Dwarven cleric of Torag

[The Human Diversion]

It's time for me to make another PFS character and I've decided that I want to make a cleric. My highest level character is a cleric, but he's a human cleric of Calistria and is really a "screw-with-the-bad-guys-with-spells" kinda cleric. This time I want an armor-wearing, in-your-face Dwarven battle cleric.

So ... say I were min-maxing, what Dwarven god would you choose? Which domains? Do you stick with the favored weapon? Any other advice along those lines? If my choice of dwarf is stupid, what would you do?

Thanks!

[The Human Diversion]

Is the crusader archetype worth it?

[RainyDayNinja]

You should consider the Forgemaster archetype from the ARG. It replaces channel energy, so you don't have to worry about low Charisma, and it gives you some cool stuff like Heavy Armor Proficiency* and lead blades on your spell list.

*For Society play, he gets this and Skill Focus (Craft) instead of his regular crafting bonuses.

[Seranov]

RainyDayNinja wrote:

You should consider the Forgemaster archetype from the ARG. It replaces channel energy, so you don't have to worry about low Charisma, and it gives you some cool stuff like Heavy Armor Proficiency* and lead blades on your spell list.

*For Society play, he gets this and Skill Focus (Craft) instead of his regular crafting bonuses.

You know, I totally hadn't even thought of it like that.

Maybe I'll be making a Toragian Battle Cleric of my own...

[Valkir]

The -2 to CHA for Dwarves (something I THOROUGHLY disagree with) makes it harder for Dwarf clerics to use Diplomacy, and increase the DC on their Channel Energy checks. Or, they have to give up other opportunites to make these as effective as other clerics who do not suffer from a racial CHA penalty. That being said, if this does not affect your style of play, then rock on with your Dwarf self! i like the Artifice domain for the at will mending, but Good and Protection make a nice combo. But if you have some idea of the events and circumstances your adventures will pursue (not meta-gaming, but rather awareness of the world he comes from and will be playing in) then pick domains that suit his challenges. I don't have any practical experience with the archtypes, but the Crusader's lack of spells seems a high price for a limited number of combat feats. Maybe I'm missing the synergies. I like the Divine Strategists initiative boosts.

[ZanThrax]

Valkir wrote:

I don't have any practical experience with the archtypes, but the Crusader's lack of spells seems a high price for a limited number of combat feats. Maybe I'm missing the synergies. I like the Divine Strategists initiative boosts.

The diminished spellcasting is harsh, but as someone who loves to buff my party, the Legion's Blessing is really attractive.

[Claxon]

Why not play an Oracle with Battle mystery? Very similar to a cleric, but the battle mystery will make you very adept at combat.

[Conundrum]

Except it pronounces the Dwarf's charisma penalty which would be counter productive.

[Claxon]

Conundrum wrote:

Except it pronounces the Dwarf's charisma penalty which would be counter productive.

True, being a dwarf would be counter productive. However, Aasimar maybe?

Any race that gets bonuses to cha and strength?

[The Human Diversion]

Claxon wrote:

Conundrum wrote:

Except it pronounces the Dwarf's charisma penalty which would be counter productive.

True, being a dwarf would be counter productive. However, Aasimar maybe?

Any race that gets bonuses to cha and strength?

I already have an Aasimar oracle, so ideally I'd like to stick to dwarf.

That being said, keep the thoughts coming, some great ideas here.

[Kamelguru]

Crusader archetype can be worth it for Torag. He does not have too many battle cleric type domains, so you can stand to drop one. Getting more feats helps a lot.

If you are going Forgemaster, you can get away with dumping charisma, as you drop channeling altogether. However, you want some Int, as your new abilities demand it, and you probably want to make your craft skills as good as possible.