Why are Favoured Souls so Popular?

[I'm A Banana]

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.

Lollerskates!

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!

A PAIR of lollerskates!

Favored souls cast spontaneous cleric spells.

They are better cure-machines than clerics (at least out of the box).

And if you're playing the divine spellcaster for a cure-machine, they're the bestest.

Plus, wings make me feel pretty. I AM PRETTY HUR HUR.

 

[Davelozzi]

I've never seen anyone play a favored soul, so like fafhrd and Felon, I'll have to say that as far as I can tell, they are not.

 

[Glyfair]

I haven't perceived the favored soul's popularity.

Favored Souls are very popular for precreated characters, like in the RPGA. They are much better than clerics for beginning players, because there is less of a learning curve with them.

 

[Thanee]

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

That's a common house rule, and surely makes a lot of sense.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Drowbane]

I see them all the time. What gives?

I've never seen one in play... and would never choose one over the Cleric or the Druid... and as a 3rd option I'd likely try out a Cloistered Cleric.

...

They are better cure-machines than clerics (at least out of the box).

And if you're playing the divine spellcaster for a cure-machine, they're the bestest...

Explain?

 

[I'm A Banana]

Explain?

I don't have my books on me, but can't they spontaneously cast Cure X wounds something like 4 times per day (assuming they know it) when they get the spell, before bonus spells and scrolls and wands are added in? Vs. the cleric casting it once, twice if they have the healing domain, before they have to switch out prepared spells?

That's just a bit more raw healing power out of the box than a cleric, simply because they get more spells/day, and they keep that flexibility of being able to cast them at will.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Forget it, I think I had a brain fart...

 

[kanithardm]

Meet Fergus, favoured soul of Shallam deity of flying without wings, when he gained the wing class feature, Fergus was burned at the stake for being a heretic, woe to me.....

 

[Felon]

That's a common house rule, and surely makes a lot of sense.

It makes sense conceptually, but it's broken mechanically. A favored soul is a sorcerer that gets d8 hit dice, all good saves, knows more spells, gets to wear and cast in armor, and has a number of other class features such as energy resistance and weapon feats. Start letting the FS tap into domain spell lists, many of which cross over into the area reserved for arcanists, and things start getting ugly.

 

[Felon]

I don't have my books on me, but can't they spontaneously cast Cure X wounds something like 4 times per day (assuming they know it) when they get the spell, before bonus spells and scrolls and wands are added in? Vs. the cleric casting it once, twice if they have the healing domain, before they have to switch out prepared spells?

That's just a bit more raw healing power out of the box than a cleric, simply because they get more spells/day, and they keep that flexibility of being able to cast them at will.

Yep, very true. Throw in the PHB II alternate class ability (any spell you cast on an ally cures 3 points of damage per spell level), and it just gets nuts.

Of course, that's just curing hit point damage. The FS can't cover all the heal machine bases. Can't be the cure-all kitchen sink packing lesser restoration, remove blindness/disease/curse/fear/paralysis, etc. much less switch over to being the self-buffing battle beast after the sun goes down. Even if they're underrated by some folks, they're certainly overrated by others.