Got stuck with the cleric

[Castaigne]

Radiant Pelor
Guide my actions
Illuminate my sight
And light my way

Make of me your servant
And allow me to bear your Radiance
Into the darkest corners
Of the deepest pits
Of this world or any other world

Let me bear your Radiance
Such that there is no corner
No dark place unilluminated
Wherein Evil may exist

<to be spoken sotto-voce at the dawning of every in-game day and before entering into any dark and potentially benighted place>

 

[Grendel]

yeah, one time a friend of mine got stuck with the winning lottey ticket, i felt so bad for him I told him i would take it for him to make his life easier.

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

Cleric is a great class in 3E. But it's even greater when there are more than one cleric in the party because you'll be able to use your spells for other things than healing.

A buffed up Strength & Destruction Cleric is an absolute menace in combat. Elemental clerics are also very powerful casters in their own right.

 

[Quickbeam]

Our group just began a new campaign yesterday, and for the second time in 3e I'm playing the party cleric -- the first time was actually as an NPC I'd created while one of our players was out of town. Much as my esteemed colleagues have already remarked several times in their posts, clerics are fantastic in 3e. IMO, they may well be the most versatile and playable class under the new rules, so NEVER complain about playing one again .

Take the time to review all of the Domains available for the various Greyhawk deities who allow NG or LG clerics, then choose. Even though you are currently leaning towards Heironeous (a fine choice) you may still want to consider other options.

If you go with a cleric who is capable in combat, the previous advice posted herein is sound. INT and DEX will be your least important attributes, buy heavy armor and/or a shield, and concentrate on deities whose Domains work well for battle priests:
St. Cuthbert -- as Destruction as one of his Domains
Corellon Larethian -- offers the War Domain, and if you choose to be an elf this is the way to go. This was the path I followed for my NPC healer, and it was absolutely fantastic!
Kord -- Supplements Strength with the Luck Domain (if I recall),

I decided to play my most recent cleric a bit differently, and limited his melee combat ability in favor of magic, guile and stealth. If you choose this less common path, I suggest making a halfling or gnome priest of Boccob, Fharlangan or Olidimarra (sp?). Boost your DEX at the expense of STR, equip the PC with ranged weapons and light armor, and choose entirely different Domains. Before designing this character, I solicited commentray from other Board members and here are the Domains most recommended:
Luck; Trickery; Travel; Magic; and Celerity which is a Prestige Class Domain listed in Defenders of the Faith.

There's no question, though, that choosing Domains (and a corresponding deity) takes precedence over feats and skills. The feats and skills you select will likely compliment your Domains and battle prowess.

 

[Zhure]

Stuck with Cleric? BWAHAHAHAHAHA.

I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing near you.

In 3e, one is never stuck with a Cleric. They are arguably the most powerful class.

For a combat-related cleric, these are awesome domains: Strength (short term Rage), Destruction (SMITE! Take Extra Smiting), Earth (Stoneskin, albeit at 6th level), Magic (use wands like a wizard, and other spell trigger items), Travel (Free action and some fantastic non-cleric domain spells).

Greg

 

[Holy Bovine]

Consider also a touch-attack specialist.

St. Cuthbert (LN) will give you access to the Destruction and Strength Domains and the excellent powers they grant - Feat of Strength (add your level to your Strength score 1/day) and Smite (one melee attack gets +4 to hit and your level in bonus damage 1/day).

Get as high a Str and Wis as you can get and but any other scores of 12 or higher in Con and Cha (try to get Cha to 13 so you can use the Divine Vigor feat). Wear the strongest armour you can afford and a large shield. For feats take Extra Turning and, if you have the 13 Cha, Divine Vigor (note I am assuming you are playing a human cleric here).

If you can't get a CHa of 13 consider the feats Imp. Initiative (this should be an early acquision anyway) and Combat Casting. Extra Smiting should also be any early choice (past level 4 anyway). Always max out your Concentration skills, Knowledge Religion & Spot are vital as well.

For spells always have a couple of inflict wounds ready - touch attacks for 1d8+1/level = your strength modifier means the target gets only their Dex bonus to AC (and any magical delfection bonus) and with your high Str and decent BAB you'll be doing more damage than the Fighters!

The knowledge religion skill will also make you indespesible when exploring old ruins or interacting with any local religious body. And you and the Rogue will be the only ones who will Spot anything (believe me - I run a high level cmapaign where the Cleric is the only one with a Spot modifier in double digits).

So you are the lucky one here! A cleric is a powerful class and you will find an excellent vehicle for some great role playing (all of our best role-play moments have come from the cleric or paladin in my group).

Oh yes one last thing - never memorize cure wounds spells of any kind, ever. The swapping out spells for cure wounds spells is what makes the cleric so versitile and it took the cleric in our group a long while to get used to that. Once she did she found she was using more spells offensively or to buff the party than cure (thats what potions & Heal checks are for!)

 

[Zhure]

Radiant Pelor
Guide my actions
Illuminate my sight
And light my way

Make of me your servant
And allow me to bear your Radiance
Into the darkest corners
Of the deepest pits
Of this world or any other world

Let me bear your Radiance
Such that there is no corner
No dark place unilluminated
Wherein Evil may exist

<to be spoken sotto-voce at the dawning of every in-game day and before entering into any dark and potentially benighted place>

::with a tongue-in-cheek nod to Hal Jordan::

In brightest day,
In blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight,
Let those who worship evil's might,
Beware thy power,
O Pelor's Light!

 

[Carnifex]

For spells always have a couple of inflict wounds ready - touch attacks for 1d8+1/level = your strength modifier means the target gets only their Dex bonus to AC (and any magical delfection bonus) and with your high Str and decent BAB you'll be doing more damage than the Fighters!

Um, I'm pretty sure that you don't get your strenght bonus added to the damage of inflict wounds spells - they require a touch attack to hit, but don't get the damage bonus. Its the magic that does the damage, not the fact you're prodding them with your finger...

 

[Altalazar]

If there are a lot of gods to choose from, or there is flexibiilty with how you can worship the gods, then Cleric can actually be made to fit any sort of character you like.

Like sneaky stuff, play a cleric of a god for theives. Hoepfully you'll get some adjustment to your abilities based on your god.

Or if you like to fight, a blood-soaked cleric of war.

Or if you like to compose poetry and music, a cleric of an arts and music patron god.

Fill in the blank with whatever sort of character you like. Then think of how you can use your abilities to best achieve that concept.

 

[MythandLore]

Stuck with the cleric???

HA! Clerics are the best-ist-is!
I got 'stuck' with being the cleric of our group, let me rephrase that "I got 'stuck' with being the most powerful character in the group who solely keeps the party alive like no other character class can."

Fear the Cleric's Power! Fear the Cleric! Fear the Cleric!!!