Which faith path do i need to follow

[TheFl0w]

Hi,

I am trying to build my first cleric on my own. I want a healer and undead killer cleric, which means in the end game, i want to be able to:

- heal a plenty
- kill undead easy (so great turning undead and bash their heads in)

I have two problems:

- which faith path is the one to go for? (i got drow so Vulkoor, Silver Flame and Souv. Host are my options) And why?
- what enhancement could support this?

The rest i want to puzzle out myself!

Cheers,

Fl0w

[r3dl4nce]

I am trying to build my first cleric on my own. I want a healer and undead killer cleric, which means in the end game, i want to be able to:

In end game there are very few undead, turn undead is a waste of feats and enhanecments and equip slot, just take a GS 3xpos maul to kill them fast. Faith has nothing to do with killing undeads

[Danteus]

Follower of the Sovereign Host if you take both the enhancements for the faith act as both prereqs for the Radiant Servant prestige line and will also give you a mana free max heal that you can use once every 5min or so. The max heal casts just a hair faster than quickened heal spell and can be a great thing to use for emergencies or just use it when you get it to conserve a little mana. (It is also the best way to heal a WF Barbarian because it is a garunteed maximum heal)

[Danteus]

In end game there are very few undead, turn undead is a waste of feats and enhanecments and equip slot, just take a GS 3xpos maul to kill them fast. Faith has nothing to do with killing undeads

There is one thing if you have spare points that you might want from the turn enhancements. Your turns are also what powers your prestige abilities. Just something to keep in mind.

[Calebro]

As has been stated, don't spec for undead end game. Early game it's mediocre. Late game it's useless.
As to which religion.... none of them.
You'll get more bang for your buck on AP with Cha 2 and the extra turn attempt that it grants - for use with Radiant Servant - than you will with any of the religions.

[r3dl4nce]

There is one thing if you have spare points that you might want from the turn enhancements. Your turns are also what powers your prestige abilities. Just something to keep in mind.

You can spend some AP in extra turning enhancements, not in Improved Turnig (except the one needed for Radiant Servant)

You'll get more bang for your buck on AP with Cha 2 and the extra turn attempt that it grants - for use with Radiant Servant - than you will with any of the religions.

I agree. Even if the Sovereign host heal seems good, it's only 1 every 5 minutes....

[Calebro]

I agree. Even if the Sovereign host heal seems good, it's only 1 every 5 minutes....

10 minutes, not 5
So you can spend 6 AP to get a useless weapon proficiency to temporarily give to someone, and a 1 use ability per quest - possibly twice or more depending on the length of the quest.... or you can get another Aura/Burst that regens every 2 minutes via Radiant Servant.
The choice is obvious to me.

[diamabel]

Hi,

I am trying to build my first cleric on my own. I want a healer and undead killer cleric, which means in the end game, i want to be able to:

- heal a plenty
- kill undead easy (so great turning undead and bash their heads in)

I have two problems:

- which faith path is the one to go for? (i got drow so Vulkoor, Silver Flame and Souv. Host are my options) And why?
- what enhancement could support this?

The rest i want to puzzle out myself!

Cheers,

Fl0w

If you want to build a radiant servant it doesn't matter which faith you select. The available faiths are determined by your toon's race. In general you have two faith enhancements. The first grants you or a friend proficiency with the deity's favoured weapon (which will result in using up a turn undead) and is a prerequisite for a second enhancement.


Sovereign Host: should be open to everyone; favoured weapon: long sword; the 2nd enhancement gives you a free heal every 10mins

Silver Flame: should be open to everyone as well; favoured weapon: long bow; the 2nd enhancement gives you a banishment ability

Vulkoor: only available to drow, favoured weapon: short sword; the 2nd enhancement allows you to summon vulkoor's avatar every 10 mins which will stay a few minutes or until killed

Lord of Blades: only available to warforged; favoured weapon: a two-handed sword/greatsword; the 2nd enhancement will give yourself a boost to melee upon activation for a certain duration

Undying Court: I guess it's only available to elves; favoured weapon: scimitar; the 2nd enhancement works like a raise dead on all but elves and as resurrection on elves


IIRC you have to invest some action points in a faith to get acces to radiant servant.


p.s.
If you should play a warforged cleric, you could grant your party members proficiencies with great swords and make it a mandatory prerequisite to use one if they want to be healed.

[Calebro]

IIRC you have to invest some action points in a faith to get acces to radiant servant.

Nope. Tier 2 religion -OR- Cha 2
Cha 2 is the better buy.*

Radiant Servant 1
Radiant Servant 2

edit: Cha 2 is the better buy *in most cases. In some flavor or specialty builds the Faith will be more useful, but those are few and far between. In a general sense, Cha 2 is better.

[azrael4h]

Undying Court is also available for Half-Elves, though they lack the scimitar/falchion enhancement lines.

I personally have kept the Sov Host one around, as it's been handy to pop off in tight spots or when I just don't want to burn too much sp.

[jwdaniels]

I've actually found that the sovereign host is pretty handy - the ability to use longswords (and at +1 to hit) is very useful while leveling if you solo a lot, and at higher levels lets you use vorpal longswords.

[AylinIsAwesome]

You don't need prof to use a vorpal weapon.

[JollySwagMan]

Nope. Tier 2 religion -OR- Cha 2
Cha 2 is the better buy.*

Radiant Servant 1
Radiant Servant 2

edit: Cha 2 is the better buy *in most cases. In some flavor or specialty builds the Faith will be more useful, but those are few and far between. In a general sense, Cha 2 is better.

On a low Cha build I'd be inclined to agree with you, or on an Intimidate/UMD Cleric.

However the Sovereign Host clickie removes death penalties, and works underwater (in addition to working in anti-magic, but so does radiant servant).

These are not used in every quest, but I run out of turns even less frequently.

Also, the weapon proficiency part has been bugged for some time to remain throughout quest entry/completion. I don't use it myself, but it is effectively a free Longsword proficiency (that needs renewing upon login and resurrection).

[EatSmart]

Of the choices your drow has, i'd personally take sovereign host if you're going to take one.

Religion IIs:
- The avatar of vulkoor seemed pretty weak as a pet beyond the level or two when you first get it. Pure cleric has 18? (3x9) other pets they can potentially summon.
- I've never seen the silver flame II in action, so i'll avoid writing it off completely, but it seems to suffer from being tied to very long cooldown. "ooh, i can use my doodah. Oh, my target got fingered . Hey guys, remind me in 10 mins to play with my doodah."
- The sovereign host is ok, but like vulkoor and pets, pure cleric has a wide range of healing options. The sov host heal does have unique uses over other cleric healing options. Notably the removal of death penalties, and being usable when under the effects of intercession and other casting lockouts.

Religion Is:
- Shortsword - is the drow racial. If you've built around the drow weapon enhancements, then i can see some merit in an extra +1 to hit. Having played a drow tempest/kensei built around shortwords I personally find them lacking as dps weapons, and I think you'd eventually be frustrated building around them.
- Longbow - I find the longbow irritating to use on pure casters currently. The casting lockout between when you fire and when a fresh arrow is knocked is exceptionally irritating under pressure, especially when you accidentally chain a 2nd shot.
- Longsword - Are longswords. Um. Nothing screams to me "OMG take them take them!" about them. I suppose they come in vorpal.

They're enhancements though, mess about with them and see what you like, respecing only costs you plat. (until you start crafting greensteel at least)