New Cleric Help Needed

[nittanytbone]

Str: 8--> 9 (1 points)
Dex: 8--> 11 (3 points)
Con: 8--> 14 (6 points)
Int: 8--> 11 (3 points)
Wis: 8-->16 (10 points)
Cha: 8--> 13 (5 points)

Start out Middle Aged for +1 to all mental stats, -1 to all physical stats:

Str: 8
Dex: 10
Con: 13
Int: 12
Wis: 17
Cha: 14

And you can drop your 4th level stat boost into Con and your 8th level boost into Wis; 12th and 16th would also go into Wis.

That might work for ability scores, although it leaves you a bit weak in melee combat. If you don't anticipate doing much vs undead or with divine metamagic you could dump cha.

 

[Nail]

The DM is using the 28 point attribute buy in the DMG.

As a note, that is a "moderate" total. Your PC might lack some of the punch touted on these boards.

nittanytbone's got a good array, but IMO you don't want the middle age penalties to physical stats, especially Con.

Especially since then you can put every level bump into Wis. At the higher levels, you''l want the highest Wis possible.

 

[Mistwell]

Str: 8--> 9 (1 points)
Dex: 8--> 11 (3 points)
Con: 8--> 14 (6 points)
Int: 8--> 11 (3 points)
Wis: 8-->16 (10 points)
Cha: 8--> 13 (5 points)

Start out Middle Aged for +1 to all mental stats, -1 to all physical stats:

Str: 8
Dex: 10
Con: 13
Int: 12
Wis: 17
Cha: 14

And you can drop your 4th level stat boost into Con and your 8th level boost into Wis; 12th and 16th would also go into Wis.

That might work for ability scores, although it leaves you a bit weak in melee combat. If you don't anticipate doing much vs undead or with divine metamagic you could dump cha.

I think it is not wise to start at a higher age, or to have a low strength, as a cleric. This isn't an arcane caster. There is no real question that they will see melee combat on a regular basis. The clerics primary strength, aside from healing, is being able to fight well in melee with their spells. Intelligence is a dump stat. Charisma is useful, but not as useful as Con or Strength most of the time. Dex also might be a dump stat, depending on how someone wants to play their cleric. It's not like they need Dex for AC, given their use of heavy armor.

 

[Nail]

My Clr 19 (played since lvl 4) has been in toe-to-toe melee twice.

Str is not necessary for many types of Clr.

 

[Angerland]

My Cleric 15 palyed since level 1 has been in melee combat in every combat we fought. When I did go into combat it was after debuffing the enemy and buffing the rest of the party. Two very different styles, two different players...this just illustrates even more that no two clerics will ever be the same. I also agree with NOT adding a middle age start, negative Physical stats are not going to do you well at all.

In another example of our differences I used a wand of cure light in comat quite a bit to good effect. I would stay just behind the front line where I coud touch all the fighter types and give them a tap when they needed it. Then if the wand didn't keep up with the damage I would conver a high level spell into healing for that particular person.