Solo Cleric Build: Please comment

[Blackfang321]

I'm pretty new at this still, but was impressed by the two-handed fighting builds. I wanted something with slightly better survivability...hence going with cleric splashed with fighter. I can buff myself and heal fairly well in the midst of combat with the heal-improving enhancements and the Empower Healing Spell and Quicken Spell feats and a decent Concentration. The Greataxe gets both dwarf bonuses as well as some feats I chose via the Fighter path that should make it a decent weapon to take things down. I could solo with this, and also join a group that had a tank (since I could provide damage and support).

Now all this sounds good to me in theory, but I'm sure I missed something. Take a look and please help!

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Thorgrash  the Smiter
Level 20 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(3 Fighter \ 17 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 286
Spell Points: 1231 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 7
Will: 17

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             15                    21
Dexterity            10                    12
Constitution         15                    20
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom               17                    22
Charisma              6                     8

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          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               0                     5
Bluff                -2                    -1
Concentration         6                    27
Diplomacy            -2                     7
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle               -2                    -1
Heal                  3                     8
Hide                  0                     1
Intimidate           -2                    -1
Jump                  2                     5
Listen                3                     6
Move Silently         0                     1
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                     2.5
Spot                  3                     6
Swim                  2                     8.5
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Faith I
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Cleric Heal I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 4 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom I


Level 5 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Healing I


Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Enhancement: Cleric Heal II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II


Level 7 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Turning I


Level 8 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant I
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot II


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I


Level 10 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Healing II


Level 11 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom II


Level 12 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty


Level 13 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot III


Level 14 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom III


Level 15 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant II
Enhancement: Dwarven Faith II


Level 16 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot IV


Level 17 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage II


Level 18 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III


Level 19 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Dwarven Faith III
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life II


Level 20 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV

[AtomicMew]

That third level of fighter gets you absolutely nothing.

Do you have any premium classes or races? WF or Horc? Monk or FvS? If so, I think there are much better options for soloing.

[EKKM]

Good overall concept, and one I've been considering. A few points:

1- The third level of fighter doesn't get you very much as there are no bonus feats at that level. Cleric level 18 gets you more level 9 spells (yum) and access to RS III if it is ever released.

2- Cleave and great cleave actually cost you DPS when you have improved and greater THF due to the animation times . I would change those, see below.

3- You want toughness. It is almost a mandatory feat for every character and certainly a mandatory one for melees. As a dwarf, you get a lot of additional benefit from it due to extra enhancements.

4- Maximize will make your bursts and aura more effective. I would try to fit it in.

5- Don't take quicken so early, at level one it is a waste of SP. I would take it around level 9. Up to then, your high CON pluse concentration skill should avoid most spell failure.

[Loromir]

You really only need 1 lvl of Fighter...that gives you full martial weapon ability and the extra feat. 19 levels of Cleric gives you more SP's and more Spell slots.

[Blackfang321]

Good overall concept, and one I've been considering. A few points:

1- The third level of fighter doesn't get you very much as there are no bonus feats at that level. Cleric level 18 gets you more level 9 spells (yum) and access to RS III if it is ever released.

2- Cleave and great cleave actually cost you DPS when you have improved and greater THF due to the animation times . I would change those, see below.

3- You want toughness. It is almost a mandatory feat for every character and certainly a mandatory one for melees. As a dwarf, you get a lot of additional benefit from it due to extra enhancements.

4- Maximize will make your bursts and aura more effective. I would try to fit it in.

5- Don't take quicken so early, at level one it is a waste of SP. I would take it around level 9. Up to then, your high CON pluse concentration skill should avoid most spell failure.

So the cleave wouldn't help me when I'm soloing and swarmed? I knew it wouldn't do much for boss-slaying, but I was hoping to use it to help "clear a room". And I know now I took Quicken Spell too early....I should've known better. I could definitely drop one for Maximize and one for Toughness if you think that'll give me benefits...I regretted not fitting toughness in. But which Enhancements should I drop/slim down in order to get there? The Healing one that does regen over time?

That third level of fighter gets you absolutely nothing.

Do you have any premium classes or races? WF or Horc? Monk or FvS? If so, I think there are much better options for soloing.

I do have everything except for Favored Soul unlocked. I wasn't sure what else to get since I knew level 17 cleric got me to casting level 9 spells giving me three splashes. I considered Paladin for the aura and Barb (but I'd need to reroll for the alignment).

You really only need 1 lvl of Fighter...that gives you full martial weapon ability and the extra feat. 19 levels of Cleric gives you more SP's and more Spell slots.

I took two for the two feats, but as the others mentioned I don't really NEED three. Ideas on the "extra" level? I didn't think the 18 of Cleric gave me a huge advantage over the 17 of cleric. I could pick up Bard. :-P Joking.

[FaSo]

Like others have said before me 3rd lvl of fighter brings nothing. 18 Clr will get u more sp( and on a melee build that is huge) and more spell slots. Also your feats could use some work. You can drop both cleave feats and grab toughness for an extra 22-92 hp, and maximize for more bonus to heals also to your BB, also extend could be nice for longer BB aswell as longer devine power and favors.

good luck,

Faso

[EKKM]

[QUOTE=Blackfang321;3591915]So the cleave wouldn't help me when I'm soloing and swarmed? I knew it wouldn't do much for boss-slaying, but I was hoping to use it to help "clear a room". And I know now I took Quicken Spell too early....I should've known better. I could definitely drop one for Maximize and one for Toughness if you think that'll give me benefits...I regretted not fitting toughness in. But which Enhancements should I drop/slim down in order to get there? The Healing one that does regen over time?

You will get a lot of additional AOE damage just from the THF line, like I said although Cleave/GCleave grants full AOE damage, the colldwon and animation does reduce overall DPS. At any rate, The marginal benfit (if any) is not worth the cost of two feats IMO.

I do have everything except for Favored Soul unlocked. I wasn't sure what else to get since I knew level 17 cleric got me to casting level 9 spells giving me three splashes. I considered Paladin for the aura and Barb (but I'd need to reroll for the alignment).

Dwarf is a good choice, you get the same benefit as EWF in terms of CON but can use your heals to full effect on yourself. HO would do more DPS at the cost of HPs.

forto pick up evasion. Evasion wont be that useful as your reflex save will stink anyway so not a lot of benefit.[/COLOR]

[Blackfang321]

You will get a lot of additional AOE damage just from the THF line, like I said although Cleave/GCleave grants full AOE damage, the colldwon and animation does reduce overall DPS. At any rate, The marginal benfit (if any) is not worth the cost of two feats IMO.

I finally get it...because of all the increased glancing blows I'll be doing damage to a group anyways...the cleaving just slows me down. Thanks guys! I changed a level of fighter back to cleric and I think I'm good to go! I'll get Toughness now, but not enough Enhancement points to get the Enhancements that use it...but enhancements can be changed out later if I find one or more is not working for me. Thanks for all the help!

[Raoull]

It looks alot like my first toon of note, and my plan.

I played my dwarven battle cleric until level 7, by which time I had enough favor to unlock drow.

Then I created a drow clonk. Some of the weaknesses I found with my battle cleric are much better with the clonk. In particular my reflex save was horrid. A clonk will get better due to higher dex (assuming TWF), monk levels, and potentially stance. And even higher vs. traps via a monk enhancement if you want.

A TWF clonk isn't really doable with a 28 point build, and even with drow its a bit sketchy but doable. But I've had great success soloing with it so far.

One other note... Radiant Servant is HUGE as a solo player. I rarely ever use my own spell points to heal while soloing. If I need more than my aura, I burst. If I'm out of turns I'm probably in so deep I'm using heal scrolls rather than spend mana healing. While soloing, my mana is for buffing and BB. That said, CHA is important. You don't need a huge number of turns, but you'll want some. I have a base 16 CHA pre gear and 9 turns. With full CHA/turn gear I get up to 14, but I usually only bother with that if I expect to be using turns offensively. At the same point (lvl 16) you'd have only 4 turns. Yes, they do recharge, and you don't need a huge number... but you'll want some. (My 16 CHA is more about DMII than number of turns.)

At the very least, with your existing build I'd put the 2 points from Dex onto CHA. +1 ref save will go from bad to... bad. +1 turn will be more useful. You'll also only want to take 1 lvl of fighter at first. Save the rest for after BB, or RS2. You'll want BB and aura as soon as possible.

[unbongwah]

Have a look at the dwarven battle cleric in my sig. You have the right idea, IMHO, you just need to tweak your stats & feats a bit.