Battle Cleric for a casual player

[Flyhalfer]

Not near enough time to do the going for broke item grind raiding thing.

Just want a build that will let me enjoy the game and still be able to take on content at the higher levels.

And so I present for consideration my Elvin battle cleric. I chose elf because I wanted to play one.
It also allowed me to take advantage of the scimitar enhancements for the nice threat range.

Please keep in mind. Not an end game raiding build.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.14
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Male
(6 Fighter \ 3 Rogue \ 11 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 288
Spell Points: 545 
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 13
Will: 12

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength             18                 25                   27
Dexterity            16                 18                   21
Constitution         12                 14                   14
Intelligence         10                 12                   12
Wisdom               10                 12                   14
Charisma              8                 10                   11

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
Balance               7                 10                   10
Bluff                -1                  0                    1
Concentration         1                 20                   20
Diplomacy            -1                  0                    0
Disable Device        4                 12                   12
Haggle               -1                  0                    0
Heal                  0                  2                    2
Hide                  3                  5                    5
Intimidate           -1                  3                    3
Jump                  8                 12                   12
Listen                0                  2                    4
Move Silently         3                  5                    5
Open Lock             7                  9                    9
Perform              n/a                n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                  1                    1
Search                4                  5                    7
Spot                  4                  6                    8
Swim                  4                  8                    8
Tumble                7                  9                    9
Use Magic Device      3                 23                   23

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Cleric)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Follower of the Undying Court
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I


Level 3 (Fighter)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Sunder) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Trip) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 5 (Fighter)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Attack I


Level 6 (Fighter)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II


Level 7 (Fighter)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Damage II


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Kensei Scimitar Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I


Level 9 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II


Level 10 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II


Level 11 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 12 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Cleric Charisma I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 13 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II


Level 14 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Light I
Enhancement: Cleric Extra Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 15 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Undying Call


Level 16 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom II


Level 17 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Valenar Elf Melee Attack II


Level 18 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery II


Level 19 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Cleansing I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Light II


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Cleansing II

[Anneliese]

Unless you really want the rogue skills, why not go 12 cleric (possible PRE2), 6 ranger (tempest I, multishot with bow str. when needed), monk 2 (2 feats, stances) ?

16 str
16 dex
12 con
8 int (ranger and monk give decent skill points and you are eating a +2 tome at 7)
16 wisdom
8 charisma

Feats:
Monk: Toughness, Power Attack
Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack for Tempest
GTWF
I-Crit Slash for Scimitar -> swap for extend once you got 2x Min IIs
Maximize for extra damage on mass heals and BB
Quicken -> when you are in a tough situation, heals must land and not be interrupted

[Flyhalfer]

I really want the rogue skills.

The odds I'll get min II weapons is pretty limited. So raid type equipment as solutions to my casual build are not realistic. I want the rogue skills because I need to be able to do my own trap removal and lock picking. Especially lock picking.

I considered the monk build v the armored build, but in reading these builds it seemed they were dependent on being pretty sure you'd get the gear to make them work. If I can play for more than an hour on any given day once a week it's a good week. Usually I can get two short quests or one long one done before I log each day. Maybe.

So I need a build that is not gear intensive and pretty self sufficient.


I might do well with a ranger build given I can make good use of sneak to make up for other deficiencies, but I need the rogue levels (At least two)


Thanks for the input.

[Rineth]

Don't want to be too critical, but from what I'm seeing this build is going to just plummet in effectiveness at higher levels. You're trying to jam too much capability in here.

First issue is abilities. Starting with 18 Str is completely unnecessary, as at best you're only ever going to be an off fighter. I'd say 14 would suit your needs much better, with some of your early stat boosts going into it. I would say drop your dex down to 15. That extra 16 is wasting two valuable points, and you're stretched as it is and can still pick up TWF. Now with an Int of 10, I don't understand the rogue thing at all. You're not keeping your rogue skills up at all, so what's the point of the rogue? The trap skills are going to stop being effective as early as lvl 4 or 5, especially if you lack the money/time for good gear to build them. Evasion is much better taken from two levels of monk, and the sneak attack just isn't worth three whole levels.

10 Wis is just atrocious for the casting stat on a main caster. You'll have no SP and terrible DCs. You'll basically be able to keep yourself and one or two other people healed, unless you plan to spend bundles of money on scrolls and be too busy using them to fight. If all you want to do is off-heal, cut out the cleric entirely and base the build on Paladin or Ranger. Even a straight rogue with a high UMD can scroll pretty well.

The most effective battle clerics are cleric first, battle second. I would suggest looking into some peoples pre-made battle cleric builds and see how they do it. Either way, if this is your first time through and you're a casual player, I would suggest going pure cleric. This kind of build is a lot to juggle to be effective. Pure clerics are decent in a scrap as it is, and even a 1 or 2 level splash can make a huge difference.

[phalaeo]

No, you can't have a pony.

*shakes Magic 8 Ball*

[SirAggravator]

It sounds like you need first and foremost a casual friendly build - with ability to solo.
If you really need to have trap skills I would probably suggest ranger with rogue splash (and drop the cleric levels).

About traps in DDO - It's nice to be able to disarm them but often you'll
find they are a minor inconvenience rather than a quest stopper.

[Flyhalfer]

Oh man, great advice from everyone. Thanks.

I’m at the office right now (You know, that thing that sucks up my play time. Priorities are all outa whack, I know…  ) so no Char Gen right now.

Ok, I can see what you’re all saying about my first build and it makes sense.


So, how about this?

Elf 20
1 Rouge/ 18 ranger/ 1 monk
Take rogue then 2 ranger then 1 monk and finish off with ranger.

S 14 – 6 pts
Dex 16 – 6 pts
Con 12 – 6 pts
Int 12 – 4 pts
Wis 16 – 10 pts
Cha – 8 0 pts

Total 32 points

Finesse and go with short swords or oversize with scimitars and stay str with DPS coming from the improved threat range? (Kamas, to stay centered? Is that a viable choice?)
Rouge for the open lock skill and UMD.
Ranger giving good skill points to maintain UMD and open locks skill, don’t worry about traps and keep hide/MS up to use the sneak option to go around or get to casters first?
Tumble and jump to about 10 or 12 and keep balance up as best I can and wait for Ranger to give me evasion at 8th is it?
Do I need to put feats and enhancement points into will saves? I hate getting held or dancing. Failing dungeons due to getting swamped while I glow blue is a real concern when I don’t have time to restart often

[Targoth1]

Oh man, great advice from everyone. Thanks.

I’m at the office right now (You know, that thing that sucks up my play time. Priorities are all outa whack, I know…  ) so no Char Gen right now.

Ok, I can see what you’re all saying about my first build and it makes sense.


So, how about this?

Elf 20
1 Rouge/ 18 ranger/ 1 monk
Take rogue then 2 ranger then 1 monk and finish off with ranger.

S 14 – 6 pts
Dex 16 – 6 pts
Con 12 – 6 pts
Int 12 – 4 pts
Wis 16 – 10 pts
Cha – 8 0 pts

Total 32 points

Finesse and go with short swords or oversize with scimitars and stay str with DPS coming from the improved threat range? (Kamas, to stay centered? Is that a viable choice?)
Rouge for the open lock skill and UMD.
Ranger giving good skill points to maintain UMD and open locks skill, don’t worry about traps and keep hide/MS up to use the sneak option to go around or get to casters first?
Tumble and jump to about 10 or 12 and keep balance up as best I can and wait for Ranger to give me evasion at 8th is it?
Do I need to put feats and enhancement points into will saves? I hate getting held or dancing. Failing dungeons due to getting swamped while I glow blue is a real concern when I don’t have time to restart often

Two level of either monk or Rogue gives you evasion, one level of each does not.

[Yagi]

Two level of either monk or Rogue gives you evasion, one level of each does not.

He will get evasion with the 9'th level of ranger.


As for the other questions I do not have enough experience with those classes to give confident answers yet, there are likely many variables I do not yet see.

Although I will say that in my opinion maxing your umd whenever possible with such classes will probably always be a great choice.