Channels

[Dhjika]

I GM a table with a cleric with a 5 charisma score. - my reading is that they get 0 channels per day. - 3 - 3 = 0

However it seems there is a strong feeling that 3 is the minimum

Do I have it wrong?

Tia

[Preston Hudson]

I would see 0 channels as well and wonder why a cleric has a CHA of 5. The math does make sense (3+-3 is 0). They aren't able to cast spells either which really makes me question why they took a 5 CHA.

[Ferious Thune]

I believe it should be zero. Channel Energy reads that you can use it 3 + your Charisma modifier times per day. Usually that means you take the penalty if you have a negative modifier. If they meant for it only to apply for a positive modifier, it would say Charisma bonus.

[Azten]

Preston Hudson wrote:

I would see 0 channels as well and wonder why a cleric has a CHA of 5. The math does make sense (3+-3 is 0). They aren't able to cast spells either which really makes me question why they took a 5 CHA.

Clerics use Wisdom to cast spells. It's Oracles that use Charisma.

[Preston Hudson]

My mistake, thanks for the catch. Been a long day.

[Azten]

No problem.

[Preston Hudson]

I just consulted with another on this question. Apparently, the minimum result on anything you can get is 1. The cleric would have only one channel per day.

[Paz]

Preston Hudson wrote:

I just consulted with another on this question. Apparently, the minimum result on anything you can get is 1. The cleric would have only one channel per day.

Citation?

In the absence of any better reference, I'd go with the information from the cleric section of the CRB: (3 + -3 =) 0 channels/per day.

[GreySector]

Preston Hudson wrote:

I just consulted with another on this question. Apparently, the minimum result on anything you can get is 1. The cleric would have only one channel per day.

Some abiliities say that there is a minimum of one. Abilities that don't have that language don't have a minimum of one.

[Fromper]

Michael Eshleman wrote:

Preston Hudson wrote:

I just consulted with another on this question. Apparently, the minimum result on anything you can get is 1. The cleric would have only one channel per day.

Some abiliities say that there is a minimum of one. Abilities that don't have that language don't have a minimum of one.

Agreed. I'd say it's 0, too.

And dumping charisma on a cleric isn't that bad an idea, depending on the type of cleric. I have a half-orc cleric of Besmara with 7 charisma. Due to a trait and racial bonus, he still has a pretty good intimidate score (he is a pirate, after all), but I don't try to do anything else charisma based. He's a "bad touch" cleric, so I put the points in wisdom and physical stats so he can rush to the front line and debuff people with touch attacks.

[P.H. Dungeon]

Here's another channel question. Can a cleric channel divine energy if he is bound and gagged?

[Drejk]

A cleric needs to be able to "present" his holy symbol to use channel energy. Being bound will almost certainly prevent it. Being gagged is irrelevant.

[Derek Dalton]

Most people overlook channel as this seems the case. Not a good idea really. Channel is a third of the class's power. Domains and spells the rest. Depending on alignment it could save the party in a fight or really clear a room full of low level monsters. Playing neutral then taking Versatile channel allows a cleric both options to harm and heal. Even a melee cleric can improve his combat effectiveness with Channel smite.

[Vatras]

In absence of the clause "minimum of one" the number of channels would be zero. The same applies to Lay on Hands, which also lacks that clause (as if a pally would neglect CHA...).

An example of the clause would be the Swachbuckler, whose entry of panache reads:
At the start of each day, a swashbuckler gains a number of panache points equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Her panache goes up or down throughout the day, but usually cannot go higher than her Charisma modifier (minimum 1), though feats and magic items can affect this maximum.

Abilities without such a quantifier can be less than 1.

(In this case, the cleric in question was obviously not interested in channeling anyway, given his CHA dump.)