D&D 5E Cleric 8th level options

[cbwjm]

Something I've been thinking about is the 8th level ability for clerics and what other options there could be. Currently we have 3 options for level 8:

1. Divine Strike (+1d8/+2d8 at 14th level)
2. Potent Spellcasting (+ wisdom bonus to cantrip damage)
3. Blessed Strikes (+1d8 to either weapon or cantrip damage)

The 8th level ability is meant to be there as a way to help the cleric's damage keep up, but what about some other options, perhaps not combat related. I've had a thought and have come up with a couple more that could make things more interesting for the new 8th level Matriarch/Patriarch.

1. Crusader (choose a fighting style from the fighter list)
2. Divine Knowledge (choose 2 skills, then gain expertise in 2 skills)
3. Divine Word (you have advantage on deception, intimidation, or persuasion checks)
4. Unshakeable Faith (you have advantage when making an intelligence, wisdom, or charisma saving throw)

So not all of these are combat focused which might make the cleric lag behind a little bit, but the options would allow a cleric to branch out a bit. They could become skilled, they could act as the face of the party, or they could have defensive bonuses against hostile magic.

Part of why I'm thinking of this is that I'm not too keen on the current implementation of the cleric and feel like it should have had a couple of points of customisation, the domain being a relatively minor choice over an archetype like crusader, mystic, shaman, or avenger.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Part of why I'm thinking of this is that I'm not too keen on the current implementation of the cleric and feel like it should have had a couple of points of customisation, the domain being a relatively minor choice over an archetype like crusader, mystic, shaman, or avenger.

Yeah, I still working on a rewrite of the cleric where Domain are pick at level 1 and only give the extra spells list and the appropriate Channel Divinity.

Then at 3rd, you gain your archetype (Warpriest, Invoker, Avenger, Oracle etc).

I think it would also work well for Warlocks: pick a Patron at 1st level who gives you a boon and extra spells, then at 3rd, pick an archetype (Hexblade, Scholar, Binder etc)

 

[Bacon Bits]

Extra Attack for War clerics could easily be slotted in.

Bladesinger Wizards get it before 8th. Valor bards get it before 8th. Warlocks get it before 8th.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Part of why I'm thinking of this is that I'm not too keen on the current implementation of the cleric and feel like it should have had a couple of points of customisation

I like the ideas, if not precisely the implementation.

I agree many classes could use more points for customization. Imagine if each class had roughly 10 decision points with 3 options at each point throughout the 20 levels: you would end up with nearly 60000 possible combinations for each class on those decision points alone.

 

[cbwjm]

Yeah, I still working on a rewrite of the cleric where Domain are pick at level 1 and only give the extra spells list and the appropriate Channel Divinity.

Then at 3rd, you gain your archetype (Warpriest, Invoker, Avenger, Oracle etc).

I think it would also work well for Warlocks: pick a Patron at 1st level who gives you a boon and extra spells, then at 3rd, pick an archetype (Hexblade, Scholar, Binder etc)

That sounds like my current rework of the cleric, except I place the archetype at level 1 as well so you get first couple of domain spells and then your main archetype. I'm one of those people who prefers archetypes at level 1 and I figured a couple of spells known wasn't too big of a boost to delay it.

I've also removed the divine intervention at 10th and 20th levels which allows me to add more domain flavour instead.

Extra Attack for War clerics could easily be slotted in.

Bladesinger Wizards get it before 8th. Valor bards get it before 8th. Warlocks get it before 8th.

That's actually a good point, which I hadn't considered.

I like the ideas, if not precisely the implementation.

I agree many classes could use more points for customization. Imagine if each class had roughly 10 decision points with 3 options at each point throughout the 20 levels: you would end up with nearly 60000 possible combinations for each class on those decision points alone.

Yeah, more customisation would be good, even if there was something that provided small bonuses every few levels, kind of like the old 3e feats but not to the same degree where you have feat chains and things. I chose the 8th level cleric ability just because it sort of already does provide a customisation point, I've even made alternate domains on DnDbeyond so that you can choose to play a life cleric as a caster, gaining a bonus cantrip and the potent spellcasting ability instead of heavy armour and divine strike.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I've also removed the divine intervention at 10th and 20th levels which allows me to add more domain flavour instead.

Yeah, I'm at the same place with this non-feature.

I think at this point I'll just give both Wizard (who lack class features) and Clerics bonus when crafting magic items and performing specific Downtime activities at higher level.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I like the ideas, if not precisely the implementation.

I agree many classes could use more points for customization. Imagine if each class had roughly 10 decision points with 3 options at each point throughout the 20 levels: you would end up with nearly 60000 possible combinations for each class on those decision points alone.

Level Up does this for every class.

 

[FrogReaver]

Something I've been thinking about is the 8th level ability for clerics and what other options there could be. Currently we have 3 options for level 8:

1. Divine Strike (+1d8/+2d8 at 14th level)
2. Potent Spellcasting (+ wisdom bonus to cantrip damage)
3. Blessed Strikes (+1d8 to either weapon or cantrip damage)

The 8th level ability is meant to be there as a way to help the cleric's damage keep up, but what about some other options, perhaps not combat related. I've had a thought and have come up with a couple more that could make things more interesting for the new 8th level Matriarch/Patriarch.

1. Crusader (choose a fighting style from the fighter list)
2. Divine Knowledge (choose 2 skills, then gain expertise in 2 skills)
3. Divine Word (you have advantage on deception, intimidation, or persuasion checks)
4. Unshakeable Faith (you have advantage when making an intelligence, wisdom, or charisma saving throw)

So not all of these are combat focused which might make the cleric lag behind a little bit, but the options would allow a cleric to branch out a bit. They could become skilled, they could act as the face of the party, or they could have defensive bonuses against hostile magic.

Part of why I'm thinking of this is that I'm not too keen on the current implementation of the cleric and feel like it should have had a couple of points of customisation, the domain being a relatively minor choice over an archetype like crusader, mystic, shaman, or avenger.

Gain a channel divinity from another cleric subclass.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Level Up does this for every class.

Great, if someone wants to buy me a copy I would look it over.

 

[cbwjm]

Gain a channel divinity from another cleric subclass.

That's a great idea, especially if you have gods that have a couple of domains allowing the cleric to gain an even greater connection to their god (though I'd allow any channel divinity to be chosen regardless of the god's domains).