Anybody else not satisifed with domains in their current incarnation?

[Gothmog]

Ok, I think the tag line pretty much says it all. I have noticed over the last two years that all clerics are pretty much alike in their abilities, barring two domains and their powers. I guess this kinda bugged me- why would a god of healing get blade barrier or harm as a default spell? Doesn't it seem like there are numerous inconsistencies on the cleric spell list, and that some of those "general" cleric spells aren't so general at all?

Second question is this: what would be a good alternative? I had thought about restructuring the domains, selecting spells from the PHB and other books that fit each domain, and giving all clerics a thrid domain for free- the divine domain, which would have general spells any religion would have. Each spell level in a domain would probably have between 6-10 spells, less at higher levels, that would more accurately refelct the theme of the domain.

What do you guys think? Is this needed? Am I out my mind to consider taking on an undertaking like this?

 

[Crothian]

Try this class. I was one of those that worked on it months ago. It's an alt cleric that gives powers based off of the Domains selected.

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12601

 

[Eternalknight]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the domain system; I think it's peoples perceptions of and how they play clerics that is the problem. Most people tend to see clerics as healers. If I am playing a cleric of a god of healing or life, then I too see my cleric as a healer. But if I am playing, say, a cleric of Surtur (the Asgardian fire god) then I am more likely to play him as a pyromaniac.

If you are the DM, talk to your players and try to change their view of clerics. If you are a player, try what i have suggested.

 

[EOL]

One problem with not playing a cleric as a healer is that the party can really suffer because then there's a realy healing hole. Which maybe, more than the domain issue the problem with clerics. the Designers have decided that healing can only be done by clerics as such there is this major activity which has to be done by one character, unlike fighting spell casting, the only similar issues is locks and such. They've gone a long way towards rectifying this with spontaneous casting, but I think to truly free the cleric you would have to make healing much more common and spread it out some.

 

[Crothian]

Healers ar built into the system. All the modulkes and books are written assumoing you have healing power. Clerics are the best at magical healing, it was written into the system by allowing them to spontaniously cast. If they got rid of that, it would open up healin to Druids and a to a lesser degree Rangers and Paladins.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I went as far as to remove the Cleric. Essentially, they're replaced with PClasses, each with a customized Spell List suitable to their faiths.

I do have Druids and Shaman (alt based on The Primal Codex), but neither have Spontaneous Healing.

 

[Crothian]

The simplist solution is don't have clerics spontaniously cast healing spells. Have them spontaniouslt cast domain spells.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

I'd be inclined to agree; However, I myself was after a specific effect, which included a non-spell casting lower heirarchy comprised mostly of Experts. The PClass route filled that need rather well, and freed me of Domains completely. I did, however, refer to the Domains in order to fluctuate when certain Priesthoods got particular spells, as they don't always fall in the same level as the general Cleric Spell List.

What better way to add unique flavor to a setting than PClasses, after all?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Possibilities:
Remove domain slots, and remove domain powers. Allow a cleric to choose domain spells in any of his slots. Alternately allow a cleric to spontaeneously cast domain spells (maybe even instead of spontaneous-cast healing spells?).

Require clerics to make some sacrifice in order to gain their spells, much the way that a wizard has to write his spells in liquid gold (200 gp a page!). Donations to his church, conversions, building altars etc could all gain spells for the cleric. Allow access to every domain spell with no sacrifice required.

 

[Chacal]

How about some anti-domains ?
For instance, a cleric of a healing divinity couldn't use the spells on the destruction domain. Or cannot prepare them more than 1/day, or whatever limitation you like.

Of course, you'd have to create some anti-domains, and maybe improve the bonus domain to balance out, but it could work.


Chacal