Strength for Battle Cleric

[Mani]

Anyone know if 16 strength is enough for a front line battle cleric?

[Impaqt]

Anyone know if 16 strength is enough for a front line battle cleric?

Of course it is. 16 base str is enough to start for any front line melee. Its about what you plan on it being end game that really matters.

[coolpenguin410]

This is how I picture strength:

6 - doesn't mind being slow and doesn't know what a melee weapon is for
8 - staying far, far away from combat
10 - don't want to burdened so easily
12 - just for carrying capacity or the obligatory +1 for ranged specialists
14 - if melee is secondary (or tertiary) to your build
16 - front-liner who can do other things too
18 - the dedicated melee-ist

[Impaqt]

This is how I picture strength:

6 - doesn't mind being slow and doesn't know what a melee weapon is for
8 - staying far, far away from combat
10 - don't want to burdened so easily
12 - just for carrying capacity or the obligatory +1 for ranged specialists
14 - if melee is secondary (or tertiary) to your build
16 - front-liner who can do other things too
18 - the dedicated melee-ist

Nice concept on starting str...

However, I still beleive the true bar is based on end game stats. Not starting stats. Especially on a cleric. 16 Base with putting all points into STR and making Insight weapons and maxing everything in your str stat is WAY different that 16 base and maxinging everything in the Wis deptarment.

[sirgog]

Nice concept on starting str...

However, I still beleive the true bar is based on end game stats. Not starting stats. Especially on a cleric. 16 Base with putting all points into STR and making Insight weapons and maxing everything in your str stat is WAY different that 16 base and maxinging everything in the Wis deptarment.

Agreed.

Personally I recommend making a choice - if you want to be a primary melee combatant that can and will melee raid bosses (i.e. you fill a fighter role in raids and your healing is a bonus, not the reason you are invited to join the party), then go 17-18 Str with all stat increases in Str.

If you want to be meleeing a lot, but playing a healbot role in endgame raids, go 15-16 Str and 17-18 Wis, with your level up points into Wis.

Both builds are very viable at current endgame, the latter is more popular in PUGs as some raid leaders still hesitate to accept a Clr15/Ftr1 to fill a melee DPS role.

[Dark-Star]

After playing four clerics, three of them BCs, I can asure you that 14 starting str is enough. You can take this and still be a viable cleric in other aspects. 18 vs. 14, you won't notice the +2 to hit and damage difference, but you will notice a difference in the extra 10 starting stat points you get to use.