Spell focus + clerics

[tleilaxu]

Well, the party suffered TPK (minus my rogue/wizard 3/3 who went invisible and ran to escape the ambush) and we decided to start back up at first level.

I will be playing a Cleric of Istus (Goddess of Fate, etc). Here is my question: As a wizard I found Spell focus + greater spell focus to be the best feats pound for pound. Having a school of spells to be the "go to" spells in difficult situations is a great comfort.

Is it worth it to take spell focus for a cleric? I want to focus on the mystic aspects as opposed to the crusader archetype.

It seems that using my first level feats (as a human) to get greater spell focus: enchantment would just make hold and charm spells killer.

So here are the questions:

1. Has anyone tried these feats out with a cleric?
2. Is it worth it?
3. What are the best school choices for clerics. So far it seems most offensive cleric spells are enchantments or evocations...

 

[James McMurray]

If you want to focus on enchantments, then by all means take them. Adding +4 to the DC of your Command spells will make it very difficult for low CR foes to resist them.

 

[333 Dave]

And if you do, Command is usually wasted on things that cause 1 rounds inconvenience, like "Die" or "Sleep". Better choices IMHO are "Betray" and "Flee".

 

[James McMurray]

"Die" is hardly a waste if there is somone nearby to ensure the command becomes permanent.

"Betray" is a bit too vague. Betray who? You could always just betray the caster by refusing to betray your friends.

 

[cloaker]

I have great interest on others opinions about Spell Focus for Clerics.
I have a 8th level Elven Cleric of Pelor that soon will be 9th level and gain a feat.
I looked at the Clerics spell list and its really hard to choose a good school to put Spell Focus on. The best ones in my opinion are Enchantment, Transmutation and Evocation (Evocation being the last choice).

Are these the only good schools ? And its only a few spells in each case, Im not sure spell focus would be so good.
I do like Spell Penetration, but im only interested about Spell Focus and good schools for Clerics.

 

[333 Dave]

You can only betray people you work with/for. If you betray someone your fighting, its called making your save .

 

[James McMurray]

While under the effects of a command spell, you effectively "work for" the caster.

Even if you don't like that interpretation, betray is still way too open-ended for any Cleric I ever run to try to use. What if they decided to betray them by lying to them. "Look out! The Sky is about to turn Green!" Given the fact taht a spellcaster just ordered them to betray, I doubt the bluff would work.

O perfer the more straightforward uses, because you usually know hat you're going to get with those.

 

[333 Dave]

I guess so. Flee is still ultra fun, especially if you have a ranged weapon and they don't.

 

[333 Dave]

Which reminds me, commanding enemy archers or spellcasters to Charge works wonders on getting them into melee .

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

"Which reminds me, commanding enemy archers or spellcasters to Charge works wonders on getting them into melee"

*stops in awe*

You have a truly twisted mind. I had never thought of that...oh boy are the people at GenConUK gonna get a surprise.