characters. It's always so frustrating waiting for third level to get Power Attack and the like with rogues and things.
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Design Manager
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@Ssalarn: Ooh! Moment of clarity. Yes, that would make a lot of sense. A raging cleric. +4 boost to STR is nothing to sneeze at. Can you take the Extra Rage rounds feat with that? Or Extra Rage power at 13th and beyond?
Also, is that destruction domain weapon boost usable more than once each round?
I will have to compare and contrast the two.
As far as I know the only limit on the Destruction domain power is the 3+WIS uses/day. Once you have the Rage ability from the domain power it's just like a barbarians rage and you can take the Extra Rage or Extra Rage Power feats like normal.
It's really nice too when you get to prebuff and go in with Divine or Righteous Might and then start raging.
You must have at least one Rage Power to take the Extra Rage Power Feat.
So you must be level 12 for it.
So 13th then?
I've been looking at variant channeling. Gorum has some GOOOOD ones. Sadly Channeling is tied to charisma, so I don't know how much I want to invest in it. Battle gives +channel sacred bonus on damage rolls, while strength gives +channel sacred bonus on strength based attack rolls (among other things.)
Would it be worth taking something like Selective Channel to have myself and my melee companion(s) hitting huge numbers for a round? I suppose I could replace Improved Init. Perhaps I'm breaking my back trying to do too much and should save the three channels I have for healing a bit.
A point for point comparison for Rage and Glory.
First level ability:
Glory at the start gives a +2 bonus to the save DC of channeling energy vs undead. Passive, situational, but present. Rage gives no passive bonus.
I'm not marking a point here, call it a point five in case of a tie.
Destructive Smite: This is the clear winner. You can use a half orc's class bonus here rather than for skill points to use it a crazy number of times per day. It's a morale bonus, so a Courageous weapon greatly benefits.
Glory 0, Rage 1
8th level ability:
Rage: This is, again, the clear winner. You go stupid and just hit things, but you hit them harder and more often. Also morale bonus, so also a boon to courageous weapon. Also garners benefit from the weapon ability Barbarians always get, forget what that is.
Glory 0, Rage 2
First Domain Spell:
Shield of Faith vs True Strike
True Strike is situational.
SoF is probably better for the level. SoF gets outclassed by gear, so true strike would be possibly the better choice later on.
I'll give the point to Glory, though really it's not much. Ignore the tiebreaker from the bonus ability.
Glory 1, Rage 2
2nd Domain Spell:
Bull's Strength vs Bless Weapon
Bless Weapon no contest! It's an excellent spell and ages well, especially considering you can't get it any other way on a cleric. Bull's Strength becomes a belt.
Glory 2, Rage 2
3rd Domain:
Searing Light vs Rage
I honestly don't care for either. You can use the Rage spell to pick up your bonuses if absolutely necessary. Searing light is not something I'm keen to use, but it could be useful.
Glory 2, Rage 2 (no points)
4th Domain:
Holy Smite vs Inflict Critical Wounds
I'm not going to be a bad touch cleric, so I'd go with Holy Smite. It's an area effect. It feels like it locks me good, and it damages my allies unfortunately. Inflict critical is more pinpoint, but my sword will do more damage overall.
Glory 3, Rage 2
5th domain:
Righteous Might vs Shout
I will DEFINITELY use Righteous Might. Like I might also memorize it. Shout loses out on this one.
Glory 4, Rage 2
6th domain:
Undeath to Death vs Moonstruck
Moonstruck wins out here. It has no material component, it is the less situational, and it's badass. I won't have the trickiest of saves, but it's a pretty good save or suck for opposing casty types.
Glory 4, Rage 3
7th domain:
Holy Sword vs Disintegrate
Wow, very tough call. A +5 holy weapon with an additional magic circle against evil for 13+ rounds... or YOU DIE NOW. Of course, I could very easily miss... oh wait, True Strike at 1st... VERY tough call.
Question: Would a Magic Circle against Evil prevent my synesthist summoner's evil eidolon from approaching?
No points until I have more info.
Glory 4, Rage 3 (no points)
8th domain:
Holy Aura vs Earthquake.
Earthquake wins here.
Glory 4, Rage 4
9th domain:
Gate vs Implosion
Gate wins hands down. Both are cleric spells so I can take them if I want to, but Gate is so multifaceted.
Glory 5, Rage 4
Really, though it's too close to call. I think the effectiveness of the Rage power should count for a few more points. Not only does it get some good spells, but the abilities are strictly amazing.
The next question is, would I want to opt out of the Crusader archetype and just take the two domains?
Not really. I really want Deadly Stroke. For those of you wondering, Rage is probably the better subdomain as I'm grossly undervaluing it. It changes the way the character gets played. If Heroism were an option, Glory is the clear winner.
I'll probably stick with Glory unless the player playing the Summoner convinces me otherwise.