OMG: The Core Cleric

[InVinoVeritas]

So, we've heard many times that the Cleric is the most powerful class in the game. There are plently of arguments against that position, but what are the arguments for the all-powerful Cleric?

Also, since we've heard this since before any of the other materials were made available... what are the arguments in a core-only world? PHB1, DMG1, MM1? How is the core cleric better than the other core classes? Is there only one way to optimize the core cleric, or many ways?

 

[Nail]

CoD-zilla requires splat-books, plain and simple.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

And what kind of superiority is possible without splat-books?

 

[Darklone]

Well:
- Best armors.
- Turning.
- Good HD.
- Two good saves. The important ones.
- Main spellcaster plus two domains plus two domain powers. Only disadvantage: few long range spells.
- medium BAB. Not bad.
- Best healer in the game due to spontycure.
- Biggest advantage: No real weakness (similar to the druid).

The only balancing factor is MAD, e.g. the better the stats/point buy are, the stronger the cleric becomes.

 

[frankthedm]

Codzilla dos not require splat, it just makes it far worse.

Combat wise; Divine favor keeps the cleric close attack bonus and damage wise with a front liner.

Once a cleric gets to Divine Power, that puts him at almost the same level as the melee combatant

Righteous Might beats out the melee characters hands down.

Unless the cleric keeps getting hammered with dispels or has his spell stack bled out by healing the party, he can combo these spells and start making the tanks wonder why they showed up.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Codzilla dos not require splat, it just makes it far worse.

Combat wise; Divine favor keeps the cleric close attack bonus and damage wise with a front liner.

Once a cleric gets to Divine Power, that puts him at almost the same level as the melee combatant

Righteous Might beats out the melee characters hands down.

Unless the cleric keeps getting hammered with dispels or has his spell stack bled out by healing the party, he can combo these spells and start making the tanks wonder why they showed up.

So the best cleric would be a melee cleric? Are there any other good configurations?

 

[frankthedm]

So the best cleric would be a melee cleric? Are there any other good configurations?

The casting cleric can be fairly powerful, provided the group can rest as they desire. The main issue with the cleric spell stack is that they get decent blast spells a higher spell level. Their blasts are not as efficient as a wizard's, but if the situation presents itself where the cleric can dump his higher level spells and then just leave, rest and repeat, he can basically use the spell power that should have lasted for the whole dungeon, in each room.

 

[joshjurg]

I have a fantastic archer cleric in a game that is almost core (phb2 & spell compendium only). He would still be a great character even in a core game, I believe. I like him better than a melee cleric because his damage output is nearly the same and spends much less healing on himself as well as being a little different than the stereotypical cleric.

 

[blargney the second]

Bah, clerics are fine. The crazy builds usually have about fifteen different buffs going, including a number of rounds/level spells. If you've got that much time to waste preparing, anybody's going to wipe the floor with their enemies.

 

[Ruslanchik]

The thing about Clerics and Druids being stronger than other classes is not that they require some special build to make them badass. They are badass because they are inherently versatile.

Clerics especially since they are able to wear heavy armor and use metal shields. They buff the party before combat, wade into melee combat and take damage beside the fighters, step back and cast offensive spells, then heal the party up when the combat is done. And if you come across some undead, forget about it. They can even sweet-talk the mayor into upping the party's reward. The only thing they can't do is disable traps and pick locks.

So you don't have to optimize clerics to make them rock. Similarly, there's no real trick to optimizing druids. If you are somewhat smart with feat selection you will be engaged in every part of the game, something that will make everyone jealous.