D&D 5E Trickery Cleric gaining Proficiencies

[TrueBagelMan]

So I somehow didn’t notice this before, but Trickery Domain clerics don’t get extra proficiencies at level one. I thought they got martial weapons until now. My question is since it seems like a melee subclass with a lot of utility, should they have martial weapon proficiency at level one? I also read something about how Trickery Clerics should have Divine Strikes deal Psychic Damage instead of poison, which seems fair since other divine strikes I believe do Radiant damage. If not martial weapons should they get the minor illusion cantrip, or am I thinking about this wrong and the spells they gain, Invoke Duplicity, and Blessing of The Trickster are all balancing the abilities that people consider bad?

 

[R_J_K75]

Trick the DM into giving them to you, or steal some from another player.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Blessed Strikes 8th-level cleric Divine Domain feature (replaces Divine Strike or Potent Spellcasting) In battle, you are blessed with divine might. When a creature takes damage from one of your spells or weapon attacks, you can also deal 1d8 radiant damage to that creature. Once you deal this damage, you can’t use this feature again until the start of your next turn.

UA

 

[Zardnaar]

It's the worst cleric IMHO.

 

[Burnside]

So I somehow didn’t notice this before, but Trickery Domain clerics don’t get extra proficiencies at level one. I thought they got martial weapons until now. My question is since it seems like a melee subclass with a lot of utility, should they have martial weapon proficiency at level one? I also read something about how Trickery Clerics should have Divine Strikes deal Psychic Damage instead of poison, which seems fair since other divine strikes I believe do Radiant damage. If not martial weapons should they get the minor illusion cantrip, or am I thinking about this wrong and the spells they gain, Invoke Duplicity, and Blessing of The Trickster are all balancing the abilities that people consider bad?

I like all of those changes except I don’t particularly see why they would be proficient with martial weapons (minor illusion cantrip seems better.) I’d also give them proficiency in Deception.

 

[jgsugden]

They're designed exactly how they were intended, and these changes are not something that should happen as they are fine as they are. However, these changes would not break the game, so you're free to ask your DM for them.

In a dungeon delve style campaign, the Trickery Cleric is likely not the most powerful cleric build, but in campaigns that feature more political, social and urban activity it is a real champ.

 

[Li Shenron]

So I somehow didn’t notice this before, but Trickery Domain clerics don’t get extra proficiencies at level one. I thought they got martial weapons until now. My question is since it seems like a melee subclass with a lot of utility, should they have martial weapon proficiency at level one?

No.

Trickery is pretty much the opposite of fairness like a fair fight, so martial weapon proficiencies are not appropriate. A Trickery Cleric would be more expected to fight dirty (if fighting at all). What is trickery if not getting along with tricks?

 

[Li Shenron]

I’d also give them proficiency in Deception.

I would not change anything or give freebies. If the player wants Deception proficiency, they can pick it up from a background. If you start thinking in terms of "it makes sense" as a basis for freebies, then you can go a long way getting everyone a lot of bonuses for nothing. And that means giving an advantage to players who know how to brag. They can use the game as-is and already be able to do everything they want, sticking to that means guaranteeing more fairness.

And just as it makes sense for Trickery Clerics to be good at deception, it makes sense for other Trickery Clerics not to be good at anything Charisma-related. In fact, an uncharismatic Trickery Cleric that avoids all social interactions and prefers behind-the-curtains strife like poisoning, sabotaging, forging etc. is a very viable and interesting concept!

 

[GlassJaw]

I am also baffled why they didn't get an additional skill proficiency: Deception and Stealth are both prime candidates.

 

[TrueBagelMan]

I like all of those changes except I don’t particularly see why they would be proficient with martial weapons (minor illusion cantrip seems better.) I’d also give them proficiency in Deception.

I see the class as a martial subclass since they get divine strikes. That was the only reason. When a Cleric subclass gets divine strike I assume that they have martial weapon proficiency.