[Help]Mechanics experts - CD Favoured Soul v UA spontaneous casting cleric

[Snoweel]

Anybody with these two books (Complete Divine and Unearthed Arcana), care to share their opinion on these two player options? Those options being the Favoured Soul from CD and the spontaneous casting cleric variant from UA.

What I mean is, if both options were available to you as a player, would one or the other be a no-brainer (obvious choice)?

Personally I think they're too similar to tell off-hand, but maybe you guys can see something I can't.

Thanks.

 

[thundershot]

*listens in, because I have a similar situation*




Chris

 

[Snoweel]

The silence, it is deafening, no?

 

[green slime]

Favoured Soul vs UA Spontaneous Divine

IMO, from what I can see, Favoured Soul wins hands down. Unless of course you are neck-deep in Undead.

Favoured Souls have more spells known, more spells per day, more special abilities, and better saves. Which in general means greater survivability.

Their major drawbacks (compared to the standard cleric) are the multi-stat dependancy for their spellcasting, and lack of turning.

 

[Thanee]

The biggest advantages of Cleric over Favored Soul are:

* Domains !!
* Turn Undead (and thus access to Divine Feats !!)

MSD is also an issue, of course.

About spontaneous casting: Not sure about the UA variant, but the relation between Favored Soul and Cleric is weaker than between Sorcerer and Wizard, when it comes to spells per day (they have equal spells per day as Sorcerers, but Clerics have more than Wizards).

All in all, the Favored Soul looks to be a bit better to me, not a huge difference, tho.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Remathilis]

A Spontaneous cleric has

* Heavy Armor
* Two Domains (=2 free spells/level)
* Turn Undead
* Domain Powers

A Favored Soul has

* Better Reflex Save
* Deities Favored Weapon, Focus and Spec in it.
* Energy Resistance
* Wings
* More Spells/day

I Personally allow Cleric/Favored Souls in as is, but a person looking for a lower-powered variant than either should check out the mystic from DLCS.

 

[Nifft]

Anyone thought about what would need to be changed about the CD's Spirit Shaman to make it fit casting Cleric spells?

-- N

 

[Elephant]

Thanee, what is MSD?

 

[Victim]

Thanee, what is MSD?

Multiple Stat Dependency. The favored soul needs CHA and WIS for spellcasting, while the cleric has only a minimal need for CHA. Under point buy, the favored soul will either have to settle for reduced spellcasting, or sucky other stats.