Dnd flavoured 'Clerics'.

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I am plotting away at an AU campaign in a homebrewed setting. I really like the core classes and magic system. Intending to use them as is...

But...

I am planning to have a large and organised monotheistic religion in the campaign. As far as clergy go, most of the local priests will be experts with a few Expert/Akashics higher up. However, I'm after a core class to represent the 'miracle working' clerics. I'm finding the greenbond too nature orientated and the magister too much of a magician for this. I've tried modifying either of those classes, but can't seem to come up with anything suitable.

I'm stumped. Any suggestions or things you've already tried would be really appreciated!

 

[Varianor Abroad]

I am planning to have a large and organised monotheistic religion in the campaign. As far as clergy go, most of the local priests will be experts with a few Expert/Akashics higher up. However, I'm after a core class to represent the 'miracle working' clerics. I'm finding the greenbond too nature orientated and the magister too much of a magician for this. I've tried modifying either of those classes, but can't seem to come up with anything suitable.

I'm stumped. Any suggestions or things you've already tried would be really appreciated!

You can use the D&D cleric if you want, although they're a bit powerful in comparison to other AU classes due to their healing spells. One way to handle that is to remove heavy and medium armor proficiency from the D&D cleric and redo their spontaneous heal ability so that they only have access to the AU healing spells.

There's also the Mage Priest in the Diamond Throne handbook, which is a Prestige Class that "cuts a deal" with powerful outsiders who might be gods to get their powers.

Finally, stay tuned to www.diamondthrone.com. There's an article coming up soon that has another take on this.

Anybody else with ideas should certainly chime in, by the way. There's no wrong answer. The best result is what works for your campaign.

 

[Henry]

Another concept would be to use the magister, but remove all the arcane trappings - after all, they get the same healing spells that Greenbonds do. Change the staves into another piece of ritual equipment (gilded scepters, ornate headdresses appropriate to the office), etc. Tack on the Blessed Mage feat as a requirement for the priesthood, and you're all set. You could turn a Magister into a very passable Levite-Priest-Type that way! Even Aaron had a "staff"...

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

You can use the D&D cleric if you want, although they're a bit powerful in comparison to other AU classes due to their healing spells. One way to handle that is to remove heavy and medium armor proficiency from the D&D cleric and redo their spontaneous heal ability so that they only have access to the AU healing spells.

There's also the Mage Priest in the Diamond Throne handbook, which is a Prestige Class that "cuts a deal" with powerful outsiders who might be gods to get their powers.

Finally, stay tuned to www.diamondthrone.com. There's an article coming up soon that has another take on this.

Anybody else with ideas should certainly chime in, by the way. There's no wrong answer. The best result is what works for your campaign.

Thanks for the answer there... and the link - site is most interesting. Hadn't stumbled across it before. It's one for a bookmark!

Definitely be interested in looking at the article.

The mage priest sounds interesting, although I may have other plans for that one Don't have the Diamond throne book yet. Will pick it up soon however.

I did thinking about converting the cleric over to the AU magic system... but couldn't work out what spells to allow it access to - either seemed come out too weak or too strong. Armour proficiency removal may well help. Did think of replacing it's spontaneous heal with the greenbonds healing ability... However the class seemed a little 'dry' in comparison to the AU ones.

Be fine for NPCs I guess... but probably won't appeal to this particular group of players wants to do some heroic fantasy that differs from the core DnD settings. I supose a church with no magical powers from its God could be a novelty.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Another concept would be to use the magister, but remove all the arcane trappings - after all, they get the same healing spells that Greenbonds do. Change the staves into another piece of ritual equipment (gilded scepters, ornate headdresses appropriate to the office), etc. Tack on the Blessed Mage feat as a requirement for the priesthood, and you're all set. You could turn a Magister into a very passable Levite-Priest-Type that way! Even Aaron had a "staff"...

Thanks. That's an interesting idea... in fact, they needn't actually have divine powers... simply, that's where they think their magic comes from. As long as it works, then it's a moot point. Simply a specialised version of the magister... I'll have a go at that idea

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

One of my personal favorite things about AU is that really anyone can be a priest without being a Cleric. It becomes a profession rather than something that grants class abilities.

That's not to say I don't like DnD Clerics. I think they're wonderful, flavor- and mechanics-wise. I love them. Perhaps take the magister, use the suggestions above, make the primary casting stat Wisdom, do some minor spell list modification, perhaps change the flavor of the Aspect's of Power so they are more "divine," and change "Mind over Matter" to something like "Insightful Knowledge (ex): The magister adds his Wisdom modifier, in addition to his Intelligence modifier, to all Knowledge checks."

And there you go. You've got your Acolyte, or Prophet, or whatever you wan to call the class. But no matter what you do, good luck!

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Thanks for the input people.

Now down to dithering between a magister tweak or a feat for magisters, possibly mageblades....

Will post it when it's done...

 

[DMScott]

I'd say the most "cleric-like" of the AU casters is the Witch: Wisdom as casting stat, not awful in HtH, access to themed special abilities. Change the background a bit (so for example a wind witch is actually a devotee of a wind god, etc.) and you can use them with powers as is.

The other class I'd look at for D&D-style clerics would be the Mage Blade. They also fight decently and have decent access to spells. Take the Priest feat and a casting feat that matches your religion (Blessed Mage for good gods, Energy Mage for elemental gods, and so on), and you've got a decent warrior-priest.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

Matter of fact, the AU book suggests using mageblades for priests. Well, sort of. In the "Who is in this class" thing for mageblades, it says that "undead warrior-priests" would be mageblades. Bit of a stretch, tho. Really, magister would probably work better. Thinking: Holy symbol for focus, proficiency with deity's favored weapon at 5th instead of swordstaff, call Aspect of Power Aspect of the Deity, replace Int-for-Str checks with Wis, and make Wis the caster stat. Take the talent that drops spell level by 1 for Battle Healing for a more heal-y cleric, and you're set.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Matter of fact, the AU book suggests using mageblades for priests. Well, sort of. In the "Who is in this class" thing for mageblades, it says that "undead warrior-priests" would be mageblades. Bit of a stretch, tho. Really, magister would probably work better. Thinking: Holy symbol for focus, proficiency with deity's favored weapon at 5th instead of swordstaff, call Aspect of Power Aspect of the Deity, replace Int-for-Str checks with Wis, and make Wis the caster stat. Take the talent that drops spell level by 1 for Battle Healing for a more heal-y cleric, and you're set.

I like that set of changes. Sincerest form of flattery for them Think I'll use them as is... although imc, favored weapon won't be an issue - only 1 god (other than nature or, arguably, diabolism) and it doesn't particularly favor weapons... think the staff/swordstaff would be fine...

Staff and Holy symbol as focuses - make blessed mage as a required feat. Could end up with quite some Moses like figures! Think I'll cook up a few different Aspects of power to fit in with it.