D&D 5E Why ever play a cleric?

[krakistophales]

I'm not trying to be inflammatory here, I just simply cant wrap my head around why someone would play a cleric other than filling the healing role in a party. I understand domains help them specialize and give them interesting options, but why choose a cleric with a certain domain over a class that functions the same way, just better?

If you want to be a capable warrior with divine magic, go paladin.
If you want to be a capable caster, why go light domain cleric over, say, warlock/sorcerer/wizard?
If you want to be a gish, like tempest or war domain clerics, why not just go eldritch knight?

I look forward to being enlightened and perhaps converted to actually trying a cleric one of these days.

 

[Li Shenron]

Why not?

If you want to be a capable warrior with divine magic, go paladin.
If you want to be a capable caster, why go light domain cleric over, say, warlock/sorcerer/wizard?
If you want to be a gish, like tempest or war domain clerics, why not just go eldritch knight?

When I played clerics, none of these were even on my mind. I played a Cleric just because I wanted to play... a Cleric!

 

[krakistophales]

Why not?



When I played clerics, none of these were even on my mind. I played a Cleric just because I wanted to play... a Cleric!

OK, but what does that mean? What was your big reason for wanting to play a cleric in the first place? Healing?

 

[RedShirtNo5.1]

I'm not trying to be inflammatory here, I just simply cant wrap my head around why someone would play Dungeons & Dragons other than for dungeon crawling. I understand hitpoints provide ablative defense that gets worn away over time, but why choose Dungeon & Dragons over another game that functions the same way, just better?

If you want fast combat resolution, go Savage Worlds.
If you want gritty realism, why use reduced healing rates over, say, GURPS.
If you want strong story, why not just go FATE?

I look forward to being enlightened and perhaps converted to actually trying Dungeons & Dragons one of these days.

 

[Mallus]

"Wanting to play a cleric" usually means...

a) the player wants to tackle the campaign's challenges using the tools given to the cleric class. Which include, but are not limited to, healing spells and abilities.

b) the player wants to play a fictional character who is a priest. Because that specific fiction is important to them.

c) some combination of a) and b).

 

[LoreMaps]

Although I did not have the chance to play a Cleric yet, I like some of their spells a lot and you can have Divine Intervention...how cool is that?!?

 

[mellored]

Clerics heal. That's been their role in all of D&D. That's still their primary role in 5e.

Domains let you do healing + other stuff (or healing + more healing for life cleric).
Clerics get armor and shields. Making them the most tanky caster.
And Wis is the best casting stat.
And never discount RP reasons.

If you want heal + warrior, then yes, be a paladin.
Warlock/sorcerer/wizard cannot heal. Light clerics can blast, and then cure diseases.
EK cannot heal, and gets much less magic. Tempest can hit someone, and bring someone back to life.

Bards and druids are the most direct competitors.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[krakistophales]

Clerics heal. That's been their role in all of D&D. That's still their primary role in 5e.

Domains let you do healing + other stuff (or healing + more healing for life cleric).
Clerics get armor and shields. Making them the most tanky caster.
And Wis is the best casting stat.
And never discount RP reasons.

If you want heal + warrior, then yes, be a paladin.
Warlock/sorcerer/wizard cannot heal. Light clerics can blast, and then cure diseases.
EK cannot heal, and gets much less magic. Tempest can hit someone, and bring someone back to life.

Bards and druids are the most direct competitors.

When you put it that way, I can see why someone would go light domain cleric, since you're a medium armor wearing blaster that can heal. Cool.

But for the tempest/war domain clerics, why try to improve your melee capabilities with a class that only gets one attack anyway? Like, if you wanted to have heavy armor, martial weapons, and divine magic, paladin does it better. If you want to have heavy armor, martial weapons, and use lightning, eldritch knight can get 4 attacks and cast lightning bolt, storm sphere, ice storm, etc. so I'm just wondering why anyone would choose any of those domains and build a melee cleric? Just to be able to heal on top of lukewarm melee capabilities?

 

[neobolts]

Cleric is my favorite class. I got roped into being the healer in 2e, and fell in love with them due to the customization of having 2+ domains and prestige classes in 3e. 5e tones down that customization, but they are still fun to play.

the player wants to play a fictional character who is a priest. Because that specific fiction is important to them.

1) As Mallus noted, the faiths of various setting often have the best lore wrapped around them.
2) They don't play the same as any other option. They are 'healers that dabble in other classes', the other options OP mentions are 'other classes that dabble in healing'.