Should Clerics Have Heavy Armor Proficiency? (any edition)

[roguerouge]

Why or why not?

 

[Remathilis]

As clerics have moved from "fighting priest with heal-ly powers" to "healer and divine caster" I've felt the heavy armor proficiency (plate) has been unnecessary. Chainmail is fine enough.

 

[ExploderWizard]

It depends on the capabilities of the cleric. There are different types of clerics. If one has stronger magic the case can be made for lighter armor. If the magic is weaker/less effective then perhaps heavy armor might be needed.

 

[Grymar]

Nah, I'm fine with them having medium armor only. They can always blow a feat to get heavy armor if it fits with what they want to do. I could also see it being added in as a bonus to the War or Protection domains (in the versions where that applies).

 

[Cadfan]

I voted "no," though I don't strictly believe it. I do believe that clerics and paladins should be kept from overlapping, and this is one way to help with that. I don't think its the only way or a necessary way, but I think its one possible way.

 

[Dykstrav]

I always liked having heavy armor as a cleric. To me, being a cleric is all about defense. The cleric is about wading into the midst of the fray to reinforce the line, hearten your allies, and tend their wounds.

In 3.5, you could get a cleric's AC in the high 20's by around sixth level with the right spells, feats and gear selection. To me, there's just as much fun in wading through a horde of orcs unscathed as there is in inflicting tremendous damage.

 

[kitsune9]

I've been quite used to cleric having access to heavy armor.....but it's gone now.

Oh well, looks like they better get used to their chaimmail!

 

[fafhrd]

What are you willing to give up for it? Is it worth say, a feat slot to you?

 

[Voadam]

I see different archetypes for the cleric.

One is a frontline tank with strong defense, medium offense and buffing/healing magics. For them platemail is appropriate and so heavy armor should be part of the class.

The other archetype is as a primary divine caster, a priest caster. For that view of them tanking as default is not necessarily appropriate for the archetype. (Why are divine conjurers of the halfling corn goddess just as good as arcane conjurers at conjuring but get a full plate tank build instead of a weak build?). Being able to gear up to heavy armor tanking through a feat is an interesting option for the broad priest caster concept.

Normally in D&D you don't have a priest, you have a cleric in the priest role.

 

[ExploderWizard]

What are you willing to give up for it? Is it worth say, a feat slot to you?

If that's even an option. Older editions featured permitted armors as class abilities and there were no build options available to buy the ability with.