So I have an idea for a possibly evil cleric(depends on the game, might be chaotic neutral) that I would like to be able to shoot out lightning kind of like the Emperor...okay exactly like the Emperor.
The problems:
1) Deity does not grant any domains that would be applicable. Don't want to use Separatists Archetype as I like the domains and the favored weapon.
2) Cleric spell list seems absent of any lighting from finger tips type spells.
3) Would like to avoid level dips and if possible have it actually do something even at higher levels.
Would be okay with some sort of other suitably nasty range attack but would prefer lightning.
Any help is appreciated. :)
Take Admixture Evocation Wizard so you can change the elemental types of spells. Instead of Cone of Cold, you now have Cone of Electricity. Instead of Firesnake or Fireball, you have Electricitysnake and Electricityball.
Well I already have a kineticist Palpatine build that was graciously made by a forum member. That was for PFS.
This time I want to play a cleric that can also shoot lightning. Not PFS.
Thanks though. ;)
Take Admixture Evocation Wizard so you can change the elemental types of spells. Instead of Cone of Cold, you now have Cone of Electricity. Instead of Firesnake or Fireball, you have Electricitysnake and Electricityball.
So a one level dip?
Well I already have a kineticist Palpatine build that was graciously made by a forum member. That was for PFS.
This time I want to play a cleric that can also shoot lightning. Not PFS.
Thanks though. ;)
clerics don't generally get strong blasting magic. Maybe an air oracle
If you truly want to be like Emp Palpatine, you should take the Psion Kineticist class. They do the same thing and they get access to Mind-affecting powers that are similar to Jedi mind tricks, Empathy (you can literally go around with Empathy up and say "OOOoooooohhh.... I feel your... HATRED...")
The only thing you're missing at this point is a lightsaber, but if you take at least one level in Soulknife, you can manifest a Mindblade that can at least "look" like a lightsaber :)
Admixture
Associated School: Evocation.
Replacement Powers: The following school powers replace the force missile and elemental wall powers of the evocation school.
Versatile Evocation (Su): When you cast an evocation spell that does acid, cold, electricity, or fire damage, you may change the damage dealt to one of the other four energy types. This changes the descriptor of the spell to match the new energy type. Any non-damaging effects remain unchanged unless the new energy type invalidates them (an ice storm that deals fire damage might still provide a penalty on Perception checks due to smoke, but it would not create difficult terrain). Such effects are subject to GM discretion. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.
Elemental Manipulation (Su): At 8th level, you can emit a 30-foot aura that transforms magical energy. Choose an energy type from acid, cold, electricity, and fire, and a second type to transform it into. Any magical source of energy of this type with a caster level equal to or less than your wizard level is altered to the chosen energy type. This includes supernatural effects from creatures with Hit Dice no greater than your caster level. For example, you could transform a white dragon’s frigid breath weapon (a supernatural ability), but not a fire elemental’s fiery touch (an extraordinary ability). If an effect lies only partially within your aura, only the portions within the aura are transformed. You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your wizard level. The rounds do not need to be consecutive.
I for sure want to play this character as a cleric. Besides a dark robe and lightning this character is nothing like the Emperor.
I pretty much know what I want to do with this character now I just want to add a lightning attack as a finishing touch. No force powers etc. Just lighting from finger tips but a cleric.
Apologies for not making that clear. I suspect that this might not be possible. Thanks for all the help so far. ;)
Thanks.
Unfortunately the clerics deity does not grant lightning domain.
I had thought I could use this with the Separatists Archetype but I didn't really want to as I wanted to keep the favored weapon and the two domains.
Hmm that might be the only way though. :(
Lightning domain has no PF deity associated with it, i'd just ask the gm if they'd let you use it.
You could also ask about variant channeling for the weather domain, which lets you do electrical or sonic damage when you channel to harm.
If you took the channeling feats that let you control the shape of the channel (i think there's one that turns it to a ray) that could work too.
What about going admixture evoc Wizard 1 for the Versatile Evocation, then go 19 Cleric with Fire Domain (or any domain you can use with the Versatile Evoc to get Electricity)?
Hmm maybe the channeling feats and just shoot straight negative energy instead of lightning.
That's not a bad idea. Thanks. :)
What about going admixture evoc Wizard 1 for the Versatile Evocation, then go 19 Cleric with Fire Domain (or any domain you can use with the Versatile Evoc to get Electricity)?
I don't want to lose the other domains. They are thematic for the character. Thanks thoughm :)
Now off to find channeling feats.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/channeling-feats/
Thanks. :)
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What you need is a domain that gives you the lightning spell and the Preferred Spell feat.
Now all your spell slots can be turned into lightning spells.
Preferred Spell
Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 1
You find it very easy to cast one particular spell.Prerequisites: Spellcraft 5 ranks, Heighten Spell.
Benefit: Choose one spell which you have the ability to cast. You can cast that spell spontaneously by sacrificing a prepared spell or spell slot of equal or higher level. You can apply any metamagic feats you possess to this spell when you cast it. This increases the minimum level of the prepared spell or spell slot you must sacrifice in order to cast it but does not affect the casting time.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Its effects do not stack. Each time you take the feat, it applies to a different spell.
Lightning domain has no PF deity associated with it, i'd just ask the gm if they'd let you use it.
A problem with publication order, to be sure. I'd have Hei Feng, Rull, and Tjasse offer Lightning instead of Wind.
A half-orc cleric of Rull with the theologian archetype, with Lightning as its Focused Domain, could be a very effective blaster. Build it along the same lines as the better-known fireball theologian, dipping one level into crossblooded orc/blue dragon bloodline sorcerer (a descendant of Kazavon, perhaps?), and you have a pretty deadly critter. You'll want a Rod of Elemental Spell or some other way to get around electrical resistance, which is even more common than fire resistance.
Pathfinder Savant seems to be a pretty easy solution. With the prestige class feats you don't lose CL just domain advancement. Also Samsaran with mystic past life
This is very much rules lawyering so your dm might not allow it. If anyone can find a RAW reason this doesn't work please let me know. Spell Specialization allows you to initially pick any spell of the school regardless of your ability to cast it. Greater Spell Specialization then gives you the ability to spontaneously cast it
Neat ideas I can apply to other characters.
This character is going to be a tiefling so no past life. Thought of that too.
Dastis, I think you read Spell Specialization wrong. Thanks though. :)
Not PFS? Make some wondrous gloves that, X/day, shoot your favorite lightning spell or an Elemental Spell version of some other spell. Pretty straightforward to design.
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Alternately, research an alternate flame strike. Line or target instead of cylinder, half unholy half lightning instead of fire. Same level, slightly weaker due to loss of area, thematically appropriate.
No really read spell specialization again
"Select one spell of a school for which you have taken the Spell Focus feat."
The rest of it
"Treat your caster level as being
two higher for all level-variable effects of the spell.
Every time you gain an even level in the spellcasting
class you chose your spell from, you can choose a new spell
to replace the spell selected with this feat, and that spell
becomes your specialized spell."
I can't find any restriction regarding the first spell you pick other than school of magic. I mean its stupid and I keep telling myself it shouldn't work but I can't find a RAW reason why not
blahpers...good ideas. :)
Dastis, sorta agree here is the problem line for me.
"Every time you gain an even level in the spellcasting
class you chose your spell from"
I think that overrides "Select one spell of a school for which you have taken the Spell Focus feat."
If you're right it is a great idea. :)
Who is your deity, what are your Domains, and what weapon are you focused on?
I had a build for a Dwarven separatist cleric of Torag who uses Blessed Hammer to deliver Shocking Grasp via the Lightning subdomain to steal the thunder from magus builds and make a really strong combat cleric.
Heighten and Preferred Spell work great for this, allowing spontaneous SG's that can have metamagic applied to them without increasing casting time.
Thuskchoon, Rage & either Knowledge or Thought.
Greatclub, which is again thematic to the character. :)
Fergie I will look into that. ;)
Thanks all. :)
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Re: GSP cheese: What spell level would you sacrifice to cast this spell? If it doesn't appear on your spell list, there's no context for that part of the text.
So since channel Ray has an attack roll can I crit with it?
Yup.
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Sounds like you have your character sorted, but for future reference, one of the better ways of producing a lightning-themed build is with Druids, or, strangely, the Thundercaller bard. Probably not really appropriate for what you're doing here, though.
Thanks blahpers.
YogoZuno, yeah pretty much. Thanks for the info. :)
So since channel Ray has an attack roll can I crit with it?
Should also work with Vital Strike and Improved Vital Strike as a (su) attack. ;)
Oh wow that's cool. That actually makes vital strike worth it. Thanks. :)
Vital Strike is awesome with a bit of creativity. Have fun! *grin*
So since channel Ray has an attack roll can I crit with it?Should also work with Vital Strike and Improved Vital Strike as a (su) attack. ;)
Nope. Those only work with the attack action, with very few and explicit exceptions.
"An attack is any effect that deals damage" last I heard.
Granted, the progressive nerfing of rules, feats et al is why I've about given up on PF and switched over to Starfinder.
Nope. Those only work with the attack action, with very few and explicit exceptions.So since channel Ray has an attack roll can I crit with it?Should also work with Vital Strike and Improved Vital Strike as a (su) attack. ;)
I think you're right that would be way too good.
Bah. It means that the limited use/day ability is about on par - and usually below parity - with a full melee attack by a martial character.
"An attack is any effect that deals damage" last I heard.
Granted, the progressive nerfing of rules, feats et al is why I've about given up on PF and switched over to Starfinder.
"Does Vital Strike work with Cleave/Spring Attack/etc" might be the oldest recurring rules thread in Pathfinder history, yet to my knowledge Vital Strike rules haven't changed at all since release, save for a few new abilities that explicitly allow it to work with them.
There was an FAQ re: Vital Strike and natural ranged attacks such as eye rays, thrown boulders et al. Arcane strike rays, channel rays and the like to me are the same kind of thing as a jabberwock's eye rays, a siege engine shot or a giant's thrown boulder. The original ruling was that it works just fine with such things. Then someone else nerfed it later. Not working with a special full-attack (Spirited Charge, Spring Attack - although why not on Spring Attack is an unnecessary baffling of semantics IMO) or replacement full-attack (Cleave, Great Cleave et al) is one thing - not working at all with an attack of a different source is another.
It says "the attack action". It has always said that. If you can use the given weapon with the attack action, you're good for Vital Strike. Otherwise, too bad.
And if you think Starfinder will be immune to endless debates on rule clarity, I have some swamp land in the City of Brass for sale.
It says "the attack action". It has always said that. If you can use the given weapon with the attack action, you're good for Vital Strike. Otherwise, too bad.
And if you think Starfinder will be immune to endless debates on rule clarity, I have some swamp land in the City of Brass for sale.
*chuckling* Attack actions are taken to do what, oh right. ;)
I'm sure it will be - indeed, it already is.
Point being that the rules should be kept as simple as possible.
I might just be interested in that terrarium you mentioned. Imagine the potential for a restaurant! ^_^
It says "the attack action". It has always said that. If you can use the given weapon with the attack action, you're good for Vital Strike. Otherwise, too bad.
And if you think Starfinder will be immune to endless debates on rule clarity, I have some swamp land in the City of Brass for sale.
*chuckling* Attack actions are taken to do what, oh right. ;)
I'm sure it will be - indeed, it already is.
Point being that the rules should be kept as simple as possible.
I might just be interested in that terrarium you mentioned. Imagine the potential for a restaurant! ^_^
Channel energy(Su).... This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.
Using channel energy is a standard action, not an attack action. So vital strike won't work.
It says "the attack action". It has always said that. If you can use the given weapon with the attack action, you're good for Vital Strike. Otherwise, too bad.
And if you think Starfinder will be immune to endless debates on rule clarity, I have some swamp land in the City of Brass for sale.
*chuckling* Attack actions are taken to do what, oh right. ;)
I'm sure it will be - indeed, it already is.
Point being that the rules should be kept as simple as possible.
I might just be interested in that terrarium you mentioned. Imagine the potential for a restaurant! ^_^
Channel energy(Su).... This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.
Using channel energy is a standard action, not an attack action. So vital strike won't work.
Channel energy doesn't require an attack roll, either. :P
Channel ray (a) uses an attack roll (normally the purview only of an attack action), (b) can threaten and confirm a critical hit and (c) still permits a Will save for half. What's the harm other that RAW-lawyering in permitting it to work with Vital Strike?
It says "the attack action". It has always said that. If you can use the given weapon with the attack action, you're good for Vital Strike. Otherwise, too bad.
And if you think Starfinder will be immune to endless debates on rule clarity, I have some swamp land in the City of Brass for sale.
*chuckling* Attack actions are taken to do what, oh right. ;)
I'm sure it will be - indeed, it already is.
Point being that the rules should be kept as simple as possible.
I might just be interested in that terrarium you mentioned. Imagine the potential for a restaurant! ^_^
Channel energy(Su).... This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.
Using channel energy is a standard action, not an attack action. So vital strike won't work.
Channel energy doesn't require an attack roll, either. :P
Channel ray (a) uses an attack roll (normally the purview only of an attack action), (b) can threaten and confirm a critical hit and (c) still permits a Will save for half. What's the harm other that RAW-lawyering in permitting it to work with Vital Strike?
Disintegrate uses an attack roll, which in theory allows it to crit though ive never seen one threaten so idk how people run that and it allows a fort save. Are you going to say that you can vital strike with disintegrate?
Disintegrate uses an attack roll, which in theory allows it to crit though ive never seen one threaten so idk how people run that and it allows a fort save. Are you going to say that you can vital strike with disintegrate?It says "the attack action". It has always said that. If you can use the given weapon with the attack action, you're good for Vital Strike. Otherwise, too bad.
And if you think Starfinder will be immune to endless debates on rule clarity, I have some swamp land in the City of Brass for sale.
*chuckling* Attack actions are taken to do what, oh right. ;)
I'm sure it will be - indeed, it already is.
Point being that the rules should be kept as simple as possible.
I might just be interested in that terrarium you mentioned. Imagine the potential for a restaurant! ^_^
Channel energy(Su).... This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.
Using channel energy is a standard action, not an attack action. So vital strike won't work.
Channel energy doesn't require an attack roll, either. :P
Channel ray (a) uses an attack roll (normally the purview only of an attack action), (b) can threaten and confirm a critical hit and (c) still permits a Will save for half. What's the harm other that RAW-lawyering in permitting it to work with Vital Strike?
Sure can. I've seen disintegrate threaten more than once. Usually several times per high-level campaign. Sorcerers with Arcane Strike (11th level feat), Vital Strike (13th level feat) and Improved Critical (ray) (17th level feat) tend to giggle a bit when their dice are hot. Doesn't mean that their save DC is necessarily high enough, although it does get amusing with Spell Perfection factored in.