28-point Human Battle Cleric

[grhuff]

Hello all,

I'm a returning (and still relatively new) player and love the versatility of the cleric class. I've been following these forums and various builds for a few weeks now and wanted to get some feedback on a build I'm playing with. This build has the following goals in mind (basically in this order):

1. Stay alive
2. Keep the party alive
3. Contribute melee DPS (but not tank)
4. Cast occasional offensive and crowd control spells

I do not have access to 32-point builds or tomes, so this is very much a newbie build.

Revised based on feedback.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 2.96
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 16 Lawful Good Human Male
(16 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 164
Spell Points: 1290 
BAB: 12\12\17\22
Fortitude: 11
Reflex: 4
Will: 17

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats          Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)             (Level 16)
Strength             16                    17
Dexterity             8                     8
Constitution         13                    13
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               17                    25
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 16)
Balance               1                     8.5
Bluff                -1                    -1
Concentration         5                    20
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  3                     7
Hide                 -1                    -1
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  3                     3
Listen                3                     7
Move Silently        -1                    -1
Open Lock            n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                    -1
Spot                  3                     7
Swim                  3                     3
Tumble               n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Human Bonus) Mental Toughness


Level 2 (Cleric)


Level 3 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 4 (Cleric)


Level 5 (Cleric)


Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Mental Toughness


Level 7 (Cleric)


Level 8 (Cleric)


Level 9 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 10 (Cleric)


Level 11 (Cleric)


Level 12 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Cleric)


Level 14 (Cleric)


Level 15 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell


Level 16 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Wisdom II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV
Enhancement: Cleric Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Cleric Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot II
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot III
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot IV
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom I
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom II
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom III
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand Mastery I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand Mastery II
Enhancement: Cleric Wand Mastery III
Enhancement: Cleric Wand Mastery IV

Keep in mind that I'm planning to use a Longsword for melee DPS, which costs one turn per day via Sovereign Host. A few of the Smiting enhancements were picked in order to fulfill prerequisites for other enhancements. Hopefully two levels of Spell Penetration will help my unmaxed base Wisdom.

I'd appreciate any feedback you guys can offer. Thanks!

[juniorpfactors]

i would always advise max wisdom, no matter your melee or healbot or off caster

jrp

[Impaqt]

i would always advise max wisdom, no matter your melee or healbot or off caster

jrp

Totally disagree when 28pt builds come into play.... that 6 Build points.. THat Tanks Either STR or CON in this build. and would make the character very different from the OP's intention. My Original 28pt Cleric that started with a 16 Wisdom is still run on a regular basis to this day. Hes closing in on his 40th Shroud, and over 100 Raids all in all.

+1 DC and 25 Spell points is absolutly not a Make or break for ANY cleric.

[juniorpfactors]

Totally disagree when 28pt builds come into play.... that 6 Build points.. THat Tanks Either STR or CON in this build. and would make the character very different from the OP's intention. My Original 28pt Cleric that started with a 16 Wisdom is still run on a regular basis to this day. Hes closing in on his 40th Shroud, and over 100 Raids all in all.

+1 DC and 25 Spell points is absolutly not a Make or break for ANY cleric.

in the end, after about lvl 9 if your not 95% focused on healing your toon will get blackballed by most raid running groups, healing is your end game job 95% of the time, and if ya wanta kill Destruct is your best beat ,,sure you dont have to ...we always disagree on battle clerics, when the cap was 10 or 12 you could be 100 % effective in melee....now its all buffs to hit( unless you max str and at level ups) which the beholders are there to quickly take away then you cant hit anything unless you MAX your strength, its one or the other...battle clerics are fun as heck , but at the end game 28 pointers who dont max points into wis at every level will regret it in end game, and if your trying melee and start spreading your points in str and wis at level ups youll be avg at best in both at end game, or 100% buff reliant which just doesnt cut it, i still have my 28 point battlecleric too, wis is ghetto at 26 and str is @ 30, but balancing it is very difficult, sure I can outkill 60% of the avg builds out there if not more....but the groups dont need the help nor do they want it after level 9/10+,

human and i would tank DEX, int, and char all 8, points into concentration and jump lol

to the op your stats are fine and gl you will enjoy, i would drop con just a little to 13/14 and get wis to 17

jrp

[Anthios888]

Looks like a fun character to play. Mid-levels, you'll find yourself being a healer a lot until you are able to acquire twink or high end items, but that's all right - the melee comes back at the dreaded endgame everyone is talking about.

I think your to-hit would be all right with this character (divine power, divine favor, recitation add a lot), so you could consider getting improved critical: slashing at level 12 to help with your crits (weakening of enfeebling, bursting, etc.)

What server are you on?

[Thelmallen]

in the end, after about lvl 9 if your not 95% focused on healing your toon will get blackballed by most raid running groups, healing is your end game job 95% of the time

I was worried about this with my dwarven battle cleric (ftr2/cler14) but nobody has ever blackballed me out of a raid. I have yet to do VoD but never have a problem getting into hound, shroud, etc. That character has a 22 strength and I don't have much trouble hitting stuff in end-game raids. The BAB of 12 kinda sucks cuz you only get 4 attacks/round but I still hit consistently.

That being said, I would recommend maxing wisdom, personally. I know the +1 DC isn't a deal-breaker but in reality, once I got blade barrier, my swinging hand-held steel days seemed to be over. Now I only swing a melee weapon when I feel like knocking the bad guys on their a**es with cometfall and chopping them up while they're down.

Good luck! Battle clerics rock!

[juniorpfactors]

I was worried about this with my dwarven battle cleric (ftr2/cler14) but nobody has ever blackballed me out of a raid. I have yet to do VoD but never have a problem getting into hound, shroud, etc. That character has a 22 strength and I don't have much trouble hitting stuff in end-game raids. The BAB of 12 kinda sucks cuz you only get 4 attacks/round but I still hit consistently.

That being said, I would recommend maxing wisdom, personally. I know the +1 DC isn't a deal-breaker but in reality, once I got blade barrier, my swinging hand-held steel days seemed to be over. Now I only swing a melee weapon when I feel like knocking the bad guys on their a**es with cometfall and chopping them up while they're down.

Good luck! Battle clerics rock!

agreed good battle clerics dont get blackballed by people, you balance it right and your better to the team, a beholder or a ruin on the wall stripping you of divine fvr/ greater heroism hurts the low bab < 30str battle cleric

and the feats are tough to get, Human helps overcome needing EXTEND, which many dont normally have space for, and your spending tons of many just to get your to hit high enough to get in there via buffing in midbie levels, and have less many to heal the party

[Aranticus]

i'd say get a level of pally or a level of fighter for the extra fighting prowress, no need to invest in unyeilding sovereignty

[grhuff]

What server are you on?

Thelanis.

i'd say get a level of pally or a level of fighter for the extra fighting prowress, no need to invest in unyeilding sovereignty

Follower of the Sovereign Host costs 2 APs and 1 turn and let's me wield a Longsword with +1 on the attack roll. I feel like that's a good use of 2 APs. I really don't know if Unyielding Sovereignty is worth 4 APs, but I feel like the only other use I would have for 4 APs would be another level of Spell Penetration.

I greatly appreciate all of the feedback. I expected to hear that melee capabilities become much harder toward endgame, but I do want to have some fun while progressing and not just stand in the back wanding and healing. However a few of you do make it sound like unless I put all my eggs into one basket (melee, healing, offensive casting, etc), that I won't be much of an asset to a group.

Is Toughness a worthwhile investment in a Human build or is it really only useful for Dwarves? And what is the general consensus on wand healing? Do Clerics need to invest in all four levels of Wand Mastery?

[juniorpfactors]

Thelanis.



Follower of the Sovereign Host costs 2 APs and 1 turn and let's me wield a Longsword with +1 on the attack roll. I feel like that's a good use of 2 APs. I really don't know if Unyielding Sovereignty is worth 4 APs, but I feel like the only other use I would have for 4 APs would be another level of Spell Penetration.

I greatly appreciate all of the feedback. I expected to hear that melee capabilities become much harder toward endgame, but I do want to have some fun while progressing and not just stand in the back wanding and healing. However a few of you do make it sound like unless I put all my eggs into one basket (melee, healing, offensive casting, etc), that I won't be much of an asset to a group.

Is Toughness a worthwhile investment in a Human build or is it really only useful for Dwarves? And what is the general consensus on wand healing? Do Clerics need to invest in all four levels of Wand Mastery?

wand mastery Yes, at high level content the Heal scroll with 4 levels of wand mastery Are very nice, do you have to NO, but i do on both my clerics

straight 16 cleric,, human I would say no to toughness,, lots of better feats out there, empower healing, spell pens/spell focuses, empower
jrp

[sirgog]

Thelanis.



Follower of the Sovereign Host costs 2 APs and 1 turn and let's me wield a Longsword with +1 on the attack roll. I feel like that's a good use of 2 APs. I really don't know if Unyielding Sovereignty is worth 4 APs, but I feel like the only other use I would have for 4 APs would be another level of Spell Penetration.

I greatly appreciate all of the feedback. I expected to hear that melee capabilities become much harder toward endgame, but I do want to have some fun while progressing and not just stand in the back wanding and healing. However a few of you do make it sound like unless I put all my eggs into one basket (melee, healing, offensive casting, etc), that I won't be much of an asset to a group.

Is Toughness a worthwhile investment in a Human build or is it really only useful for Dwarves? And what is the general consensus on wand healing? Do Clerics need to invest in all four levels of Wand Mastery?

On a Dwarf, Toughness is the best feat in the game - on a Human, it's pretty meh.

I advise characters planning a battlecleric to choose either Str or Wis and max it (or be at most one below the max on that stat). If you choose Wis (as you have), you'll be a solid backup melee, capable of dealing massive damage with Bladebarrier, Destructing nasty Elementals and similar foes, and killing other foes while they are getting to really know the ground after a Greater Command or Cometfall. Alternately, if you choose Str (something I only recommend on 32 point Dwarf buiilds), you'll be a frontline self-healing melee that can toss a Quickened Heal out to a party member in need; and that uses Bladebarrier as much to draw aggro as to deal damage - while the mobs aggro on you, you can melee them, self-heal and let the other party members (particularly Rogues) cut sick.

Either of these builds will be a significant asset to any group, but in different ways. The Wisdom-based battle Clr will be ideal for groups hunting a healer than can do more than just heal. They shine brightest in groups with no other clerics. The Str-based battle Clr will be an ideal party member in parties that want another melee DPS character that can also help heal, and will shine brightest in groups with other clerics.


Edit: On +scroll damage enhancements: I recommend at least 3 levels, preferably 4, as at endgame, scrolls get used a lot, particularly by battleclerics that use their SP to cast spells and combat buffs more than Healbots, leaving less SP for healing.