Adventures in Theorycrafting: Messing with Domains

[Anoregon]

If you are a caster type cleric you want your WIS as high as you can get for DCs.

A melee STR based Cleric typically takes the Divine Might Enhancement that gives you an Insight bonus to STR = to your CHA Modifier.

Ahh ok, that makes sense. So Char is less important for a ranged-focus build like 14cleric/6 ranger, since Divine Might doesn't do much for you?

[unbongwah]

If you are a caster type cleric you want your WIS as high as you can get for DCs.

To add to this: in order to cast spells, you need your caster stat (WIS in the case of clerics) equal to "10 + <spell level>." E.g., to cast Heal (lvl 6 spell), you need at least WIS 16 (10 + 6). But any bonuses to your WIS like gear, tomes, etc. count towards that requirement. And since there's so much power creep / stat inflation these days in DDO, if you're not building a DC-based caster, many builders (inc. me) will dump-stat the caster stat and rely on other stat bonuses to hit those requirements. E.g., a battlecleric with WIS 8 + 2 tome + 6 item = 16 which is sufficient for Heal spell. This lets you focus build pts on more important stats to your battlecleric, namely STR, CHA, and CON (also DEX if ranged- or TWF-based).

So Char is less important for a ranged-focus build like 14cleric/6 ranger, since Divine Might doesn't do much for you?

That depends. If you went STR-based like my Tempest Warpriest, then you definitely still want Divine Might. OTOH, if you make say a DEX- or WIS-based archer, then Divine Might doesn't help if you're not taking advantage of Bow Strength.

It's all about understanding how the different pieces of your build fit together and making the most of whatever synergies you're trying to create.

[Anoregon]

Thanks for breaking it down. I'm leaning towards a dex-based bow build that may go T5 radiant, so it looks like I can more or less ignore charisma in favor of con/wisdom.

[adrian69]

To add to this: in order to cast spells, you need your caster stat (WIS in the case of clerics) equal to "10 + <spell level>." E.g., to cast Heal (lvl 6 spell), you need at least WIS 16 (10 + 6). But any bonuses to your WIS like gear, tomes, etc. count towards that requirement. And since there's so much power creep / stat inflation these days in DDO, if you're not building a DC-based caster, many builders (inc. me) will dump-stat the caster stat and rely on other stat bonuses to hit those requirements. E.g., a battlecleric with WIS 8 + 2 tome + 6 item = 16 which is sufficient for Heal spell. This lets you focus build pts on more important stats to your battlecleric, namely STR, CHA, and CON (also DEX if ranged- or TWF-based).

That depends. If you went STR-based like my Tempest Warpriest, then you definitely still want Divine Might. OTOH, if you make say a DEX- or WIS-based archer, then Divine Might doesn't help if you're not taking advantage of Bow Strength.

It's all about understanding how the different pieces of your build fit together and making the most of whatever synergies you're trying to create.

Have you double checked Divine Will/Presences to make sure wiki/in game text just says melee but the actual damage does stacks on range? I thought I just read one of the power builders using it on a ranged build on vault, but didn't think anything about it until I just double checked the Wiki. A Man Can Hope.

Why not go dex based and use Divine Will if TWF? I guess the difference between Will/Presense compared to DM would be if you preferred social* skills (or had Pally levels) or will saves (and spell points on a ranger, druid or cleric, but muh).

[Tilomere]

Simple 20 Water Domain Cleric, True Neutral
Max Wisdom, levels in wisdom, 14 Int, solid Charisma

Dragonborn (ice) preferred race, but any will work.

Feats
1 Deity: Helm or Aureon Point Blank Shot > Free feat swap at level 9** to Maximize
2 Water Domain
3 Heavy Repeater Proficiency > Dragonshard feat swap at level 9** to Empower
6 Quicken
9 Completionist*
12 PL:Wiz*
15 Spell Focus Evocation
18 Greater Spell Focus Evocation

*move evocation focus up, and take spell pen/greater spell pen if not completionist.
** Level 9 is where cleric gets its first good SLA, cone of cold, so that's the level you want meta-magics (maximize and empower). Before level 9, you want those feat slots to help your weaker casting kill things, so we are taking repeater use.

Enhancements levels 1-8 in harper/dragonborn for int to hit/dmg/KtA, reset at level 9 for dragonborn/radiant servant. Continue dragonborn/radiant servant to cap.

----------------------------

At max caster level achieved at level 16 cleric, one could cast soundburst followed by a level 17 cone of cold SLA to deal:

85 base damage.

Spell power would be roughly: 600+ or 7x damage
99/48/18/16 (Gear + implement)
75 Spell power (50 AP in RS)
25 SP Pacifism
50 Heal Skill
20 Ship/Misc/Alchemical
225 Maximize/Empower
30 EPL:Life and Death

Helpless would be 1.55x damage

So ~900 point AoE on 9 second cool down for 25 SP.