Clerics?

[babomb]

Regarding domains: If you really want to be uber, I like the Strength and War domains (except that they have the same spell at 3rd level). They have good attack and buff spells, a free Weapon Focus, and + cleric level to Strength for 1 round/day. Destruction is also pretty cool (Smite 1/day); take Extra Smite and you're golden. If your campaign has a lot of undead, Sun would be a great choice. The previous suggestion of taking two elements is a good one too.

There are lots of good spells: Flame Strike, Magic Vestment, Rightous Might, Divine Power, Divine Favor, Blade Barrier, Spiritual Weapon, Greater Magic Weapon, Destruction, Harm, and Firestorm, for example.

For feats, try Extra Turning and some Divine feats or Extra Smite with the Destruction domain.

Clerics are a blast to play. You can justify almost anything as a religious practice: shave your head, constantly spout aphorisms, be a drunken good-for-nothing, be a harsh by-the-book inquisitor, play the mandolin, try to convert EVERYONE, take the Vow of Peace/Poverty, talk to your god sarcastically, say "Kettenek's Justice demands it!" every chance you get; just play it up and put the FUN in fundamentalism! Adventure hooks are built in too: orders from your superiors, stopping evil churches, disputes with friendly churches, church factions, schisms, heretics, heretics who may be right, crusades, inquisitions, holy artifacts, evil artifacts, converting succubi, saints brought back as undead, corrupt leaders, etc.

As has been mentioned, make a wand of Cure Light Wounds and spend your spells killing baddies instead. Heck, if you REALLY don't want to be a healbot, make an neutral cleric that channels negative energy.

 

[moritheil]

What 'really' makes them uber, though? I was thinking of trying one in my next game and really want to shock the other guys. Any tips/hints/suggestions?

A properly buffed and prepared cleric should be able to outmelee a same-level NPC fighter, and many if not all same-level PC fighters, for that matter.

 

[moritheil]

Regarding domains: If you really want to be uber, I like the Strength and War domains (except that they have the same spell at 3rd level). They have good attack and buff spells, a free Weapon Focus, and + cleric level to Strength for 1 round/day. Destruction is also pretty cool (Smite 1/day); take Extra Smite and you're golden. If your campaign has a lot of undead, Sun would be a great choice. The previous suggestion of taking two elements is a good one too.

Careful; it's hard to find deities that actually offer both the Strength and War domains, and claiming domains that your patron does not offer is likely to piss off your DM if he thinks you're pulling a fast one on him.

Plus, a reading by SRD RAW may suggest to some DMs that taking the War domain without a patron results in not getting the bonus feat, as you have no patron deity and thus no patron deity's weapon. More generous DMs often allow your alignment weapon.

 

[Kristivas]

What level of cleric are you looking at playing? That might help determine some specific suggestions.

I don't even know, yet. We're planning a game for mid-Oct, so I'm thinking on it all now. These are some awesome suggestions and good insight for someone like myself who'd never paid the cleric much mind.

Perhaps a CG cleric who's intollerant of evil, always trying to convert others, and anal about his weapons/armor (needing them always polished and repaired, letting no one else touch them, ect). Maybe Tempus if we play in FR..

I like healing somewhat, I just wanted to make sure there was more to it than that and turning undead. I envision my guy in armor with his mace (or battleaxe if it's Tempus).. smacking baddies around after he'd buffed himself.. and occasionally falling back to play Medic.. then getting right back into the fray. maybe a level or two of fighter to get some combat feats.. with the rest on divine feats and extra/improved turning and whatnot.

Thanks for the help and suggestions. Any more would be gladly appreciated.


*PS - Something odd, I mentioned to a friend that I'd posted this, and he told me back when he was playing 2e AD&D, that he had a NE cleric.. who was 350-400 lbs.. and had created undead minions that carried him around on a throne of bones. I nearly peed myself. Got into this huge story about how the evil cleric was a pervert and enjoyed the look of horror and disgust on the slave girls faces when he was feelin' frisky. It sounded glorious!.. but not really my style of play. Still, was pretty funny (and disturbing, can't forget disturbing) to envision that.

 

[moritheil]

I don't even know, yet. We're planning a game for mid-Oct, so I'm thinking on it all now. These are some awesome suggestions and good insight for someone like myself who'd never paid the cleric much mind.

Perhaps a CG cleric who's intollerant of evil, always trying to convert others, and anal about his weapons/armor (needing them always polished and repaired, letting no one else touch them, ect). Maybe Tempus if we play in FR..

I like healing somewhat, I just wanted to make sure there was more to it than that and turning undead. I envision my guy in armor with his mace (or battleaxe if it's Tempus).. smacking baddies around after he'd buffed himself.. and occasionally falling back to play Medic.. then getting right back into the fray. maybe a level or two of fighter to get some combat feats.. with the rest on divine feats and extra/improved turning and whatnot.

Thanks for the help and suggestions. Any more would be gladly appreciated.

*PS - Something odd, I mentioned to a friend that I'd posted this, and he told me back when he was playing 2e AD&D, that he had a NE cleric.. who was 350-400 lbs.. and had created undead minions that carried him around on a throne of bones. I nearly peed myself. Got into this huge story about how the evil cleric was a pervert and enjoyed the look of horror and disgust on the slave girls faces when he was feelin' frisky. It sounded glorious!.. but not really my style of play. Still, was pretty funny (and disturbing, can't forget disturbing) to envision that.

It sounds like you should check out Favored Soul. It offers more melee ability and energy damage resistance, with less casting. No turning, though.

 

[Pinotage]

It sounds like you should check out Favored Soul. It offers more melee ability and energy damage resistance, with less casting. No turning, though.

Favored Soul is particularly nice if your DM allows paladin multiclassing. Those good saves and Divine Grace make for a very resistant PC.

Pinotage

 

[TheGogmagog]

I'd never been a real fan of playing a cleric, and in most groups, we pretty much hired an NPC cleric as a healbot. Reading over the boards, however, I've read that the cleric is pretty uber. plate armor, decent weaponry, d8 hd, good fort+will saves.. yeah, that all looks nice. What 'really' makes them uber, though? I was thinking of trying one in my next game and really want to shock the other guys. Any tips/hints/suggestions?

The one thing that will hinder your cleric is if the group expects him to be a healbot/buffbot. You have to cast cure critical instead of Divine power, etc... You will still want to hire an NPC for healbot or at least have the group buy wands. Wands of cure light wounds, lesser restoration are a good idea either way.

 

[Alpha Polaris]

And for out-of-combat healing, wands of Lesser Vigor are the best deal in town: 11 hp per shot provided you have 11 rounds to waste...

 

[Mistwell]

It sounds like you should check out Favored Soul. It offers more melee ability and energy damage resistance, with less casting. No turning, though.

A single level of Sacred Exorcist can solve that problem real quick.

 

[kanithardm]

Ive always been a cleric, cause i get stuck with the job. But i think the domains that let you turn subtypes are awesome.