A few silly questions about the Favored Soul.

[Lord Pendragon]

Okay, so I'm starting a new campaign soon, and I offered one of the players the option to play a Favored Soul instead of a Cleric. After looking at the flavor of the class, she decided that it was a better fit for her character, and so that's what we're going with.

Re-reading the Favored Soul section in the Complete Divine, I've got a few questions which, though they seem incredibly obvious to the point of being silly to ask, I'd like to have verified before we start up the game. So please, humor my denseness and verify the following facts:

1. A Favored Soul does not gain domains, domain powers, or domain slots.
2. A Favored Soul does not automatically gain access to Cure spells, as a Cleric does through spontaneous casting, but must instead "buy" them normally as Known Spells.
3. A Favored Soul cannot Turn Undead.


Thanks for the backup, guys. I just want to be sure I've got the class clear in my mind, before I consider tinkering with it slightly.

 

[FireLance]

Yes to all three.

The inability to turn undead is the biggest limitation in my view - no divine feats for this PC!

 

[Crothian]

You are correct Sir!!

 

[Victim]

I know they don't get domains or cure spells.

Another thing is that the Favored Soul flavor text isn't very good. Essentially, it misrepresents the cleric, making itself look better in comparison. When clerics are portrayed as bookish nerds, something is wrong. I'd advise your player to reconsider if the flavor text was the deciding factor.

Maybe I'm just bitter though. Our cleric has just switched out to a Favored Soul because the player hates preparing spells. Now our party has essentially zero divination or communication (he had been using Sending somewhat frequently) ability because the other caster is a sorcerer.

 

[Jdvn1]

They also don't get Knowledge (Religion) as a class skill.

I don't get that.

 

[Greylock]

As everyone has noted, yes to all three.

But don't feel dense. I stared at the book a mighty long time before I got those answers through my skull. Pretty much killed my desire to play a FS. It is a Cleric nerfed beyong belief. If someone can argue convincingly why any player would want to be a FS over a Cleric, I'm listening...

 

[Jdvn1]

FS are more powerful Fighter-Clerics. They only need the buff spells and they get weapon proficiencies and stuff. That's the advantage of FS's.

 

[FireLance]

They also don't get Knowledge (Religion) as a class skill.

I don't get that.

Neither do I, but them's the rules, eh?

DMs may want to consider replacing Knowledge (arcana) with Knowledge (religion) on the favored soul's list of class skills. It's their call, though.

 

[Liquidsabre]

Reduce the FS's base spells/day cast by one, allow them to select a domain and add these spells to their spells known, and turn undead as a paladin...and then the class actually starts looking good!

Edit - Oh yea and take out Knowledge (Arcana) and put in Knowledge (Religion). Always looked like a bad typo or something....

 

[Jdvn1]

Neither do I, but them's the rules, eh?

DMs may want to consider replacing Knowledge (arcana) with Knowledge (religion) on the favored soul's list of class skills. It's their call, though.

It's so weird. I'll still play them, though. I like the color of the class. Sor's are descended from dragons, Favored Souls are descended from celestials. I like it. Next we need a Celestial Disciple PrC...