I'm trying to learn clerics and trying domains

[kmoustakas]

First I made a two weapon fighting illusionist from the death domain. The death domain SLA one shots reapers but the build suffered from lack of aoe. Certainly, greater colour spray stops everything in its tracks and ring of shadowblades is actually awesome for a few levels but DDO is all about that AOE while leveling.

So in my second go around I went law domain for that awesome aoe... only to discover to my horror that around level 5 EVERYTHING IS LAWFUL. Kobolds, hobgoblins, REAPERS. I am greatly regretting my decision however I had the foresight to make myself a wand of nimbus of light, level 11 from mabar. Gave myself +75% to wands from radiant servant and it's not too bad. By level 6 I have to somehow get myself to a second sla or simply drop the turn undead stuff... but the turning is soooo good in undead quests everything just disappears.

I am soloing r1 quests so I'm not sure how much I should complain. Chaos is better early maybe and law is better later? The death domain SLA would one shot everything, it was insanely powerful. The fact reapers are lawful was a huge slap in the face. I knew about it, just forgot.

[rabidfox]

Go into Divine Disciple tree and grab Holy Smite SLA (or negative energy burst) for your AoE (or just use the regular spell version of it); then add in other AoE spells as you level up to keep the damage going strong. Domains add to your capabilities but be sure to use the trees/spells to fill in the gaps and you'll kill stuff easily enough.

[kmoustakas]

Yeah the moment I got the searing light SLA the game changed toward the better already. I'm level 7 holding 8 now and with the 4 ap I'll grab the holy smite SLA. Still, my thoughts are correct until you grab the holy smite SLA, everything is lawful so I'm thinking chaos domain will be better for until then. Everything's lawful at those levels.

(Not for epic of course)

[Enoach]

I've run a life with each domain - Each has its own pluses and in my opinion enhance a chosen playstyle.

As for AoE on a cleric.

One of the first spells I grab as soon as I'm level 3 is the 2nd Level Spell Soundburst. While there are those that are immune to its stunning effects it is a powerful way to stop groups of mobs. I generally don't add meta magic except to heighten to conserve as the primary use of this spell is to stun mobs.

For controlling Reapers I'll start off with command and cause fear both level 1 spells. Both are good tools to stop a single strong mob.

At level 11, I switch from command to greater command.

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Not everything is Lawful. It can seem like it at times, when that happens use Soundburst.

[Tlorrd]

if you solo a lot ...

Build Divine Inquisitive or Divine Arcane Archer

Use whichever domain you want to enhance you're ranged archetype ...

Destruction if you are shifter or barbarian split building towards that 1000hp Filigree bonus
Water for Solid fog CC and Cold damage if you're AA and AOE and boss dot.
Law, Trickery, or Luck for a variety of layered defenses and enchantment DCs for AA
War or Destruction for additional damage
Healing, Protection if you want to plink in back of group from time to time and self heal in mid reaper solo
Strength if you go Bow Strength route

Use Falconry or FI if you want Wis or Cha to hit/dmg, respectively.

Ranged divines never run out of ammo and you use your buff spells to give you full BAB as well as self healing.

[kmoustakas]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I've discovered two things so far (second life, level 10).

Once you get the holy smite sla in divine disciple the game gets trivial. It's killing everything and I am not even set up to properly take advantage of it (I'm cha based!). I think those 11 points spent in radiant servant have to be ignored as soon as you have 21 points to grab holy smite and then just smite the undead. It helps that the searing light sla does double damage to them. With that in mind, you can play around with domains a lot more I think.

Cha based shadowblade cleric was great in my mind but not so in action. Sure, barrier of shadowblades is very cool but you can just use SLAs to kill everything and then if necessary drop an old school blade barrier in emergencies. So next life I will try wis based chaos cleric more likely and then go for iconic sun elf cleric to see how the game is on epic as a cleric

[kmoustakas]

Update:
I just slaughtered everything in TOEE r1 heroic with order cleric because everything in there was chaotic. The combo of quickened empowered maximized order's wrath (order domain sla) and holy smite (divine disciple sla) meant that with 13sp (7+6) you clear out whole groups and usually with soul stones you get mana to spare. I am a bit sad I didn't get heighten at level 9 I got evocation focus instead but I'll grab it at level 12.

So it boils down to 'are the enemies undead or chaotic? Walk in the park'.

The only real issue was the lich rare in part 1 which was immune to all my spells so I just equiped a moonhowl axe and smashed it with it lol. I did have divine power prepared for random 'str' levers ie in tear so it came into use. I should farm for a staff from desert sands though that does attack/damage with int/wis/cha - the new version.

[nobodynobody1426]

For Cleric there are three domains that are "good" for elemental DPS.

Fire Domain, extremely good for wiping out heroic as it adds a cheap low level SLA and then at 14 you get a 7SP 8 second CD Firestorm, which is the strongest AoE nuke divine casters get. It's slightly stronger then Delayed Blast Fireball. Fire domain makes your Fire and Light spells use the higher of Fire or Light spell power.

Air Domain, second amazing domain, gets a bunch of +Evo DC along with Lightning Bolt SLA at 9 and then Chain Lightning at 14. Get to run around while channeling your inner sith lord. Air domain makes your Air and Light spells use the higher of Fire or Light spell power.

Sun Domain, not as strong as the other two but does save some AP by giving you Searing Light as an SLA, also comes with Sunbeam SLA which is really good, Sun Burst isn't that great damage to non-undead but it's decent enough.

Death Domain, this isn't so much elemental damage as a bunch of +Necro DC's to power insta kills like Slay Living and Destruction. Recent adjustment to the Inflict Wounds spells make them pretty strong for killing off living monsters.

[kmoustakas]

For Cleric there are three domains that are "good" for elemental DPS.

Fire Domain, extremely good for wiping out heroic as it adds a cheap low level SLA and then at 14 you get a 7SP 8 second CD Firestorm, which is the strongest AoE nuke divine casters get. It's slightly stronger then Delayed Blast Fireball. Fire domain makes your Fire and Light spells use the higher of Fire or Light spell power.

Air Domain, second amazing domain, gets a bunch of +Evo DC along with Lightning Bolt SLA at 9 and then Chain Lightning at 14. Get to run around while channeling your inner sith lord. Air domain makes your Air and Light spells use the higher of Fire or Light spell power.

Sun Domain, not as strong as the other two but does save some AP by giving you Searing Light as an SLA, also comes with Sunbeam SLA which is really good, Sun Burst isn't that great damage to non-undead but it's decent enough.

Death Domain, this isn't so much elemental damage as a bunch of +Necro DC's to power insta kills like Slay Living and Destruction. Recent adjustment to the Inflict Wounds spells make them pretty strong for killing off living monsters.

That is exactly what I am looking at as well - plus you get free elemental turning. Firestorm, firewall is great I think and I know lightning bolt is absolute bonkers cause I used it extensively on my artificer. Clerics are in an awesome place during heroics!