New Core Class: The Priest

[hong]

Geoff: I've not seen hong's version. Do you have a link to it, or a copy you could send me?

Never will I miss an opportunity to pimp my stuff!

Hong's priest class

It's basically the shaman class in OA, but with the cleric's spell list, a different selection of bonus feats, and a revised backstory.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

I've always viewed the (C)leric as being something of an average or amalgam of the (F)ighter and some hypothetical (P)riest class...P=2C-F.

Given that assumption, the starting point for my Priest would be something along the following lines...

BAB: +1/2 (2(.75)-1)

HD: d6 (2(8)-10)

Save: WILL (The Cleric catches a break here.)

SPs: 2/lvl (2(2)-2)

Spells: Double Spell Slots (2(1)-0) (EDIT)

Armour: None

Weapons: Minimal (perhaps as a Wizard)

The only thing that appears over the top at first glance is the double slots for spells--though I think this would be fine if it weren't possible for him to acquire armour feats. As an alternative, you could instead treat him as being 2 or 3 levels higher for spellcasting purposes.

Note: I treat Priests like this in my Basic D&D campaign, including the double spellslot spellcasting bonus--but, of course, I don't have to worry about characters multi-classing or taking armour feats.

 

[Jarval]

hong: Thanks for the link.

Your version gets d6 for hit points, some useful class abilities, and several bonus feat. My version has a better spell progression than yours, but lacks any other abilities. How well would you say they balance?


Thorvald: Very interesting. Looks good, but I'd tone the spellcasting down a bit.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

Thorvald: Very interesting. Looks good, but I'd tone the spellcasting down a bit.

Actually made a mistake while I was typing--not quite sure what I was thinking

I allow double spell slots for High Priests, and 1.5 times normal spells for Priests.

HIGH PRIEST

--HD: d4
--Combat: as M-U
--Spells: x2

PRIEST

--HD: d6
--Combat: as M-U
--Spells: x1.5

WARRIOR-PRIEST(Cleric)

--HD: d6
--Combat: as Cleric
--Spells: x1

TEMPLAR(Paladin, Champion...)

--HD: d6
--Combat: as Fighter
--Spells: as Cleric of 1/2 level

Remembering the above are for Basic D&D--but the principle should hold true for 3e as well.

Though, as I said before, with the ability to acquire weapon and armour proficiencies in 3e you would have to tone the spellcasting back a bit--unless you can come up with some sort of religious restriction (similar to the Druid) that discourages the use of armour by Priests/High Priests.

 

[Geoff Watson]

The Fighter also has lots of bonus feats, that you ignore in your calculations. How Feats compare with spells is unclear, but that should drop the Priest spell ability to something reasonable, rather than double anyone elses.

Geoff.

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

The Fighter also has lots of bonus feats, that you ignore in your calculations. How Feats compare with spells is unclear, but that should drop the Priest spell ability to something reasonable, rather than double anyone elses.

You're right, I hadn't considered the Fighter's bonus feats.

You're also correct in stating that they're difficult to quantify.

(And given 3e feats and multi-classing, I don't think they should have double either--not without further restrictions.)

Hmmm...

Could the Cleric's Turn Undead Ability, Improved Saving Throws, and ability to swap out for Healing be considered to offset this somewhat?

If the Fighter's feats still outweigh this a bit, spellcasting for the Priest could be cut back to something along the following...

• +50% spell slots, or
• +2 or +3 levels to casting level, or
• +1 or +2 domain spells per level

Maybe the extra domain spells would be the way to go? That would be the simplest.

So...

PRIEST

HD: d6

BAB: +1/2

Save: WILL

Skills: 2 SPs/lvl

Armour: none

Weapons: Very Limited (Staff, sling, mace, etc...)

Spells: +2 domain spells per level

Getting better?

 

[KDLadage]

Options for Clerics...

Well, not to be too self promoting, but the UMBRAGIA Volume IV: Liber Sacerdoti sneak peek shows some options... the book itself is not complete yet, but the ideas are there to show you what direction we are taking with the servants of the divine.

For more information on what we are doing, check out hte sneak peek and more here.

 

[Technik4]

Cleric, Priest, White Mage?

I imagine the cleric as the most militant of a church's order, besides champions (paladins, cleric/fighters, rangers, etc.). Then priest, but I feel priest would almost make an NPC class, represetning any run of the mill Minister, Friar, Abbot, what-have-you. Then the white mage (mostly a concept originating from final fantasy, and not d&d) seems like the wizard but with the priest spell list. How to balance all of them?

Ok, cleric is your base class and does not need to be changed. Adept is your basis for a "priest" class, so alter the spell list and perhaps raise the hp. Finally the white mage is very powerful, essentially a variant spell-caster.


Priest- NPC Class Adept Variant

Everything same as Adept except:

-Has light armor proficiency and may use shields.

-May not get a familiar.

-Does not get scry or handle animal as class skills. Does get Diplomacy, Gather Information.

-At 3rd level may turn/rebuke undead as a 1st level cleric. Gains ability to turn an additional level every other level.



White Mage- PC Class Wizard Variant

Everything same as wizard except:

-White Mages must be good, and lose all benefits if their alignment ever changes. Additionally they may not cast spells with an alignment descriptor opposing theirs.

-May not specialize, for the purpose of prc requirements, is considered to be a Conjurer.

-Receives all the spells with the healing descriptor on their spell list.

-Is banned from casting any evocations or illusions.

-The white mage uses wisdom as their spellcasting ability modifier. This modifies spell DCs, bonus spells, and is necessary to be at least as high level as the spell they are casting (ie- 19 wisdom in order to cast a level 9 spell).

Technik