Help me build an elven cleric 5 (PHB/SRD only)

[Jdvn1]

Warhammer needs a feat, tho.

And I actually picked the Longsword/Longbow for flavor reasons (also Elven Chain, wooden Shield/Holy Symbol). All in all, very elvish.

Bye
Thanee

Oh, I missed that he didn't get proficiency with it. I guess he doesn't have the domain for it.

So, yeah, longsword.

 

[Jdvn1]

Anyway, would it be worth the effort to take Two-Weapon Fighting and get an additional attack? I'm thinking that us all being 5th level and having one attack per round each is going to hurt badly.

OK, so the ranger will be able to Rapid Shot two arrows a round, but I'm trying to keep up with his damage output.

That's what your Str bonus and buff spells are for. You don't have to try to keep up with the Ranger. I think the -2 hit to your attack roll doesn't justify it at this point.

 

[Thanee]

Weapon Finesse=trying to take advantage of the elf's high Dex. Plus I've never used it for a character before. I'm over it now. Really.

Hey, there's a bow (sometimes a very good thing to have, especially if you can use it) and the Tumble skill to take advantage of the good Dex.

Anyway, would it be worth the effort to take Two-Weapon Fighting and get an additional attack? I'm thinking that us all being 5th level and having one attack per round each is going to hurt badly.

No shield is going to hurt badly, with the low elven Con.

OK, so the ranger will be able to Rapid Shot two arrows a round, but I'm trying to keep up with his damage output.

See? That's why you need Cleave!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Jdvn1]

See? That's why you need Cleave!

Bye
Thanee

Or, alternately, go Clr 4/Ftr 1 and pick up Great Cleave.

 

[Thanee]

Here's one maneuver, that you can do for an all-out attack...

Move Action: Loose Shield
Free Action: Drop Shield
Free Action: Activate Strength Domain
Standard Action: Attack with Longsword using both hands and Power Attack for 3

This would be a 1d20+6(+8 with flanking) attack with 1d8+13 damage, if it hits.
Not too shabby, especially if you get to Cleave afterwards.

Bye
Thanee

 

[atom crash]

See? That's why you need Cleave!

I'm not a big believer in Cleave. Maybe that's just me. In four years of playing 3.0/3.5, I've seen Cleave really pay off once: a dwarven paladin in the game I run was fighting a drow ranger and a displacer beast. He power attacks for full and smites the displacer beast, killing it. Then cleaves into the drow ranger, also smiting, also killing him.

In most cases, you get to smash one more kobold or zombie that round. Meh. I'll trust you on it, though.

 

[Jdvn1]

I think Cleave (like a lot of abilities and feats) depends on the GM. If you never fight weaker creatures, it's not going to come in handy as much.

 

[Thanee]

I'm not a big believer in Cleave. Maybe that's just me. In four years of playing 3.0/3.5, I've seen Cleave really pay off once: a dwarven paladin in the game I run was fighting a drow ranger and a displacer beast. He power attacks for full and smites the displacer beast, killing it. Then cleaves into the drow ranger, also smiting, also killing him.

In most cases, you get to smash one more kobold or zombie that round. Meh. I'll trust you on it, though.

It depends on the opposition, but against bunches of low level opponents, it's great!

Also against few tough and some weak opponents, since you can target a weak one, kill that, and Cleave into the tough one, instead of only attack the tough one.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Spell Tactics for some of the spells:

Bless - against well-armored opponents, give everyone an attack bonus
Protection from Evil - defense against dangerous obviously evil opponents
Magic Weapon - cast only, if you really need a magic weapon or that extra point of damage
Shield of Faith - defense against dangerous (non-evil) opponents
Enlarge Person - against hordes of weaker opponents, increase reach to make better use of Cleave
Silence - for stealth or to annoy spellcasters (not your allies ;-))
Bull's Strength - cast before a really tough-looking combat

Use the Pearl of Power to get back a spell, when it worked well and you think another similar situation might come up.

Use the free slots for utility spells (i.e. Stone Shape), if there is enough time, or to refresh your spell list with whatever spell(s) might be needed soon (i.e. Aid before heading into a tough combat).

Bye
Thanee

 

[moritheil]

IMC the party mage did that. Both dogs died - one of them to a spear, the other one when it wandered away from camp while there was a monster stalking the party.

Hm, just never occured to me. I like seeing how different people play Clerics -- I know a lady that always bought a dog. Cheap flanking when it's necessary, and a hp buffer when that's necessary.