Hello ladies and gentlemen, how is everyone?
On to the topic: I recently began an pathfinder adventure where I play a cleric. I briefly read the Tark's Big Holy Book of Cleric Optimization.
The adventure begin with only 3 players, I'am the most experienced players (played a lot D&D 3.5 and 4 years ago), the other two just start their first adventure ever.
I decided to go for some kind of allaround Cleric with positive channel for healing, I took Law and Trickery as domain (none of the other player putted point in Hide or bluff so that's why I did it).
Other player are a Monk and a Sorcerer.
As we are nearly reaching our 3rd level and after discovering the Reach Cleric guide, I'd like to consult the community to help my "I don't know where to go" cleric become a Reach Cleric.
- Alignement Loyal Neutral
- Str 12-Dex 17-Con 18-Int 13-Wis 18-Cha 13
- Skills: Bluff +5; Diplomacy +5; Heal +9; Knowledge (religion) +6; Sense Motive +9; Spellcraft +6;
- Feats: Improved Initiative; Scribe Scroll;
As a side note, I did not choose any diety and given my alignement, I think the "Sacred Summon"part is quite tricky.
Thank you for taking the time to read me.
Have a nice day/evening.
For a reach cleric, all you really need is a reach weapon (longspear works if you don't have any other proficiencies). You have the stats for Combat Expertise as your next feat, allowing you multiple attacks of opportunity, and then Improved Trip at 5th level.
You will want your spells to specialize in combat boosting to give you an increased chance to hit.
Who are your companions? What kind of buff spells would they benefit from?
You don't really have the stats to pull off a reach cleric.
the idea of the reach cleric is have a decent melee combat attack, and then get to use that attack via AoOs. You don't have str, so you're not likely to hit, and you're not doing damage when you hit.
For a reach cleric, all you really need is a reach weapon (longspear works if you don't have any other proficiencies). You have the stats for Combat Expertise as your next feat, allowing you multiple attacks of opportunity, and then Improved Trip at 5th level.
You will want your spells to specialize in combat boosting to give you an increased chance to hit.
Who are your companions? What kind of buff spells would they benefit from?
Combat reflexes is the feat that gives you multiple AoOs available. Which means to tripping till lv7 cause you still need combat expertise for that.
I forgot to add that my DM almow me to re train dome aspect of my character via the training mechanism (but at a fraction of the cost).One of my idea was to swap the Scribe scroll feat for something else
My STR stat is indeed not adapted but I was planning to use STR buff spell (maybe via scroll), and also seek for STR boosting book.
Okay, with that Dex, you want exotic weapon proficiency: Elven Branch Spear. It's reach and allows Finesse. Being an Elf and dipping Fighter for this proficiency might help. (I'm not sure what your race is in this)
Feats you will want soonest: Weapon Finesse, Combat Reflexes.
EDIT: On re-read, I think you're human? Well, a single level of fighter for Weapon Finesse and Exotic Weapon Proficiency will get you most of the way there. You'll still need Combat Reflexes.
As a cleric, I'd keep Scribe Scroll. It is really handy to always have a scroll with the right spell for every situation -- since you can use every spell on your list, you can craft scrolls of any of them during downtime.
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Despite being only level 2, this build is already a mess in my opinion. What are you allowed to change, specifically?
Can you rearrange stats? I would swap Str and Con: you already have a d8 hit dice, terrific defences, a reach weapon and you are indeed a Cleric (thus one of the best healers in the game), you don't really need that many HPs. You definitely need Str to hit and deal damage though.
How about changing domains? Rune domain gives you Scribe Scroll for free: you could pick it instead of Law (which is really bad). Also, how would Trickery fit thematically with a Lawful character who's so devoted to law that he even has access to Law domain? There are absolutely NO deities who grant both these domain, of course. And even if you said you don't worship a specific deity, still the philosophic concept at the base of your faith, i.e. the thing that gives you spellcasting and other class features, MUST be coherent. This was true even in the past editions btw, since you said you are an experienced player.
Ultimately, I would have taken Combat Expertise/Dirty Fighting and Improved Trip at first level, Power Attack at 3rd and Combat Reflexes at 5th.
I would agree with some others and see if the gm would allow at least some swapping of stats. The general idea of the reach cleric is to be a melee fighter for awhile...then merge with magic as you get higher and finally become a full caster. Sacred summons around level 7/8 becomes really nice (standard summon so you could still make attacks of opp) Improved init isnt really a huge deal since combat reflexes allow you to make attacks of opp even when flat footed.Scribe scroll is really nice...but i would wait until later levels
@James014Aura: Your guess is right, I'am human but forgit to mention it :/
@Gray Warden: I agree with you, my stats re absolutelty not optimized (especially in this case) but as I said, little did I know about reach cleric. To give you an idea, my most advance character in 3.5 was a lvl 15 Nightsong Infiltraitor ... I did because I found this funny.
My Dm allow me to retrain skills, feats if needed, domain, but stats, i'am not sure. I have to ask.
As for my companions;
- A monk that specialize in putting his fists into monsters faces. He took Power attack as one of his feat.
- A sorcerer with some abilities that allow him to have claws attacks. He said, and I quote him, "Pwn [insert bad name here] monsters. If I recall correctly, he choose earth dragon option for the acid abilities (sry for the messy description but I don't know anything about sorcerer)
- Our newest companion,a rogue. It is also her first adventure. She does ... rogue stuff :D