D&D 5E All I do is Bless, Bless, Bless

[Stormonu]

Personally, I think at higher tier play (say 8th+), an item/feat/ability/magic item that allowed a second concentration "slot" wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[Rune]

Considering how often this comes up, I was thinking about a magic item that maintains concentration on a 1st level spell for you, but I'm not sure how powerful that would be in play. It'd be pretty popular, I'm sure.

During the high-level play section of my (somewhat) recent 1-20 campaign I gave the ranger a bow that (among other features) could concentrate on hunters’ mark for him. He still had to cast it, though. Worked well.

Not sure how good an example this is, though. Rangers are the weakest spell-casters and this one’s player was never efficient in managing slots, anyway.

 

[FrogReaver]

Personally, I think at higher tier play (say 8th+), an item/feat/ability/magic item that allowed a second concentration "slot" wouldn't be a bad idea.

Unless you are playing a character that doesn't have spells... then it just places you further behind.

 

[Stormonu]

Unless you are playing a character that doesn't have spells... then it just places you further behind.

Not necessarily, magic items or abilities can use concentration as well, so its feasible it could benefit them as well (heck, the spell could be cast to benefit them - like Bless + Enhance Ability). I imagine though, it would be a benefit spellcasters get, like the martial classes get Extra Attack.

 

[Ganders]

"my first round is usually bless and a cantrip"

How is it that you're allowed to cast both bless and a cantrip in the same round? Is that a limited-times-per-day ability?

 

[Blue]

I've been playing an Order cleric, now at 11th level. It's a heavy combat game and I'm feeling like my contributions are pretty limited. The other PCs are a bard, moon druid, and two barbarians, so my first round is usually bless and a cantrip, then spiritual weapon second round.
In heavy armour I've got the best AC in the party, but my spear isn't much of a contribution to melee and my reaction attacks aren't much of a threat. Con save is +8, so failing concentration checks isn't usually an issue but casting a cantrip is almost always a better option than a melee attack, so why be in melee?
So here I am, heavily armoured with just over 100hp and I hang about in the back with the bard, maintaining concentration on the bless. My main contribution is to make a lot of noise any time the Blessings of the Mocker Gods turn a miss into a hit or make a saving throw succeed. I really have to sell myself to remind everyone I'm contributing!
My healing hardly even matters at this point. I can burn my 6th level slot and just barely mitigate one round of damage on one character.
Bless is almost always the best option for concentration so I barely use spell slots. I end each day with a big chunk of unused potential.
I feel like I'm not doing enough and I'm trying to decide if there's a way to up my game or if I should just talk to the DM about switching to a light domain cleric so that I'm not wasting the heavy armour and radiant melee damage. And I don't think I've ever used the Order domain's channel divinity. Not once.
Thanks for any advice, opprobrium, or commiseration!

Cheers,
Meshon

Wow, this is very much the opposite of my Order cleric, started 1st and currently 12th.

Like all casters, I usually have up a Concentration spell. Against few/solo opponents it's often bless, but when there's a bunch of mooks it's Spirit Guardians. CON is my 2nd best ability. I use my heavy armor & shield AC to run up to foes and take the dodge action. If f they want to get out of the Spirit Guardians they either need to disengage or I get an opportunity attack with my mace - it's not the best chance to hit but if it does it gets my 8th level bonus melee damage. And going after that high AC with disadvantage form my dodge action doesn't do them any good.

Dodge isn't a waste - my Attack action is not a big deal, and if I can a bonus action spell I can't cast a spell with my Action anyway. And throwing a healing word on someone happens very often - the healing is secondary, it's to give them an extra attack with my Order Priest bonus. Also several times per day I can make an Enchantment spell a bonus action as well.

So I'm out there, absorbing attacks (less healing needed), throwing out extra attacks for my allies, slowing foes in an area and wearing them down, and basically contributing both directly and indirectly every combat.

 

[meshon]

"my first round is usually bless and a cantrip"

How is it that you're allowed to cast both bless and a cantrip in the same round? Is that a limited-times-per-day ability?

Embodiment of the Law allows casting an enchantment spell as a bonus action, wisdom modifier per long rest

 

[DemoMonkey]

Having a high AC and no decent melee attacks is not a waste.

First, get an attack cantrip that forces a save (Sacred Flame is the most popular choice). Then actually get INTO melee range with the enemies, don't hang back with the Bard!

Every attack you can tank, improves the survivability of the rest of front line. Between Bless AND Spiritual Weapon AND Sacred Flame every round you will be more than pulling your weight.

And if you take any damage you can heal yourself first with all those extra spell slots.

 

[FrogReaver]

Having a high AC and no decent melee attacks is not a waste.

First, get an attack cantrip that forces a save (Sacred Flame is the most popular choice). Then actually get INTO melee range with the enemies, don't hang back with the Bard!

Every attack you can tank, improves the survivability of the rest of front line. Between Bless AND Spiritual Weapon AND Sacred Flame every round you will be more than pulling your weight.

And if you take any damage you can heal yourself first with all those extra spell slots.

Well, that somewhat depends on how important your concentration spell is.

 

[Undrave]

I've been playing an Order cleric, now at 11th level. It's a heavy combat game and I'm feeling like my contributions are pretty limited. The other PCs are a bard, moon druid, and two barbarians, so my first round is usually bless and a cantrip, then spiritual weapon second round.
In heavy armour I've got the best AC in the party, but my spear isn't much of a contribution to melee and my reaction attacks aren't much of a threat. Con save is +8, so failing concentration checks isn't usually an issue but casting a cantrip is almost always a better option than a melee attack, so why be in melee?
So here I am, heavily armoured with just over 100hp and I hang about in the back with the bard, maintaining concentration on the bless. My main contribution is to make a lot of noise any time the Blessings of the Mocker Gods turn a miss into a hit or make a saving throw succeed. I really have to sell myself to remind everyone I'm contributing!
My healing hardly even matters at this point. I can burn my 6th level slot and just barely mitigate one round of damage on one character.
Bless is almost always the best option for concentration so I barely use spell slots. I end each day with a big chunk of unused potential.
I feel like I'm not doing enough and I'm trying to decide if there's a way to up my game or if I should just talk to the DM about switching to a light domain cleric so that I'm not wasting the heavy armour and radiant melee damage. And I don't think I've ever used the Order domain's channel divinity. Not once.
Thanks for any advice, opprobrium, or commiseration!

Cheers,
Meshon

I totally get it. I've found my time playing a Cleric to be frustratingly samey. Especially early on when I felt I had to REALLY be careful with how I spend my spell slots. The Cantrip selection also felt really poor. Heck, Tasha's only added TWO new spell to the Cleric's spell list and still no third attack cantrip... augh. The good options of the Cleric are universally good and just SO good that you barely ever change your spell list.

But there seems to be plenty of good suggestion in here that can help out. Don't forget you can cast Command as a bonus action now.

Do you make use of Rituals? There's not that many you'd want to pick everyday but it's always good to keep an eye open for opportunity to use them.