Creating a 4th Level Cleric

[garyh]

I'm creating a 4th Level Human Cleric for a RTToEE campaign (so NO SPOILERS, but keep in mind the type of game) in the Greyhawk setting.

Here's the Character Creation info: 32 point buy, just using the PHB gods. I'm not sure the exact nature of the party, but I will be the only Cleric for the other three PCs. I'm considering going with Pelor, Heironeous, or St. Cuthbert for my diety.

PrC's are allowed upon DM review (he's easier on WOTC stuff). I've got the 5 splatbooks, FRCS, FR:F+P, and all Dragon mags since #274. The only PrC's that jumped out at me are the Hospitaler (DotF), Divine Disciple (FRCS) and especially the Radiant Servant of Pelor (Dragon #283).

My inclination for stats would be Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 15 (16 at 4th), and Cha 14, but let me know if you've got a better idea. I'm not adverse to multiclassing with a level or two of Ftr or Pal if appropriate.

Thoughts?

Once again, NO SPOILERS!!

 

[Dr. Zoom]

IMO, don't multiclass unless it is vital for your character concept. The ability scores look good, too. I would go for Radiant Servant of Pelor.

Good luck. My group will be starting RttToEE soon, too. Should be loads of fun.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Unknown: Male Human Clr4; Medium Humanoid ; HD 4d8+8 (Cleric); hp 28; Init +0; Spd 30; AC 10; Atk +5 base melee, +3 base ranged; AL LG; SV Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +9; STR 14, DEX 10, CON 14, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 14.
Skills:
Concentration+9, Heal+10, Knowledge (religion)+8, Spellcraft+8.
Feats:
Extra Turning, Iron Will, Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword, Scribe Scroll , Weapon Focus: Longsword.
Spells Prepared (Clr 5/4/3): .

Stat Block from eTools with Heironious (War and Good domains)

 

[garyh]

IMO, don't multiclass unless it is vital for your character concept. The ability scores look good, too. I would go for Radiant Servant of Pelor.

Good luck. My group will be starting RttToEE soon, too. Should be loads of fun.

My one thought on multiclass is that if you're a LG cleric of Heironeous with a +2 Cha Mod, why not take a level of Pal to get LitRef/GrtFrt/IrW + all martial weapons? If I go Pelor, then there's no reason to.

Radiant servant looks neat. Plus I may go Clr6/Rad10/Contemplative4. Mmmm.... prestige domain.

 

[garyh]

Unknown: Male Human Clr4; Medium Humanoid ; HD 4d8+8 (Cleric); hp 28; Init +0; Spd 30; AC 10; Atk +5 base melee, +3 base ranged; AL LG; SV Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +9; STR 14, DEX 10, CON 14, INT 12, WIS 16, CHA 14.
Skills:
Concentration+9, Heal+10, Knowledge (religion)+8, Spellcraft+8.
Feats:
Extra Turning, Iron Will, Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword, Scribe Scroll , Weapon Focus: Longsword.
Spells Prepared (Clr 5/4/3): .

Stat Block from eTools with Heironious (War and Good domains)

That's a strong character (though I'd likely go with Brew Potion over Scribe Scroll. Spread the healing around.

Only hitch with Heironeous is no PrC's I like (Shining Blade from that article isn't so great... 1/2 power spellcasting).

 

[JoeGKushner]

I guess I'm a little old fashioned in that I don't feel that every character needs to have a PrC. I usually GM though so my opinions are of course baised as I can make any character I want. (The power... the power...) but even when I play I tend to stick with standard characters. Right now playing an Evoker Mage in the Scarred Lands.

Brew Potion is cool but costs more. Screw the other characters. Let them work to protect you! ("Don't let them get the medic!")

 

[Xaltar]

Pelor is a great choice when you are the only cleric. It allows you to be the best possible healer, make sure that you choose the Healing domain!

I would also recommend the Sun domain, since Greater Turning is super useful, and can greatly speed up sometimes long encounters with lots of low level undead. Plus, Flame Strike as your 5th level domain spell!

Unless you are really going for the cleric who is almost a paladin, then I wouldn't worry too much about Str and Damage. You will find that you quickly remove yourself from melee since your spells are usually more effective.

It still helps to have a good AC though, you just need to hold them off until the fighters can get to them.

Combat Casting is a great feat though since you'll most likely be casting on the defensive often no matter what Diety you choose.

 

[garyh]

I guess I'm a little old fashioned in that I don't feel that every character needs to have a PrC. I usually GM though so my opinions are of course baised as I can make any character I want. (The power... the power...) but even when I play I tend to stick with standard characters. Right now playing an Evoker Mage in the Scarred Lands.

Brew Potion is cool but costs more. Screw the other characters. Let them work to protect you! ("Don't let them get the medic!")

I agree that PrC's ought not be mandatory, but if it fits the character concept and works well with party role, why not?

Going with the Pelor/Radiant Servant route, all you lose is on average 1 HP per level, and get oodles of Pelor-specific powers.

Since Clerics get two special things (spells, and turning) any class that gives you those plus other things is worth looking at.

Is Scribe THAT much better than Potion, or does it just help keep you alive?

 

[garyh]

Pelor is a great choice when you are the only cleric. It allows you to be the best possible healer, make sure that you choose the Healing domain!

I would also recommend the Sun domain, since Greater Turning is super useful, and can greatly speed up sometimes long encounters with lots of low level undead. Plus, Flame Strike as your 5th level domain spell!

Unless you are really going for the cleric who is almost a paladin, then I wouldn't worry too much about Str and Damage. You will find that you quickly remove yourself from melee since your spells are usually more effective.

It still helps to have a good AC though, you just need to hold them off until the fighters can get to them.

Combat Casting is a great feat though since you'll most likely be casting on the defensive often no matter what Diety you choose.

Good points on Healing and Sun.

Part of the reason to go with 14 Str is to to not crawl in heavy armor. Even with 14 Str, standard gear almost vaults you into heavy loads.

If I didn't go 14 Str, where would you put those extra points?

 

[Destil]

I guess I'm a little old fashioned in that I don't feel that every character needs to have a PrC. I usually GM though so my opinions are of course baised as I can make any character I want. (The power... the power...) but even when I play I tend to stick with standard characters. Right now playing an Evoker Mage in the Scarred Lands.

Personaly, I tend to agree... I'd shy away from the servent of Palor, simply because it really gives you a lot for little loss (d6 HD being the only sacrifice), and thus is just looks a bit "strong" to me... A prestige class is supposted to be better, true, but also more specialized. Likewise I just don't think the're needed all that often (though I'm big on mining their special abilities for feet chains), and all too often outshine standardard multiclassing. I'd say if you go with a servent of Palore mabye drop one or two levels of spellcasting progression (at 1st and 5th), or drop the BAB down to a wizards. . . then again, look at the Loremaster. . .

Brew Potion is cool but costs more. Screw the other characters. Let them work to protect you! ("Don't let them get the medic!")

They serve diffrent Roles. Spreading the healing out is very useful, since it lets you heal FASTER if more than one person needs it, especialy before you have acess to healing circle or mass heal. But the real limit is often the fact that you can't produce anything above a 3rd level spell (or was it 4th?) as a potion. Later on, thoes higher level scrolls can be very handy. I'd recomend waiting until you see the rest of the party, if you have a Bard / Palidin / Driud / Rogue / Ranger who could cast spells from healing scrolls (Rogues and Bards need use magic devices to do so, since the bard can't cast spells from a divine scroll, unlike a wand). then just take scribe scroll and be done with it. Otherwise potions could save lives quite a bit early on.

If you want to drop your strenght down to 13 or 12, increasing Wisdom, Con or Cha would be the way to go, depending on if you want to bulk up and be a better tank, or just hang back and cast spells more often. And since you'de be serious about turning undead with the sun domain, may as well increase your chances of destroying them outright when you use your greater turning.

EDIT: Dex is also an option, since you'd most likely want to lighten your armor anyway with that setup, and droping down to meidum armor could be usefull if you ever need to run away, depeding on how fast the rest of the party moves. Remember, you don't need to outrun the moster... you need to outrun your slowest companion.

Edited to correct my horridly phonetic spelling of Palore...