Alternatives to heavy armor for clerics?

[Wyvern]

I'm not crazy about the fact that so many of the standard cleric domains have heavy armor proficiency, even when it makes little or no sense thematically. It just seems like lazy design, as if they couldn't think of anything better.

Problem is, *I* can't think of anything better either. (Or rather, I probably could, but I don't trust that whatever I came up with would be balanced.) So I'm turning to you all for suggestions: what would make good thematically-appropriate substitutes for heavy armor proficiency for the Life, Nature and Tempest domains?

Wyvern

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I think heavy armor is fine. These clerics need to be in the thick of the fighting to do their job, so it makes sense that they've trained to use the heaviest protective gear available.
Remember that a cleric is a warrior-priest, not the guy performing rituals at the village temple.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Don't wear them?

Being proficient in heavy armour doesn't force you to wear it, and a dex build is perfectly viable on 5e cleric.

 

[Fanaelialae]

You could give them a blessing from their deity that grants them AC as if they were wearing heavy armor. It's a slight boost, since it can't be removed (such as if the PCs are stripped of their gear and imprisoned) and presumably wouldn't have a stealth penalty.

 

[Bitbrain]

first double post, I think

 

[Bitbrain]

I created an Air domain sub-class for my homebrew setting. I took the Tempest domain, and replaced the heavy armor proficiency with an unarmored defense of 10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier.

 

[Satyrn]

I'm not crazy about the fact that so many of the standard cleric domains have heavy armor proficiency, even when it makes little or no sense thematically. It just seems like lazy design, as if they couldn't think of anything better.

Problem is, *I* can't think of anything better either. (Or rather, I probably could, but I don't trust that whatever I came up with would be balanced.) So I'm turning to you all for suggestions: what would make good thematically-appropriate substitutes for heavy armor proficiency for the Life, Nature and Tempest domains?

Wyvern

Would it help you accept their heavy armor proficiency if you thought of it as part of the default cleric's schtick?

In every edition before, they've always been the platemail wearing defenders of the faith, and so the domains without it in 5e are the exception, the ones the writers probably have a compelling reason for stripping that proficiency from.

 

[5ekyu]

I'm not crazy about the fact that so many of the standard cleric domains have heavy armor proficiency, even when it makes little or no sense thematically. It just seems like lazy design, as if they couldn't think of anything better.

Problem is, *I* can't think of anything better either. (Or rather, I probably could, but I don't trust that whatever I came up with would be balanced.) So I'm turning to you all for suggestions: what would make good thematically-appropriate substitutes for heavy armor proficiency for the Life, Nature and Tempest domains?

Wyvern

Is the goal of these changes to directly power up nature, life and tempest dex based builds by trading out an armor option they dont use for a new boost?

Having and armor proficiency simply opens up that build option. It allows more choices.

Removing heavy armor from life domain simply tells those to "always run dex builds" if AC matters. Giving them a new boost, why?

They can be **fine** as a Dex build, maybe better so it doesn't need to gain other benefits. Dex is doing just fine.

So, how is your game more fun if life clerics know they only want to go the dex route?

Obviously the could pay feat tax to go heavy. But most wouldn't with good dex options.

So, give them a language in place of the armor or some other style only thing if you have to.

 

[GlassJaw]

I would allow the player to trade the heavy armor prof for something else that fits their character: additional weapon proficiency, skill, etc.

 

[Hjorimir]

I like the heavy armor for some of the cleric domains. I'd also be hesitant to just replace the AC bonuses offered by heavy armor without some kind of tax. Keep in mind that in order to run around in plate armor at full speed that the cleric needs to be rocking at least a 15 Strength.

You may also note that generally speaking the heavy armor proficiency tends to coincide with a Divine Strike perk at 8th level (the exception here being the Trickery domain, which doesn't get the heavy armor proficiency). Basically, the rules are telling you that those are the "melee" clerics and they should be armored as such.