Let's define our terms!

[Ringos]

So, if we add a Martial Cleric entry, would that help?

At least THAT label would be accurate and people would understand it!

[Mad_Bombardier]

So, if we add a Martial Cleric entry, would that help?

All Clerics in D&D/DDO are martial. Some just choose not to utilize the abilities they are given.

[Cowdenicus]

Listen, my original head start cleric now has a (28 pt human)

20 str
12 dex
18 con
14 int
30 wis
19 cha

By no means do I melee well but I will throw a couple buffs on myself (like making me a full bab for a bit) and some bonuses to hit and swing that ghost touch disruptor I have or my paralizer or my vorpal or smiter. I dont really need a banisher seeing as I have the spell.

I also carry a superior devotion 6 item for healing and have the napkin and some other goodies to help with nuking.

While I do not excel in any one area, I hold my own in all of them....

I could build builds that do everything to a degree (sometimes a large one like melee) better than what my head start cleric does, but for my money I guess I would rather be alright at everything than great at one thing.

[DoctorWhofan]

My cleric (s) can buff, spellkill, DV and heal. Hitting...wellllllll....I prefer the term "Walking Shrine" to cover the fact most of my clerics are not combat people. THey can hit, for like 10 pt.

BAdle and Battle are good terms. And it would make Impaqt happy!

A cleric that heals is a cleric. Anything else that occupys their time between red bar watching is fine, as long as they remember that they are clerics.

[sigtrent]

Generaly the terms used are whatever sticks and the definitions vary by individual.

Here are the ones I like....

Support Build: Built for healing and buffing primarily. Characterized by some investment in charisma, strong healing enhancments, minimal combat skills.

Martial Build: Uses martial weapons, generaly invested in Str and Con as secondary or primary statistics. Multiclassing is common.

Caster Build: Maxed out wisdom and some investment in DC or damage bonus feats and/or enhancements. Secondary statistics varry between support or martial styles.

Generic Build: A fairly even mix of all of the above without strong investement in any stat but Wisdom. Feats are usualy casting based but not focused on any one area.

I think these are good descriptions of what the cleric archatypes are. Most builds are some flavor of these or a combination of them. I'm talking about builds here, not playstyles. While a martial cleric certainly can heal the party, if whether they do so or not is a matter of playstyle. So we get some play style categories (and really they apply to more than just the cleric class)....

Den Mother: This is how you play the support build. You hang out, buff periodicaly, keep the party healthy, remove status effects, stay out of danger but close enough to the action to keep people alive.
+ No one dislikes playing with a den mother, they make things easier for your character and let you play more aggressively
- Someone has to actualy fight the monsters and sometiems you need everyone to pitch in on offense but the den mother has little to offer

Battle Cleric: The battle cleric likes to take an active roll in killing the monsters be it with spells or with weapons. While they might heal the party, they are more focused on offense and don't want to be responsible for every nick and cut, nor do they feel it's their fault if you die. A certain amount of thier resources are dedicated to offense meaning they are picky about using thier mana to support others. Some can go extreem and refuse to play any kind of support role at all.

Generic Cleric: This is more the domain of the generic cleric build. While not focused on killing you do tend to use some spell points for one or two spells per combat. Usualy greater command or blade barrier at the begining of a fight, followed by support healing. Melee tends to be limited to mopping up or dealing wtih stray mobs.


Personaly ---------------------
My cleric is mostly build as the Caster Cleric. Max Wis, Maximize, Empower, Quicken, MT IMT, but I have a bit of Martial Cleric with 1 Paladin Level, 14 base Str (20 at peak).

I tend to play switch hitter. I can and often do play full on Den Mother on occasion. I go full on battle cleric if the group is strong enough not to need a Den Mother or if there is another in the party already. And I'll go generic when its somewhere in-between.

[Quietstorm]

What is this thing you call a cleric???

And where can I find one....a treasure chest maybe, are they bound?

[Ringos]

What is this thing you call a cleric???

And where can I find one....a treasure chest maybe, are they bound?

We are quite valuable, and some of us shine brightly. We can be found hanging out in the taverns, removing a curse or curing the wounds of a weary adventurer. We are only bound when someone steals our hearts...



Man, I should have a blog or something!



-Ringos, the Generic/Generic Cleric

[DoctorWhofan]

We are quite valuable, and some of us shine brightly. We can be found hanging out in the taverns, removing a curse or curing the wounds of a weary adventurer. We are only bound when someone steals our hearts...



Man, I should have a blog or something!



-Ringos, the Generic/Generic Cleric

Or a life!

[oronisi]

I have to disagree with almost all of those terms. To me, a battlecleric is not one that disregards healing, it's one that heals as well as fights. People that disregard healing and play a cleric usually refer to themselves as fighters that can heal (themselves).

[Ringos]

Or a life!

Ouch...

and this from someone who sleeps with a stuffed Cyberman!

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

Healbot: Disregards combat entirely. Does minimal amounts of buffs to keep people alive. Casts few to no offensive spells. Devotes all spell points to casting heals.
Buffbot: Disregards combat entirely. Focuses on keeping all party members buffed with all possible buffs at all times. Heals when possible, but relies on buffs to do damage mitigation. Casts few to no offensive spells.
Battle Cleric: Disregards healing entirely, except possibly via wands, or to bring incaps up. Focuses on using self-buffs to kill things as well as a fighter (or better) via melee. Buffs party members incidentally when self-buffing (bless, etc). Occasionally casts offensive spells, but has a low DC.
Offensive Cleric: Disregards buffing entirely. Devotes the majority of SP/feats to offensive spells to control/damage/Instakill. Can be mistaken for a sorc. Heals rarely.
Versatile Cleric: Focuses on all aspects equally. Functions as main healer, buffs for big fights, swings a weapon very well when possible, but backs off if healbotting is needed. Also uses offensive cleric spells when doing so will reduce healing required.

Thoughts?

Feel free to mock me as required, really.

Cool!!!
So I propose the following definitions:

Healbot: Disregards combat entirely. Does minimal amounts of buffs to keep people alive. Casts few to no offensive spells. Devotes all spell points to casting heals. Dont know a cleric that ignores buffs 100%. GIMP.
Buffbot: Disregards combat entirely. Focuses on keeping all party members buffed with all possible buffs at all times. Heals when possible, but relies on buffs to do damage mitigation. Casts few to no offensive spells. Never saw a 100% exclusive buffer. GIMP.
Battle Cleric: Disregards healing entirely, except possibly via wands, or to bring incaps up. Focuses on using self-buffs to kill things as well as a fighter (or better) via melee. Buffs party members incidentally when self-buffing (bless, etc). Occasionally casts offensive spells, but has a low DC. GIMP + 100%. Reknowned for their 100% ego and 0% teamwork abilities. Effective at getting the party wacked ala John Gotti in an Anti-Italian parade!
Offensive Cleric: Disregards buffing entirely. Devotes the majority of SP/feats to offensive spells to control/damage/Instakill. Can be mistaken for a sorc. Heals rarely. GIMP 100% + 80%
Versatile Cleric: Focuses on all aspects equally. Functions as main healer, buffs for big fights, swings a weapon very well when possible, but backs off if healbotting is needed. Also uses offensive cleric spells when doing so will reduce healing required. To perform this clerical role, sadly you must find the ultra-rare +1 Impartial Mace of Equal Distribution. Good luck on that!

So my question to you is, have you EVER played with a cleric?