D&D 5E Clerics of Life: Broken, Bad Design, or Working as Intended?

[Pickles JG]

What kind of DM would be so foolish as to let them stack?

Any one who read the rules & did not want to deny one of the players one of his abilities?

It is pretty dumb though I agree.

 

[the Jester]

I seriously doubt that dms allow such exploit, though. Mine didnt.

By "exploit" you mean "using one of the key features of a lore bard"? Or are you referring to multiclassing?

I'm not sure what the issue is with this. If someone wants to be a bitchin' healer, go right ahead.

On the topic of the life cleric, I think it's working as intended, but haven't had one in play in my 5e game yet.

 

[TwoSix]

I would classify all that as 'Defensive Abilities' and come under #2. Damage immunity = not getting hit effectively. Barb levels = not getting hit by half damage. Abjuration Wizard = not getting hit.

Obviously I'm not putting together an exhaustive list either, but rather putting forward the concept that healing is the lowest ranked force multiplier in my opinion.

Those don't really count as force multipliers. A force multiplier is something provided that makes the unit as a whole stronger, and becomes worth more and more as the size of the unit increases (assuming that the multiplier can affect larger units).

That's why bard song is the best original D&D example of a force multiplier, it affects the whole group and makes every single character a stronger warrior than they would be otherwise.

 

[Roger]

I can get behind the smarter monsters concentrating fire on the cleric of life. Just shoot the guys carrying holy symbols.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[Tormyr]

Any one who read the rules & did not want to deny one of the players one of his abilities?

It is pretty dumb though I agree.

I would say that this is an extension of the "bonuses from the same type of source do not stack." That is listed under "Combining Magical Effects" in the PHB. So 10 Paladins clustered do not each give each other the additional +1 to saving throws from the stacked auras, but a Paladin could have +1 from his aura, +1 from a ring of protection, +1 from a different kind of source, etc.

 

[Otterscrubber]

Sounds like it is working as intended, Clerics who focus on support for their party are definitely a force multiplier. There is a reason why "Kill the Healer first!" is sound strategy.

I also am a bit confused, what about a Cleric of Life makes them much different from other clerics who can also cast healing spells or party buffs if that is their focus?

 

[Tormyr]

Sounds like it is working as intended, Clerics who focus on support for their party are definitely a force multiplier. There is a reason why "Kill the Healer first!" is sound strategy.

I also am a bit confused, what about a Cleric of Life makes them much different from other clerics who can also cast healing spells or party buffs if that is their focus?

Kill the healer first may be a sound strategy for the bad guys, but it is difficult at my table. Both the paladin and cleric have an AC of 21.

As for what makes the Cleric of Life different. Not much except they are more effective at healing. Just like the War Cleric at my table is a really effective damage dealer, each cleric type has their spot to shine. In the case of the OP, it really seems like the Life Cleric kept the party going and was the difference for some of the people surviving. Another cleric could keep the healing coming, but the healing amounts would always be a little bit lower, and it may not be enough to keep someone alive in a deadly encounter.

 

[Eejit]

Any one who read the rules & did not want to deny one of the players one of his abilities?

It is pretty dumb though I agree.

Generally identical magical spells and effects don't stack in 5E. You could still let the unique parts of the aura from different subclasses stack without the flat modifier.

 

[Zardnaar]

Where are you getting 40? The spell creates up to 10 berries that heal 1 point each.

Multiclass Druid/Cleric with Disciple of Life and Goodberry adds 3 hp to the Goodberry spell and the l;and Druid can recover its spells to spam a lot of level 1 healing spells.

That is why I said something about the lore bard as the Bard can steal goodberry and aura of vitalit which heals 2d6 hp per round ofr 10 round or 2d6+7 for 10 rounds with disciple of life. Tha heals around 140 damage per level 3 spell slot while each goodberry spell heals 40.

I think the multiclass Druid/Life Cleric is the best healer in the game or the other way around not sure.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Multiclass Druid/Cleric with Disciple of Life and Goodberry adds 3 hp to the Goodberry spell and the l;and Druid can recover its spells to spam a lot of level 1 healing spells.

That is why I said something about the lore bard as the Bard can steal goodberry and aura of vitalit which heals 2d6 hp per round ofr 10 round or 2d6+7 for 10 rounds with disciple of life. Tha heals around 140 damage per level 3 spell slot while each goodberry spell heals 40.

I think the multiclass Druid/Life Cleric is the best healer in the game or the other way around not sure.

Ok, multi-classing shenanigans. I thought I was missing something in the spell description.