Another thread, elsewhere on this board, prompted me to wonder if the majority of us have ever considered the weaknesses of clerical holy symbols. All Clerics should carry at least four or five of these. Here's why.
Holy symbols generally come in two varieties; wooden and precious metal (silver, usually). The Druid has Warp Wood and Heat Metal. The combat value of the latter (against both Fighter-types, who, due to the minute-plus times to get out of armor (at ten rounds/minute), AND the Cleric - who can quickly discard their Holy Symbol - but thereafter cast no spells for the duration) are usually overlooked.
The Druid, of course, uses Mistletoe. Mistletoe is (of course) immune to BOTH of these spells!
Coincidence? I don't think so! (Oooh! Those SNEAKY Druids!)
So, Druids (of high level, at least) can attack the spellcasting abilities of all Clerics. Same goes for Paladins. Same goes for a very few Sorc/Wiz spells, requiring brass dust, etc. Nearly all classes will have metal weapons, and most others metal armor, as well.
Rangers, of course, don't have to worry about their holly symbols, either (that's not a typo, it's 2/3 of a pun... PU!)
So, like a Rogue with Masterwork Thieves' Tools, a Cleric should carry a metal and wooden holy symbol, with a backup pair in their pack, saddlebags, etc. Higher-level Clerics should invest in ones made of precious gems or stones... even if they are then subject to Shatter.
After all... when that Holy Symbol is gone, you're unplugged... No longer linked with your power!
Holy symbols generally come in two varieties; wooden and precious metal (silver, usually). The Druid has Warp Wood and Heat Metal. The combat value of the latter (against both Fighter-types, who, due to the minute-plus times to get out of armor (at ten rounds/minute), AND the Cleric - who can quickly discard their Holy Symbol - but thereafter cast no spells for the duration) are usually overlooked.
The Druid, of course, uses Mistletoe. Mistletoe is (of course) immune to BOTH of these spells!
Coincidence? I don't think so! (Oooh! Those SNEAKY Druids!)
So, Druids (of high level, at least) can attack the spellcasting abilities of all Clerics. Same goes for Paladins. Same goes for a very few Sorc/Wiz spells, requiring brass dust, etc. Nearly all classes will have metal weapons, and most others metal armor, as well.
Rangers, of course, don't have to worry about their holly symbols, either (that's not a typo, it's 2/3 of a pun... PU!)
So, like a Rogue with Masterwork Thieves' Tools, a Cleric should carry a metal and wooden holy symbol, with a backup pair in their pack, saddlebags, etc. Higher-level Clerics should invest in ones made of precious gems or stones... even if they are then subject to Shatter.
After all... when that Holy Symbol is gone, you're unplugged... No longer linked with your power!
