Clericher (Arcleric?) Build Request

[Wakkander]

So I have a friend and a friend of a friend starting DDO in a couple of days. I have mucked about in DDO for years, but by no means consider myself an expert. I want to roll a new character to run with them to help, but will also be fun in itself. I initially planned for a cleric, as it seemed like a logical support character; but also wanted to be decent DPS, and have some solo capability in case I need to. That is when the idea of an Arcane Archer/Cleric combo came to mind. I have played a cleric before (My first character I ever played to cap), but never an arcane archer.

Looking at the boards I've seen a few similar posts, but none of the options presented there quite clicked with me. Though if the consensus is those are the only options I'll give them another look.

Goals of the build:


Viable DPS for Epic, assuming we get there.
Group healing, enough for heroic, and in a perfect world, epic.
Some decent measure of survivability.
Modest gear requirements. (Been playing for years, but off and on casually, don't have a huge pool of resources to draw on)
Some solo capability if possible.


Alternatively, I'll take suggestions for some fun cleric builds that meet (or mostly meet) the above that aren't archery based.

Hopefully someone will have some sage advice to offer on the matter, thanks.

[Jiirix]

So I have a friend and a friend of a friend starting DDO in a couple of days. I have mucked about in DDO for years, but by no means consider myself an expert. I want to roll a new character to run with them to help, but will also be fun in itself. I initially planned for a cleric, as it seemed like a logical support character; but also wanted to be decent DPS, and have some solo capability in case I need to. That is when the idea of an Arcane Archer/Cleric combo came to mind. I have played a cleric before (My first character I ever played to cap), but never an arcane archer.

Looking at the boards I've seen a few similar posts, but none of the options presented there quite clicked with me. Though if the consensus is those are the only options I'll give them another look.

Goals of the build:


Viable DPS for Epic, assuming we get there.
Group healing, enough for heroic, and in a perfect world, epic.
Some decent measure of survivability.
Modest gear requirements. (Been playing for years, but off and on casually, don't have a huge pool of resources to draw on)
Some solo capability if possible.


Alternatively, I'll take suggestions for some fun cleric builds that meet (or mostly meet) the above that aren't archery based.

Hopefully someone will have some sage advice to offer on the matter, thanks.

Update 29 cleric Arcane Archer? Challenge accepted..
Elf or halfelf can get the racial AA tree, I think that one is set in stone.
You don’t need to go pure cleric to get the racial Arcane Archer capstone, that leaves some room for multiclassing. 17 level cleric or 18 favoite soul lets you use mass heals, if you think those are needed in future raid healing I wouldn’t splash any deeper. (As I haven't seen the legendary raids yet I can't tell what is needed healing wise, but I am sure 17 levels of cleric / 18 soul is always on the save side.) You can go max WIS for the DCs of your AA imbues but that will weaken your damage output. Or DEX based taking the grace or Improved Weapon Finesse enhancement. At least one level of ranger gets you bow strenght (to feat expensive without ranger levels) and you can push your STR with Divine Might.

Elf 17cleric/2ranger/1fighter with AA capstone, favorite weapon bow, racial weapon bow and manyshot should be able to heal anything in game and deliver some non-trivial DPS from a safe distance (where I prefer to stay when raid healing anyway).

But I don't like the radiant servant and divine deciple tree and they don't do much for you when you are a ranged toon. You can use the divine deciple SLAs OR your bow, your party members will be to far away for the radiant servant healing burst or the aura. Why not go 18favorite soul and two levels of ranger? You can get haste from warpriest that way (nice for a party without a caster) and the Archon and Crown of Retribution form Angel of Vengeance will do more for a ranged build than anything in DD or RS does.

The easier way to build a "suporter" for duo/group play is a bard imho. My 15bard/3fighter/2rogue swashbuchler is better than any divine DPS build I did so far. Can heal, has evasion, good CC, good solo play, good DPS, does all traps and works with thrown weapons too. The INT/CHA//DEX to hit and damage enhancement makes multi role bard build so easy to pull off.

[unbongwah]

I've been experimenting with cleric-based archers for a very long time (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/258785-The-Radiant-Archer-%28newbie-friendly-28-pt-cleric-AA%29). :cool: I've also recently been theorycrafting druid-based AAs (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/468073-Adventures-in-Theorycrafting-Shake-n-Quake-%28druid-AA%29).

The latest revamps to AA and DWS make archery more powerful, but they also make it more backloaded, IMHO. And the basic challenges of this build concept remain the same; namely you are both stat- and feat-constrained, particularly if you want both a high dmg mod and high DCs on your AA imbues like Paralyzing.

Honestly, I think my "Shake `n Quake" build is too ambitious; it's certainly not newbie-/first-life-friendly! I think "ranged DPS + healing" would be a more practical combo. After all, as long as there's no party wipe, no one cares if the cleric hangs in the back pew-pewing! ;)

[Jiirix]

Honestly, I think my "Shake `n Quake" build is too ambitious; it's certainly not newbie-/first-life-friendly! I think "ranged DPS + healing" would be a more practical combo. After all, as long as there's no party wipe, no one cares if the cleric hangs in the back pew-pewing! ;)

But the healing over time mixes better with a ranged weapon. I often had to stop manyshoting because the group needed more healing.

[Wakkander]

I've been experimenting with cleric-based archers for a very long time (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/258785-The-Radiant-Archer-%28newbie-friendly-28-pt-cleric-AA%29). :cool: I've also recently been theorycrafting druid-based AAs (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/468073-Adventures-in-Theorycrafting-Shake-n-Quake-%28druid-AA%29).

The latest revamps to AA and DWS make archery more powerful, but they also make it more backloaded, IMHO. And the basic challenges of this build concept remain the same; namely you are both stat- and feat-constrained, particularly if you want both a high dmg mod and high DCs on your AA imbues like Paralyzing.

Honestly, I think my "Shake `n Quake" build is too ambitious; it's certainly not newbie-/first-life-friendly! I think "ranged DPS + healing" would be a more practical combo. After all, as long as there's no party wipe, no one cares if the cleric hangs in the back pew-pewing! ;)

The druid is an interesting idea, its a class I've not played much and often forget about. Your build for it seems rather intense, but something I'll have to take another look at when I get around to a druid life on my main.

Jiirix, any suggested stat array (32pt) for the favored soul?

Thanks for the advice guys, gives me some things to consider while the servers are down.

[unbongwah]

But the healing over time mixes better with a ranged weapon. I often had to stop manyshoting because the group needed more healing.
True, that's one of the major downsides to any healer / archer combo; it's rare that you can go 20 seconds without someone shouting, "HJEAL ME!!1!" The passive healing from Radiant Servant would help offset that, although it means giving up Slayer Arrow.

[Jiirix]

The druid is an interesting idea, its a class I've not played much and often forget about. Your build for it seems rather intense, but something I'll have to take another look at when I get around to a druid life on my main.

Jiirix, any suggested stat array (32pt) for the favored soul?

Thanks for the advice guys, gives me some things to consider while the servers are down.

To be honest: No, I am looking for the next Lamannia time to test max-WIS vs. max-DEX vs. max. STR.

(If the new content stays like it is with very high mob AC max. STR is not an option anymore because not hitting mobs hurts to bad.)

I want to test a max. Wisdom / max. Enhancement DC CC BowSoul with Zen-Archery and a max. Dexterity / max. elemtal imbue Bowsoul with Grace. Things would be far easier with more feats and APs...

[unbongwah]

I want to test a max. Wisdom / max. Enhancement DC CC BowSoul with Zen-Archery and a max. Dexterity / max. elemtal imbue Bowsoul with Grace. Things would be far easier with more feats and APs...
I only half-jokingly told a RL friend our next DDO duo should be a pair of monkchers: one of us plays a max-DEX shurimonkcher like jakeelala's (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/463636-Some-New-Thrower-Builds) while the other plays a max-WIS build; i.e., one of us focuses on DPS while the other focuses on CC. The best of both worlds! :cool:

[Jiirix]

This is a cleric healer build with full points in Radiant Servant for Burst, Aura &. co. and a solid CC option from paralyzing arrows:

Radiant Archer
15/4/1 Cleric/Ranger/Wizard
Human


Level Order

1. Ranger. . . . . 6. Wizard . . . . 11. Cleric . . . . 16. Cleric
2. Ranger. . . . . 7. Cleric. . . . .12. Cleric. . . . .17. Cleric
3. Cleric . . . . .8. Cleric . . . . 13. Cleric . . . . 18. Cleric
4. Ranger. . . . . 9. Cleric. . . . .14. Cleric. . . . .19. Cleric
5. Ranger. . . . .10. Cleric. . . . .15. Cleric. . . . .20. Cleric


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .+4. . . .4: WIS
Dexterity . . . 16. . . .+4. . . .8: WIS
Constitution. . 14. . . .+4. . . 12: WIS
Intelligence. . 10. . . .+4. . . 16: WIS
Wisdom. . . . . 18. . . .+4. . . 20: WIS
Charisma. . . . 10. . . .+4. . . 24: WIS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: WIS

Skills
. . . . . R .R. C. R .R. W .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C .C
. . . . . 1 .2. 3. 4 .5. 6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Concent . 4 .1. 1. 1 .1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .23
Spellcr . 2 .½. . .1½ 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 .1 .23
Heal. . . 4 .1. 1. 1 .1. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .22
UMD . . . 2 .½. . .1. ½ .½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . . . . .10
Diplo . . . . . 1. . .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 . . 1. 1. 2. .8
Spot. . . 4 .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Jump. . . 4 .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Perform . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Tumble. . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .28 .6. 3. 7 .7. 3 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5
. . . . .28 .7. 3. 7 .7. 3 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5


Feats

.1. . . . : Zen Archery
.1 Human. : Point Blank Shot
.1 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Undead
.3. . . . : Empower Healing Spell
.3 Deity. : Follower of: Silver Flame
.6. . . . : Spell Focus: Enchantment
.6 Wizard : Quicken Spell
.9. . . . : Manyshot
11 Deity. : Child of: Silver Flame
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Ranged
15. . . . : Improved Precise Shot
18. . . . : Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Positive
27 Epic . : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Harbinger of Chaos
30 Epic . : Arcane Insight
30 Legend : Scion of: Feywild


Spells

Cleric
Cure Light Wounds, Cause Fear, Command, Divine Favor, Nightshield, Remove Fear
Cure Moderate Wounds, Resist Energy, Spawn Screen, Hold Person, Remove Paralysis, Soundburst
Cure Serious Wounds, Remove Blindness, Blindness, Bestow Curse, Remove Disease, Remove Curse
Cure Critical Wounds, Freedom of Movement, Divine Power, Death Ward, Neutralize Poison, Panacea
Mass Cure Light Wounds, Greater Command, True Seeing, Spell Resistance, Divine Punishment, Break Enchantment
Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Heal, Harm, Undeath to Death, Blade Barrier
Mass Cure Serious Wounds, Mass Restoration, Resurrection, Greater Restoration
Mass Cure Critical Wounds, Symbol of Death, Mass Death Ward



Enhancements (80 AP)

Radiant Servant (36 AP)
Healing Domain, Pacifism, Positive Energy Burst, Improved Empower Healing
Wand Mastery III, Altruism I
Efficient Empower Healing III
Intense Healing III, Unyielding Sovereignty, Wisdom
Incredible Healing III, Wisdom
Positive Energy Aura, Cure Focus

Arcane Archer (28 AP)
Arcane Archer, Morphic Arrows
Conjure Arrows, Shock Arrows
Force Arrows III, Flaming Arrows
Terror Arrows, Soul Magic, Elemental Damage, Wisdom
Banishing Arrows, Paralyzing Arrows, Elemental Damage, Wisdom

Deepwood Stalker (7 AP)
Far Shot, Sneak Attack
Increased Empathy II, Versatile Empathy II
Improved Weapon Finesse

Human (3 AP)
Damage Boost, Wisdom

Warpriest (3 AP)
Smite Foe
Righteous Weapons

Harper Agent (3 AP)
Agent of Good I
Harper Enchantment


Destiny (24 AP)

Shiradi Champion
Healing Spring I, Illusion of Well Being I, Wisdom
Prism, Pin II, Wisdom
Rainbow, Otto's Whistler II
Double Rainbow
Track I, Stand and Deliver, Nerve Venom III
Audience with the Queen

[Selvera]

I've been wondering this for a bit, I noticed above that you took Incredible healing 3, which should raise your max caster level with cure spells by 3, and then took cure focus which removes your max caster level with cure spells. However you only need intense healing 1 to get cure focus. Does that mean you just wasted 2 points?

Is this math correct?

So does that mean your max caster level with something like Cure Minor Wounds cast at level 30:
Usual: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (Max 5) = 1d6+7
With Incredible Healing 3: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (Max 5+3 = 8) = 1d6+10
With Incredible Healing 3 and Cure focus: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (No Maximum) = 1d6+32 (+3 more with Intense Healing 3)
With Incredible Healing 1 and Cure focus: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (No Maximum) = 1d6+32 (+3 more with Intense Healing 3)

I'm thinking about my next cleric/arcane archer character and if I want to focus more or healing or damage, I'm considering a balance:
Elf 20 -> Dex to damage, Skill, Arcane Archer
Radiant Servant 36 -> Aura, Cure Focus, Endless Turning, Positive Energy Shield
Arcane Archer 24 -> Mettaline Arrows, Paralyzing Arrows, 3x elemental damage, Force Arrows, Soul Magic (Too bad I can't fit in aligned arrows, maybe I should switch out pos shield for aligned arrows? Pos shield sounds pretty weak for a core 5).

[Jiirix]

I've been wondering this for a bit, I noticed above that you took Incredible healing 3, which should raise your max caster level with cure spells by 3, and then took cure focus which removes your max caster level with cure spells. However you only need intense healing 1 to get cure focus. Does that mean you just wasted 2 points?

Is this math correct?

So does that mean your max caster level with something like Cure Minor Wounds cast at level 30:
Usual: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (Max 5) = 1d6+7
With Incredible Healing 3: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (Max 5+3 = 8) = 1d6+10
With Incredible Healing 3 and Cure focus: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (No Maximum) = 1d6+32 (+3 more with Intense Healing 3)
With Incredible Healing 1 and Cure focus: Heal 1d6+2, +1 per caster level (No Maximum) = 1d6+32 (+3 more with Intense Healing 3)

I'm thinking about my next cleric/arcane archer character and if I want to focus more or healing or damage, I'm considering a balance:
Elf 20 -> Dex to damage, Skill, Arcane Archer
Radiant Servant 36 -> Aura, Cure Focus, Endless Turning, Positive Energy Shield
Arcane Archer 24 -> Mettaline Arrows, Paralyzing Arrows, 3x elemental damage, Force Arrows, Soul Magic (Too bad I can't fit in aligned arrows, maybe I should switch out pos shield for aligned arrows? Pos shield sounds pretty weak for a core 5).


Intense Healing: Your Positive Energy Spells are cast at +1/+2/+3 caster level.
Cure Focus: Your Cure Wounds spells have no maximum caster level.

Positive Energy Spells include heal (tested) and burst/aura (untested). I posted more "Healer with Bow" builds here:https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/471580-Bowhealer-A-Divine-Arcane-Archer-with-legendary-CC

At the moment I am favoring 13cleric/6monk/1X because I hardly use regular mass cures anyway and 10kStars helps with the CC/elemetal damage a lot.

[Selvera]

I was more comparing Incredible healing with cure focus,not intense healing since it's obvious that it should stack with intense. However it happens that Incredible Healing also states positive energy spells as well, so there is a point. However:

The wiki lists Heal and Mass Heal as cure spells -> so I would expect them to have no limit with cure focus.
Does Cocoon count as a positive energy spell? That would be pretty cool.

10k stars is an interesting idea.