Help with cleric creation?

[LazarusLong42]

So, I'm setting up a 7th-level cleric whose basic MO is preparedness. He can always heal, and he'll generally have enough buffing and other spells prepared to keep the party going... but he intends to have some scrolls as back-up, just in case spells.

These would be spells that he's unlikely to need prepared often, but that might be needed very quickly. Spells that can wait a day to be prepared and cast, or that will often be prepared only because of initial scouting--gentle repose, lesser restoration, zone of truth, dimensional anchor, etc.--aren't what I'm looking for here.

Initially I'm thinking a couple of scrolls of augury, remove paralysis, remove fear and the like.

Stuff to take into account:

Kael would be an abjurer if he were a wizard; his focus is protection spells, buffs, and weapon enhancements. He does not cast damage-dealing spells, feeling that if he can't hit the enemy with his own (buffed) weapon, then it's probably time to run away anyway.

Kael is level 7, and has about 1250 gp set aside for scribing. This is either a buttload of 1st-level scrolls, 16 2nd-level, or 6 3rd-level.

Any suggestions for what would be essential to have around?

(One note: I thought of a wand of CLW, but figured that it'll be gone after, say, five or six encounters. I mean, the *cleric* has 51 HP...)

 

[DonAdam]

You're on to the right idea.

Scrolls are for "oh crap" spells.

Invisibility Purge and Neutralize Poison should always be kept handy.

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

I'd suggest having at least one each of those spells you mentioned. Just because you intend to be prepared, thus knowing what spells you're likely to need/want, doesn't mean you're going to know ahead of time that you'll want/need them. Being caught unawares, and then drained of a couple levels, wouldn't be good if you're the person the group would turn to for a Turning attempt. And should you get drained enough to loose access to your own Lesser Restoration spells...

What I'd do would be to sit down and look at each spell, in order, and ask myself this question about each: "Can I imagine a time that not having this spell could be the deciding factor between defeat/death and winning/surviving?" If your answer would be a definate YES, then have at least one of those spells as a scroll.

Just remember, a scroll doesn't have a shelf-life (ie: doesn't go stale), so just becuase you haven't needed it right away doesn't mean it's a waste, it'll be there when you suddenly find yourself in need.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Scrolls are great for the lesser used healing spells:
neutralize poison, ability restoration, and the like.

I also use them for low level situational protections like the first level protection from elements.

And spells dealing with emergency situations and mobility should be considered like water breathing and meld into stone or stone shape.