I've never played a cleric, and now I need a 20th level one for a one-shot. Help.

[RangerWickett]

I need to make a 20th level cleric for a one shot. We already have a solid melee warrior in the group, a strong ranged fighter, two strong arcane casters, and a sneaky guy. What kind of niches can I fill, and what sorts of builds do you think I could use.

I was thinking maybe something weird, like a mounted caster because no one in the group is really mobile, but I'm not sure if that's useful.

Rules available are anything at d20srd.org, so basically core, plus the stuff from Unearthed Arcana.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

With Air Walk as a spell and Ride not as a class skill, there is no real need for a mounted cleric.

Either concentrate on defensive magic and healing (especially to augment the single melee warrior), or on melee prowess (to aid the solid melee warrior).
The group probably doesn't need to deal more damage, though. Defensive powers, healing and undead turning might be the best choice.
A Radiant Servant of Pelor is nice for healing and against undead.

 

[Li Shenron]

If it's your first, make it simple. Use mostly PHB material, except maybe ONE SINGLE prestige class and a couple of feats from other sources.

For instance, prepare only protection spells, and some special healing (that you cannot cast spontaneously) & buffs.

Then use your feats to improve your martial capabilities, so that you can fight when you're not casting.

Just forget about min-maxing or spells synergies or advanced combinations of features, and you'll stil have a character you can play effectively.

 

[Question]

Most PRCs in core rules are garbage unfornately. Im not even sure if there are any cleric specific ones.

So a 20th level straight cleric? Simple, just make sure you got the buffs all worked out. Feats in core rules arent very helpful for clerics unfornately, except empower/maximise.

 

[TheGogmagog]

I'd say expect to be in melee. Give yourself good strength (16 or more), and con (14 or more), then there is limited benefit of wisdom higher than 20 (16+4), a few extra spells... I don't see skills coming up much in one shot campains, they usually rush right to combat, so dump int, and I'm personally not a huge fan of turn undead unless you focus on that, which lets you also dump charisma.

Take power attack, cleave, and maybe weapon focus feats. Also extend spell is handy, quicken is good too. These combat feats plus divine power and righeous might will let you match the fighter blow by blow for two combats per day (even more-so with quicken).

Then for domain selection, I'd go with war and strenght, or choose one if you need to select a PHB diety. After that it's all spell selection. I like to be a good buff cleric with greater magic weapon, magic vestment, freedom of movement, mass strength or mass fortitude are good if you don't all have items of such. Mass fortitude works as an excellent ranged mass healing spell at that level +40 HP. Then buy a wand of cure light wounds to heal between combats.

Well, that's one way to go.

 

[Thanee]

Some good core feats for clerics include... Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Quicken Spell, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus, Power Attack, Cleave, Spell Focus (conjuration)+Augment Summoning, Spell Focus + Greater Spell Focus (necromancy), Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wand, Craft Wondrous Item

Dwarf and Human are good races.

You should have a good amount of healing and party/self buff spells, but with Destruction, Harm, Summon Monster, etc. clerics can also get some decent offense, of course they can be very good in melee, too.

Bye
Thanee

 

[DM_Matt]

Can't go wrong with a Cheater of Mystra.

 

[Thanee]

Rules available are anything at d20srd.org, so basically core, plus the stuff from Unearthed Arcana.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Magesmiley]

You didn't mention the alignment bent of the party - A LN cleric of Wee Jas who channels negative energy can be a lot of fun. If you go this route, make sure you're well stocked on magic items that can crank out healing.

Another fun cleric is the controller - take as your domains either fire or water AND either air or earth (probably Obad-Hei as your deity). You will totally own any elemental critters you run into. I personally prefer the fire and air route for the offensive domain spells. A secondary reason is that there are quite a few creatures out there with the fire subtype which aren't elementals and which your ability to rebuke/control applies to.

 

[Malum]

"DANCE WITH WHO BROUGHT YOU" Clerics are usually the "glue that binds a party" they are the melee combatants best friend as well as the Arcane casters buddy & pal as you do what they cant do (efficiently).

The Cleric in a 20th level camapign is going to be the party healer & curer, the head undead destroyer & back up melee

The Radiant Servant of Pelor will make you even more beloved by the party and give you some flavor.

Malum

Alternatively if you wanted to make something new Mystic Theurge and substitute Wizard w/ Psion