Thoughts and advice on Caster Cleric- one that throws spells and eschews melee

[EpicFail]

The idea is get your ideas on playing a Cleric who (almost?) exclusively casts spells- mainly buff, debuff, battlefield control, and possibly Monster Summoning. For reference, I've seen many threads that make a similar distinction between Fighter Druid who wildchanges into a melee machine verses Caster Druid who hides and casts spells.

I've played a melee oriented Cleric back when it was core plus A.P.G. Not only am I interested in another flavor, but now we have a dizzying array of choices, including but not limited to archetypes, feats, domains, spell selection advice based on new sources, and just general tactics.

For sake of discussion, let's say that all pathfinder published material is ok- even third party material if labeled as such. The Cleric in question ideally would viable from low level to about 12th or 14th where our group stops play. If it's important, we almost always use 20 point buy for stats.

So what are your thoughts?

[VRMH]

You'll need to focus on offensive spells, which the Cleric list is a bit light on. But it should be quite doable, and work pretty similar to a Wizard.

[darkwarriorkarg]

Pure theorycraft?

I'm playing one like that right now... plus being the group's main item crafter (The wizard is finally joining in on the crafting shenannigans)

Now I took a normal aasimar cleric of sarenrae with sun and gloryt domains with physical stats being 10, 8 and 10. Using blood of angels, I got rid of thw sla for a +2 to int, so I'm +2 on all mental stats. (mainly for the extra skill point).

I guess the evangelist archetype would be the best all-around caster +support.

In the 3rd party category, I'd say Adamant Entertainment's Priest class.

[tonyz]

Summoning works nicely, so do buff spells. Clerics are a little light on battlefield control spells, compared to wizards, and most clerics have alignment restrictions on summoning, but making the rest of your party great never gets old.

[Damien_DM]

Don't dump Charisma, take the Dangerously Curious trait, and keep your Use Magic Device skill maxed. You can then supplement your offensive spellcasting with arcane spells from wands and scrolls, when not summoning, buffing, etc.

[thegreenteagamer]

Take channeling feats for an alternative "boom" source on a negative channeling cleric.

Better yet, play a necro cleric and let your minions battle while you stay back and relax. I like undead lord. Access to a minion from level 1 rocks. If you cantake arcane heritage and improved familiar, that's a demon or devil and a skeleton with extra hit dice fighting for you. And then there's your horde...

Ranks in profession (taxidermy ) and bluff can let you outfit your skelly companion in plate and claim he is mute, pretend that shapeshifted quasit really IS just your dog, and those shambling zombie hordes are drunks (see Shaun of the Dead). Wine bottles make excellent props and cost relatively little.

The necromancer really only needs wisdom and charisma. Con and Dec are nice, but you do have the option of dumping strength if you have your minions cart you around in a rickshaw.

Personally I cast reduce person on myself as a halfling and sat in my skeleton companion's ribcage like a Gundam

[Martiln]

Yeesh, I have a hard time processing the idea of making a 3/4ths BAB class into a pure caster. It's like trying to turn a Fighter into a Skill Monkey to me. However the 1 good idea I've seen is a cleric that makes liberal use of Sacred Summons and nothing but buff/battlefield control spells. It can be done, but you'll always be behind a pure arcane caster in terms of raw power, cleric spells just don't have the oomph to compete.

[calagnar]

This is more about knowing what spells to take. Yes the divine caster spell list is a bit light when compared to arcane casters. I'm playing a Dwarf cleric that is casting base. Doing well for my self with a good understanding of what the cleric can and can't do. What they can do is be very picky on what spells you take per day. What you can't do is get a good return on taking spell focus. Make sure you have spells that affect different saves, and pick your target based on what you think there low save is.

Feat suggestions
Reach Spell Metamagic, Persistent Spell Metamagic, Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Initiative.
Spell suggestions
1st Command, Murderous Command
2nd Spiritual Weapon, Hold Person, Burst of Radiance(This is my new favor divine spell.)
3rd Bestow Curse, Blindness-Deafness
Equipment suggestions
Metamagic Rod Lesser Extend, Pearl of Power(1st 8 or more, 2nd 4 or more.), Spell Guard Bracers, Deathwatch Eyes (Depending on DM.),

[ElyasRavenwood]

I would suggest the priest from the tome of secrets by adamant entertainment.

I would trim the d8 channel energy back to d6, but other then that, this might be what you are looking for.

I hope this helps

[EpicFail]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions- keep them coming.

The Cleric cannot just stumble into the caster role like say the arcane guys can; it takes planning which is why I started the thread.

One way around that, DM permitting, is the Priest from Adamant Entertainment (see LINK) which gets rid of that tempting 3/4 BAB and makes us squishier with a d6 for the old d8 just to remind us to STAY AWAY FROM MELEE. Remember this is theorycraft, so let's indulge.

Thanks, Calagnar, for adding in the category of magical equipment.

To make (my) crazy idea work, it's gonna take some innovative steps. Every little bit helps and I think we have a working prototype going, so to speak. Maybe the thread could even one day inspire a Guide to the Casting Cleric!

[pad300]

Clerics, with suppplementary material, can make VERY strong summoners. Sacred Summons, Summon Good Monster are huge, and add the usual SF Conj, Augment Summonming (and maybe Superior Summoning), they may well be more potent summoners than wizards...

Also, Clerics are not like most Paizo classes - they really do reward Prestige Classing. They don't have capstone abilities, and usually get their 2nd set of domain powers at 8th...

Hellknight Enforcer is awesome, losing literally NOTHING from cleric progression - check out the Catechesis ability.