Fun Shroud Cleric?

[Draccus]

My main character is, and always will be, my pure rogue but I'm looking to make a character to run through the Shroud when Dresek's on timer. I decided on a Cleric because of how often you see LFMs for the Shroud waiting on a Cleric (or completely excluding rogues...grrrr). This character will primarily be used to run shroud and pass ingredients to my rogue. Of course, Mod 9 could change all that but until then...

My initial thought was to simply go pure Cleric but I'm seeing more and more 14/2 Cleric/Monks out there. I've read some of the builds on this board and they look pretty straight forward but I'm wondering if these build are designed more for soloing (for which they seem strong) or healing or a mix.

- How good at raid healing is a 14/2 monk vs. a 16 cleric?
- What does the 2 levels of monk give the cleric other than evasion and some melee capability?

TIA

[kinar]

my 14/2 build here: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=165043 is a 100% capable shroud healing cleric.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that a 14/2 build, while extremely fun, is a HUGE time sink while getting equipment. I've spent a long time at cap working on his equipment and it still isn't quite done. I've ran pretty close to 110 non-shroud raids on him just to get equipment and I've been pretty lucky on the hard stuff to acquire. He also has 5 shroud items (2 accessories and 3 kamas) crafted.

[Comfortably]

I have a capped WF cleric...Comfortably and I know I have healed you gimped rogue behind on more than one instance...LOL j/k

but no really I love the shroud on my cleric, so much in fact that I am lvling up another one, well I guess I love healing in general other wise I wouldnt roll up another one. and I went dwarf this time vs WF with Comf.

I have thought about spashing 2 lvls of monk in but have not tried it out yet, so I cant say anything good or bad.



-Comf

[Draccus]

I have a capped WF cleric...Comfortably and I know I have healed you gimped rogue behind on more than one instance...LOL j/k

but no really I love the shroud on my cleric, so much in fact that I am lvling up another one, well I guess I love healing in general other wise I wouldnt roll up another one. and I went dwarf this time vs WF with Comf.

I have thought about spashing 2 lvls of monk in but have not tried it out yet, so I cant say anything good or bad.



-Comf

I would thank you for every heal but that would end up monopolizing party chat more than the DM. I did get to go on a predominently Ravensguard run last night...wow. After several failed Shrouds, it was nice to run one that smooth. 1 rounds in Part 2 and 2 rounds in Part 4...sweet.

Thanks for the heals and letting this gimpy rogue in

[Chaos000]

- How good at raid healing is a 14/2 monk vs. a 16 cleric?
- What does the 2 levels of monk give the cleric other than evasion and some melee capability?

the only drawback to taking two levels of any other class is currently annoying just because your mass buffs don't really get good til lvl 15-16. Once the level cap goes up it'll become a non-issue but right now it's not fun

[woodrick]

i play a 12clr/2pally/2rogue and i can heal through shroud fine, a little short on sp compared to a full clr so have to expend a little more on scrolls, i rolled this build because when the shroud 1st came out i got fed up with dying on my full lvl16 clr. multiclassing a clr is more about what u want to b able to do, multiclassed a clrs spell dc, spell pen, spell dmg, sp and what lvl spells u can cast take a hit. but if the benefits of multiclassing in your opinion make up for this then multiclass

[Nyvn]

Monk 2 gives you 2 monk feats, I'd sugest Lightening reflexes and Toughness, the first tier of stances, wisdom bonus to ac, and evasion. Dwarf and Halfling are the better choices since they get bonuses to saves. If you just want to run the shroud Halfling 14/2 with dragon marks is a pretty solid build.

[Dark-Star]

Battle clerics are the most fun in the shroud.

You can contribute well on the portals, wop down the trash, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the other melees in part four and five, swinging away. One big advantage to being in melee range is you see when you need to recast mass prot. Otherwise you will be casting your quickened mass cures between swings.

Pure or splashed BC's will both work fine.

[BlackSteel]

for fun and utility I'd recommend a WF cleric/monk

you'll be able to use the docent of corpsecraft in place of a devotion/potency item, until you're able to craft a DT docent with potency on it. Other races prefer the rainments and a potency kama. But if you dont have a potency kama now, then its pretty much a lost cause unless you win the loot lottery or have a friend with one. And the nice thing is you'll just be a smidge behind a halfling on ac, have immunity to lvl drain etc, more hp, and require less equipment investment. Plus WF look cool.

Fleshie cleric/monk needs Icey and a potency kama, or to make due with DT armor as well, but then loses their AC advantage and then some

WF can use corpsecraft about the same time they get the Heal spell, which frees up both hands for things more fun. The docent can be found relatively cheap, and is easily used up until you get potency on DT armor. Potency QS can be used to cast BB in the mean time.

I have no mana trouble while in groups on my multiclass, and still sit just under 1400 SP after ditching both mental toughnesses for TWF and finesse. I would recommend keeping MT until acquiring a shroud SP item tho.

[kinar]

I have no mana trouble while in groups on my multiclass, and still sit just under 1400 SP after ditching both mental toughnesses for TWF and finesse. I would recommend keeping MT until acquiring a shroud SP item tho.

Why would you need to ditch MT for these? My 14/2 has MT, IMT as well as finesse and TWF. What else did you take? I've considered swapping a MT feat for Quicken but thats the only logical thing I can come up with

[Demoyn]

When I first came back to DDO after a two year hiatus, I created the battle cleric from Aranticus' newbie template thread. It's the most fun I've ever had in DDO, and it's a great character in the Shroud.

The template allows me to use a greataxe or waraxe for most combats, contributing to about half as many kills as the super-DPS characters (can get more if I'm filling DPS slot and not concentrating on healing), while still being able to be a full healer and having enough mana to not spend much on scrolls and wands. In fact, I bought 100 heal scrolls about two months ago and still have one left. This, btw, is without having any raid loot (except for reaver gauntlets, which I could live without).

It's true that I spend quite a bit on wands from level 8-14, but it was my first maxxed character (and thus not much money) and I still had enough cash to stay equipped. Plus... I get level 7 spells where the monk/cleric doesn't.

[Phidius]

Great thread - I've been wondering how well Fradul will do in the Shroud at the current cap (plan is 1 Fighter, 2 Monk, 13 Cleric). Has anyone had much success PUGging with a tri-class cleric?

I plan to mostly run with my guild, as I'm guessing most PUG leaders would decline the 13th level cleric.

[redraider]

With two capped clerics, one a 16 human, one a 14/2 halfling clermonk, I can definatively say that I have parked my pure cleric except for guild runs (and then only when my clermonk is on timer).

The clermonk is just a blast to play. I built mine around survivability and healing, not so much to be a battle cleric. I never ever use my monk skills except the occasional water stance for the 2 wis and 2 reflex saves.

Both my clerics have tier 2 shroud sp items and 34 wis. Both have around 270 hps. The pure has 1550 sp. The clermonk 1390. Both have MT but not IMT.

The only lvl 15-16 spell I miss is mass death ward. Otherwise the lvl 8 clr spells really don't add much.

The clermonk is just a lot more fun. He has a buffed +35 reflex save and 58 AC without any of the uber AC goodies. At lvl 10 he was the one making the swim in Crucible on hard where the ranger feared to tread. At 14/2 now, he has dual vorps, dual wounders, and dual w/e. Very little DPS, but when you reach the red names, he is usually healing anyway.

So he is a blast to play on the way to the boss and a great healer at the boss. The only way i can see not going for the 18/2 clermonk is if they announced there were going to be lvl 10 spells which can only be had at lvl 19 cleric. Since I don't think that is happening, I believe 18/2 clermonks will eventually rule the world with 18/2 wiz/rogs as they nerf wops and the uncentered wis ac bonus and all the rgr/mnk/rog splashes become the next obsolete builds.

[kinar]

Plus... I get level 7 spells where the monk/cleric doesn't.

I believe you meant Level 8 spells since lvl 14 clerics (heck, even 13) get lvl 7 spells.

As for level 8 spells, well, as someone pointed out above me, the only one of any real use is mass dw

[BlackSteel]

Why would you need to ditch MT for these? My 14/2 has MT, IMT as well as finesse and TWF. What else did you take? I've considered swapping a MT feat for Quicken but thats the only logical thing I can come up with

TWF, finesse, Max, EmpH, Extend, Quicken (use it pretty much just for BB tho), Dodge, Toughness

tried ITWF for awhile in place of finesse, still got a great to hit with DF/DP, but pretty crappy w/o. The extra hits wasnt worth having to cast the spells all the time. I'll either swap it again on lvl cap raise and take ITWF and GTWF, or keep finesse and get heighten. Depends how useful the alignment spells can be in any of that mods content

[Anthios888]

I personally find a battle cleric to be the most fun in the shroud, but it seems like you're more looking for something both fun and versatile to farm ingredients with. Both the cleric monk (either battle or just casting specced) and a traditional high HP dwarven battle cleric contribute a lot, but I would say they take a bit of extra gear to shine. Shroud weapons and wounding/puncturing are a big deal as far as DPS on bosses and trash mobs, and you're a lot more likely to want the concordant opposition or mineral 2 effects on your armor than you would on a casting cleric.

Just based on your comments, I would suggest trying a pure human cleric (20 cleric at cap) to experiment with the class before you decide if and how you would want to make a high AC / DPS version. They're great right out of the box with longsword proficiency, high spell penetration and good DCs, and lots of spell slots for trying out new spells. For the shroud in particular, I would go with 15 str / 8 dex / 15 con / 8 int / 18 wis / 8 cha. Take both spell penetration enhancements (why? symbol of stunning, destruction/slay living, curse/bane on lieutenants), and carry a vorpal and a good transmuter longsword. Great build now and very likely to remain solid through cap.

If you'd like to look me up on Ghallanda I can offer you any number of builds that might suit your preferences better.

[Vengenance]

I have two capped clerics, one pure human cleric, more caster and healing orientated and he's fun to play in the shroud for healing, maxed BBs, destruction, symbol of stunning, etc. He's fun to play and can contribute quite well, he usually nets 15-20 kills in each Shroud.

My other cleric is more of a balanced cleric with some melee skills (Dwarf 15 Cleric/1 Pally). I play him more offensively (Maxed & Empowered Blade Barriers, Divine Power, commet fall, searing light, or pretty much any offensive spell). I also have no problem breaking out my Dwarven Axes (Wounding, Weakening of Enfeebling, Vorpal, Transmuting of PG, etc.). This is my favorite cleric to play since he is much more durable than my human cleric (400 Hp vs 300 Hp).

[dasein18]

Bringing up an end game 18/2 halfling cleric/monk based on what I liked from two 14/2 builds on the forums (the one posted above is the main inspiration). He is at 4/2 (6k from 5/2) and he has been a blast to play. I have a capped Pal (signiture shows level 14 for some reason?) as my first build as I liked the attach + spells play. Attack attack is boring to me & just healing is also boring. So I find the cleric/monk mixture to be great fun. Plus the saves & evasion are great and leads to me picking up stones around traps...

[kinar]

Dodge

Ahh, Theres the difference, I decided that 85SP was more important than 1AC.
I also don't have quicken but am rarely in a situation where it is actually required (solo rwd is really the only spot in game that I've found and even that, I just havent quite come up with the right strategy in there to do it without quicken)

[BlackSteel]

i find quicken nice to have for when soloing monastery or kobold; other than that, its just to save time on BB's