Clerics

[Hawkeye]

I found it a big bonus to the Cleric class to allow them the ability to spontaneously drop memorized spells to cast healing spells. It certainly allows me the opportunity to add some other spells to my repretiore (sp?). Divinations, group and individual buff spells, attack spells and others. I can pick and choose which spells to add to my daily list so I can craft my chracter to the needs of the adventure. Then I lose them all in order to cast healing spells after the rest of my party members pull some sort of boneheaded stunt. It certainly sucks to be the primary healer in the party, but it is nice to get off one or 2 other spells before I have to heal them.

Hawkeye

 

[shilsen]

Thanks for sharing

And (in the interest of posting something remotely useful) I'd suggest buying a wand of cure light wounds. Or a few. They're great for saving prepared spells for purposes other than healing.

 

[Hawkeye]

Wands

I would love to get some wands, and I belive the Paladin in our group has one, but I have not been able to get the group to go to a good sized city to purchase any wands, or allow me the time to brew a few healing potions. Heck, this is the first time that this group that I have gamed with for almost 15 years, isn't keeping track of treasure that is found. The only treasure that anyone is sure of, is the battle axe the barbarian found and some platinum over the last 3 levels. It is both a refreshing and frustrating change.

Hawkeye

 

[bret]

Try using a few of the buff spells earlier. Many of the clerical spells can actually prevent a person from taking as much damage.

Also try and set their estimation of your healing capabilities low. There is a Paladin in your group, he should use up his Lay on Hands before you spontaneously convert a spell that you think you will need.

Hopefully you didn't take Healing Domain. Provided you didn't do that, you always have at least one spell per level that can't be a healing spell. Regardless, your domain spell can not be spontaneously converted.

Good luck and have fun. Clerics probably the most powerful character class in the game.

 

[Li Shenron]

I play a good cleric (1st level for the moment) and since now I admit I have cast curing spells 90% of the spells I have cast.

Neverthless to say, I am the most appreciated character in the party, because I have already saved a couple of lives at the last second . If you feel too much compelled to cast only curing spells, an item creation feat is the way to go: I am going to pick up Brew Potion at 3rd level (although it's not necessarily the best), so that I will be able to use more often other kind of spells as daily spells.

If you DM uses a setting where buying magic in shops is a daily affair, it' s even better

 

[Thanee]

Yep, in the early levels cure spells tend to be the most used cleric spells, regardless of what spells are memorized. But as soon as you reach 3rd level or higher, you'll have enough spells to use a few the way you'd like to and still retain enough to close the worst wounds your fellow party members suffer!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Destil]

At mid to high levels, you spontanious casting spells will largly be ignored. After around mabye 8-12th level (depending on party make up and con bonuses) there is only heal and mass heal. Nothing else can get the job done in combat, and wands are far better out of it. Neither can be converted. Healing Circle is also a must prepair if you can get 5+ people into the area of effect (and even with 4, it's still good since you get 4x your caster level in total healing, plus the dice).

 

[Hawkeye]

Sorry if I gave the impression that I was complaining about the Cleric class. That was not my intention. I think the Cleric class is a good strong class to play and I have played them before under 2ed (never played them under 1st, though I did play a druid under 1st edition). I just thought it was ironic that WOTC made a big point of adding this valuable and usefull ability, that I am stuck doing the same thing as the previous 2 editions. That is not to say, that I have not used the Spontaneous healing ability to great benefit. You should have seen the looks of shock and fear when I announced to the DM that my action was to Heal the ghost. They hadn't realized the minor change to healing spells. The only other person in our group who knew what I was doing is a WOTC playtester. All the dice were falling my way that night and I managed to "kill" the ghost with a Cure Serious Wounds. (Jury is still out on the final result until next session.) Even though my Cleric has a good BAB, HP and AC, I have only swung my mace once in combat in the last 3 levels. Not one combat, but only once. If I am not healing or Turning, I am doing my best to buff up the party. Its all part of the Cleric's life, and I have enjoyed playing the character. Like I said, I just felt it was a little ironic about the Spontaneous healing ability. ITs a bit like getting a 60 inch HD TV, but only having the same 3 crappy TV stations to watch as you did under your 19 inch balck and white.

Hawkeye

Spelling erros

 

[Numion]

My cleric doesn't use his slots to heal. Wands CLW are for that. And mind you, the rest of the group paid for them. OK, I do cast heals - for myself. Mostly I use buffs (on myself) before combat and act like a fighter. (I play a nice archer-cleric)

Is that selfish? Does the barbarian give me his rage?

 

[bret]

Is that selfish? Does the barbarian give me his rage?

Yes.

Hopefully only when the Barbarian is mind-controlled.