Caster Cleric
- Thread starter Hedgemage
- Start date
Sejs
First Post
Hedgemage said:
Can be, yep. The full caster progression, cherry cleric spell list, and very nice skill points can come together quite well. And with 1/2 bab, Divine Power becomes all that more beneficial.
As for PrCs? Contemplative would seem perfectly in-line with the caster cleric.
How about the heirophant?
While you don't continue to gain spellpower, a dip into this class could get you faith healing (heal spells to those sharing your alignment (or, as I run it, your actual patron deity) are treated as maximized for free.
Or Divine Reach, using Touch spells on targets up to 30 ft away.
Only downside is that you need to be able to cast 7th level spells, so it's not something that can be taken until 13th level...
While you don't continue to gain spellpower, a dip into this class could get you faith healing (heal spells to those sharing your alignment (or, as I run it, your actual patron deity) are treated as maximized for free.
Or Divine Reach, using Touch spells on targets up to 30 ft away.
Only downside is that you need to be able to cast 7th level spells, so it's not something that can be taken until 13th level...
JiffyPopTart
Bree-Yark
Wizard/Cloistered Cleric/Mystic Theurge combo.
You get almost every spell in the book and give up the regular cleric combat abilities for ones that are more "magey".
Downside....WORST BAB EVER!
DS
You get almost every spell in the book and give up the regular cleric combat abilities for ones that are more "magey".
Downside....WORST BAB EVER!
DS
Hedgemage
First Post
The campaign is probably going to involve more than the usual amount of undead, problem is that most cleric PRCs don't advance in turning. Also, the party's wizard is dipping into fighter levels and probably going to see more front line action, so my cleric will need to provide some fire support as well as healing and buffs for the melee fighters. My cleric's patron is Mystra, and I'm going with the Spell and Magic domains. I'm definitely taking Extra Turning and considering Divine Spell Power for feats.
Right now my top four PrC choices are:
Sacred Exorcist - powergaming for our undead-centered campaign
Contemplative - 11th level is a long ways off!
Divine Oracle - don't advance in turning, but a bundle of abilities to ensure the cleric survives to heal the rest of the group
Mystic Wanderer (Magic of Faerun) - pure role-playing fluff, but it fits the character concept.
Right now my top four PrC choices are:
Sacred Exorcist - powergaming for our undead-centered campaign
Contemplative - 11th level is a long ways off!
Divine Oracle - don't advance in turning, but a bundle of abilities to ensure the cleric survives to heal the rest of the group
Mystic Wanderer (Magic of Faerun) - pure role-playing fluff, but it fits the character concept.
Old Drew Id
First Post
I'm in a similar campaign, and my cleric/contemplative has been as close to a pure caster as a cleric can get. (She went from 5th to 13th level without ever drawing her sword.) I would recommend Pelor for the anti-undead goodness. Pick the Sun domain and the Glory domain (from Complete Divine)
You do stop improving your turning ability, but you can bump that first by picking the Glory domain (you want that early, but if not, you can still pick it up later as your bonus Contemplative domain). Later you can bump it further with a Phylactery of Undead Turning, and 5 ranks in Knowledge(religion) will get you a bonus to turn attempts. All of those together should have you turning as a cleric 4 levels higher with another +4 to the turning check and a bonus 1d6 in turning damage. Finally, the Quicken Turning feat (turn as a free action, and still get a spell off in the same round).
Another feat I would suggest is the divine feat "Domain Spontaneity" from Complete Divine, to let you burn a turning attempt to spontaneously convert a spell into a domain spell, just like how you can spontaneously convert into cures. So in the fights against non-undead, you have a lot of flexibility in your spellcasting.
If you haven't had much experience playing a cleric, be sure to get a wand of Cure Light Wounds, and replace it when it gets low on charges. Get the group to help pay for it, so that you can use your spells in combat and still be able to heal them after the fight is over.
If you're doing point-buy: Strength is only useful for the first two or three levels. By then your spellcasting should keep you busy throughout combat and you will already be outstripped by the fighter types. I would keep it at 10. Ditto for Dex. It will be useful at first, but once you get your heavy armor, it's a waste. Wisdom is most important, then Charisma or Con, depending on just how heavy the undead element will be. Int is nice, but your only really needed skills will be Knowledge(religion) and Spellcraft. Even Heal is not really useful past the first level or two.
Finally, I recommend a Strand of Prayer Beads as soon as you can afford it. The once-per-day bump in caster level is worth the price of the entire thing, and since you will probably not be spending any of your gold on weapons, you should be able to afford it before too long.
You do stop improving your turning ability, but you can bump that first by picking the Glory domain (you want that early, but if not, you can still pick it up later as your bonus Contemplative domain). Later you can bump it further with a Phylactery of Undead Turning, and 5 ranks in Knowledge(religion) will get you a bonus to turn attempts. All of those together should have you turning as a cleric 4 levels higher with another +4 to the turning check and a bonus 1d6 in turning damage. Finally, the Quicken Turning feat (turn as a free action, and still get a spell off in the same round).
Another feat I would suggest is the divine feat "Domain Spontaneity" from Complete Divine, to let you burn a turning attempt to spontaneously convert a spell into a domain spell, just like how you can spontaneously convert into cures. So in the fights against non-undead, you have a lot of flexibility in your spellcasting.
If you haven't had much experience playing a cleric, be sure to get a wand of Cure Light Wounds, and replace it when it gets low on charges. Get the group to help pay for it, so that you can use your spells in combat and still be able to heal them after the fight is over.
If you're doing point-buy: Strength is only useful for the first two or three levels. By then your spellcasting should keep you busy throughout combat and you will already be outstripped by the fighter types. I would keep it at 10. Ditto for Dex. It will be useful at first, but once you get your heavy armor, it's a waste. Wisdom is most important, then Charisma or Con, depending on just how heavy the undead element will be. Int is nice, but your only really needed skills will be Knowledge(religion) and Spellcraft. Even Heal is not really useful past the first level or two.
Finally, I recommend a Strand of Prayer Beads as soon as you can afford it. The once-per-day bump in caster level is worth the price of the entire thing, and since you will probably not be spending any of your gold on weapons, you should be able to afford it before too long.
Rhun
First Post
I really like both the Divine Oracle and the Contemplative, but they lose out on their ability to turn undead. But a Cleric 5/Divine Oracle 5/ Contemplative 10 would make for a fun character.
Church Inquisitor can be another fun prestige class.
If turn undead is really imporant to you, though, I'd go with Sacred Exorcist.
Church Inquisitor can be another fun prestige class.
If turn undead is really imporant to you, though, I'd go with Sacred Exorcist.
