Why don't clerics get Fox's Cunning or Cat's Grace?

[Zzyzx]

2nd level cleric spells include buffs for STR, CON, WIS, and CHA, but not INT or DEX.

Why do you think that is?

 

[Crothian]

Because clerics have enough going for them already.

 

[Zzyzx]

Because clerics have enough going for them already.

But why these particular four ability scores to buff then? Being smart or "dodgy" fits less with the cleric mold than the others?

 

[kaomera]

But why these particular four ability scores to buff then? Being smart or "dodgy" fits less with the cleric mold than the others?

Yeah, pretty much. STR and CON are traditional (combat) Buff targets, WIS and CHA are important to the Cleric class. INT is for Wizards (and Rogues) and DEX is for Rogues (right after INT). It's true that a lot of other classes would benefit from +4 DEX, but if you're going to drop two abilities, those are the ones that a) aren't really "prime" for Clerics or "fighty", IMHO.

OTOAA, switching out which four where available by deity could be interesting...

 

[Nifft]

Because all the gods hate trickster archtypes.

Cheers, -- N

 

[AnonymousOne]

Even good ol' Olidamara?

 

[Nifft]

Even good ol' Olidamara?

Hates to be upstaged.

-- N

PS: But I'd like to update my original thought: "All the gods hate a smart-alec trickster archetype."

 

[Darklone]

Clerics are dumb and slow turtles, they don't need these spells.

*engaging raging cleric player dodge*

 

[Zzyzx]

Clerics are dumb and slow turtles, they don't need these spells.

*engaging raging cleric player dodge*

How did you know I was playing a Bar 1/Clr X character?

A barbarian cleric of Kord isn't a slow turtle though. I hope not anyway.

 

[Pickaxe]

IMHO, I think "Why not Dex?" goes back to the four iconic classes sort of occupying four figurative corners, where wizards (or magic-users) and fighters were diametrically opposed, as were clerics and rogues. So, fighters typically had high Str and low Int, wizards had low Str and high Int, rogues had high Dex and low Wis, and clerics had high Wis and low Dex.

I can't say I've seen any designer put in print that this was the way it was set up, but it always seemed that way to me.

"Why not Int?" really is about "Why Wis and Cha?"; the answer to the latter should be obvious, but there's also no particular class need for a cleric to be able to buff Int.

--Axe