Clerics for fun (build advice needed)

[~Bandage]

OK, so I'm going to pick up a 2nd account for a few reasons, and figured I'd do the following just for fun:

Create a cleric caster. Someone focused on using the damaging/crowd control spells on the cleric list. I want to try to create a cleric that can function as the "arcane" caster on level-equivalent quests, and as the backup/secondary "arcane" on tougher quests.

I'll be creating a Dwarf, for the extra spell points, with a high Wis and Cha (turn undead can be useful offensive spell), and splashing one level of Sorc for spell pts and wand usage. Will be wearing normal heavy armour, since no chance of spell failure.

Any thoughts or advice on this? Is there an existing build that may help?

Thanks in advance

[Impaqt]

You definatly want to make that character Drow..... Or Elf if you really want the spel points.....

Turn undead is Useless nless youhave a 18+ CHR, Improved Turning FEAT, plus Turning Enhancements....
Handicapping the build with a Base 6 CHR is not a good start.

1 Sorc level for wands and Spell Points? Again, you need a High CHR to make the Spel Points even worth considering. ANd wands? Well... about the only thing you'll be able to use efectively are Repair wands for Warforged...... THis has been discussed a lot around here.. Several threads if ya do a searc.. THe concensus has been that its not all that good of an idea.....

[Zenako]

Turn undeads also turn into castings of all the Divine Enhancements as well, and some of them fall into the caster mindset (like Divine Light for example). AoE light attacks for 14D6 without using sp can be fun.

[roscopico]

make a light damage specced cleric.

oh and have a group to roll with that knows what your build is about.

[~Bandage]

Off the start, I'm at 16 Wis, 16 Cha (using character builder), so not that far off from your 18 for usefulness. I've also noticed that with recent turn changes, it has become at least a little useful, especially with the offensivem turn enhancements.

The sorc level would be for offensive wand use to supplement the spell points, not as a focus. I don't care at all about repair, but doesn't the splash level allow me to use ANY arcane wand (and maybe scroll) since it looks at caster level, and doesn't differentiate between arcane and divine?

[~Bandage]

make a light damage specced cleric.

oh and have a group to roll with that knows what your build is about.

Yeah, I will be up front about what the build is for

[PurdueDave]

Class caster levels are tracked separately, so you'd be no better than a 1st level sorc, ever, at arcane scrolls. Wands use character level, so you'd get full use of those eventually.

[roscopico]

Yeah, I will be up front about what the build is for

Well theres more to it than that.

I play battleclerics and when I apply for groups that have pal/barb/fighter up in the lfm they tell me "we already have a cleric" and I tell them "im a battlecleric" and....nothing.

[Impaqt]

Yes, You can use any wand... Scrolls wil require a caster level check.. With 1 level of sorc.. You wont make many of those rolls for a CK Scroll....
Really, the only ewffective Offensive wands will be randomly generated Firebal/Lightning/MM Wands..... THey wat least will do some damage... The problem is that Wands are locked to the creators caster level check..(I dsont think they even had an Attribute Bonus to that check) and without Wand Heightening, theres no way to increase it.

[Impaqt]

Well theres more to it than that.

I play battleclerics and when I apply for groups that have pal/barb/fighter up in the lfm they tell me "we already have a cleric" and I tell them "im a battlecleric" and....nothing.

Thats ignorance on the party creator though.. Unfortunatly.. Its Rampant... Noway around that.. THats the primary reason I created my Holy Destroyer build.... With Paly and Fighter levels, theres no doubt in many peoples mind that I can deal out some damage.

[~Bandage]

Well theres more to it than that.

I play battleclerics and when I apply for groups that have pal/barb/fighter up in the lfm they tell me "we already have a cleric" and I tell them "im a battlecleric" and....nothing.

Thank goodness for a good guild that will allow me to playtest my gimped build

EDIT: OK, not gimped... but "different" build. A cleric able to focus spell points on the damaging spells instead of needing to conserve for healing should be a decently powerful force. When I have an opportunity on my healer to do damage, I'm usually very satisifed with the results.

[Crud]

More people are seeing the light. Ran with a pug a couple nights ago and my 7th lvl cleric got twice as many kills as the thw barb and 4 times as many as the paly. All while keeping up with heals. Got a few compliments from the barb.
We shall overcome.

[Slayer918]

More people are seeing the light. Ran with a pug a couple nights ago and my 7th lvl cleric got twice as many kills as the thw barb and 4 times as many as the paly. All while keeping up with heals. Got a few compliments from the barb.
We shall overcome.

I'm sry, I know how effective BCs can be... but that must not have been the best barbarian ever... the paly however isnt all that surprising since a lot of palidans are specced for great defense not damage.

that being said thats the way to break the stereotypes