D&D 5E Why ever play a cleric?

[procproc]

I guess I'm seeing it completely different. I'm seeing the OP ask, "Why on earth would you want to play a cleric. They're worse than X, Y, and Z". People responed with, "Here's why, A, B, and C." And the OP replying with "But that doesn't do as much DPR in melee, so you're not being logical or making sense." I.e., the "you're not doing it right".

It was mostly the replies in the first page or two, that seemed to mockingly answer "Why play this class?" with, effectively, "Why play D&D at all?" that came off as both unhelpful and not addressing the question at all. I think it's a reasonable question, even if all of the OP's implicit desires in playing a character weren't obvious.

This is you simply being butthurt because I didn't ask the question so gently, precisely, and politely as to not disrupt your delicate sensibilities.

This, on the other hand, is Not Cool. Don't be a jerk, especially when the thread is just starting to turn into a legitimate conversation.

 

[Sacrosanct]

This is you simply being butthurt because I didn't ask the question so gently, precisely, and politely as to not disrupt your delicate sensibilities.

It's responses like this as to why I don't think you're nearly the victim like you think you are here.

and you didn't ask the question not gently enough or whatever. You asked a completely different question, which has been pointed out to you repeatedly.

 

[krakistophales]

It's responses like this as to why I don't think you're nearly the victim like you think you are here.

and you didn't ask the question not gently enough or whatever. You asked a completely different question, which has been pointed out to you repeatedly.

Never thought I was a victim, though I know for sure that the majority of these responses have been mocking or sarcastic steaming piles. Some have been helpful, and if people would just stay on topic instead of crying in outrage as to why I would question their precious preferred class, then this discussion might actually get somewhere. I'm already considering playing a tempest cleric over an EK if I wanted to go the thunder and lightning gish route, which is a result of this thread. So let's keep things on the up and up, and how about just answering my questions as best as people can, rather than replying with some undeserved disdain because I DARE QUESTION WHY CLERICS ARE A WORTHWHILE CLASS.

 

[feartheminotaur]

Then here's a crazy idea: Ask it that way. Your thread title and initial responses were not about min/maxing, they asked about a player's personal rationale for playing a class. Then you ignored/dismissed subjective replies as objectively wrong, because...the "EK gets more attacks" or whatever.

You were not seeking advice, or asking a question, you were looking for an argument, and when called on it, shifted the goalposts to "I was just asking about min/maxing". Instead of posting "My opinion is this. It is the only correct opinion. Prove me wrong", please ask a question or seek opinions: "How do I min/max a cleric to be on par with X?", "What have people seen at their tables?", etc.

So, I think you know exactly why everyone is acting "salty", despite your disingenuous claim otherwise.

 

[krakistophales]

Clerics are surprisingly strong. You wouldn't think it to look at them, but they can do some nice offense with all the other things.

When I played my cleric, I used spiritual guardians while dodging along with spiritual weapon to take out an entire group of enemies after they took down the party. Spiritual weapon with spiritual guardians does a lot of damage to a group attacking you. If you get to use spiritual guardians, blast with a cantrip or direct damage spell or strike with weapon, and use spiritual weapon, you're doing quite a bit of offense. You get to do this offense while healing yourself and having other nifty abilities from your cleric domain which can be surprisingly effective like disadvantage on an attack for blinding someone or boosting their attack with the war domain.

The cleric as a main character gets 9 levels of spellcasting, medium to heavy armor proficiency, d8 hit points, and domain abilities that usually allow you to use all three types of action (action, bonus action, and reaction).

I even sent my shadow (trickery domain) ahead on a road to disrupt an ambush. It was walking in their midst attacking them, while I hammered away from range with the spells emanating from the shadow.

Some people avoid the cleric because they don't like the deity aspect of the character. As far as power goes, the cleric is quite powerful, though very focused. I'm hoping in the future they release some D&D religion books to expand on the cleric.

This is what I'm talking about when I mean a useful, pertinent response.

 

[krakistophales]

Then here's a crazy idea: Ask it that way. Your thread title and initial responses were not about min/maxing, they asked about a player's personal rationale for playing a class. Then you ignored/dismissed subjective replies as objectively wrong, because...the "EK gets more attacks" or whatever.

You were not seeking advice, or asking a question, you were looking for an argument, and when called on it, shifted the goalposts to "I was just asking about min/maxing". Instead of posting "My opinion is this. It is the only correct opinion. Prove me wrong", please ask a question or seek opinions: "How do I min/max a cleric to be on par with X?", "What have people seen at their tables?", etc.

So, I think you know exactly why everyone is acting "salty", despite your disingenuous claim otherwise.

This is the definition of a mocking, sarcastic, useless steaming pile response.

 

[Ganymede81]

This is the definition of a mocking, sarcastic, useless steaming pile response.

Whoah... let's try to keep the thread focused on the OPs topic.

 

[feartheminotaur]

This is the definition of a mocking, sarcastic, useless steaming pile response.

I agree. Oh, by "This" you meant my post, not you're response. Ah, well, the English language is fickle.

But, no, it's not.

I think a request to frame your question correctly (and politely) so we are all on the same page as to what you are asking and want answered is a pretty useful suggestion. You get less useless responses that way.

 

[mellored]

I'm already considering playing a tempest cleric over an EK if I wanted to go the thunder and lightning gish route, which is a result of this thread.

Depending on how gish-y you want, consider multi-classing.

Clerics are spell heavy, and EK is weapon heavy.

Or EK/Wizard, if your not interested in the healing spells. Then you keep Int as your casting stat and have better blast spells.

 

[krakistophales]

I agree. Oh, by "This" you meant my post, not you're response. Ah, well, the English language is fickle.

But, no, it's not.

I think a request to frame your question correctly (and politely) so we are all on the same page as to what you are asking and want answered is a pretty useful suggestion. You get less useless responses that way.

I'm sorry I didn't instantly fall for the love of your life, the cleric class, at first glance. I just wanted some suggestions or perhaps explanation as to why people would play this class and choose the melee domains over a fighter or paladin, or why people would choose the casterish domains over just being an arcane caster.

Seems like common sense is a fickles mistress as well, Tokies, because other people right on their first post managed to answer the question with useful, pertinent information that can easily convince someone that cleric builds are an equal or superior option to a melee or arcane class. You, on the other hand, seem to be more worried about telling me how you could've married a supermodel or been a rock star rather than answer anything having to do with the question. BTW, what makes you think you COULD marry a supermodel OR have been a rock star, much less both?