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Going on advice in the Guide to Guides, I'm starting a separate discussion here for my shiny new Support Cleric Guide!
I would love if you all would descend upon it with a truly righteous fury to weed out anything that needs correction! Any formatting tips or appreciation would also be dearly appreciated.
If you'd like me to give any explanation or further elaboration, please feel free to ask here.
And now - this being the internet and all - let us commence the arguing!
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So, I'd say that for a support cleric, warpriest isn't an auto-pick as far as doctrines go. While you are more survivable, the affliction-curing spells that Clerics can access via Channeled Succor are all counteract checks that become more reliable with a better divine spellcasting proficiency. This means that the better spellcasting DC of the cloistered cleric is a good thing to have for this build.
So, I'd say that for a support cleric, warpriest isn't an auto-pick as far as doctrines go. While you are more survivable, the affliction-curing spells that Clerics can access via Channeled Succor are all counteract checks that become more reliable with a better divine spellcasting proficiency. This means that the better spellcasting DC of the cloistered cleric is a good thing to have for this build.
Counteracting conditions is actually rather easy, since:
1) Channeled Succor automatically heightens to your max spell slot.
2) Even on a 'failed' counteract you cure any afflictions that are at least one level lower.
3) These conditions are largely treated out of combat, where the cost of a unsuccessful cure is just another attempt.
More so, the effect of Warpriest's reduced Spell Proficiency only means that for half of your character levels you have a 10% lower chance of success.
That said, this is a small issue when looking at something like Dispel Magic. But then, I don't think it's nearly a significant enough consideration to compare against the defensive bonus of ~2 Class Feats, ~2 General Feats, and the otherwise unobtainable Juggernaut feature.
So, here are my critics:
Class overview, you really should specify that this is not a general overview, but in the optic of your idea of Support Cleric. For example, regarding Harm & Channel Smite, TheGentlemanDM guide provide build & ideas to make it work.
Character Goals, you actually never state in that guide what kind of Support Cleric this is for, or what kind of Support it brings to the team. From context, it seems to be mostly heal and status counteract?
At will damage – you should really mention that Electric Arc will fall down compared to a full caster.
Third actions: it’s all good but you never mention what should the 2 main actions the character should be doing? As the type of support is not defined, and there is no guide on spells, that’s a bit unclear. A quick guide on most useful spells per level could be good.
Class Feats, I am very surprised there is no mention of Defensive Recovery & Fast Channel, which make for a great combo to take a team out of a tough spot. There is also no recommended Domains despite domains feat being recommended.
All in all, it seems to be a guide for a very specific type of support Cleric (not specified which though), and lacking a bit of depth.
So, here are my critics:
Class overview, you really should specify that this is not a general overview, but in the optic of your idea of Support Cleric. For example, regarding Harm & Channel Smite, TheGentlemanDM guide provide build & ideas to make it work.
Character Goals, you actually never state in that guide what kind of Support Cleric this is for, or what kind of Support it brings to the team. From context, it seems to be mostly heal and status counteract?
At will damage – you should really mention that Electric Arc will fall down compared to a full caster.
Third actions: it’s all good but you never mention what should the 2 main actions the character should be doing? As the type of support is not defined, and there is no guide on spells, that’s a bit unclear. A quick guide on most useful spells per level could be good.
Class Feats, I am very surprised there is no mention of Defensive Recovery & Fast Channel, which make for a great combo to take a team out of a tough spot. There is also no recommended Domains despite domains feat being recommended.
All in all, it seems to be a guide for a very specific type of support Cleric (not specified which though), and lacking a bit of depth.
I chose to leave the Spells uncommented, since my main goal was to provide a guide around key choices. Since Clerics don't make permanent spell choices and instead prepare from their full list, I think it's nice to leave some experimentation to the reader. That said, a huuuuge amount of the value of the Divine List is in Bless, Heal, Resist Energy, Heroism, Lv4 Silence, and Breath of Life. Scintillating Safeguard and Drop Dead are non-core standouts.
Regarding Electric Arc damage, you only expect ~6% drop off in damage for the 10 character levels where your proficiency is lagging.
Defensive Recovery and Fast Channel don't actually combo, as Defensive Recovery reads 'cast harm or heal on a single target'. If they did combo I would be a much bigger fan of both of them.
I do leave on the Domain Initiate as a 'C', but I don't want to encourage players to think Domain choice is a large part of their build.
And finally, I very strongly choose to disagree on making Channel Smite work. The feat is mathematically horrendous and jumping through hoops to support it should be relegated to niche discussions far away from anyone actually trying to play Cleric to the class's strengths.
Regarding Electric Arc damage, you only expect ~6% drop off in damage for the 10 character levels where your proficiency is lagging.Defensive Recovery and Fast Channel don't actually combo, as Defensive Recovery reads 'cast harm or heal on a single target'. If they did combo I would be a much bigger fan of both of them.
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And finally, I very strongly choose to disagree on making Channel Smite work. The feat is mathematically horrendous and jumping through hoops to support it should be relegated to niche discussions far away from anyone actually trying to play Cleric to the class's strengths.
Are you counting both the proficiency lacking & the charisma being behind the main spelcasting stat of a full caster? On top of that, Cantrips (even Electrc Arc) fall behind in term of damage potetntial after a bit.
I keep forgetting the limit of single target on these feats (my cleric is actually a Domain specialist, not a font one, plus haven't reached lvl14 yet). It's very infuriating to see all these possibilities quashed...
Channel Smite is really not that bad, if you are gonna be in melee anyway, with bless on you (or with a Bard in the team), and if the other melles are used to Flank (plus possibe other debuffs with inimidate), it is quite accurate, and adding Trues Strike if needed is really not that much (but a nbit action intensive). It's not for all party composition, but it can work.
Are you counting both the proficiency lacking & the charisma being behind the main spelcasting stat of a full caster? On top of that, Cantrips (even Electrc Arc) fall behind in term of damage potetntial after a bit.
I keep forgetting the limit of single target on these feats (my cleric is actually a Domain specialist, not a font one, plus haven't reached lvl14 yet). It's very infuriating to see all these possibilities quashed...
Channel Smite is really not that bad, if you are gonna be in melee anyway, with bless on you (or with a Bard in the team), and if the other melles are used to Flank (plus possibe other debuffs with inimidate), it is quite accurate, and adding Trues Strike if needed is really not that much (but a nbit action intensive). It's not for all party composition, but it can work.
On Electric Arc, that's considering the lagging spell proficiency. Your mainstat will lag by 1 for levels 1-4, 10-14, & 20. This luckily doesn't overlap with your lagged Spell Proficiency except at lv 10 & 20. At 1-4 & 11-14 your Electric Arc lags by ~3%. At levels 5 & 6 you match a full caster.
On Channel Smite, I will merely repeat that the feat is very weak mathematically. It does produce very large numbers when used in situations where you are already advantaged. Personally, I will not recommend it.
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I planned a full buffer around the Cleric because you cannot get Healing Font with Cleric MC. You can add Bard, Oracle (Battle) and Champion (Liberator) MCs on that for even more buffs.
Now, the idea is never being hit thanks to spells like Sanctuary and Invisibility, but you first need to check if your GM considers buffing your allies to be a hostile action.
Ketephys is a good deity for this build.
Reach spell is another great way to keep out of melee IME.
Medic archetype on a Cleric is a bit too much IME : our Medic Cleric only uses her Heals to hurt undead.
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Those tables and general layout. <3
I hope these colors are good for color blind people. Other than that, I kind of want this to be a new standard. This is fantastic.
Oh right, and the actual guide is great too, lol.
Medic archetype on a Cleric is a bit too much IME : our Medic Cleric only uses her Heals to hurt undead.
Not a bad problem to have :P Medic is totally my favorite archetype. Doctor's Visitation is silly powerful.
Those tables and general layout. <3
I hope these colors are good for color blind people. Other than that, I kind of want this to be a new standard. This is fantastic.
Oh right, and the actual guide is great too, lol.
<3 <3 <3 Colors should be good for the most common types of color-blindness. Even then I've got textual support underlying all the important color information. Data Analyst by trade, ftw.