melee-capable OCC--build input pls

[BhoAh]

About to roll my first 32pt build. I want an Offensive Caster Cleric who can do melee damage with a two-handed weapon with decent DPS and heals. tihocan's Warpriest of Siberys (Cleric 19/Fighter 1) seems to pretty much provide what I'm looking for, but I have a few questions.

tihocan says: "...if you find yourself enjoying insta-kill spells at high level, you may want to increase your Spell Penetration: replace Maximize or Empower Healing by Spell Penetration (on a Human, this would make room for Greater Spell Penetration). Another casting-oriented option, but focused on damage rather than insta-kill, is to take the Empower Spell feat, mostly for deadly Maximized + Empowered Blade Barriers."

Since I haven't played above level 5, I'm not sure how to proceed. Insta-kill and putting out damage (I imagine this means increasing DPS?) both sound good, so do I try to work them both in, or just go one way or the other?

I feel fine about dropping Power Attack, but it still leaves more feats than slots, and I'm confused about what to take when! I'd love to know at which level I should take recommended feats.

Feats I'm interested in:
Toughness
Mental Toughness
Extend
Empower Healing
Empower Spell
Maximize
Quicken
Spell Penetration
Spell Penetration II
Improved Critical: Slashing
Two-Handed Fighting

I keep hearing about the great saves that Paladins have, and am tempted to go Cleric 19/Paladin 1 but I guess the extra feat, str bonus and haste boost that Ftr brings are better for the build, right?

Also, which alignment would you recommend for this build?

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tihocan's Warpriest of Siberys Cleric 19/Fighter 1
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Good, Neutral, Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, Lawful Good
32 pt Human Female
19 Cleric/1 Fighter

Str 16
Dex 10
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 16
Cha 8

Ability increase every 4 levels: All in Wis.

Skills: Max out Concentration, get one rank in Tumble and spend the rest into Balance. On further levels spend your two skill points in Concentration and Balance.

Feats: Toughness (1), Extend (1), Power Attack (2), Empower Healing (3), Maximize (6), Quicken (9), Improved Critical: Slash (12), Two-Handed Fighting (15), Spell Penetration (18)

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I'd like to roll her up asap, so would love as much input as possible! I want to get this right because I'm tired of having to reroll :) Thanks~

[HEroman]

If you are an offensive caster cleric you don't really need to invest too much in melee.
You will be a better cleric if you picked to either be a battle cleric or an offen caster cleric.
One spec is enough

[Dylvish]

If you are an offensive caster cleric you don't really need to invest too much in melee.
You will be a better cleric if you picked to either be a battle cleric or an offen caster cleric.
One spec is enough

QFT. You wont have the stats / feats for trying to do both at same time with any real effectiveness (past level 11-12ish anyway).

[Rusty_Can]

Since I haven't played above level 5, I'm not sure how to proceed. Insta-kill and putting out damage (I imagine this means increasing DPS?) both sound good, so do I try to work them both in, or just go one way or the other?


"Insta-kill" means divine spells such as Slay Living, Destruction and Implosion; these require Spell Penetration checks and, thus, Spell Penetration feats would help. Other damage spells such as Cometfall or Blade Barrier don't check Spell Resistance.



I feel fine about dropping Power Attack,

Then you aren't building a melee-capable character.



I keep hearing about the great saves that Paladins have, and am tempted to go Cleric 19/Paladin 1 but I guess the extra feat, str bonus and haste boost that Ftr brings are better for the build, right?


One paladin level won't provide you that much; you are probably thinking of Divine Grace feat, which allows paladins to add their CHA modifier to saves, but:
- you need 2 paladin levels to get Divine Grace;
- your CHA is only 8: not worth the splash.

[FlyingTurtle]

tihocan says: "...if you find yourself enjoying insta-kill spells at high level, you may want to increase your Spell Penetration: replace Maximize or Empower Healing by Spell Penetration (on a Human, this would make room for Greater Spell Penetration). Another casting-oriented option, but focused on damage rather than insta-kill, is to take the Empower Spell feat, mostly for deadly Maximized + Empowered Blade Barriers."

Since I haven't played above level 5, I'm not sure how to proceed. Insta-kill and putting out damage (I imagine this means increasing DPS?) both sound good, so do I try to work them both in, or just go one way or the other?


Tihocan's quote is out of date (pre Radiant Servant). Everyone needs Emp Healing now.

For feat selection, consider this:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=270986

Personally I find deep spec for instakill is not compatible with melee-capable (need Spell pen + SF:Evo/necro also -1 to break SR due to fighter splash). Direct damage via BB is much easier to achieve.