Cleric: Robes or heavy armor? and some other questions

[Mubjon]

I have a lvl 14 cleric RS II that is using the Giant named armor right now. I am using a shield to give me heavy fortification, as well as I have the pendent from Necro quests that gives me protection from evil, death block and something else. I will try to do the Necro part 4 soon to get the helm and upgrade that pendent to the last part (I think it does anyway the guys says it is not complete)

So my question is, should I switch to a robe that I can get something useful like Ice Guard with Heavy fort, or Deathblock with Heavy fort, and swap out the necklace for something else when I am not facing beholders?

As well, would it be better to swap out extend for Maximize or heighten now? I rarely buff and when I do I am soloing and 14 minutes for a spell is long enough.

And what other feat would you take, as I planned to take maximize/heighten anyway at lvl 15 so if I swap out extend I have one extra feat that I could use.

[richieelias27]

If you are not a battlecleric and thus do not find yourself using spells like recitation or Divine Power/Favor, then yes you can safely dump extend for whatever you want.

Armor - again, if you are not a battlecleric then you do not need iceguard. Just go for whatever lets you free up other slots for better gear.

[danotmano1998]

I find that the plate mail with 5/dr helps immensely.

I doubt that 8 more or less AC will make a huge difference in the higher levels, but I like mine as high as I can possibly get it.

[Tom_Hunters]

at your level I bet most cleric don't have meaningful AC (even addy DR doesn't mean much), so robe or armour doesn't really matter.

I myself prefer robe though, for the better jump and balance skills mainly. And if you go for dragontouched later, you might want to have robes so that you can change your gear real quick

Of course if you are using named armours like Gorgon or Plate of Defender they are also nice IMO.

[Mubjon]

I have been lately tossing a comet fall or greater command and then going in to help clear out the fallen mobs. So I do some melee from time to time when it warrants it. Especially when facing undead as I can turn on the aura and heal while mixed in with the melee.

I get hit a lot though even with a 35 AC that I have now fully buffed. So I am trying to figure out if I should just go robe now with something useful on it (like heavy fortification) and then get a shield with superior devotion as I am lacking that right now.

[Mubjon]

at your level I bet most cleric don't have meaningful AC (even addy DR doesn't mean much), so robe or armour doesn't really matter.

I myself prefer robe though, for the better jump and balance skills mainly. And if you go for dragontouched later, you might want to have robes so that you can change your gear real quick

Of course if you are using named armours like Gorgon or Plate of Defender they are also nice IMO.

I have been told I have a high AC for my cleric (35 buffed with a large shield I think +5), It is 27 with the small shield with heavy fort on it and I do not really notice a difference in being hit or dmg I am taking when hit. Which is why I was thinking of trying the heavy fort on the armor to see if that made a difference.

I have some decent HP i think for a cleric at 238 and my sp is 1114 (I think) which is plenty in most parties. Heck my burst and aura can almost take care of most healing right now with an occasionally mass cure crit, or a heal to someone in real trouble.

I could run eye quest a bit more and try to get the Gorgon plate, maybe that will make a difference.

[kcru]

I have been lately tossing a comet fall or greater command and then going in to help clear out the fallen mobs. So I do some melee from time to time when it warrants it. Especially when facing undead as I can turn on the aura and heal while mixed in with the melee.

I get hit a lot though even with a 35 AC that I have now fully buffed. So I am trying to figure out if I should just go robe now with something useful on it (like heavy fortification) and then get a shield with superior devotion as I am lacking that right now.

If the cove ever comes back, get swashbuckler. Guardbreaking is awesome.

I also have a devotion shield that I hotkey if I want to trigger an aura or burst.


My AC is 38 unbuffed + have a Blur trinket and DR3/- (would love the DR5/-). Overall, I'm very durable at level 14 and expect it to continue.

[Mubjon]

If the cove ever comes back, get swashbuckler. Guardbreaking is awesome.

I also have a devotion shield that I hotkey if I want to trigger an aura or burst.


My AC is 38 unbuffed + have a Blur trinket and DR3/- (would love the DR5/-). Overall, I'm very durable at level 14 and expect it to continue.

how did you get to 38 unbuffed?

[kcru]

how did you get to 38 unbuffed?

The big difference is probably +5 natural armor on my cove hat.


Also, eldritch ritual on my +5 platmail
swashbuckler (12) has parying which offsets its small shield status.

when I get to swashbuckler (16) then greater parrying will help further

[Mubjon]

The big difference is probably +5 natural armor on my cove hat.


Also, eldritch ritual on my +5 platmail
swashbuckler (12) has parying which offsets its small shield status.

when I get to swashbuckler (16) then greater parrying will help further

ahh ok, that could explain it.

thanks, I missed the cove then so hopefully it comes around and I will try to get some good stuff.

[mraistlin123]

ckeck for the sora kell set, it gives you devotion but dont recall if its superior or what, you will need to make room for a ring glove and head though :/

from what you sai earlir i think you are misunderstanding what heavy fort does (or i dont get what you wrote :P not english user in that case skip below this ).

using a shield or amor with heavy fort does the same on both they will save you from critical hits and sneak attack damage, but all other sources of damage still work the same

[Jaid314]

at level 14, you're not going to get an awful lot out of mid 30's AC imo. and i certainly can't recommend adding even more AC unless you've already got everything else that you want already.

stick with your DR 5/- plate though, not for the AC, but for the DR. that's just imo, i suppose, but DR 5/- is a nice benefit to have. basically, figure out whether robe or armor has better abilities (and don't feel restricted to only plate for armor, either), and go with what gives the best non-AC benefits.

[Habreno]

I, at Level 20, am wearing the Epic Full Plate from the Cove, upgraded to T3. It's not worn for the AC (but helps when running mid-level content) but for the DR5/Chaotic and Superior False Life and Resistance +5. It slots 3 items into one while giving me a decent AC for mid-level content should I run it.

Go for something which makes your job easier. Don't be an idiot like I was wearing +5 Adamantine Full Plate well past it's usefulness.

[Mubjon]

ckeck for the sora kell set, it gives you devotion but dont recall if its superior or what, you will need to make room for a ring glove and head though :/

from what you sai earlir i think you are misunderstanding what heavy fort does (or i dont get what you wrote :P not english user in that case skip below this ).

using a shield or amor with heavy fort does the same on both they will save you from critical hits and sneak attack damage, but all other sources of damage still work the same

Where do I get that set from?

I understand that I get the benefits regardless if it is on the armor or shield, but I can get a devotion item for the shield easier than I can the armor, or a weapon. I would like to have devotion on an item I might not change during combat (I sometimes switch weapon for a scroll or wand if needed)

Then the monsters must be hitting quite hard as I am still getting hit with 60+ dmg in one swing Traps I am sure are a different matter as I have been hit for 180+ dmg on elite traps in lvl 14 and 15 quests.

[Mubjon]

at level 14, you're not going to get an awful lot out of mid 30's AC imo. and i certainly can't recommend adding even more AC unless you've already got everything else that you want already.

stick with your DR 5/- plate though, not for the AC, but for the DR. that's just imo, i suppose, but DR 5/- is a nice benefit to have. basically, figure out whether robe or armor has better abilities (and don't feel restricted to only plate for armor, either), and go with what gives the best non-AC benefits.

I do have a +6 Cha helm, a +6 str gloves and +5 con ring, So those are pretty good for right now, but I am ok with changing out those items if something will help me either 1) Heal the party better 2) get better dmg from my few offensive spells I cast 3) make it so I am not taking as much dmg so I can live long enough to keep others alive.

Which is why I thought about taking out extend and replacing it with a heighten or maximize feat, could even go empowered as those three affect most of the spells I cast, not only healing but comet fall and destruction as well.

[Mubjon]

I, at Level 20, am wearing the Epic Full Plate from the Cove, upgraded to T3. It's not worn for the AC (but helps when running mid-level content) but for the DR5/Chaotic and Superior False Life and Resistance +5. It slots 3 items into one while giving me a decent AC for mid-level content should I run it.

Go for something which makes your job easier. Don't be an idiot like I was wearing +5 Adamantine Full Plate well past it's usefulness.

I would love to have armor with those stats

That is why I asked here, as this is my first real character (no other character above 6) and I love playing him. I am learning a lot about being a cleric and just not a better healbot, but that I can get kills, I would like to be more of an caster than melee. Although I see the benefits of doing melee if I can keep people healed. The only problems I have had is when someone gets one shot or two shot. And then there is not much I can do about it anyway, so I raise them and heal them on the spot.

I am learning quite a bit and when I am finished with this one I might do a second one with a level or 2 of Paladin.

[ShadowFlash]

I do have a +6 Cha helm, a +6 str gloves and +5 con ring, So those are pretty good for right now, but I am ok with changing out those items if something will help me either 1) Heal the party better 2) get better dmg from my few offensive spells I cast 3) make it so I am not taking as much dmg so I can live long enough to keep others alive.

Which is why I thought about taking out extend and replacing it with a heighten or maximize feat, could even go empowered as those three affect most of the spells I cast, not only healing but comet fall and destruction as well.

The Kora Sell set sounds perfect for you, and you're in luck with your gear replacement too as the set consists of +6 to WIS, CHA, and STR ( when upgraded ). Potency is nice, and i haven't found an easier way to get it while not worrying about gear swapping. Add in +13 to Diplomacy and Intimidate, True Seeing, AND +2 ATK & DMG, and the slots aren't exactly wasted. My lvl 13 cleric LOVES this set right now and I don't anticipate replacing it for a long time. I'm wearing Gorgon right now and it's great, but in about 9k XP I'm splashing monk and going robes for the versatility.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Katra%27s_Razor_Wit
http://ddowiki.com/page/Teraza%27s_Perfect_Sight
http://ddowiki.com/page/Maenya%27s_Iron_Fists

[Mubjon]

The Kora Sell set sounds perfect for you, and you're in luck with your gear replacement too as the set consists of +6 to WIS, CHA, and STR ( when upgraded ). Potency is nice, and i haven't found an easier way to get it while not worrying about gear swapping. Add in +13 to Diplomacy and Intimidate, True Seeing, AND +2 ATK & DMG, and the slots aren't exactly wasted. My lvl 13 cleric LOVES this set right now and I don't anticipate replacing it for a long time. I'm wearing Gorgon right now and it's great, but in about 9k XP I'm splashing monk and going robes for the versatility.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Katra%27s_Razor_Wit
http://ddowiki.com/page/Teraza%27s_Perfect_Sight
http://ddowiki.com/page/Maenya%27s_Iron_Fists

Cool thank you I will have to run that quest quite a bit then to get those items, I think I have the ring already.

I will have to check.

[azrael4h]

The Kora Sell set sounds perfect for you, and you're in luck with your gear replacement too as the set consists of +6 to WIS, CHA, and STR ( when upgraded ). Potency is nice, and i haven't found an easier way to get it while not worrying about gear swapping. Add in +13 to Diplomacy and Intimidate, True Seeing, AND +2 ATK & DMG, and the slots aren't exactly wasted. My lvl 13 cleric LOVES this set right now and I don't anticipate replacing it for a long time. I'm wearing Gorgon right now and it's great, but in about 9k XP I'm splashing monk and going robes for the versatility.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Katra%27s_Razor_Wit
http://ddowiki.com/page/Teraza%27s_Perfect_Sight
http://ddowiki.com/page/Maenya%27s_Iron_Fists

I'll second the Sora Kell set. My FvS used it for a long time, and has swapped it in and out for various reasons. Right now I'm farming for the bracers from the new pack that have toughness on them, and the set will once more be my usual gear layout. I will lose the charged gauntlets but oh well. I'll just have to finish my litII.

[mraistlin123]

Cool thank you I will have to run that quest quite a bit then to get those items, I think I have the ring already.

I will have to check.

they told you already where to get it :P i will add that the non-upgraded set gives +5 stats (str cha wis)...