The Contemplative PrC for Clerics

[the Jester]

A character imc took the prc, and she was the toughest pc in the group; however, she was also the highest-level, and interestingly enough the most multiclassed (ranger/rogue/cleric/assassin/contemplative/monk by the end of the period that group was playing).

I think it's okay, and a lot better than some of the other prc's in dotf.

 

[Vecna]

I have actually used this class to simulate one of Mystra's Chosen for a PC... the real Chosen abilities were not balanced with the rest of the party.

There are still the REAL chosen... Elminster etc. but this guy is now becoming a Lesser Chosen of Mystra.

I read in a previous post you are interested in Mysticism & Celerity. While Mystra can grant Mysticism as prestige domains (she's NG), I seriously doubt that Celerity could be in her portfolio.

For the prestige domains associated to the various FR deities, go here

 

[Crothian]

Is your Oozemaster a good character or Evil? The PrC has always seemed on the Evil side to me...

He's actually true Neutral, but the party I hang with is good.

 

[loviatarfrostbringer]

The class is nice only because of the extra domains and the immunity to poison. The lay on hands is a joke compared to a paladin. The slippery mind is fair, mostly cuz your Will save will be atrocious anyway. And the SR is a real joke at 10 + contemplative level...it would take too many epic feats to increase it to a respectable level.

I still took it anywho for role-playing desicions, but I feel I got hosed compared to the hospitaler in my group who got bonus feats and + spell casting levels and something special at every level. I didn't.

 

[FANGO]

For a noncombat (that includes one that doesnt want to turn indead) cleric, it is a pretty excellent prc. The immunities and prestige domains are very nice. Also, (I think) it is the only prc that grants your choice of prestige domain at 1st level. This will of course help a cleric, but where the REAL fun comes is when you give a single level of contemplative to a bard or sorceror. Bards have pretty good skill points, and knowledge as a class skill, and will have good charisma. Sorcerors have far worse skills and don't have knowledge religion as a class skill (normally, at least), but still have excellent charisma. If you take the mysticism domain as a sorceror or bard, you will get a massive bonus to all of your saves...i had a bard who was 20th level at one point who had saves in the neighborhood of 26/36/38. you also get 1 level of clerical casting ability (not a big deal, but it might be nice to have an extra couple spells here and there every once in a while), and a little boost to your base will save, and immunity to all disease (which is probably your worse save in either case - fortitude). So, i would most definitely say that contemplative is worth taking in a lot of cases.

 

[Vecna]

If you take the mysticism domain as a sorceror or bard, you will get a massive bonus to all of your saves...i had a bard who was 20th level at one point who had saves in the neighborhood of 26/36/38. you also get 1 level of clerical casting ability (not a big deal, but it might be nice to have an extra couple spells here and there every once in a while), and a little boost to your base will save, and immunity to all disease (which is probably your worse save in either case - fortitude). So, i would most definitely say that contemplative is worth taking in a lot of cases.

And don't forget you add the Mysticism spells to your known spells. 9 spells for free!

 

[mikebr99]

And don't forget you add the Mysticism spells to your known spells. 9 spells for free!

This is NOT the case with Bards or Sorcerers. The +1 spellcasting level is only added to an existing divine class... if you don't have an existing divine class, you start one!

 

[Vecna]

This is NOT the case with Bards or Sorcerers. The +1 spellcasting level is only added to an existing divine class... if you don't have an existing divine class, you start one!

Can you tell me how the Prestige Domain and Spells per Day Contemplative abilities are related?

You advance in spellcasting as a divine spellcaster, but you can access the domain as an arcane spellcaster (page 77).

A Sorcerer gets the Divination domain when he takes the Divine Oracle PrC, and the entries (page 55/57) for Prestige Domain for Contemplative and Divine Oracle are very similar (both refer to daily domain spells, which a Sorcerer doesn't have).

 

[mikebr99]

Can you tell me... <snip>

Hi Vecna.
See my 2nd post in this thread on how the Contemplative works W.R.T. a spellcaster other then a divine one... Basically if you weren't one before, you are now, starting at 1st level (as a 1st level Contemplative).

 

[tarkin]

1) A lot of you are not understanding the Contemplative. Contemplative levels MUST be DIVINE in nature, they can never add spells or magic ability to an Arcane Caster.

As per the FAQ's clear explanation, The only two classes from Defenders of the faith that add levels to Arcane Caster are Sacred Exorcist and Divine Oracle Usine these clases you can in fact add the 9 free spells and the Domain powers to an Arcane Wizard, but only for the Domains Exorcism and Diviniation. Note neither of these Domains have healing spells.

2) A Contemplative CAN add class levels to a Druid, thereyby giving them Domain abilities and Domain spells. Very cool.