Since I keep posting these builds in other threads, I figure I should just put them in their own thread and save myself the trouble of reposting them. They're basically just my own variants on tihocan's Warpriest, hopefully laid out in a manner which makes them easy for newcomers to follow.

What's a battle cleric? Essentially it's just a cleric who sacrifices spellcasting for melee (or ranged) DPS. With the addition of Radiant Servant in U5, playing a battle cleric became more viable (and fun!) because you can heal & fight at the same time. The trick is finding the right balance in your build so you don't end up gimped at everything. Playing a battle cleric takes some practice: you need to learn when to switch between spellcasting and fighting; when to wade into a fight vs when to back off and support the party; and so forth. Properly built & equipped, they work well as solo-ers and in groups.

The goal of these builds is to be good healers / buffers with decent melee DPS & offensive spellcasting w/out requiring tomes or special gear. I went with cleric 18 so Radiant Servant III can be taken if & when it gets added.

The first build is a caster-focused human:

Code:
Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Female
(2 Fighter \ 18 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 306
Spell Points: 1199 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 5
Will: 18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    18
Dexterity             8                     8
Constitution         15                    16
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               16                    24
Charisma              8                     8

Level 1 (Cleric)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Augment Summoning
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting (swap for Power Attack at higher lvls)


Level 3 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell


Level 4 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS


Level 5 (Cleric)


Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 7 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant I
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Cleric Heal I
Enhancement: Cleric Heal II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Cleansing I
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Turning I


Level 8 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS


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


Level 10 (Cleric)


Level 11 (Cleric)


Level 12 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 13 (Cleric)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant II
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom II
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom III


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


Level 16 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS


Level 17 (Cleric)


Level 18 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell


Level 19 (Cleric)


Level 20 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting IV
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery II
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery III
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery IV
A few comments:

  • For skills take max ranks of Concentration and either Balance, Diplomacy, or UMD.
  • Augment Summoning can be swapped for another metamagic (e.g., Spell Penetration), a second Toughness, or to have both THF & PA. It's mostly there to help out while soloing or in small groups and using summons & hirelings as decoys - errr, valiant companions who are in no way expendable.
  • ftr 2 & Imp Crit Slash can be taken as early as lvl 10. I delayed it until after she has lvl 6 spells (Heal & Blade Barrier FTW!) and Radiant Servant II. Also, lvl 13 is when you can take Greater Adaptability STR, which meshes with ftr STR enh for +2 STR. But it's up to you if you want the DPS boost from Imp Crit sooner rather than later.
  • There's room for tweaking enhs. E.g., dropping the Smiting line or Wand Mastery enhs to take Spell Pen enhs instead if you like using spells such as Greater Command or Destruction which have Spell Resistance checks. I also would've liked to squeeze in human Versatility or more Imp Recovery, but it's a tough call as to what to drop.
  • I would probably swap THF for PA after you get to cleric 7 (lvl 4 spells). Hopefully Divine Power + Divine Favor + Recitation + (Mass) Aid (or Inspire Courage or Greater Heroism) means you'll be able to leave PA switched on all the time.

Coming up: a melee-focused dwarf using greataxes.