Hierophant - worth losing spell progression?

[Shadeus]

My cleric character is starting to get to a level where he needs to start thinking if he's going to pull the trigger and go the route of this PrC or not. I see your caster level still increases, but the number of spells you know doesn't. It has a number of fairly cool abilities though:

- Divine reach (for those cure spells)
- Mastery of Energy (to real kick butt on undead)
- Spell power (to really juice up your caster level)

I'm not convinced though. Are these special abilities worth slowing the character's ability to cast 8th- and 9th-level spells?

 

[jgsugden]

My cleric character is starting to get to a level where he needs to start thinking if he's going to pull the trigger and go the route of this PrC or not. I see your caster level still increases, but the number of spells you know doesn't. It has a number of fairly cool abilities though:

- Divine reach (for those cure spells)
- Mastery of Energy (to real kick butt on undead)
- Spell power (to really juice up your caster level)

I'm not convinced though. Are these special abilities worth slowing the character's ability to cast 8th- and 9th-level spells?

For power gamers, the best bet is to take this class at levels 21 to 25 ... No real loss, there except an epic feat or two.

In general, losing spell ability is a losing proposition. If you fall more than 3 levels behind in spellcasting ability, your spellcasting tends to dim in comparison to that of allies. I can see taking a level or two before level 20, but I think the min/maxers out there should hold off taking it until epic levels.

 

[Count Arioch the 28t]

Heirophant might be good for one or two levels, by the fact that you can add your heirophant levels to determine SR, spell effects, caster level, etc. That's what saves it from being totally worthless. However, I don't see anyone taking more than one or two levels of this before epic.

 

[Black Knight Irios]

Call me Powergamer whatever, I would not take it befor I reach lvl 21, as first epic lvl pretty good start.
Maybe one or two lvl before epic, but you need those 9th lvl spell slots, to kick some asses.

 

[Shadeus]

Hmm, that's exactly what I was thinking as well. I might take it just to get Divine Reach. But of course, this character's dex is horrible so he might fail a ranged touch attack.

This would be a much more viable class with spell progression. I would rather have it be something like Archmage where the spells fuel the ability as long as you continue to get new spell levels.

 

[mikebr99]

You are almost 13th level (straight Cleric) without taking any PrCs yet?

 

[DarkMaster]

You are almost 13th level (straight Cleric) without taking any PrCs yet?

What is the problem?
He can probably kick the ass of most Cleric/PrC

 

[mikebr99]

What is the problem?
He can probably kick the ass of most Cleric/PrC

I'm not saying there's a problem... it's just a rarity these days to see anyone without any PrCs... especially Clerics and Sorcerers.

YMMV

Mike

 

[Shadeus]

I'm not saying there's a problem... it's just a rarity these days to see anyone without any PrCs... especially Clerics and Sorcerers.

YMMV

Mike

Yeah, straight cleric. Heh, I didn't realize it was so rare. I was considering Contemplative (from DotF) but wanted to keep advancing my turn undead level. And the prestige domains weren't worth it for me.

 

[DarkMaster]

Yeah, straight cleric. Heh, I didn't realize it was so rare. I was considering Contemplative (from DotF) but wanted to keep advancing my turn undead level. And the prestige domains weren't worth it for me.

Funny, all my players think the same, they actually feel like they lose too much for what they are gaining by taking prestige class.