So I've been playing a cleric, specifically a merciful healer, for a while now and next level (9) I get access to the last class ability for a merciful healer and I'm concerned I'm gonna go crazy just healing.
So I looked into Holy Vindicator and liked it a lot, but the cleric I've been playing isn't really built to be in the fray of combat, despite always ending up there. I'd love to tank it up while healing, but I wouldn't be able to hit anything until I got access to Channel Smite and take Guided Hand. But the one thing I don't rant to do and rob the party of its main source of divine spellcasting (there's an Oracle too, but I'm higher level and he's more battle focused.
Given that my strength is only a 10 (12 if I get the belt) I was curious to see if there were any other options for the divine prestiges and found the exalted. Kills my channel progression, but I get it back when I get the second boon, which is nice. But I have a few feats already invested in Channeling, plus most of the dungeon we're in is underground, and we've camped a few times in the dungeon. Due to my deity being Sarenrae,performing my deific obediences is bound to be problematic. Plus I need to retrain a feat.
Then I look back at my current cleric, who really isn't that bad.
Merciful Healer lvl8
AC=23 human
Str 10
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 13
Wis 19
Cha 16
Selective Channel
Quick Channel
Extra Channel
Craft Arms and Armor
Reach spell
So I'm torn and could use some advice. Thoughts? Any other information I need to provide? I'm a little lost here
The Cleric is a powerful class with many unique and interesting benefits. Definitely a top-tier class for a reason. It's difficult to make a build that finds itself unable to do a meaningful action each round of comba-
*sees you picked Merciful Healer*
Nevermind. Also why the 19 Wisdom and 16 Charisma if you're focused on healing (I.e. Spells and Channeling that don't require a save because you cannot use them offensively)?
*also sees that you've burned half of your feats on channeling*
Ouch. Also why Craft Arms and Armor when you could Scribe Scrolls/Craft Wands/Rods?
Sorry, let's be productive here! I'm not as familiar about the limitations the Merciful Healer archetype puts on your actions. However your Wisdom is good enough that you could throw out a few Blast/Control Spells. Honestly if you want to contribute to damage, look at the Summon Monster spells. Summoned Monsters around that point in the game are nothing to sneeze at. Live your dreams of fighting through your summoned monsters! Also consider asking the DM if you could retrain your feats/archetype.
It sounds like your story is that of most people who make a "dedicated healer". You go stir crazy because you don't do anything but heal, and eventually the party stops needing to be healed every combat because they learn good tactics. Or worse, they don't and you reward their stupidity by wasting all of your turns patching them up so they can do the exact same thing all over again. Unless you are cool with relying on your Summons for damage/control, it may be best to make a new character.
1) So me taking merciful healer was in response to my party being annoyed that my previous character was kind of bad at healing.
2) The 19 Wis 16 charisma is through a belt.
3) Half the feats being on channeling was an effort to make it so I can channel effectively and still have a standard action to play with
4) because that's what the group needed. I wasn't thrilled.
So yes, i was the sixth guy in the group and didn't mind being the healer. A year and a half ago. at level 5 I tried something else and no one liked it and it caused problems.
But currently, people are happy with the heals, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the character himself. That's why I wanted to try to tweak him instead, likely swapping out reach spell for deific obedience to go exalted or just taking alignment channel at 9 for holy vindicator at 10.
And even if o do decode to replace the character, which between exalted and vindicator is better?
I don't mind healing them often. I just want something to do in the meantime.
Only thing is my feats currently don't sup port summoning. I can still get by, right?
Also, in terms of a replacement character, does anyone have any suggestions between exalted and vindicator?
Summoning really doesn't have any NEEDED Feats. Stuff like Augment Summoning, Superior Summons, and Sacred Summons nice to have though. Although I can't think of any particularly nice Sacred Summons Sarenrae gives access to.
Since you have so much focus on channeling with this Cleric, I say go ahead and make him a Holy Vindicator.
I personally think that if your group is so dependent on your In-combat healing, either they're being suicidal idiots or you have a killer (in the negative way) GM. I'd honestly just recommend walking away from this table if you're just being roped into the role of clean-up boy. How often is it neccessary for you to heal in-combat? Otherwise is there a particular reason why your group finds Wands and Scrolls insufficient for Out of Combat healing?
Now hold up, these are my friends. Like, the people that got me into the game. Every three weeks we switch to me DMing Skull and Shackles. And while not idiots, there is a lot of in-combat healing, as monsters can deal 40 points of damage when we have 72 hit points. I was the lay to join the group,thus my being the healer. Not because they needed someone to mop up, but because everyone already had a role.
I do agree about vindicator, given what I have for channeling, but I'm not sure I have the strength modifier for it. This why I considered exalt
Oh,and I'm usually doing the out of combat healing with my spells because they're empowered and are free
I apologize. It was not my intention to be offensive with my comment. I suppose that I'm just a bit too used to hearing about people being forced to play "the healer" role and hating it.
Sorry if I came off accusatory,just wanted you to get the full picture.
And again, I don't hate it. I just want to do something when not healing.
I also want to know which, generally, it's better for if I do start from scratch-holy vindicator or exalted. Any opinion?
Probably not what you are looking for, but I recommend going oracle (Life) and aim for being a buffer/debuffer. It is only my personal taste, but I prefer oracles to clerics, since the sorcerer spell mechanic is so flexible and lends itself to metamagic.
(I am using selective channel and reach spell myself, but I have not taken any other channel feat, as divine casters are feat-starved as it is.)
Back to my point: with a Life Oracle you have no problems healing, when needed, and if you pick up 6-8 offensive spells over the 9 spell levels you can always do something besides the main role.
Since I am playing a passive character without the intention of fullround attacking as often as possible, I can prepare to counterspell (dispel being always available), act as flank buddy for our rogue or monk (safe curing allows me to do my job in the middle of the melee, and reach spell gives me range when a 5' wont do), do my group buffs or snipe at the BBEG with bestow curse. And when needed, I can use grace and run unhindered across the battlefield where I am needed. Its a different kind of versatility than a cleric has, but dont underestimate the power of being able to do a thing over and over.
About your question - vindicator or exalted? - I can only pick the exalted. When I play a main caster I dont want to lose 3 levels of spellcasting, especially if I am not even that interested in combat. Besides, the exalted has nice class features, which I rather like.
Already an Oracle in the party
Is there a particular reason why you don't want to have 2 Oracles in the party?
I doubt that a Life Oracle would step on any toes that a Merciful Healer Cleric wouldn't.
If the playstyle Vatras suggested appeals to you, why don't you play that way using your Cleric? Anyone can be a flank partner. Clerics can counterspell, buff, and have access to Reach Spell. You are also able to cast Bestow Curse.
Primarily because, right now, I'm not looking to replace my cleric. I'm looking to enhance him.
We already have a big ol bonus to attack and damage from morale, and while battle cry is interesting, I don't have the skills.
Since you are invested in channeling, and have a good casting stat, concentrate on beefing up your casting. IMHO it's not worth losing caster progression with this character to go into either of these prestige classes.
Going caster focused from this point means summons are absolutely a good approach. Look at any of the summons guides on the boards and follow their recommended best practices, like prestating your common go-to summons.
If summons start to make the battlefield feel cramped or slow down play, then use them as bodyguards/blockers so that you can cast without being pulled into combat. Look for items that can support better casting such as a staff. Throw some SoS/SoD spells or battlefield control.
You are a cleric of sarenrae, therefore you can prepare flame blade as a 3rd level spell. This means that you can prepare it once and have a few pearls of power ready to go for more fights. I would go evangelist as being strait cleric gives you nothing now. flame blade is good even without guided hand or weapon finesse as it is a touch attack, it crits like a scimitar but at your level it deals 1d8+4 fire damage and you can use your iterative attacks with it and with blessing of fervor you get 3 attacks per round. if you plan on getting guided hand this spell will hold you over till you get it.
Also just prepare buff spells like blessing of fervor and it's all good, heck even a bless will be appreciated at the start of combat. Flame blade lasts all fight though.
Flame blade has been slotted, but I had not heard of pearls of power. That alone could be my fix for a while lol