D&D 5E Life Cleric vs Light vs War in Practice

[vlysses]

It would be great to hear from players with practical 5E experience on the following:

"My issue with Life Clerics is that some of my players feel that if they want to use non-healing spells, they need to play a Life Cleric, which is kind of the opposite of intent. The reason is twofold A) the group will always need heals, so any other cleric has to spend a good portion of their prepared spells on healing. The Life Cleric can prepare more blasty spells and buffs than other clerics can in practice, and B) The cleric heals more per spell, therefore they have to spend less of their spell slots of healing too, once again allowing them to use blasting spells."

The remark is from here: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...gn-or-Working-as-Intended/page3#ixzz3Q28zLSuN . Unfortunately it was not elaborated upon, and the discussion moved into a very different direction, which is why I'm not posting this there.

We are converting a Pathfinder group to 5E, and not having had any practical experience in 5E, I wanted to ask the esteemed community if the above remark holds true in practice. HP recovery rules (vs 3.5E/Pathfinder) and short/long rest periods seem to indicate a more faster (in-game time) type of play, without retreats and much re-grouping when the party is powered out.

Does that mean that a Light or War Cleric will use much of his spells on healing only, without being able to cast any of the fun stuff (e.g. blasts for Light Cleric)?

Thx

 

[yakuba]

My experience is from playing Bard, but I think the issue is similar. In practice, I found that the support guy really just needs Healing Word, to keep people up in combat and then when possible either the Healer or Inspiring leader feat. The vast majority of healing my Bard did via Healer, and the most of the healing in the party was done via Hit Dice. Consequently my Bard mostly cast non-healing spells, using Healing Word on the rare occasion someone actually dropped in combat.

So I would advise your prospective clerics to not worry about reserving spells for healing. Just use the spells you wish to use when you wish to use them, and have Healing Word on your list so that you can use it when someone goes below 0 hp in combat. Hit Dice and healing potions make it so the cleric (or bard) doesn't have to be dedicated to healing with their spells.

 

[Cannyjiggit]

I'm currently playing a light cleric in a level 3 party (should be 4 by the time we next play) and I hardly use any healing spells. Its seeming far more efficient to prevent the bulk of the damage with combat spells (combined with the wizard and bard while the paladin and fighter hold things off) and then patch up anything serious later (along with the paladin and bard).

It may change as we progress through the levels but at the moment we're finding most encounters either deadly or easy with little inbetween (sometimes we make the easy ones deadly with poor tactics but the dwarf fighter and the young impetuous paladin are always likely to rush in if no-one else comments first).

 

[Mistwell]

I think in practice any flavor of cleric will do just fine. Realistically it's just one spell you need to prepare, and there is more healing spread around than PF (like fighter's second wind, for example).

 

[green_destiny]

Can't Tempest cleric included here? He can will do just fine in healing and blasting. He only prepare the Call Lightning a 'fun' AOE spell (max duration 10mins) and others are for healing/utility.

Zap! Zap! Heal! Zap! Zap! Zap!

Note: for open areas

 

[exile]

I have really enjoyed playing a life cleric for 2-3 levels. Jhess Dundragon has more than enough healing to keep the party up, plus she is a big contributor in other ways. She is fierce with a mace, and Bless is a great 1st-level spell. Heavy Armor Master feat (and a solid AC) means less healing wasted on herself.

That said, I can't speak for the other types of clerics.

 

[exile]

Ooops!

 

[exile]

I think in practice any flavor of cleric will do just fine. Realistically it's just one spell you need to prepare, and there is more healing spread around than PF (like fighter's second wind, for example).

But are those other forms of healing as prevalent as the wand of cure light wounds?

 

[PnPgamer]

I have really enjoyed playing a life cleric for 2-3 levels. Jhess Dundragon has more than enough healing to keep the party up, plus she is a big contributor in other ways. She is fierce with a mace, and Bless is a great 1st-level spell. Heavy Armor Master feat (and a solid AC) means less healing wasted on herself.

That said, I can't speak for the other types of clerics.

what is your clerics domain? You are using mace so I suspect some that only gets heavy armor proficiency?

 

[exile]

what is your clerics domain? You are using mace so I suspect some that only gets heavy armor proficiency?

Life. I am contemplating a feat or a level of fighter to get access to some more solid weapons.

As an aside, I miss the three-headed flail (or whatever it was called) from 4e.