Cleric offensive casting CC focus with good damaging spells, need feedback/advice

[kierg10]

Here's an offensive casting cleric with good healing ability i came up with. He will be able to scroll heal, have a good number of bursts and still control the battle with good CC and damage spells. Any advice and feedback would be nice and appreciated.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Mirrian Normfay
Level 20 True Neutral Human Male
(20 Cleric) 
Hit Points: 302
Spell Points: 1621 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 5
Will: 21

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength              8                  8                    8
Dexterity             8                  8                    8
Constitution         16                 18                   18
Intelligence          8                 10                   10
Wisdom               18                 26                   29
Charisma             14                 16                   18

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 20
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 20
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 20

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
Balance              -1                  6                    6
Bluff                 2                  4                    4
Concentration         7                 26                   26
Diplomacy             6                 27                   27
Disable Device       n/a                n/a                   n/a
Haggle                2                  4                    4
Heal                  4                  9                   11
Hide                 -1                 -1                   -1
Intimidate            2                  4                    4
Jump                 -1                 -1                   -1
Listen                4                  9                    9
Move Silently        -1                 -1                   -1
Open Lock            n/a               n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                  0                    0
Search               -1                  0                    0
Spot                  4                  9                    9
Swim                 -1                 -1                   -1
Tumble               n/a               n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      n/a               n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Enchantment
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Heavy Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Turn Undead
Spell (1): Bane
Spell (1): Bless
Spell (1): Cause Fear
Spell (1): Command
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Spell (1): Divine Favor
Spell (1): Doom
Spell (1): Inflict Light Wounds
Spell (1): Nightshield
Spell (1): Nimbus of Light
Spell (1): Obscuring Mist
Spell (1): Protection From Evil
Spell (1): Remove Fear
Spell (1): Shield of Faith
Spell (1): Summon Monster I


Level 2 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip


Level 3 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Spell (2): Aid
Spell (2): Bear's Endurance
Spell (2): Bull's Strength
Spell (2): Close Wounds
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (2): Deific Vengeance
Spell (2): Eagle's Spendor
Spell (2): Find Traps
Spell (2): Hold Person
Spell (2): Inflict Moderate Wounds
Spell (2): Lesser Restoration
Spell (2): Owl's Wisdom
Spell (2): Remove Paralysis
Spell (2): Resist Energy
Spell (2): Seek Eternal Rest
Spell (2): Soundburst
Spell (2): Spawn Screen
Spell (2): Summon Monster II


Level 4 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)


Level 5 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Spell (3): Bestow Curse
Spell (3): Blindness
Spell (3): Contagion
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (3): Dispel Magic
Spell (3): Glyph of Warding
Spell (3): Inflict Serious Wounds
Spell (3): Magic Circle Against Evil
Spell (3): Mass Aid
Spell (3): Prayer
Spell (3): Protection From Energy
Spell (3): Remove Blindness
Spell (3): Remove Curse
Spell (3): Remove Disease
Spell (3): Searing Light
Spell (3): Summon Monster III
Spell (3): Water Breathing


Level 6 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 7 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Spell (4): Chaos Hammer
Spell (4): Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (4): Death Ward
Spell (4): Dismissal
Spell (4): Divine Power
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (4): Holy Smite
Spell (4): Inflict Critical Wounds
Spell (4): Mass Shield of Faith
Spell (4): Neutralize Poison
Spell (4): Order's Wrath
Spell (4): Panacea
Spell (4): Poison
Spell (4): Recitation
Spell (4): Restoration
Spell (4): Summon Monster IV
Spell (4): Symbol of Flame
Spell (4): Unholy Blight


Level 8 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)


Level 9 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration
Spell (5): Break Enchantment
Spell (5): Divine Punishment
Spell (5): Flame Strike
Spell (5): Greater Command
Spell (5): Mass Cure Light Wounds
Spell (5): Mass Inflict Light Wounds
Spell (5): Protection From Elements
Spell (5): Raise Dead
Spell (5): Slay Living
Spell (5): Spell Resistance
Spell (5): Stalwart Pact
Spell (5): Summon Monster V
Spell (5): Symbol of Pain
Spell (5): True Seeing


Level 10 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)


Level 11 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Spell (6): Banishment
Spell (6): Blade Barrier
Spell (6): Cometfall
Spell (6): Create Undead
Spell (6): Greater Dispel Magic
Spell (6): Greater Glyph of Warding
Spell (6): Harm
Spell (6): Heal
Spell (6): Heroes Feast
Spell (6): Mass Bear's Endurance
Spell (6): Mass Bull's Strength
Spell (6): Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (6): Mass Eagle's Spendor
Spell (6): Mass Inflict Moderate Wounds
Spell (6): Mass Owl's Wisdom
Spell (6): Summon Monster VI
Spell (6): Symbol of Fear
Spell (6): Symbol of Persuasion
Spell (6): Undead to Death
Spell (6): Word of Recall


Level 12 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 13 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Spell (7): Destruction
Spell (7): Greater Restoration
Spell (7): Mass Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (7): Mass Inflict Serious Wounds
Spell (7): Mass Protection From Elements
Spell (7): Mass Restoration
Spell (7): Mass Spell Resistance
Spell (7): Resurrection
Spell (7): Summon Monster VII
Spell (7): Symbol of Stunning
Spell (7): Symbol of Weakness


Level 14 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)


Level 15 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell
Spell (8): Death Pact
Spell (8): Fire Storm
Spell (8): Holy Aura
Spell (8): Mass Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (8): Mass Death Ward
Spell (8): Mass Inflict Critical Wounds
Spell (8): Summon Monster VIII
Spell (8): Symbol of Death


Level 16 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)


Level 17 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Spell (9): Energy Drain
Spell (9): Implosion
Spell (9): Mass Heal
Spell (9): Summon Monster IX
Spell (9): True Resurrection


Level 18 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell


Level 19 (Cleric)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)


Level 20 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Intervention
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Wisdom I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Heal I
Enhancement: Improved Heal II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life III
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life II
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot II
Enhancement: Cleric Charisma I
Enhancement: Cleric Charisma II
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom I
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom II
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Vitality I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Vitality II
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery II
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery III

[Thalone]

I'm surprised no one's responded to this yet. Apparently there is a hjealer shortage on the forum as well as in game!

Stat distribution looks good. My personal preference is to melee a bit (debuffing weapons or general DR breaker for DPS), so I would not dump STR as you did, but CHA is certainly a valid choice for the turns, divine might, and UMD bonus.

Consider investing 1 rank in tumble (useful for going measured distances, like tiles in Abbot, or greater mobility while shieldblocking and tactically retreating), or 11 ranks in UMD (fire/cold shield. gust of wind to get rid of AoEs instead of break enchantment, blur/displacement; somewhat harder are GH, teleport, some Arti scrolls). If you're planning concordant opposition/torc, I would dump diplo for UMD.

Featwise I am not a big fan of Mental Toughness. One feat to allow you to cast (Mass) Heal twice? Might be better off with Empower (nuking), extra turns if you're going to burst aggressively, or another spell focus (Evocation/Necro/Enchantment)/penetration feat.

Don't take more heal crit enhancements than necessary to qualify for RS; you can't rely on crits to heal. However, crit investment in the smiting line is great for boss nuking, since they have so many HPs you're bound to see crits over the life of the DP stack. Energy of the Zealot, like Mental Toughness, is questionable. I personally wouldn't invest 2 AP for DV II (DV I is fine for emergencies); it's only an upgrade of 5 SP per shot (tell the stupid wizards to manage their SPs better ). Some people advocate all Scroll Mastery IV--I personally don't like the huge AP investment to get there. Investing in Improved Empower Healing plus a little gear makes EH essentially free, but again, mighty expensive AP-wise. Some people like the capstone; I'm not a fan (an incap tank loses aggro anyway/in the chaos of battle it's hard to figure out who needs DI the most). Unyielding Sovereignty is good to restore death penalties if things go south, but only one shot per 10 minutes.

Welcome to the world of divine casting. My main is a caster cleric, and I really enjoy deciding who lives and who dies!

[Firesmall_at]

Feats Human in order:

toughness,
empower healing - used for healing radiant burst. it is a free buff. not used for cures until past level 6-9. Then for boss fights. With radiant Serv2 always on.
maximize - used for healing radiant burst. it is a free buff. not used for cures until past level 10
empower - used for healing radiant burst. it is a free buff. not used for cures until past level 6-9
quicken - used for healing radiant burst. it is a free buff.
heighten
Either SF EVoc or Necro, or SP for later levels, u don't need it early.

You can take extend early then swap it out by lvl 6-9. With ship buffs, and U9 this is less important.



Enhancement: Cleric Divine Intervention
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant I
Enhancement: Cleric Radiant Servant II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Wisdom I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I-take early ok then drop unless u have one point left over at lvl20
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Heal I
Enhancement: Improved Heal II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life II-drop
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Life III-drop
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life I
Enhancement: Cleric Prayer of Incredible Life II-drop
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting I
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting II
Enhancement: Cleric Smiting III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic I
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic II
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic III
Enhancement: Cleric Life Magic IV
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot I-take early ok then drop
Enhancement: Cleric Energy of the Zealot II-drop, take early then drop
Enhancement: Cleric Charisma I-drop
Enhancement: Cleric Charisma II-drop
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom I
Enhancement: Cleric Wisdom II
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Vitality I
Enhancement: Cleric Divine Vitality II-drop
Enhancement: Cleric Improved Turning I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery II
Enhancement: Cleric Wand and Scroll Mastery III-if u need more points for smiting drop

Charisma enhancements are a waste unless u are evening out a number temporarily. You can take extra turning 1 instead.
Critical healing lines are either over healing or not relied on tactically in the game. Min for Rad Serv. That is it.

Take:
Cleric Smiting 4
cleric prayer of smiting 3
Cleric Prayer of Incredible Smiting 2 or 3

Stats:
Wisdom 3
Greater human adapt CON, lower con to 15 and put into STR. Helps with gear weight and enfeeblement.
If you are not going to take DM1 then drop CHR to 10-12 and put more into STR. Take extra turning 2 instead if u want more turns, but prob need the points later for smiting. Now u can swing a club without hurting yourself during your level up from low to mid lvl. Dumping STR is old nanybot builds.

To get here drop Human Recovery 1. Nice early to midlvl, but if u need the points. Same for energy of zealot 1 if u need points. At late levels these points matter and are just to use a left over pt at CAP. Your healing of yourself will start with heal spells with empower healing will always top u off. U don't need human recovery to do that. You can even drop scroll mastery 2. It is only 7-15 points per heal scroll unless u on a budget.

You are an offensive caster or not???

[Hobgoblin]

are you dead set on sf: enchant?

only thing i can see it on is greater command and symbols.

perhaps sf: evo, necro or spell pen instead?

hob

[Mellkor]

If you are looking to play a lot at endgame, my advice would be to not focus on divine CC, as it is not so great at endgame. It is great up to mid levels, but after that arcane CC is light-years ahead of divine CC. If a CC'r is what you want, I would suggest a wizzy.

[Firesmall_at]

If you are looking to play a lot at endgame, my advice would be to not focus on divine CC, as it is not so great at endgame. It is great up to mid levels, but after that arcane CC is light-years ahead of divine CC. If a CC'r is what you want, I would suggest a wizzy.

+1

Except for Divine Punishment. 3 do 2500 points of damage over 48 seconds depending on gear and criticals.

Clerics are not wizards, but having one combat cast saves the wizard spell points for bosses and insta killing tough mobs... if they let the Cleric (then Wiz delay of game as he runs back to shrine) combat cast mobs and trash, lol. The same can be said for Cleric meleeing vs. pure melee builds. More so! IMHO. Nanybots are a waste.

[Mellkor]

+1

Except for Divine Punishment. 3 do 2500 points of damage over 48 seconds depending on gear and criticals.

Clerics are not wizards, but having one combat cast saves the wizard spell points for bosses and insta killing tough mobs... if they let the Cleric (then Wiz delay of game as he runs back to shrine) combat cast mobs and trash, lol. The same can be said for Cleric meleeing vs. pure melee builds. More so! IMHO. Nanybots are a waste.

Hmm. I was ASSuming CC meant crowd control. Does the op mean combat casting?



IF the op meant combat casting, then I would say divine combat casting is not bad at endgame, but still, a far cry from arcanes, and I would advise rolling a sorc if combat casting is what you want as a focus.

[Firesmall_at]

Hmm. I was ASSuming CC meant crowd control. Does the op mean combat casting?



IF the op meant combat casting, then I would say divine combat casting is not bad at endgame, but still, a far cry from arcanes, and I would advise rolling a sorc if combat casting is what you want as a focus.

Ah the SF enchantment is for that then... well u should tell him to be a bard then?

My mistake, but the posts still apply except for the type of SF then. And for Crowd control wouldn't heighten earlier be better lvl 9-12?

I think every Cleric should buff their divine punishment as much as they can with Max,Empower, 9% criticals/18% with gear, and get the multiplier up some. It is their main boss weapon in every build with 16+ levels of Cleric, IMHO.

[kierg10]

Yes by CC i meant 'crowd control'. And i wont be dropping the spell pen. feat, but empower would be a good thing to add in, I'll look at that. Also would heighten really be that good if i am casting offensive spells, or is it only good for crowd control spells? And dump some of the spell crit feats. I will look up what to swao SF: enchantment for next week, then when i get a bit more feedback i will edit the character. Thanks for the feedback BTW.

[Sarisa]

It's nice to have the option to CC in end game, since sometimes you get horrible casters in groups. I just wouldn't devote a feat to Enchant on a Cleric, as it just doesn't cover enough useful spells. If you really want a spell focus, I agree with Necro as the prime choice, with Evocation as a good secondary choice.

Definitely do carry around an enchantment focus item for times when you need to CC, such as a Dreamspitter, Staff of the Petitioner if you can get it, Xachosian Eardweller if you can get one, Scepter of Mad Trickery, or Shard of Xoriat.

Case in point, I did an eVoN1 yesterday. There were two PM's in group, and neither one did any sort of CC. No webs, saw a single Mass Hold the entire quest, no Circle of Death (only Wail and Finger). They were all "I do damage!". I ended up having to CC it on my Cleric, via symbols and Greater Command.