Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wizzzzzard 02-05-08, 08:52 PM	So, our group was talking the other day, and we came up with the ideas that in a lot of groups, the cleric is usually the last character made in a party. We also came to the conclusion that the cleric really has no 'dump stat'. This is not for discussion, this is just our opinions. So, what did we decide to do? TEAM CLERIC! All the players are playing clerics. So now how do we provide flavor aside from the different gods & domains? One easy option was to use the spontaneous domain casting feature from PHB2. Natch. All done, right? Wrong. We've got all good clerics, all who can turn undead. BORE-RING! So what others options are there for turn attempts? One player suggessted Domain Feats, from Complete Champions. Another suggested the divine feats from Libris Mortis and/or Complete Divine. Wondering if anyone has any other options out there? I want the players to have some choices, but not too many. The domain feats seem to offer the most flavor, but am I wrong in thinking that anything you are substituting for turning, should still be 'undead flavored'? Chime in with your thoughts. I'd be willing to even toss it into the characters as say a bonus feat, like wizards gets every 5th level.
pigknight 02-05-08, 11:09 PM	You need the neutral "death knight cleric". Also I say let them replace turn undead with martial weapon proficency and a bonus fighter feat every 5 levels. Profane Lifeleech is probably the best divine feat out there, but based on what you want I say replace the turning with a profane lifeleech-ish ability that only affects undead.
Orchomenos 02-06-08, 10:48 AM	Domains & Gods already add a pretty large amount of flavor. You can have a cleric of Mystra with the Spell & Magic domains, using a wand of magic missile, and a cleric of Garagos with the War & Destruction domains fighting with a longsword; they will be quite different. Even two clerics of Obad-Hai, one with Fire & Earth domains, another one with Animal and Plant domain, will be quite different... Perhaps one druid, one Cloistered Cleric, one Favored Soul, one Divine Shaman, one Archivist begging scrolls from the other ones...
Roac 02-06-08, 11:10 AM	I don't remember what book(s) they're in but I do recall there being feats that allow you to use Turn Undead uses into a variety of lesser powers and bonuses, such as Energy Resistance 5 till end of turn or something of the like. Check either Complete Divine or Warrior, can't remember which.
wizzzzzard 02-06-08, 06:07 PM	Domains & Gods already add a pretty large amount of flavor. You can have a cleric of Mystra with the Spell & Magic domains, using a wand of magic missile, and a cleric of Garagos with the War & Destruction domains fighting with a longsword; they will be quite different. Even two clerics of Obad-Hai, one with Fire & Earth domains, another one with Animal and Plant domain, will be quite different... Perhaps one druid, one Cloistered Cleric, one Favored Soul, one Divine Shaman, one Archivist begging scrolls from the other ones... Perhaps people may have misunderstood. The characters have been created, and they all made good aligned clerics. Well, there are 2 players who are LN and CN, but thier gods are good, and they turn udnead. Every character turns undead, and I'm trying to find something else they can do, instead of turn undead. I don't want to offer more specifics, becuase it could taint people's input.
taradusis 02-06-08, 07:39 PM	Perhaps different races,one dwarf,one elf,one human,etc. A divine rage instead of turning? A gift of gab instead of turning(change minds thru divine aura)? More healing? Clerics are already quite different from each other.
luedre 02-06-08, 07:48 PM	I would suggest prestige classes, there are also feats that various characters can take to use their turn attempts to do something else, such as heal, empower a metamagic feat and other such things. I would like to suggest for the Chaotic player to make an Eldritch Disciple, ranged healer ftw. Someone else can go the Pelor route for the prestige class(radiant disciple or some such thing) Each god has a prestige class, though half of them aren't worth it, some of them are.
Heros_Backpack 02-06-08, 08:01 PM	There's a variant here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#cleric) that lets you trade your ability to turn undead for the paladin's aura of courage and smite evil ability. There's another one here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#turningUndeadVa riantPlanarBanishment) that lets you turn evil outsiders instead of undead. The Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Plant domains all allow you to turn types of creature other than undead. Any of these any use?
Orchomenos 02-07-08, 11:05 AM	There's a variant here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#cleric) that lets you trade your ability to turn undead for the paladin's aura of courage and smite evil ability. The feat Divine Might is better than a smite evil, since it is not limited to evil targets. There's another one here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/classFeatureVariants.htm#turningUndeadVa riantPlanarBanishment) that lets you turn evil outsiders instead of undead. The Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Plant domains all allow you to turn types of creature other than undead. Any of these any use? Turn Plant, Animals, Ooze, Dragons, Constructs, Feys... Perhaps could you give an handful of spell-like abilities? I could see one of them with the ability to Awaken objects...
wizzzzzard 02-10-08, 11:01 AM	Thanks for the advice, everyone. I think I'm going to use the Domain feats from Complete Champion. They offer the most flavor.