Good Evening Fellow Gamers,
I am playing a cleric who is about to make 5th level, but I am unsure if I should stick with cleric, or look at a prestige class.
The two contenders are:
Divine Scion & Holy Vindicator
Divine Scion allows full spell progression but I stop progressing in channel energy.
Holy vindicator gives me full BAB, and d10 HD, but take a hit to my spellcasting.
Does anyone have any experience with these prestige classes? Or is 20 levels of cleric the way to go?
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon
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It really depends on what you wanna do. Holy Vindicator has some cool, unique things it can do that make it special. Plus, the ability to enchant your shield with a unique, high-powered, stacking bonus is pretty sick. Combat-wise, it does pretty well while maintaining some cool flavor.
Scion would be good for an entirely spellcasting-focused cleric. I think it has some cool flavor and different aspects to it, but for the most part it's kinda "meh", imo.
Base Cleric is the more well rounded, while Vindicator is more combat oriented, and Scion more spellcasting. It really just depends on what you wanna focus on.
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If you want to be good at melee combat, I'd go Hold Vindicator. Also, if you the group's primary healer, losing the channeling will hurt alot, so Holy Vindicator again.
If you want a bunch of weird powers and you find the slight loss to spell-casting anathema, or if you're a spell-casting (versus melee combat) cleric, then Divine Scion may be better.
If you want to stay middle of the road, stay a cleric.
I don't think there's a wrong choice, just depends of what direction you want to take your PC.
Our current party consists of:
Mercy: Human Barbarian/Alchemist
Galjuk: Half-Orc Witch (scarred witch)
Cadwaladyr: Halfling Bard
Cephira: Human Cleric of Iomedae
Vonn: Human Cavalier (has only been to two sessions, so I don't really count him yet.)
The Bard and Witch can do some healing, and while I can do channeling, I am looking at alignment channel (but if we don't encounter any more devils... it would be a wasted feat.)
I'm looking at feats that would benefit a cleric AND/OR a paladin. (I might multiclass into paladin, since I might have to take a role in the front lines if Mercy doesn't take any more barbarian levels, or Vonn doesn't show up to any sessions)
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon
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If you're thinking you need to take over front-line duties, I'd go Holy Vindicator. You get near full spell-casting, full channeling (healing) and good melee combat.
While the witch and bard can do some healing, they pretty much suck at it (the Witch cannot spontaneously cast and the Bard has limited spell slots), especially in comparison to full channeling. You can think of Alignment Channel as a wasted feat, or just as a tax to enter the Holy Vindicator class. Personally, I consider it a tax as Alignment Channel isn't that useful in most situations (devils or no devils). If you're surrounded by a lot of low-HD devils, then it's useful, but against the big guys, you're probably better off attacking.
Multi-classing into Paladin guts your spell-casting and healing in return for Smite Evil. You probably won't get the high-level Paladin abilities as you've already spent 5 levels in cleric (so you're starting at the bottom). Keep in mind that the Holy Vindicator mimics one of the most powerful Paladin abilities, the ability to heal yourself during combat (the Paladin's swift action to lay on hands on self).
Also, a Cleric of Iomedae / Holy Vindicator is very thematically appropriate.
If the Alignment Channel just sticks in your craw, then I'd stay a full cleric (rather than multi-class into Paladin) and take feats to make him good at melee combat. With you spells/buffs, you can be very effective at melee combat, retain full spell-casting, and retain full channeling.
These are, of course, just my opinions/advice. Again, I don't think any decision you make is wrong so long as you enjoy playing the character.
OK, thanks!
If I take Extra Channel at 5th level
then take Alignment Channel (Lawful) at 7th level
I can take Holy Vindicator at 8th level.
I'm contemplating going Eldritch Heritage (Celestial) as she progresses...
If anyone is interested:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0GAHWiMck1-Sm5hZ2JvRVlKY1E&usp =sharing
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon
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From your character description, I'm guessing you're playing Wrath of the Righteous. I haven't played it, but I'd be VERY surprised if you don't keep seeing Devils all the way up to the end (you are, after all, playing in the Worldwound). They might not be in every encounter, but it sounds like they're the major opponents.
You can play your character as evolving from the Staff and Robes fluffy temple cleric she is to the hard-bitten crusader-warrior needed in such perilous times. Over the next few levels (or have an epiphany and switch completely all at one time), start wearing armor and dump the staff for a more martial weapon, either Iomedae's Longsword and Shield, or she can switch to another martial weapon of choice when you become a Holy Vindicator.
I didn't see any stats in your write-up, so hopefully you have a decent STR (14+).
I also don't know if you've selected your mythic path, but I'd suggest looking at Dual Path Heirophont and Champion.
My group will probably be starting the AP in a month or so, and I've designed an Inquisitor of Saranae with the Redemption Domain. Another of the PCs is planning to play a Cleric of Saranae who will switch to Holy Vindicator. I think we're also going to have an Arcanist, a Ranger, a Rogue, and one other guy who's probably going to play a martial character of some sort.
Thanks for your input Captain Zoom!
I appreciate it.
(I have to ask though... when you followed the link, do the pictures look all wonky?)
Currently, my stats are: 14/10/14/12/16/14 (But I have a headband of Wisdom +2)
Glory and Tactics Domains
It's interesting, because I did not build her to be a front-liner initially, but her attack bonus is only two less than the Barbarian/Alchemist (when not juiced on rage/mutagen/bull's strength) And almost as many hit points (Again, when not juiced)
So far, the Barbarian and Witch totally intimidate her. But eventually she is going to get the platinum rings for "Shield Other" and turn the barbarian into a a virtually undying juggernaut. For every 10 points of damage she takes (That her DR applies to), she only suffers 4 (granted, I suffer 4 as well, but I have a cure wand, channel energy, spontaneous casting, and a Pearl of Power I) So she can beat face for hours if need be. :D
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon