D&D 4E Cleric Domains in 4E?

[Alisair Longreach]

I wonder what WotC is going to do about Cleric Domains in 4E.

We have already heard that there will be 25 (or maybe 30) spell levels in 4E, but are they also keeping the Cleric Domains? This I think is a very scary thought, 40+ Cleric Domains with 25 (or 30) domain spells from level 1 to 30 on a monstrous 10+ page list.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Here's a far less scary thought:

Every class gets per day, per encounter, and at will abilities, yes?

Some spells still follow the Vancian model so the per encounter and at will abilities are likely to be either a sub-set of spells or a distinct element.

So why can't a cleric have twenty five spell levels, but each domain only have 9 abilities which encompass the vast majority of a clerics at will and per encounter abilities?

Cause 18 at will or per encounter magical abilities by 30th level certainly seems pretty substantial, but it also doesn't increase the page count needed for domains by more than a bit.

And, I have to say, domains determining which of your at will or per encounter abilities you get seems like far more better way to customize your cleric for your deity than getting a slightly modified spell list.

What with that and talent trees letting you decide what kind of cleric you want to be: martial (mentioned), pacifist (mentioned), or exorcist (?I hope I hope I hope?)

Ladies and Gentleman, I have fallen in love all over again.

The cleric is without a doubt the class I am most looking forward to seeing.

 

[Li Shenron]

My feeling is that they will certainly leave some element in the Cleric class that depends on the deity, and that we'll see at least some of the domains' powers of 3e included. But of course the mechanic of domains is probably different... 2 domains chosen at 1st level, for instance, is not a scheme that necessarily will stick around to the next edition.

Perhaps a whole area of abilities (e.g. the "at-will" or the "per-encounter" spells) will be entirely dependent on the deity (I guess the "deity type" such as "god(dess) of war", rather than the specific single deity), while other areas will be common for all clerics.

 

[Remathilis]

On the other hand, if they are using talent trees, each deity might have certain "class abilities" that are available: Olidamarra can grant access to re-rolls, Pelor and Heironoeus grants access to turning, Nerull, Vecna and Wee Jas grants access to "death touch" etc.

 

[Kraydak]

I personally prefer the domain/diety affiliations as presented in Complete Champion to the domain system (they also add minor RP/game mechanic effects!). Mind, adding them in 3e is problematic with the already powerful cleric class... but in a new edition...

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

What if it operates similar to how mage traditions sound as though they will work? While we arent sure of specifics,. it sounds like belonging to a tradition that dabbles in fire magic helps you when you cast fire spells. So like... all clerics might get cure light wounds, but if you're a priest of a religion with the Healing tradition, you might cast it as X levels higher, or the spell uses a lower level spell slot, or something to that effect.

 

[Rechan]

Cause 18 at will or per encounter magical abilities by 30th level certainly seems pretty substantial, but it also doesn't increase the page count needed for domains by more than a bit.

And, I have to say, domains determining which of your at will or per encounter abilities you get seems like far more better way to customize your cleric for your deity than getting a slightly modified spell list.

I like this idea.

Another way to handle it is that the Cleric is a bare bones class (Hit dice, BAB, save progression, At Will abilities), and the Domains come with an "Ability package".

For instance, the God of Thieves, Murderers and Assassins has the Criminal domain. It grants these per encounter/per day abilities, access to these skills, these weapons, and set limitations (You can't wear medium or heavy armor).

In addition, all clerics have the ability for Divine Channeling (functions like Turning). Each Domain says what the cleric can use their Channeling for. The Fire domain allows that Channeling to Control/Rebuke fire creatures/turn water creatures. The War Domain allows clerics to use Divine Channeling for a combat boost similar to many of the Divine feats. This way, rather than ALL clerics effecting undead and having to spend a feat to use their class ability for other things, their class ability fits their theme, and only Certain priests effect undead.

A simpler version of Customized Clerics is to look at the Discipline rules for Psionics. Everyone has access to most powers, but only Telepaths gain access to certain abilities. Each discipline also grants access to a few skills. So only Clerics of the Fire God get fire-related spells and only Clerics of the War God getting Divine Power or Righteous Might seems appropriate.

 

[Pale]

I would like to see Cleric Domains influence Cleric Spell choice in total... as in you can't cast spells that fall outside of your domain (with there being a bulk of 'general' cleric spells, of course).

 

[Stalker0]

My guess is domains will be a function of talent trees.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

My guess is domains will be a function of talent trees.

I don't know, from what we saw in an early description of Talent Trees one of the designers talked about making more talents for 'pacifist' clerics so...

I'm guessing that cleric talent trees describe your position within the church ala templar, pilgrim, exorcist, or whatever.

And that your deity's flavor comes from the domains.

So that you could be a templar cleric of war with armor proficiency, a martial skill set, and turning abilities.

or an evangelical cleric of war with limited proficiencies, an increased skill set, and inspirational abilities.

But both clerics would have access to the war domain's weapons training and combat buff aura abilities.