D&D 5E Much ado about a little something?

[Oofta]

I think either paladin or cleric are fun for different reasons. On the other hand, my war cleric had no problem tanking and being able to wade into combat with spiritual guardians and weapon for the big fights. In combats where he was not casting spiritual weapon, I would instead use my bonus action for a weapon attack.

Made them a pretty decent after a certain level. However I'd probably go with a life cleric for a DM PC and focus on healing and buffing.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

How do you figure? An increase in hit due size is a +1 HP per level and to the average amount healed when spending hit dice on average, same as +1 Con mod. I’d say they should be valued equally.

You have more control over con mod and you can adjust it on level up.

 

[Charlaquin]

You have more control over con mod and you can adjust it on level up.

Sure, but value-wise they’re the same.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

I'd be cautious with DM PC and smites: they are pretty strong and a huge incentive to spend slots on something other than support, which was the goal of this character.

I could also suggest a Battlemaster with support maneuvers and protective FS. Use your actions to grapple and create opportunities for your group, taking Healer and Leader as feats to boost your support abilities.

Another possibility could be an Expert sidekick with the Healer and Leader feats: at-will improved help actions and a few support features could be a big game changer for a beginning group.

Yeah—-I was thinking bless, cure etc if npc.

With my friends it’s game on!

 

[Warpiglet-7]

I think either paladin or cleric are fun for different reasons. On the other hand, my war cleric had no problem tanking and being able to wade into combat with spiritual guardians and weapon for the big fights. In combats where he was not casting spiritual weapon, I would instead use my bonus action for a weapon attack.

Made them a pretty decent after a certain level. However I'd probably go with a life cleric for a DM PC and focus on healing and buffing.

I have an arcan cleric of wee Jas. I took heavily armored at one for variant human.

He is fat and angry so put into strength and con. Very fun and fights all day. Just hit 5th to boot but booming blade and spiritual weapon is great.

Now guardians? Very good.

I think for the the next pc I am going gonzo—-firbolg cleric/Paladin. If I is for npc at times, playstyle is clearly support or additive if the kids get in trouble. Hell, given large size he might be able to carry them and run!

Overall my point is more about the conventional wisdom part and how much is made about a d8 vs a d10. To date I have done fine with blade boon warlock and clerics with a d8 (shrug) but I keep reading how I gotta go with a d10 to live in combat.

 

[Oofta]

I have an arcan cleric of wee Jas. I took heavily armored at one for variant human.

He is fat and angry so put into strength and con. Very fun and fights all day. Just hit 5th to boot but booming blade and spiritual weapon is great.

Now guardians? Very good.

I think for the the next pc I am going gonzo—-firbolg cleric/Paladin. If I is for npc at times, playstyle is clearly support or additive if the kids get in trouble. Hell, given large size he might be able to carry them and run!

Overall my point is more about the conventional wisdom part and how much is made about a d8 vs a d10. To date I have done fine with blade boon warlock and clerics with a d8 (shrug) but I keep reading how I gotta go with a d10 to live in combat.

Well, some people will also tell you that a +0.5 DPR is a game changer as well. I tend to do fun/interesting builds and they work just fine.

 

[bedir than]

d8 vs. d10. Big deal or overblown?

I'm another vote for overblown. Just like most optimization instructions related to 5e, the numbers are so close that we're talking about "builds" that improve things like 2% or less.

 

[pukunui]

There’s a player in my Mad Mage campaign who’s playing a hill dwarf cleric/paladin/sorcerer as a tank. I’m not sure which class was first since we didn’t start at level 1, but damn is he a pain in my butt as a tank!

He went with forge cleric, and he’s got +1 plate armor and a shield. His AC is 23. He tends to cast spirit guardians, then wade into melee and take the dodge action.

The enemies generally have to roll a natural 20 to hit him (which is hard to do with disadvantage) because that sorcerer level gave him access to the shield spell, which can bump his AC up to 28 for a round.

What’s more, he took the Interception fighting style, so once per round, he can reduce incoming damage to an adjacent ally as a reaction.

And on top of all that, he can heal himself and his allies!

 

[Voadam]

A couple more differences to consider.

Paladins have the bonus action lay on hands, their auras, and the fighting style defense with extra AC or bodyguard with a shield.

Clerics have their spells, with some domains or feats they can get heavy armor to match the paladin, and their variable domain stuff.

Tanking role can be done by both, as can a role as a support healer who can fight.

I would go with Tales' advice above about being wary of big gun offense (smites and spirit guardians and such) as a DM PC, it can be spotlight stealing from the kid players where it seems you want to be supportive instead. There can be plenty of focus and actions as a support role, just saving spells for buffing and healing can go a long way.

 

[Blue]

Outside CON, a d10 is 20% more HPs per level than a d8. 6 vs. 5. It is also more out-of-combat healing from HD. That said, it's not a huge deal, since CON has such a large effect in both.

Every HP but the last has no effect, so the primary meaning of all but one of your HPs are buffer. Since in-combat healing is intentionally anemic to prevent long grinds, the question is "is this enough not to drop"? Only when that's a yes for the d10 and a no for the d8 will the difference really show.