Making a Healer / Cleric (And new to pathfinder)

[awsomeman1116]

Tomorrow I will be taking part in my first pathfinder game and I want to be a healer for my party and yet partake in the action with ranged attacks like archery. This is my first time playing pathfinder so I don't know what to expect or build for a character of that style. Any suggestions/tips for making the character and the first game tomorrow?
Thank you!

[Kalindlara]

Can you give a little more information? Have they mentioned the point-buy or starting level?

I'd start by looking at Erastil, lawful good deity of family and community. His clerics are automatically proficient with longbows.

Alternatively, if you'd like to double down on the healing, find a god with the Healing domain (such as Sarenrae) and consider playing an elf. Elves are automatically proficient with bows.

Let me know what you think so far. ^_^

[Secret Wizard]

I'd recommend Warpriest of Erastil. Focus on Archery with your feats, heal your party with Fervor or Channel Energy during downtime.

The Human Favored Class Bonus is extremely awesome too! A combat feat at 6th, 12th and 18th levels!

[Renegadeshepherd]

Healing is something that is easy enough to attain as there are a number of classes that do it well. Archery is also very doable. The catch is that some classes are better at one than the other and some synergize the two better than others. If you truly want a cleric then Erastil as mentioned above or Skode is the best to go with UNLESS your willing to be a elf or half elf for that longbow prof. One thing though is a cleric based on a bow has lower stats than one would like as many attributes need to be 14 or better just to get started.

If your not set on being a cleric then being a hospitalier paladin is a strong choice. Lay of hands combined with cleric like channelling makes for a fine healbot. Furthermore, a paladin, even without smite, has significant advantages over cleric in archery including accuracy and auto prof in longbow.

Let us know your thoughts on the feedback of others and we can fine tune it.

[Kalindlara]

Seconding hospitaler as an option. ^_^

[blackbloodtroll]

The important thing that needs to be decided, is do you want to focus of healing, with some ranged support, or do you want to focus on ranged support, with some healing?

[Joynt Jezebel]

Another point is any good cleric is a good healer. And a wand of Cure Light Wounds is cheap and allows a cleric to do other things.

I have been content with just being a good cleric and therefore a fine healer and concentrated on other things.

[Renegadeshepherd]

Joynt Jezebel wrote:

Another point is any good cleric is a good healer. And a wand of Cure Light Wounds is cheap and allows a cleric to do other things.

I have been content with just being a good cleric and therefore a fine healer and concentrated on other things.

While it is true any cleric, even negative energy ones, can be decent healers there are those that are better at than others.

[Cap. Darling]

Since this is your first PF experience i will tell you this. In PF the role of the healer is mainly a out of combat role that involve removing conditions and giving folk back some HP with spells, channeling or wands of CLW. There is almost always a better thing to do with your actions in battle than healing.
So a cleric with a bow, and good dex or a reach weapon, good str and combat reflexes are great.
Human Evangalist archtype cleric with feathers subdomain, point blank shot and precise shot at level 1, rapid shot at level 3, boon companion at level 5(and a Allosaurus or other feathered dino companion), get the trait fates favored and you will be great.
Edit: and welcome to the game:)

[Kyoko Hitomu]

I just made a CORE Rulebook only Cleric of Iomedae. Human with stats something like 10str, 12dex, 14con, 7int, 15wis, 18cha and domains Glory and Sun. Essentially he is Support most of the time but when undead show up he's the guy that destroys them (both domains improve positive channeling to harm undead.)

Anyways, being a positive channeling cleric can be pretty fun. Lots of channels to heal, spells for healing and buffing also. You could adjust stats more to end up with a 10 or 12 Int if you wanted to be more helpful out of combat. Don't know if this helped but hope so.