Cleric Race?

[greycastle]

Excluding Aasimar, avariel (which both give a +2 wis)

what is a effective and generally interesting race to play as a cleric? I've contemplated a Human Cleric of Tymora before, and it's well made, but i'm wondering about other races...

any opinons?

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Thri-Kreen get a Wisdom bonus, and Multiweapon Fighting lets you get extra juice out of Divine Might (if you have any kind of Charisma bonus). Go with the non-psionic version to save those painful, painful level adjustments.

Githzerai likewise get a Wis bonus, and they have FC: Monk. Take a couple levels of Monk before following Cleric, to take advantage of your racial bonuses and to enhance your defensive abilities.

The Reptilian and Insectile templates both give a Wis bonus and some nifty special abilities, if you don't mind a two level knock. Half Celestial has a similar knock, but it practically begs to be played as either a Cleric or a Paladin.

The big problem you'll have is that most races with a Wis bonus have a Cha penalty, and Cha is almost as important for Clerics as Wis is.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Lycanthropes get +2 Wis.

But every race is a good race for clerics (well, except Kir-Lanan, of course. And some others like wild or arctic dwarves). Your choice of race and deity (and even of domains) determines what type of cleric you play best: Elven archer-clerics of Solonor, human spellcaster-clerics of Mystra, halfling rogue-clerics of brandobaris or dwarven warpriests of Clangeddin. Or one of a thousand other choices.

 

[Numion]

The big problem you'll have is that most races with a Wis bonus have a Cha penalty, and Cha is almost as important for Clerics as Wis is.

I've used Cha as a dump stat for my cleric. If you're making a melee cleric, that enhances his fighting with spells, there's no need for a high charisma. At least I haven't needed it in 11 levels. Turning is the only use for it, and you can do that with a bit of luck and cha 8!

 

[shilsen]

Get Savage Species and play a Ghaele Eladrin (using the level breakdown). You may not be an actual cleric, but you get equivalent cleric spellcasting per level, along with a lot of nifty abilities. And arguably you're as close to your deity as you're ever going to get

 

[hammymchamham]

Get Savage Species and play a Ghaele Eladrin (using the level breakdown). You may not be an actual cleric, but you get equivalent cleric spellcasting per level, along with a lot of nifty abilities. And arguably you're as close to your deity as you're ever going to get

I second this. Granted you only get up to the equivalent in 14th level Cleric for spells, but do you really need those other levels? For one thing you eventually get Cure Light Wounds at will. Ok, the battle is done? I cure light everyone tell they're all better

 

[Skaros]

Trumpet Archon isn't bad either....particularly if you want to wade in with a big two handed sword.

-Skaros

 

[guido1999]

Why don't you pick a diety first and find out what races generally follow it? Or better yet, why don't you choose a race based on a creative character concept rather than the size of the wisdom bonus it gets?

 

[Dinkeldog]

Amberhair Halflings from the Kalamar Munchkin's...er, Player's Guide. They also make good psions (shapers) and wizards.

 

[kreynolds]

I know this won't be appealing to you smackdowny folks, but air genasi make awesome clerics of that travel god guy (windstrom something or another).