Best Deity for Cloistered Cleric / Champion

[NECR0G1ANT]

I’m building a Cloistered Cleric/Champion multiclass, but what deity should I choose?

The deity must allow Good worshippers and grant nice offense spells and focus spells. I’ve heard good things about Sarenrae, but I’d like more options.

This build is for PFS. Here are the ability scores:

STR 14, CON 14, DEX 10, WIS 18, INT 8, CHA 14 (Lizardfolk or Leshy Ancestry)

[Blave]

Don't know nearly all the gods, but from the core dieties, Sarenrae is indeed your best choice. Comes with some blasts and the fire domain, which has a decent focus spell and boosts your emblazon energy from 1d4 to 1d6.

[The Raven Black]

Why do you multiclass as a Champion?

Currently playing one, I was looking at domain spells that improve my ability to move where my party needs me to be, because of the awesome power of my reaction. Travel seems great for that (and then Freedom).

After that I was looking for deities that allow for my character's alignment, and finally which of their preferred weapon I liked best. Granted the last was for roleplaying purpose and not required by any rule I know of.

[Kendaan]

You're gonna have to narrow it down with what you want to be able to do, there is probably a dozen of gods at least that would fit, with th elittle specifics that you gave.

Now, has it is PFS, do you own Gods & Magic? Otherwise the options there won't be available to you (but Sarenrae is in Core so you're good with her).

Also, do you have the boon for Leshy or Lizardman? They are Uncommon ancestries and are not directly available.

(sorry if you already know that, some people are not aware on PFS limit on resources)

[NECR0G1ANT]

The Raven Black wrote:

Why do you multiclass as a Champion?

Armor training, mostly, but the skills are a nice bonus. Survivability is important for clerics, who are othetwise kind of squishy

[andreww]

NECR0G1ANT wrote:

STR 14, CON 14, DEX 10, WIS 18, INT 8, CHA 14 (Lizardfolk or Leshy Ancestry)

Neither of these are currently available in PFS until ACP goes live.

I went with Sarenrae as the cleric list lacks decent AoE damage which isnt alignment dependent.

[andreww]

NECR0G1ANT wrote:

The Raven Black wrote:

Why do you multiclass as a Champion?

Armor training, mostly, but the skills are a nice bonus. Survivability is important for clerics, who are othetwise kind of squishy

I took it for the armour as well but am strongly considering taking lay on hands and will definately take the reaction. Cleric feats are pretty underwhelming to me.

[NECR0G1ANT]

Kendaan wrote:

You're gonna have to narrow it down with what you want to be able to do, there is probably a dozen of gods at least that would fit, with th elittle specifics that you gave.

Now, has it is PFS, do you own Gods & Magic? Otherwise the options there won't be available to you (but Sarenrae is in Core so you're good with her).

Also, do you have the boon for Leshy or Lizardman? They are Uncommon ancestries and are not directly available.

(sorry if you already know that, some people are not aware on PFS limit on resources)

I know about the boon limitation and I own LO G&M.

As for additional parameters, I prefer blasting and debuffing for extra spells and Domain Spells.

[NECR0G1ANT]

andreww wrote:

NECR0G1ANT wrote:

STR 14, CON 14, DEX 10, WIS 18, INT 8, CHA 14 (Lizardfolk or Leshy Ancestry)

Neither of these are currently available in PFS until ACP goes live.

Yes, I'm aware, thank you.

[lemeres]

I think Sarenrae is the safest choice. No necessarily because of her abilities (as others have mentioned, those are solid)... but because you can insure even persnickety GMs can't resist the heal loop.

For focus regain, a cleric healing an ally with medicine was given as one of the prime examples. If you have a focus healing spell, such as the champion/dedication, you can switch between magical and mundane healing over and over in order to do near endless healing without running out of focus.

I am sure some GMs might complain about that. But if you got a god that specifically focuses on healing... then there is little room to complain. Being the team medic is part of your spelled out religious doctrine.

[Liegence]

Sarenrae is probably your best option. But some observations if I may:

1) 10 Dex and Champion proficiencies suggest you want to wear full plate, but just a heads up - you lack the Strength to wear it without penalty. So you’ll have armor penalties and -10 speed. And you may not even have the bulk to carry it all, especially if you want to use a shield. Hefty Hauler is basically a must. You won’t be out of armor penalties till at least 10th level.

2) 14 Con and 14 Cha versus 12 Con and 16 Cha... I don’t think it’s even close. Getting an extra divine font cast will payoff more than a + to Con. Divine Font is what makes Clerics really really good

3) Continual Recovery is on par or maybe even better than Lay on Hands out of combat - just something to consider. Continual Recovery + Ward Medic is a really strong short rest combo for healing. Lay on Hands does shine in combat for the fact that it’s one action, doesn’t require manipulate, and gives AC bonus, but Heal is where the true healing throughput in combat comes from. LoH is really solid as a self heal, but it’s not worth a dedication unless you’re getting more use out of the dedication

4) Heads up - Champion Resilience is kinda hard to layer into a Cleric dedication; you dedicate at 2, you’ll want LoH at 4, you’ll want Divine ally or reaction by 6, and then ranged reprisal or a bonus focus spell, etc. if you think you’re going be tanky in combat, I will advise you that your poor Fort, low HP and not getting expert armor until 14th is going to be a big problem.

Just some thoughts from someone who plays a lot of Clerics. Hope that helps - not trying to discourage you, just pointing out some things you will come to realize but maybe haven’t considered

If you wanted to go Warpriest with some Champion action, Ragathiel is SSS tier.

[Falco271]

NECR0G1ANT wrote:

I’m building a Cloistered Cleric/Champion multiclass, but what deity should I choose?

Calistra? Use a whip, have the option to trip at range. Pain did have some damage options.

Iomedea? wave your longsword around and have true strike available to actually be able to channel smite and hit something. Nice in an undead setting.

[NECR0G1ANT]

Liegence wrote:

1) 10 Dex and Champion proficiencies suggest you want to wear full plate, but just a heads up - you lack the Strength to wear it without penalty. So you’ll have armor penalties and -10 speed. And you may not even have the bulk to carry it all, especially if you want to use a shield. Hefty Hauler is basically a must. You won’t be out of armor penalties till at least 10th level.

I had originally plnned to go full plate at level 2 and just eat the penalties until level 10, when I hit STR 18, but now I’m thinking Chain Mail until level 10. That will decrease the ACP penalties, keep the Speed penalty to -5 and hopefully avoid Bulk issues altogether.

Thanks for the great comment, btw!

[Ubertron_X]

NECR0G1ANT wrote:

Liegence wrote:

1) 10 Dex and Champion proficiencies suggest you want to wear full plate, but just a heads up - you lack the Strength to wear it without penalty. So you’ll have armor penalties and -10 speed. And you may not even have the bulk to carry it all, especially if you want to use a shield. Hefty Hauler is basically a must. You won’t be out of armor penalties till at least 10th level.

I had originally plnned to go full plate at level 2 and just eat the penalties until level 10, when I hit STR 18, but now I’m thinking Chain Mail until level 10. That will decrease the ACP penalties, keep the Speed penalty to -5 and hopefully avoid Bulk issues altogether.

Thanks for the great comment, btw!

My Warpriest also started with STR14, is using a Breastplate since level 5 and will also consider upgrading to Full Plate at level 10.

Two comments:

1) Use the Breastplate over the Chain Mail unless you don't mind the noisy trait.

2) Starting with STR14 your max strength will be 20 only at level 20. If you ever plan to use a Fortification Rune mind that this will up the strength requirement for any medium and heavy armor by 2.

So Breastplate will go 16 => 18 and Full Plate will go 18 => 20.

This means if you are using Full Plate and Rune you can only escape the armor penalties at level 20.

Which means that you carefully need to consider if the 1 AC you gain via Full Plate is really worth it in comparision to a Rune equipped Breastplate (which will also require DEX12 of course).

One point of AC is 5% less hit and 5% less crit. Fortification is 20% less crit and Fortification, Greater is 35% less crit.

[Liegence]

Ubertron_X wrote:

NECR0G1ANT wrote:

Liegence wrote:

1) 10 Dex and Champion proficiencies suggest you want to wear full plate, but just a heads up - you lack the Strength to wear it without penalty. So you’ll have armor penalties and -10 speed. And you may not even have the bulk to carry it all, especially if you want to use a shield. Hefty Hauler is basically a must. You won’t be out of armor penalties till at least 10th level.

I had originally plnned to go full plate at level 2 and just eat the penalties until level 10, when I hit STR 18, but now I’m thinking Chain Mail until level 10. That will decrease the ACP penalties, keep the Speed penalty to -5 and hopefully avoid Bulk issues altogether.

Thanks for the great comment, btw!

My Warpriest also started with STR14, is using a Breastplate since level 5 and will also consider upgrading to Full Plate at level 10.

Two comments:

1) Use the Breastplate over the Chain Mail unless you don't mind the noisy trait.

2) Starting with STR14 your max strength will be 20 only at level 20. If you ever plan to use a Fortification Rune mind that this will up the strength requirement for any medium and heavy armor by 2.

So Breastplate will go 16 => 18 and Full Plate will go 18 => 20.

This means if you are using Full Plate and Rune you can only escape the armor penalties at level 20.

Which means that you carefully need to consider if the 1 AC you gain via Full Plate is really worth it in comparision to a Rune equipped Breastplate (which will also require DEX12 of course).

One point of AC is 5% less hit and 5% less crit. Fortification is 20% less crit and Fortification, Greater is 35% less crit.

At high level, couldn’t you offset that at item level 12 with Mithral?

[NECR0G1ANT]

Liegence wrote:

2) 14 Con and 14 Cha versus 12 Con and 16 Cha... I don’t think it’s even close. Getting an extra divine font cast will payoff more than a + to Con. Divine Font is what makes Clerics really really good

I’m not so sure about 12 CON and 16 CHA. CON is really important, especially since the purpose of this build is a less squishy cleric. Plus you note the costs of not boosting CON below.

Liegence wrote:

4) Heads up - Champion Resilience is kinda hard to layer into a Cleric dedication; you dedicate at 2, you’ll want LoH at 4, you’ll want Divine ally or reaction by 6, and then ranged reprisal or a bonus focus spell, etc. if you think you’re going be tanky in combat, I will advise you that your poor Fort, low HP and not getting expert armor until 14th is going to be a big problem.

This is also why I'm disinclined to boost my starting STR to 16 by dumping CON, even though that would help me get fortification armor before level 20 w/out accepting ACP.

Ubertron_X wrote:

1) Use the Breastplate over the Chain Mail unless you don't mind the noisy trait.

As a STR 14 PC, I like the 'flexible' trait and the 'noisy' trait imposes no additional penalty. Also, spending an Ability Boost on DEX instead of STR, CON, WIS, or CHA is tricky for this cleric build.