Suggestions to have players play a Cleric.

[Jeb McDonald]

There are six of us in our group. When starting a new campaign/adventure (incidentally--we usually start off as 1st-3rd level characters and play until 9thish before starting again), having someone play the cleric is always a chore. I like playing a cleric because of their versatility...am I going to be a battle cleric, or one who heals, or an undead hunter, something else, or some of all of the above. However, I don't always want to play the cleric. Having the DM run an NPC cleric is a nice solution, but one of our DMs feels that you don't need to have a cleric in the party. If I were going out adventuring, I'd certainly bring someone along to tend to my wounds and send the undead back to their graves!
Does anyone else have this problem? How do you go about encouraging other players to play a cleric? Do you even bother?

 

[Oryan77]

I just ask my players if anyone would like to play a Cleric because it would help the group out. Usually if no one plays a cleric, there's at least someone who plays a paladin or druid. I might even try talking someone into multiclassing into a cleric.

 

[Nightfall]

Strap a grenade to someone. That will convince them.

 

[Jdvn1]

Try putting them up against a bunch of undead.

Then casually make a list of Cleric stuff that comes in handy against undead...
And make sure to mention the spell that lets you sneak attack undead.

 

[Nightfall]

Mm yeah forgot about that.

Have a pack of Visages with a bunch of low level vampire spawn and fireshadows attack them. Then we'll see how long they can last...

 

[Mista Collins]

If the group doesn't want to play a cleric, then don't try and convince a player to play a cleric. As a DM, I would rather see my players play the type of character they want to play then have them play something they really don't want to. There are other solutions than a cleric. A bard, a paladin, and a druid can all cast healing spells. Any character with the Use Magic Device spell could use a wand of Cure Light. As for undead, Fighters/barbarians/monks equipped with the right type of weapon (slashing or bludgeoning) to by pass DR does the job. If a horde of skeletons is present, an arcane caster with fireball (or any other area damaging spells) does the job. And then when you put prestige classes into the mix, you get a lot more things that can help solve not have a cleric in the party.

The first objective of any D&D session/campaign/adventure/game is to have fun. Make sure everyone in the group is enjoying themselves.

 

[Emirikol]

Cleric's don't matter much if PC's buy potions

Clerics are the most powerful character class in the game. That usually helps.

If not, just allow them to purchase healing potions at a lower rate and on a regular basis. Clerics really don't matter much to the game anyways once you allow players to purchase potions.

Sure, as a DM, you can throw undead at PC's but it's not like they can't fight them without a cleric..and undead really aren't that interesting of monsters anyways.

jh

 

[Nightfall]

Obviously you've not fought some undead I've seen in other suppliments.

 

[Emirikol]

That's the tough thing I'm sure for a writer. Whether or not to write your scenario assuming people have a cleric or not. There should simply be sidebars to all adventures that say, "If the party has a cleric, double the number of undead."

jh

 

[Arkhandus]

Obviously, your DMs dislike the cleric class enough that they haven't thrown a real fightin' cleric against your PCs before to teach yer group respect fer them. {:^D

Make sure to arrange such a demonstration.

Spontaneous Inflict Serious/Critical Wounds, Harm, Flamestrike, Hold Person, Greater Command, Poison, Contagion, Animate Dead, Create Undead, Righteous Might, Divine Power, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Entropic Shield, Rebuke/Command Undead, maybe Smite or Death Touch from Domains..... Show them what a properly designed evil cleric can do. Armies of undead at his control (and not just skeletons/zombies! Rebuke/Command some Shadows and Wraiths and Wights to help!), melee touch attacks that deal as much or more damage than the fighter's greatsword when toe-to-toe with the evil cleric, diseases and poisons that will cripple the mages (can't cast when paralyzed at Str 0 or Dex 0, now can ya!?), compulsions to drop all PCs prone while the undead legions batter them, superb defenses making even the best archer or swordsman grumble, hard-hitting attacks with a longspear or scythe (not like the cleric really needs metamagic/item creation feats; just give 'em Martial Weapon Proficiency feats and stuff like Improved Initiative or Lightning Reflexes or whatever), armor spikes to discourage grappling and be capable of attacking up-close even while holding a longspear (MWP: Armor Spikes needed)..... Make sure that the evil cleric Bolsters his/her undead legions just before the fight, so even if the party has a cleric or paladin, they'll have a tough time trying to blow away the undead with Turning.