Level Up (A5E) Sun Priest Cleric Optimization Recommendation

[Distracted DM]

It also depends what you do with that destiny, and whether you use the inspiration. I took Coming of Age with my Warlock, appropriate for a character that started out young with no idea of where they fit in the with the world. However, I'm not using my inspiration across multiple sessions, as I haven't needed to and prefer to keep it in reserve for a failed save. The big advantage of Excellence is that you can turn that inspiration into +5 on an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw - that's better than just getting advantage, unless you allow the advantage as a reroll after a failed roll, as the +5 is supposed to be selected before the roll. As a DM, I'd be inclined to allow after the roll, to make good use of that limited resource (inspiration).

I guess if you have a destiny that gives inspiration rarely you'll hold onto it, whereas a destiny that gives it a lot more often means you can use it more often.

 

[Tessarael]

I guess if you have a destiny that gives inspiration rarely you'll hold onto it, whereas a destiny that gives it a lot more often means you can use it more often.

Maybe so. I do agree that a destiny like Coming of Age is unlikely to give inspiration more than once per session.

 

[Metalith]

Worked with my ST for an early character stat roll and got these as my stats for creation:
7
10
13
15
16
18

How would I start with Heavy Armor? Since at level 1 I can do unarmored defense or with medium & shield proficiency?

 

[Tessarael]

The Warpriest archetype for Cleric gets heavy armor proficiency and martial weapon proficiency at level 1.

For starting equipment, you have 125 gp as a Cleric, which is not enough to afford heavy armor quite yet (hauberk costs 150gp). You could go with scale mail (medium armor 50gp) and shield for AC 16 + Dexterity modifier (max. +2). For that reason, you might want to avoid assigning the ability score of 7 to Dexterity, or just suffer the penalty and switch to heavy armor as soon as possible. If you assigned the 13 to Dexterity, you'd have AC 17. You'd need an extra +50gp or so to be able to afford heavy armor + other basic gear - for example a medium shield is 20gp + 5gp for your holy emblem on your shield.

For abilities, I would assign them as follows: Wisdom 18, Constitution 16, Strength 15, and the rest as you see fit.

If your ability rolls don't already include the +1 to two ability scores from your background, then you could go with Wisdom 18, Constitution 17 (aiming for the Tenacious feat for +1 Constitution and proficiency in Constitution saves at level 4), Strength 15, and Dexterity 14 (for starting AC 18 with medium armor + shield).

 

[Metalith]

Okay. Yea, but I'm going for a Sun Priest. So Warpriest is not an option for me.

 

[Metalith]

No, the rolls are pure dice no +1s have been added to anything yet.

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Okay. Yea, but I'm going for a Sun Priest. So Warpriest is not an option for me.

then unless you start with another class that has heavy armor proficiency (e.g. fighter), i think you're out of luck.

 

[Metalith]

Would a Str 10 be okay. After talking a few of the other players most we have a brain character and a beat stick and both have said both are going to dump cha. So thinking about putting 15 in Cha and pull of a face abilities as well. Or would well Str 10 cause issues with wearing medium armor and using a shield

 

[W'rkncacnter]

Would a Str 10 be okay. After talking a few of the other players most we have a brain character and a beat stick and both have said both are going to dump cha. So thinking about putting 15 in Cha and pull of a face abilities as well. Or would well Str 10 cause issues with wearing medium armor and using a shield

you should be fine for the shield, but certain medium armors have a strength requirement - 11 for breastplate, 13 for half plate, 14 for scale mail (all assuming steel). you should be fine to start if you take a chain shirt or brigandine, but just be careful if you wanna upgrade.

 

[Tessarael]

With Strength 10, your best medium armor options are Chain Shirt (50gp) AC 13 + Dex. mod. (max. 2), and later Elven Breastplate (1200gp) AC 14 + Dex. mod. (max. 2).

With Strength 14+, your best medium armor options are Scale Mail (50gp) AC 14 + Dex. mod. (max. 2), and later Half Plate (750gp) AC 15 + Dex. mod. (max. 2). Note that both of these give you disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) rolls, whereas the above armors for Strength 10 do not.