to fix clerics, give them wizard BAB?

[Destil]

PH, p32, top paragraph:

If a domain spell is not on the Cleric Spells list, a cleric can only prepair it in his domain slot.

 

[jgbrowning]

thanks

you know this is the second really stupid mistake ive made it two days. getting to be annoying

thanks again,


joe b.

 

[Jack Daniel]

I've never heard of anyone complaining about the cleric stealing the show with a massive display of metamechanical strength. The other players are usually too glad to have the healer around to whine.

 

[S'mon]

Almost everyone agrees that clerics are very powerful, some even say too powerful. What I'm wondering is, would it break them to give them a wizard's base attack bonus instead?

This would result in a minor penalty to hit over the 20 levels, maxing out at a +5 difference at level 20. This would also dock them 1 attack from level 8 onwards.

Level 1 - no change
Level 6 - +1
Level 8 - +2 (and minus 1 attack)
Level 12 - +3
Level 16 - +4
Level 20 - +5

What do you folks think? Does this hamper the cleric enough, or too much? Is it balance where balance is due, or should they be balanced elsewhere? Should they be rebalanced at all? Who are these people!?

-S

I like the cleric's back-up Fighter role, I think the problem with them is their overpowered spellcasting. In 1e-2e they were the most powerful class, but in 3e it gets a bit ridiculous - a well-played Cleric fights as well as a Fighter (with buffs), spellcasts nearly as well as a mage, and Heals! Now, this seems to have been a deliberate choice in 3e to encourage people to play an unpopular class. If you want to lessen their power, I'd recommend limited spell lists appropriate to their deity - the 2e Complete Priest's Handbook has lots of great ideas. For clerics of peaceful gods, better spells but reduced armour & weapon proficiencies.
Another possibility would be to replace the Cleric with a Healer (Vivimancer?) class, a non-religious spellcaster oriented towards Healing magic. There's no particular reason why Healing and Religion have to go together in D&D. Hm, I think I might have a go at that...