Cleric Domains: Bravo

[Bacab]

As a returning player (about a year and a half away from game), when I returned, Clerics now had domains.

I quickly did a Bard life (well Human Racial TR) and decided I wanted to try out these domains.

I picked the "Luck" domain and I have been very happy with it.

But I can't lie, I stared at the DDO Wiki page for about 3 hours while perusing the forums.

Devs, you did a great job with these domains. They all seem very good and make me want to try so many different builds on cleric for my racial TRs.

I want to do the Q-Staff god with War Domain, then again, maybe knowledge and be a trapper too and go INT to hit/damage.

My point is, there are so many really cool builds where a new Religion and these domains can be leveraged to these different builds.

Bravo!

[SpartanKiller13]

I agree! They're one of my favorite new things in DDO.

I wish they were a little more balanced though, some are pretty clearly stronger than others. Like who will ever use Protection?

[Grace_ana]

I agree! They're one of my favorite new things in DDO.

I wish they were a little more balanced though, some are pretty clearly stronger than others. Like who will ever use Protection?

Hubby is trying out a Protection life this time and having lots of fun with it. He's on a quest to try all the domains. Protection is nice for buffing/helping the group.

[unbongwah]

I wish they were a little more balanced though, some are pretty clearly stronger than others. Like who will ever use Protection?
AC heal-tank (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/490665-Cleric-Tank?p=6036517&viewfull=1#post6036517). Whether that's a good use of one's time / char slot is another matter. :cool:

[SpartanKiller13]

Hubby is trying out a Protection life this time and having lots of fun with it. He's on a quest to try all the domains. Protection is nice for buffing/helping the group.


AC heal-tank (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/490665-Cleric-Tank?p=6036517&viewfull=1#post6036517). Whether that's a good use of one's time / char slot is another matter. :cool:

I should have expected there to be something XD y'all are wonderful.

Can either of you argue that it's the best domain for that job though? Fun is a separate thing, and if you're enjoying it that takes priority; but here I'm arguing for optimization lol.

The tank I'm currently building is Animal domain, for the HP (302 @30) mostly. Con boost is nice for ES shenanigans too. Will probably have terrible AC though so I didn't even consider that lol.

Speaking of, does anyone have useful numbers for Intimidate requirements? I'm looking around 125 without HGS/LGS on a first life with heavy Con investment (roughly equal Con/Cha), with potential to hit 145 with greensteel and a few more things. But the higher it gets the more investment is required...

[Grace_ana]

Best domain for the job usually depends on the job, which depends on the build, which depends on the player. So, yes. And no. It depends.

[xveganrox]

I should have expected there to be something XD y'all are wonderful.

Can either of you argue that it's the best domain for that job though? Fun is a separate thing, and if you're enjoying it that takes priority; but here I'm arguing for optimization lol.

+25 AC/+25 PRR is pretty substantial, especially for players without past lives or much experience -- 25 PRR might not seem like much at cap if you're getting 100+ from gear, past lives, and destinies, but for a first lifer hitting 20 it could conceivably be the difference between 20 and 45. A dangerous physical trap on EH might hit for 500 on a failed save, and that extra PRR would be the difference between 417 damage and 345. The AC boost is a pretty big boon in HN/HH/HE -- +16 AC at level 14 could save a lot of undergeared clerics from failed concentration checks. I don't think the domain is going to be the top choice for most players, but I could see it being top tier for newer players or first-lives. Permanent Shield seems like a pretty minor boost -- anyone who's pretty familiar with the game knows to keep Shield/Nightshield up if there's a risk of high damage MM spells -- but it might not be intuitive for a newer player to realize that a first level spell can save them from tons of damage late game. On higher difficulties the potential 300 hp from Animal Domain is vastly superior for most builds, but a newer player with a level 10 Cleric might have a harder time keeping those +100 hp up (especially if they don't have quicken and didn't put many points into RS) than they would with the extra AC/PRR.

Although there probably is *someone* out there who's min-maxxed Protection domain -- +40 mostly stacking AoE PRR/MRR from Turns and +25 AC/PRR aren't too shabby, AFAIK there isn't another source of divine +PRR/MRR that comes close to that. Sacred Defender goes up to +15 sacred PRR (personal only) and I think Unyielding Sentinel gets +20 in a stance, so I think Protection Domain would be necessary to hit the highest possible PRR/MRR. Not speaking from experience though, because I haven't gone with anything but Death Domain.

[SpartanKiller13]

+25 AC/+25 PRR is pretty substantial, especially for players without past lives or much experience -- 25 PRR might not seem like much at cap if you're getting 100+ from gear, past lives, and destinies, but for a first lifer hitting 20 it could conceivably be the difference between 20 and 45. A dangerous physical trap on EH might hit for 500 on a failed save, and that extra PRR would be the difference between 417 damage and 345. The AC boost is a pretty big boon in HN/HH/HE -- +16 AC at level 14 could save a lot of undergeared clerics from failed concentration checks. I don't think the domain is going to be the top choice for most players, but I could see it being top tier for newer players or first-lives. Permanent Shield seems like a pretty minor boost -- anyone who's pretty familiar with the game knows to keep Shield/Nightshield up if there's a risk of high damage MM spells -- but it might not be intuitive for a newer player to realize that a first level spell can save them from tons of damage late game. On higher difficulties the potential 300 hp from Animal Domain is vastly superior for most builds, but a newer player with a level 10 Cleric might have a harder time keeping those +100 hp up (especially if they don't have quicken and didn't put many points into RS) than they would with the extra AC/PRR.

Although there probably is *someone* out there who's min-maxxed Protection domain -- +40 mostly stacking AoE PRR/MRR from Turns and +25 AC/PRR aren't too shabby, AFAIK there isn't another source of divine +PRR/MRR that comes close to that. Sacred Defender goes up to +15 sacred PRR (personal only) and I think Unyielding Sentinel gets +20 in a stance, so I think Protection Domain would be necessary to hit the highest possible PRR/MRR. Not speaking from experience though, because I haven't gone with anything but Death Domain.

I guess that's fair, for the limited class of new player who will choose a defensive domain lol. I'd still recommend Luck to that player, I think they could benefit more from Displacement than from that PRR. Also hits at level 5, instead of waiting until 14.

IMO the AC boost is pretty weak. Pre-14 (which is where a small investment into AC has large dividends) you're getting at most +3 AC/PRR/MRR which is basically negligible, and post-14 you're getting to Gianthold which is the common threshold for where you have to invest heavily into AC to get useful results. Again, I don't know that +17 AC will be enough for most people with a low investment, and those with a high investment probably won't have 14+ levels to put into Cleric. YMMV, and it is a solid number.

Frankly I think the +300 HP from Animal domain is worth a lot more to a new player than to a vet; while multiplying HP with bigger resistances is the optimal path, a straight block of HP is the best way to go if you don't have all the proper defenses etc. I've seen plenty of 2-300 hp players in epics, and ~doubling your HP is IMO the best thing you could do to make that more survivable. Even for a 500 HP character it's huge. My tank I estimate will have 2600 HP, it's not nearly as much of a blob there.

I basically never use Quicken on non-SLA's. It's nice QoL, but you can work around it even without Concentration.

While there's an argument for unique bonus types, I really doubt that a Protection Domain Cleric will be max PRR. It requires too many levels to get; Fighter's Armor Mastery feat line will beat it easily, but they have a level lockout as well.

[Enoach]

I am doing my racial lives with each one a different Domain (Going themed as much as possible and synergy when I can. such as Gnome with Magic and Air with Half Elf and Strength with Half-Orc etc.)

I have not been disappointed with any domains. Sure so far my favorite was Death. But even with Protection the bonuses are noticeable.

I personally give the Domains a thumbs up of approval, it was something long overdue and really gives players something that they can use to make a cleric in a way they see that character.

---
@Grace_ana - I agree "Best domain for the job usually depends on the job, which depends on the build, which depends on the player."

But in the meantime - I'm going to try them all :)

[xveganrox]

Frankly I think the +300 HP from Animal domain is worth a lot more to a new player than to a vet; while multiplying HP with bigger resistances is the optimal path, a straight block of HP is the best way to go if you don't have all the proper defenses etc. I've seen plenty of 2-300 hp players in epics, and ~doubling your HP is IMO the best thing you could do to make that more survivable. Even for a 500 HP character it's huge. My tank I estimate will have 2600 HP, it's not nearly as much of a blob there.

I basically never use Quicken on non-SLA's. It's nice QoL, but you can work around it even without Concentration.

While there's an argument for unique bonus types, I really doubt that a Protection Domain Cleric will be max PRR. It requires too many levels to get; Fighter's Armor Mastery feat line will beat it easily, but they have a level lockout as well.

Oh yeah, generally I agree that the 300 HP is worth more, but I could see a first-lifer having a hard time keeping their HP up -- first-life Clerics with lootgen gear don't have a ton of spell points, and I mentioned quicken because the character creator pretty much tells you that putting ranks in Concentration will let you cast while getting hit. Jumping backwards or in circles might work better but it's not very intuitive. And I don't think a Protection Domain Cleric would be max PRR, but its +40 sacred PRR/MRR is AoE, so it would be needed to hit max PRR/MRR -- not that there'd be much point in doing that in most cases, but it's another thing that dovetails nicely into it being a domain for newer players: you could feasibly be doubling PRR's effective resistance for party members in mid-heroics (possibly even more for some casters/light armor users) and epics.

Again, not a domain I'd use, but I think I can see some use for it. +17 AC (or +21 if you aren't using a shield) in HN/HH Gianthold at level 14 would probably add a ton of damage mitigation for a newer player. Maybe it could use a buff, but even if it isn't nearly as optimal as other domains for higher difficulty it still gives some pretty substantial bonuses. I love the selection they offer in general, and they all offer pretty substantial benefits to a level 20 Cleric, although some are naturally more appealing to different people than others.

[unbongwah]

I guess that's fair, for the limited class of new player who will choose a defensive domain lol. I'd still recommend Luck to that player, I think they could benefit more from Displacement than from that PRR. Also hits at level 5, instead of waiting until 14.
<whynotboth.gif>

Elf cleric with Protection domain + Shadow DMs for Displacement + Radiant Forcefield; or dwarf cleric with Luck domain + Warding DM for same.

[karatemack]

Can either of you argue that it's the best domain for that job though? Fun is a separate thing, and if you're enjoying it that takes priority; but here I'm arguing for optimization lol.

DPS drops to 0 when dead. Currently testing DC casting cleric with protection domain and the overall impact it can have on the group. "Best" will always depend on playstyle. Worth running? For many players it definitely is/will be.

[SpartanKiller13]

Oh yeah, generally I agree that the 300 HP is worth more, but I could see a first-lifer having a hard time keeping their HP up -- first-life Clerics with lootgen gear don't have a ton of spell points, and I mentioned quicken because the character creator pretty much tells you that putting ranks in Concentration will let you cast while getting hit. Jumping backwards or in circles might work better but it's not very intuitive. And I don't think a Protection Domain Cleric would be max PRR, but its +40 sacred PRR/MRR is AoE, so it would be needed to hit max PRR/MRR -- not that there'd be much point in doing that in most cases, but it's another thing that dovetails nicely into it being a domain for newer players: you could feasibly be doubling PRR's effective resistance for party members in mid-heroics (possibly even more for some casters/light armor users) and epics.

Again, not a domain I'd use, but I think I can see some use for it. +17 AC (or +21 if you aren't using a shield) in HN/HH Gianthold at level 14 would probably add a ton of damage mitigation for a newer player. Maybe it could use a buff, but even if it isn't nearly as optimal as other domains for higher difficulty it still gives some pretty substantial bonuses. I love the selection they offer in general, and they all offer pretty substantial benefits to a level 20 Cleric, although some are naturally more appealing to different people than others.

That's fair. Healing is pretty cheap though, so if you can't keep your HP up you're probably dead anyway lol. I've solo healed multiple raids (typically Tempest Spine) on Echoes of Power from my Paladin before :P


<whynotboth.gif>

Elf cleric with Protection domain + Shadow DMs for Displacement + Radiant Forcefield; or dwarf cleric with Luck domain + Warding DM for same.

True! However, both are fairly niche builds that would require a bit of game knowledge to pull off. You could also dip Warlock 5 for ultimate cheese clickies (Displacement + Shining Through), or Wizzy 6 for Displacement SLA, or just cast it as a 3rd level arcane. I wouldn't expect to see that from a new player though :)

The upcoming update (on Lamma) (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/497179-U39-Preview-1-New-Quests-Named-Loot) has a 1 minute long 25% off incoming damage clicky that I'm looking greedily at, but I've never been able to justify the investment for Radiant Forcefield. YMMV, but 22s feels too short of a duration for me. 1 minute feels long enough that I can use it before boss fights/tanking stuff etc and get solid value. I also wonder if it would stack with RF (given the different name), because that could be hilariously strong :D

[HastyPudding]

I agree! They're one of my favorite new things in DDO.

I wish they were a little more balanced though, some are pretty clearly stronger than others. Like who will ever use Protection?

My cleric uses the protection domain. He's a tanky healbot designed to heal in higher difficulty reaper quests, so the stacking +40 prr/mrr buff is great (including another +25 from the domain and tons of AC), especially since it helps him get into the thick of things and stay alive to help heal with his aura.