Hey my buddies and I are just getting into pathfinder and I'm looking to play a cleric since none of them want to play a support. I also want to have some impact on combat. I'm thinking of mainly supporting with a little bit of off tanking with shield and 1 hand weapon.
I'm playing a dwarf and odds are I can use the points from the point buy on creation to make up for the lack in charisma. I'm also considering picking up heavy armor feat for the off tanking.
The main problem I'm having is picking the right domains. Travel and the other movement domain seem like a help since I'm already slow as a dwarf but protection/law/good/etc seem like a better choice for a buff bot tank.
Tank is good but I wouldnt bother trying to hit things....
I'd look into reach cleric builds, that is often a lot more powerful than just having a high AC. Without offense, a high AC just means you get ignored in combat.
Channel Energy isn't all that powerful (not counting some variant channels), especially if you don't focus on it, and I wouldn't spend a whole lot on CHR just for that use. I might even think strongly about the Divine Strategist Archetype which does away with channeling altogether in exchange for some major bonuses on initiative.
With a reach build I probably wouldn't worry about the slow speed, especially if you have a group that will work with you tactically (if your group is going to be made up of monks and barbarians who charge into battle from 3 football fields away, then you probably either need to up you speed or learn to enjoy watching companions die as you plod across the field to join them.)
Their are a lot of good domains. My personal favorite is probably Animal (feather) with Law, Luck, Good and Madness coming in right behind, but unless you are really building around something specific by and large domain choice won't make a huge difference in your characters effectiveness.
If I went reach though would I have to sacrifice my ability to take the damage for my team or my ability to be able to buff them consistently pushing me more towards a combat oriented battle cleric role?
Nope, you'd stand there with a spear and stick things as they get close to you with Attacks of Opportunities, allowing you to buff, heal, etc as your standard actions.
The reach cleric seems like what I'm looking for thanks for all the tips! I'm going to be looking into the evangelist and proper feats and stuff that go along with the build. I'm also kind of looking at maybe travel or luck for the versatility especially since we have a rogue who likes to get stuck and a teleport would help out.
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I actually use Travel and Trickery a lot on my clerics. A few good ones are growth, heroism, and feather (paired with boon companion feat).
Travel is not bad at all. Getting 50ft of movement can easily get you into prime reach positions.
As far as feats...combat reflexes is the must.
Power attack is very nice.
Sacred summoning is super strong with the right alignment/deity.
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Feather domain nets you an extra body on the battlefileld. Don't worry, fluffy(or probably furry) in this case, is better at smacking things then you are.
Just an example of a 7th level screen shot.
You start next to your animal companion(lion)
Lion is large, but narrow frame lets him squeeze around fine,
Lions stats
Str 23.
+4 BAB
Unbuffed +9 to hit, +6 to dmg
Standard action - divine favor - lion gains +2 to hit and damage
Move action - bard song. Another +2 to hit, +2 to dmg.
Furry has +13 to hit, +10 to dmg.
If he can charge, he gets to pounce. So 3 attacks at +13 to hit, +10 to dmg. If you have flagbearer feat, and action takes place within 30 ft of you, add +1 to all attack and damage.
For a reach cleric. +2 str belt, +1 reach weapon assumed. Power attack feat also assumed.
With starting str of 16, at lv 7.
To hit: +10
Dmg: +7
With power attack, to hit + 8
Dmg: +13
After divine favor + bard song
Without PA to hit= + 14
Without PA dmg = +11
With PA to hit = +12
PA dmg = +15
Later it will get harder for animal companion to keep up, but below 10, animal companions are good.
If your GM permits improved unarmed strike for animal companions, he can get himself improved grapple
If you are playing a dwarf you may want to give the war priest a look. They are completely WIS based so the lack of CHA is not a big deal. They also get heavy armor and martial weapons as well as bonus combat feats. Their spell casting is not as powerful, but it is still good enough to pull off the support role.
This would also allow you to use the exotic dwarf weapons without having to spend a feat.
Not a cleric but a battle oracle is pretty similar, and may be easier to play for new players since they are spontaneous casting, not prepared like a cleric.
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Hey my buddies and I are just getting into pathfinder and I'm looking to play a cleric since none of them want to play a support. I also want to have some impact on combat. I'm thinking of mainly supporting with a little bit of off tanking with shield and 1 hand weapon.
I'm playing a dwarf and odds are I can use the points from the point buy on creation to make up for the lack in charisma. I'm also considering picking up heavy armor feat for the off tanking.
The main problem I'm having is picking the right domains. Travel and the other movement domain seem like a help since I'm already slow as a dwarf but protection/law/good/etc seem like a better choice for a buff bot tank.
Look at Tark's guide
here...And then check out Brewer's guide to the Reach Cleric
Feather domain nets you an extra body on the battlefileld. Don't worry, fluffy(or probably furry) in this case, is better at smacking things then you are.
Just an example of a 7th level screen shot.
You start next to your animal companion(lion)
Lion is large, but narrow frame lets him squeeze around fine,
Lions stats
Str 23.
+4 BAB
Unbuffed +9 to hit, +6 to dmg
Just a small note: Animal Domain and the related subdomains have their pets at Cleric Level -3, so you would need to pick up the Boon Companion Feat for fuzzy to get Large and In-Charge on schedule.