Need Help with Martial Cleric Build

[Gnome]

I'm playing in a group with 2 other players, who are playing a rogue and an evoker. There is also an NPC fighter as well. Everyone is currently 5th-level.

My character is/was an elven bard, and I'm finding that bards don't seem to be that great in a small party, and certainly no replacement for a cleric. The party needs a cleric pretty badly, and really could probably use another front-line fighter as well.

Anyway, I was thinking of replacing my bard with a cleric who is optimized for combat, and wanted advice on a good build. I have an idea already, and would like feedback on that or any alternatives.

Here are the stats I have to work with (my original character's stats, minus racial mods, swapping wisdom and charisma, and adding my 4th-level stat increase to strength):

STR: 16
DEX: 14
CON: 13
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 12

My current idea is to make this guy a goliath cleric, which would make his new stats:

STR: 20
DEX: 12
CON: 15
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 12

For feats, I was thinking Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), and either Weapon Focus (bastard sword) or Power Attack in order to take Cleave or Improved Overrun next.

The main advantage to the goliath race is, of course, powerful build, allowing him to use large weapons despite being a medium creature. A large bastard sword wielded by this guy does 2d8+5 damage. Seems like it's well worth the ECL and feat to get this kind of damage output.

For ranged weapons, I was thinking size large javelins (1d8+5 damage, 30' range inc.), since I don't want to burn another feat to use a longbow, and crossbows don't take advantage of strength.

Finally, powerful build grants a +4 on stuff like grapple, trip, bull rush and overrun attempts. I was thinking that overrun would be a handy way to get past opponents quickly to get to other characters that need healing or support, which is why I was considering improved overrun as a possible feat as well.

 

[Mekabar]

The Goliath is more than worth it's level adjustment. I would add -2 to Charisma to balance the stat block a bit. The Race is still VERY powerful that way.

Anyway, since Goliaths are somewhat savage, perhaps the Favored Soul would be more fitting. They get the proficiency and focus of the deity's favored weapon as class feature, too.

Regarding your build: You can't take an exotic weapon proficiency as a 1st level cleric (unless you have a deity with war domain, which favors an exotic wepon).

 

[satori01]

You could keep yourself an elf and take the War and Elf domain,(Elf domain is from FR). The War domain of course grants you Weapon focus (longsword) as a bonus feat. The Elf domain grants you Point Blank shot as a bonus feat. I would reccomend your first level character feat then be Rapid Shot.

Thus you have a cleric that can shoot twice with a bow, and also a nice chance to hit with the longsword.

 

[cmanos]

I'm playing a Human Cleric of the god of Strength. Feats include Martial Wepaon Proficiency: Greatsword, and Improved Unarmed Strike. I'm going to take him the way of the grappler and need to get some armor with magical spikes on it to cause a little more damage when I grapple.

While he is not a tank, and he is pretty useless turning undead (Cha 11), he's the second biggest fighter in a group of 8. Although the Monk will probably be coming up soon.

 

[Gnome]

The Goliath is more than worth it's level adjustment. I would add -2 to Charisma to balance the stat block a bit. The Race is still VERY powerful that way.

Yeah, I'd still take the race with the -2 CHA, even as a cleric. Makes sense, too, based on their unusual appearance and customs.

Anyway, since Goliaths are somewhat savage, perhaps the Favored Soul would be more fitting. They get the proficiency and focus of the deity's favored weapon as class feature, too.

Maybe that would be more fitting, but I'll pass if I get a -2 to CHA, though.

Regarding your build: You can't take an exotic weapon proficiency as a 1st level cleric (unless you have a deity with war domain, which favors an exotic wepon).

Oops. Maybe I'll start with Power Attack instead, then. Thanks.

 

[Sir ThornCrest]

domain Pick war domain

War domain will free up 2 feats because it gives you free weapon profiency in your gods weapon, and weapon focus with your gods weapon, BOOM your a huge guy with some fighter feats add on some good buff spells and your a melee machine.

Well for a 5th level dude anyways

Sir Thorncrest

I'm playing in a group with 2 other players, who are playing a rogue and an evoker. There is also an NPC fighter as well. Everyone is currently 5th-level.

My character is/was an elven bard, and I'm finding that bards don't seem to be that great in a small party, and certainly no replacement for a cleric. The party needs a cleric pretty badly, and really could probably use another front-line fighter as well.

Anyway, I was thinking of replacing my bard with a cleric who is optimized for combat, and wanted advice on a good build. I have an idea already, and would like feedback on that or any alternatives.

Here are the stats I have to work with (my original character's stats, minus racial mods, swapping wisdom and charisma, and adding my 4th-level stat increase to strength):

STR: 16
DEX: 14
CON: 13
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 12

My current idea is to make this guy a goliath cleric, which would make his new stats:

STR: 20
DEX: 12
CON: 15
INT: 14
WIS: 16
CHA: 12

For feats, I was thinking Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword), and either Weapon Focus (bastard sword) or Power Attack in order to take Cleave or Improved Overrun next.

The main advantage to the goliath race is, of course, powerful build, allowing him to use large weapons despite being a medium creature. A large bastard sword wielded by this guy does 2d8+5 damage. Seems like it's well worth the ECL and feat to get this kind of damage output.

For ranged weapons, I was thinking size large javelins (1d8+5 damage, 30' range inc.), since I don't want to burn another feat to use a longbow, and crossbows don't take advantage of strength.

Finally, powerful build grants a +4 on stuff like grapple, trip, bull rush and overrun attempts. I was thinking that overrun would be a handy way to get past opponents quickly to get to other characters that need healing or support, which is why I was considering improved overrun as a possible feat as well.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I don't know if your DM will let you play a "godless" cleric, but if you can, take War and Strength as domains, and, IMO, instead of losing 1 level because of the Goliath's level adjustment, take 1 level in barbarian instead.

I wouldn't do it though, full spellcasters lose too much by multiclassing, IMO.

AR

 

[Mistwell]

I agree with the above - war domain is a pretty important domain for you, granting both martial weapon proficiency and weapon focus in your dieties weapon (which should be a bastard sword, if you choose your diety right). I currently play a cleric with the war domain, and the domain spells are some of the better choices (though they may not appear that way from first read, once you start actually using them you find some of them more useful than they initially appeared).

Power attach and cleave might be a nice path to go down. Then again, personally, I find the dodge, mobility, spring attack (or the more versitile Speed Burst from Arcana Unearthed) path to be ultimately more useful for a melee combatant. Getting your speed up (with magic or a feat like Fleet of Foot, also from Arcana Unearthed) is also very useful with this combo, since you will likely want to wear heavy armor.

 

[Thanee]

There are not a whole lot of deities with the bastard sword as their favored weapon or are there?

I know Eilistraee in the FR only... tho I do not know them inside out.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

And doesn't the war domain grant a MARTIAL proficiency with the weapon? A Deity who has "bastard sword" as a favored weapon and the war domain doesn't let you use the bastard sword one-handedly. You need an exotic weapon proficiency for that.

AR