Powergamers Unite! Elf Cleric Archer

[Elder-Basilisk]

A cloak of Resistance (+2 costs 4000; no matter what you think, your saves are never good enough--especially with elven constitution), a melee weapon (masterwork longsword is probably your best buy), a shield (large darkwood shield or a +1 buckler) for when you're cornered and need AC (and don't want to provoke AoOs for firing your bow), and a wand of Cure Light Wounds (so you don't need to use all your neat spells to keep the party alive.

You should also ditch the +2 breastplate for a +1 or nonmagical mithral breastplate. (with the gloves of dexterity, you get the same AC and you can enhance the breastplate further at low cost). [+2 breastplate has +3 max dex for a total AC bonus of +10; mithral breastplate has +5 max dex for a total AC bonus of +10; +1 mithral breastplate yields +11 AC.]

There's no reason for an archer cleric to have 50 +1 arrows either. Maybe 5 or 10 in case you are attacked by creatures with DR/+1 (there's no reason to have them at all in 3.5 since they won't stack with your +2 bow and the +2 bow enables its arrows to overcome DR/magic) when you're not expecting it, but 50 is overkill. You've got access to the Greater Magic Weapon spell; use it.

Total: 29,800 i still have 6,200gp left, what more could i need?

 

[eXodus]

thanks for all the good ideas, basilisk.


where can i find the cost and stats for a mithril breastplate?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

In the back of the 3.0 DMG or in the special materials section of the 3.5 DMG or SRD.

For medium armor:
Cost +4000gp
Weight =1/2
Arcane Spell failure=spell failure -10%
Armor check=armor check penalty -3
Max dex=max dex +2
Mithral Medium armor is treated as if it were light armor

thanks for all the good ideas, basilisk.


where can i find the cost and stats for a mithril breastplate?

 

[ArcOfCorinth]

There's a nice bow in the Arms and Equipment book. Its called the Larethrian Protector, I believe. Its a must have for good-aligned elven clerics. You might have to get it slightly changed to fit your particular deity though. Good luck!

 

[eXodus]

can you tell me more about this bow?

 

[ArcOfCorinth]

To be honest, I don't own the book. Its something like "this bow functions as a +2 longbow when in the hands of a cleric of[insert deity here] that also deals an additional 1d6 of damage per point of Cha modifier to evil creatures."

But I could be terribly wrong there.

Its the bow pictured here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/aeg_gallery/50051.jpg

 

[krunchyfrogg]

The problem (IMO) with the Cleric Archer is that he's so busy casting buffs on himself, that he doesn't have enough Cure Spells for the rest of the party at the end of the day!


3.5 went a long way to fixing this class. The 3.5 PHB doesn't include Persistant Spell, there's still no core "Elf" domain, and a Mighty Bow used with a STR too low has negatives to hit (this matters b/c you don't know what you'll roll on your Bulls Strength spell). Of course, one could always carry around a few different bows (with a Quiver of Elhonna to avoid looking really silly).

 

[kreynolds]

3.5 went a long way to fixing this class. The 3.5 PHB doesn't include Persistant Spell, there's still no core "Elf" domain, and a Mighty Bow used with a STR too low has negatives to hit (this matters b/c you don't know what you'll roll on your Bulls Strength spell).

Of course, there isn't a roll anymore with the buff spells, so you'll always know what bonus you're gonna get anyway.

 

[eXodus]

luckily the cohort cleric in the party can still function as the healing battery.

thusly, my cleric can beef himself up with spells and lay down some major divine elf-style ass-kicking!

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Of course, there isn't a roll anymore with the buff spells, so you'll always know what bonus you're gonna get anyway.

D'oh! After I logged off last night, I realized this. I did not realize how badly the buffs were nerfed, though! They've going from a 1 hour/level duration to a 1 minute/level duration!

While the buff might be good still when going up against the BBEG, it's not going to help you the entire game, unless you have access to the Persistant Spell feat (see my first post).