Why are Favoured Souls so Popular?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I see them all the time. What gives?

 

[fafhrd]

Must be something in the water there. Never seen one in action.

 

[Dog Moon]

They're not called favored for nothing.

 

[Fishbone]

A charismatic cleric variant that casts more often, spontaneously, and gets resistance, focus, specialization, and flight. Its pretty obvious. They're a very strong and fun class to play.

 

[frankthedm]

People don't mind the MAD as much as it seems? Either that or the heavy duty in game justification for something really powerful looking out for you.

I don't know about other players, but I'd kill a deity's cleric long before i'd roll a Favored Soul.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

If they could draw spells from a deity's domains, I'd be all over the favored soul. Otherwise it just seems boring.

 

[JustKim]

I hear sometimes that people play underpowered classes, such as a class that draws a very narrow spell selection from a utilitarian list and has no domain powers, for roleplaying reasons. The truth is more likely that they suffer from a vitamin deficiency that prevents them from powergaming properly, or that they're hardcore masochists.

 

[Jdvn1]

Speaking as a player of multiple favored souls...

People don't mind the MAD as much as it seems?

When your spells are buff/cure spells (spells with no save), then MAD doesn't matter as much. I see Favored Souls as a bit more combat oriented than Clerics.

 

[Felon]

I haven't perceived the favored soul's popularity. Giving up the clerics all-inclusive spell list, not to mention domain spells, is a pretty big sacrifice. Losing heavy armor proficiency is more minor, but not insignicant.

However, using the PHBII's alternative class ability, if available, certainly does a lot to empower the class.

 

[shilsen]

I hear sometimes that people play underpowered classes, such as a class that draws a very narrow spell selection from a utilitarian list and has no domain powers, for roleplaying reasons. The truth is more likely that they suffer from a vitamin deficiency that prevents them from powergaming properly, or that they're hardcore masochists.

Or they figure that powergaming should involve a bit of a challenge. Anyone can powergame a cleric. Heck, anyone can powergame a favored soul too, with a little more effort. When you can powergame a bard, or even better an aristocrat or an expert, now that's real, ultimate powergaming!

As for why people like favored souls, I think the mixture of having a clerical flavor but being much easier to run spell-wise (fixed spell list, no preparation every day) is also a major selling-point. I prefer playing spellcasters who prepare spells, but I know players for whom that's a downside to a class, not a positive quality.