The Shuckle - 16 CLR/4 FTR Aasimar Aura Tank

[TMTrainer]

A simple idea. Using the new domains I thought I'd try my hand at a tank cleric. Currently leveling him so I don't know precisely how he will function at the highest level, but he should be able to tank everything besides higher reapers. This was designed without past lifes in mind (since I don't have them) so it's probably not the most optimized thing.

The goals are simple. Be able to heal a party (easy enough), heal yourself (through at least Reaper 1), survive as a party tank and in your downtime, do some DC casting to help support/mitigate damage.

And I'm sorry ahead of time if there are any errors in this build, I don't do this often.

Anyway, here you go.

LG Protection Aasimar 5th life

36 Point Build
Str: 8
Dex: 8
Con: 16
Int: 14
Wis: 20 + level ups.
Cha: 12

Leveling Order
1-4 Cleric -> 5 Fighter -> 6-12 Cleric -> 13-15 Fighter -> 16-20 Cleric

Basically...
4 CLR/1 FTR early for Tower Shield Proficency and Combat Expertise
11 CLR/1 FTR to get to 8 BAB
11 CLR/4 FTR to get Imp. Shield Mastery and Shield Deflection.
Then the rest of the levels into Cleric to finish the build.

Feats
1: Quicken, Aasimar: Protection, Deity: Vol
2: Cleric Domain: Luck
3: Shield Mastery
4: Fighter Bonus Feat: Combat Expertise
6: Deity: The Blood is The Life, Empower Healing
9: Maximize Spell
12: Empower Spell
13: Fighter Bonus Feat: Improved Shield Mastery
15: Heighten Spell, Fighter Bonus Feat: Shield Deflection
18: Extend Spell

Obviously, the metamagics can be swapped around however you feel comfortable. Other than that this is pretty tight. Why Vol? It gives you "The Blood is The Life" which is a pretty solid tank cooldown. You can also drop the damage metamagics for the DC increasing feats.

You can choose pretty much any Domain you want. Luck feels like the best tank tree with the Displacement SLA and the +2 DCs patching up the fact you took some fighter levels.

Enhancements:
- Aasimar: 17
-- Core: WIS, Stronger Bonds: Protection, WIS, Stronger Bonds [7]
-- Improved Recovery 1 [9]
-- Divine Purpose [10]
-- Improved Recovery 2, Divine Charge 3/3 [15]
-- Improved Recovery 3, Divine Form [17]

- Radiant Sergent: 36
-- Core: Healing Domain, Pacifism, Positive Energy Burst, Improved Empower Healing, Positive Energy Shield [5]
-- Extra Turning 3/3 [8]
-- Efficient Empower Healing 3/3, Improved Turning 3/3 [17]
-- Intense Healing 3/3 [23]
-- Endless Turning 3/3, Incredible Healing 3/3 [35]
-- Healing Aura [36]

- Stalwart Defender: 27
-- Core: Toughness, Stalwart Defender [2]
-- Improved Stalwart Defender 3/3, Stalwart Defensive Mastery 3/3 [8]
-- Improved Stalwart Defender 3/3, Stalwart Shield Mastery 3/3 [14]
-- Improved Stalwart Defender 3/3, Greater Stalwart Defense 3/3 [20]
-- Greater Stalwart Defense 3/3, Reinforced Armor 3/3, Swift Defense [27]

Seems pretty self explanatory. You can drop a lot from Radiant Servant's healing and go into Warpriest for some bulk or put some points into Divine Servant for an SLA so you can do some damage to single target bosses. If you don't own/like the Aasimar enhancements or if you have racial enhancement points you can distribute those points as you see fit.

Note about Divine Form: Protection: It doesn't automatically update when gaining constitution or when entering Reaper Mode quests. After every quest you should toggle your divine form off, then turn it back on when you get into the quest and finish buffing.

Anyway, how'd I do?

Even if you don't tank with this build, it provides cleric with exceptional bulk. I don't know too much about epic feats and destinies, so I'll leave that blank for now.

NOTE: IF YOUR NEW and don't own Aasimar, Human or Elf would probably be your best bet. Taking the Healing Amplification Enhancements in your racial tree helps a lot with tanking. Depending on how many points you have, you have to sacrifice something with a lower point build, but the only requirement is that you have 14 INT for combat expertise, which will help you tank a lot better at later levels. Other than that, equalize Con and Wis.

[unbongwah]

36 Point Build
Str: 8
Dex: 8
Con: 18
Int: 14
Wis: 20 + level ups.
Cha: 12
Unless my caffeine dep is confusing me, this is 16 + 6 + 16 + 4 = 42 build pts. Perhaps you meant CON 16 instead?

If you're really trying to build for AC, then you should splash wiz or sorc; the +10% AC from Improved Mage Armor for only 4 APs is way too good to pass up, IMO. I took a stab at Aasimar cleric 15 / pal 4 / wiz 1 here (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/490665-Cleric-Tank?p=6032184&viewfull=1#post6032184). Pal instead of ftr is for Divine Grace and extra AC from Bulwark Aura.

[TMTrainer]

Unless my caffeine dep is confusing me, this is 16 + 6 + 16 + 4 = 42 build pts. Perhaps you meant CON 16 instead?

If you're really trying to build for AC, then you should splash wiz or sorc; the +10% AC from Improved Mage Armor for only 4 APs is way too good to pass up, IMO. I took a stab at Aasimar cleric 15 / pal 4 / wiz 1 here (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/490665-Cleric-Tank?p=6032184&viewfull=1#post6032184). Pal instead of ftr is for Divine Grace and extra AC from Bulwark Aura.

Whoops, my mistake. You are correct about 16 Con. I'll fix that now.

Wizard is a tough fit with the enhancements I want, but it's something I've really toyed with. 4 AP is pretty easy to scrounge up with this build. The reason why I didn't include it initially was because this is my first shot at a multiclass build and I didn't want to confuse myself with more that a handful of stuff. Does Improved Mage Armor stack with Combat Expertise?

Paladin... the loss of feats really scared me, so I decided against it. The paladin aura, heal amp and saves lost hits hard but...

Lastly, I just want to make it clear this build isn't designed to main tank (at least in higher end content). It will probably be able to off tank really well. I didn't want to get stuck intimidating for 30 levels (for example, looking at your build you maxed CHA so other than intimidating your going to be strictly blocking and healing), so I went with something a bit more "active" sort of deal. Your idea is probably the stronger tank, but there is far less to do in that build (mine can and will be able to DC cast... not perfectly mind you but CCing half a horde of whateverthehell is still progress).

[unbongwah]

Does Improved Mage Armor stack with Combat Expertise?
Yes. Imp Mage Armor stacks with everything, AFAIK.

Paladin... the loss of feats really scared me, so I decided against it. The paladin aura, heal amp and saves lost hits hard but...
I designed my build for two things: healing and survivability. Protection domain for the AC/PRR/MRR bonuses and Radiant Forcefield SLA; Displacement SLA from Luck is great but it can be UMDed from scrolls or farm a bunch of GS clickies per usual. Pal 4 instead of ftr meant higher AC and much higher saves (extra +3 from Resistance Aura, max of +14 from Div Grace), as well as LoHs to power Light the Dark. I didn't build for DPS at all, so the loss of feats wasn't quite as big a deal. Frankly, your build isn't really built for DPS either, IMO, despite going WIS-based; you didn't invest much into DC bonuses like Spell Focus feats, there's no Divine Disciple caster bonuses, dipping below cleric 17 means no Implosion (Fire Storm is still...not great), etc.

Obviously, I'm not telling you to do what I did. I am telling you to have a clear focus in mind so you don't spread yourself too thin.