Need some background info on FVS

[S1gma]

Help me out here...

My P-n-P days were before FVS, and I haven't given them much thought here until now. I find myself in a new static group in need of a FVS. So I ask you...

What is the role of a Favored Soul?

I'm not looking for flame wars ala the age old discussions on Clerics (must they heal? are Battleclerics gimps?!?) Please.

But what does a party see as the duty of the FVS? Backup/Fulltime healer? Offensive caster with healing ability? I am mainly looking to answer the question, "Just what the heck am I supposed to be doing here anyway?"

Feel free to add in any background info on FVS RP. (Dwarves are grumpy, wizards arrogant, barbarians just plain crazy, etc., etc.... But what are FVSs???)

TIA, and party on Garth.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Pretty much whatever role you fancy you can go with effectively - though people in general seem more willing to accept a melee based, part-time healing & buffing FvS than they would a cleric in the same role due to the FvS' inherent bonuses to combat capabilities, and often play a little smarter rather than relying on the cleric (yes I know about their other capabilities but many people still perceive clerics as primarily healers) as a safety net.

Overall though, I've found FvS will generally be one of 3 things:
- Heal & buffbot (relatively less common), can often have high CON to boost survivability as they generally wont worry about STR for melee
- melee capable with some healing & some buffing spells plus a couple of offensive spells like BB (my personal preference), these builds can often dump wisdom safely in favour of more STR & CON since they arent generally using anything that requires a save
- offensive caster with some healing & a couple of buffing spells, with less melee capability, higher WIS to boost save DC means less in other stats

[Vynnt]

It depends on how you build them.

The most common are Evoker style (caster/healer), WF Lord of Blades (melee/healer), or pure Healbot (healer/caster).

Whether you go caster or melee, you will still have full healing capability.

[DaoJones]

I don't know their "lore", but in game you can liken their relationship to Clerics akin to the relationship between Sorcerers and Wizards.

Clerics have a wider diversity of spells they can slot, more spell slots to carry them, and can access newer spells sooner. However, FvS get more spell points, and are more capable combatants (access to specific weapon specialization, 4 levels of class-based Toughness enhancements, inherent elemental and damage resistance).

They are good targeted healers and solid buffers, as they have the SP to spare. However, like Sorcerers, their role in the group is more focused due to their limited spell slots.

[S1gma]

TYVM for your thoughts. I did understand the mechanics of the class somewhat, but you have all put it in better perspective.

For instance, on my cleric I simply try to do everything (as far as buffing/healing/offensive spells). It seems on my FVS (I will be the primary healer) that I will focus more, and perhaps let some other tasks be shared, ie let a high UMDer help out with rezzing, perhaps, and only carry a few offensive spells.

Thanks again. Now... anyone with some lore background info?

[SapoDoode]

TYVM for your thoughts. I did understand the mechanics of the class somewhat, but you have all put it in better perspective.

For instance, on my cleric I simply try to do everything (as far as buffing/healing/offensive spells). It seems on my FVS (I will be the primary healer) that I will focus more, and perhaps let some other tasks be shared, ie let a high UMDer help out with rezzing, perhaps, and only carry a few offensive spells.

Thanks again. Now... anyone with some lore background info?

I don't see why you can't do that on your FvS. You should be able to heal and buff full time while either meleeing or casting depending on your build.

As for lore, I don't know about DnD FvS specifically but I can tell you a bit about them in general. Clerics are akin to priests, they must pray to use their powers and every time they cast a spell it has to be "approved" by the god they are praying to. Favored Souls are naturally chosen by their god(s). They can use their powers whenever they like, without the need to pray (prepare them), and their spells don't need to be "approved". Thematically they're like angels.

Favored Souls get weapon proficiency with whatever the favored weapon of their god is.

They have the same, or 1 step next to, the alignment of their god. For example, a Favored Soul that follows a Lawful Good god can be Neutral Good. (Note: This is not the case with ddo. You can be whichever alignment you wish; which faith you choose does not affect it. I only mention it should you choose to roleplay your character). In general, I would say Favored Souls lean more towards the neutral or chaotic alignment since they work outside the church and are more prone to be loners outside of normal society because of their special powers. Of course, each character is unique and doesn't necessarily have to be this way.

In general they're more about smiting evil than healing. (Again, not strictly the case with ddo. You can heal just as well as a cleric.) For example, Favored Souls are more adept at using the Empower metamagic while Cleric's are more adept at using Empower Healing. They're also more adept at hand to hand combat because of the bonuses they get when using their favored weapon.

That's all I can think of right now. When I started playing ddo I knew right away that FvS was my class but it's not a staple class like wizard or cleric so I searched around for as much info about them as I could find. I don't roleplay but it's still nice to know and keep in mind when creating your character.

If anyone has info on how DnD Favored Souls are different than anything I said, please post it. I would like to know.

[Dendrix]

Bad bits to being FvS vs a Clr
FvS doesn't get to swap spells at shrines
FvS gets fewer spells known and access to spells 1 level later than Clr
FvS doesn't get Turns
FvS wears Medium instead of Heavy armour

Good bits to being FvS vs a Clr
FvS gets a martial weapon (based on faith) and some slightly better combat with it
FvS has 50% more spell points than a Clr
FvS gets Wings at lvl 17 (super jump)
FvS gets DR10 and a Free Spell (based on faith) at level 20

You can play an FvS and a Clr just the same pretty much with those differences above.

[Wasaby98]

The favored soul follows the path of the cleric but is able to channel divine power with surprising ease. She is able to perform the same tasks as her fellow divine spellcasters but with virtually no study. Favored souls cast their spells naturally, as much through force of personality as through study. Though this gives them extraordinary divine abilities no normal person could ever match, they see their gift as a call to action, and so in some ways may lag behind their more studious colleagues.

Favored souls cast divine spells by means of an innate connection rather than through laborious training and prayer, so their divine connection is natural rather than learned. Mortals who perform great services to deities, devoting their lives and work to the cause of their god or goddess, sometimes become the Chosen of that deity.

Being born a favored soul has both advantages and disadvantages. Like a cleric, a favored soul has access to her god's divine magic. Unlike a cleric, however, the magic of a favored soul is natural. As such, it is unlikely to be denied by her god. Because favored souls do not need to pray for their spells, deities don't need to approve or disapprove each and every incantation. This and the many divine powers of a favored soul make members of the class quite powerful. Despite these powers, favored souls are often hindered by a sense of inescapable destiny that surrounds their births. They didn't choose their paths and may not want anything to do with their religion. In this way, the powers of a favored soul can be a burden rather than a blessing. - NwN 2 Class info