Cleric, but not a cleric [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cleric, but not a cleric [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord Welkerfan
12-03-04, 06:40 PM My character just died. My group would like me to play a cleric and I would be happy to oblige them. However, I don't want to play the cleric class. What are some good ways to play a cleric-like character (esp. for healing) without playing a cleric? No druid please.
Thermanshs
12-03-04, 07:32 PM Almost every class can play the healer's role if the appropriate equipment is used. Saying equipment I mean wands of cure light wounds (750 gp...average total HP to heal=275)
To mention a few...every caster with cure light wounds in his spell list can use this wand at 1st level. These being: bard,cleric,druid,paladin,ranger.
Now if you don't wanna play a caster you can then spend some ranks at use magic device so that you can EMULATE the spellcasting ability for this spell.
MetalGemini
12-03-04, 07:40 PM Paladin with Hospitaler PrC is a pretty good healer. Definitely get a high Charisma with that one. They can also use the wands of cure light wounds like Thermanshs said. Otherwise, I believe the Favored Soul class (CD) has some cure ability, but I don't have the book in front of my to double check.
Sensei Gith
12-03-04, 08:51 PM What's wrong with the cleric class? With a bit of character tweaking, you can bend it into any shape you want, and if you don't want to bother with the spells, you can blow them on buffs beforehand.

Pallies are good healers, though not nearly at the cleric's level. Rangers and rogues are decent, but make sure you have another healer in the party.

Or you could play a sorcerer/contemplative. :rolleyes: :D :devil:
Shadowbane
12-03-04, 10:12 PM Paladin with Hospitaler PrC is a pretty good healer. Definitely get a high Charisma with that one. They can also use the wands of cure light wounds like Thermanshs said. Otherwise, I believe the Favored Soul class (CD) has some cure ability, but I don't have the book in front of my to double check.

The favored soul mimics the sorcerer for spell usage. Wisdom decides how many spells per day and charisma decides how powerful a spell is or vice versa. All in all its a great healing class with alot of spells to boot and you get cool wings at 17th level. Your DM should have the complete divine if you dont.
Also the radiant healer is the best healing PrC for clerics, or the paladin/hospitaler is a great combo as the person above stated.
MushroomSpore
12-03-04, 10:26 PM [QUOTE=Thermanshs
To mention a few...every caster with cure light wounds in his spell list can use this wand at 1st level. These being: bard,cleric,druid,paladin,ranger.[/QUOTE]

Just a nitpick: paladins and rangers have NO caster level (and thus no ability to use wands) until level 4, at which point they can use wands and scrolls as a caster of 1/2 their level. :)
Thermanshs
12-03-04, 10:56 PM The sage calrified this point several times....the ranger has these spells in his spell list so he can activate wands at whatever level he wishes

From the 3,5 SRD Magic Items I
Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it’s even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Anyone with a spell on his or her spell list knows how to use a spell trigger item that stores that spell. (This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.) The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
DM Zoc
12-03-04, 11:09 PM I've always liked the Healer class from the Miniature's Handbook: all of the healing, none of the killing-power, plus a horsey.
Arcane Guyver
12-03-04, 11:16 PM Idea: be a Healer/Ranger, taking the archery combat style.

May not be too powerful, but it sounds interesting to play, IMO.
trapspringer
12-04-04, 12:35 AM Arcane caster plus Arcane Disciple with the healing domain from CD. The feat lets you add the spells fom any one domain to your class spell list.

For added fun, take a few levels in the Sneak Attack fighter varient from UA. Since a healing spell is a touch attack, you can 'sneak attack' for additional healing.
mercurywyrm
12-04-04, 01:56 AM Can you really do that trapspringer?! I thought sneak attack was DAMAGE only?!
DracoRuler
12-04-04, 02:07 AM since when did we want you to play a cleric? and besides, you dont need to be a cleric, we have a battle-cleric, and a great druid who would be willing to help out :P but if you insist, i think healer is a good idea

-DR
ninjarabbit
12-04-04, 08:24 AM Paladin is your best bet. Otherwise I'd recommend taking your first level as a human paragon and taking Use Magic Deviec as your adaptive learning skill.
CzarGarrett
12-06-04, 08:36 AM Go with something like a good aligned cleric with War and Protection Domains.

That way you can get the protective buff spells, still hold your own in combat, and switch in healing spells if you need them.
Just another user
12-06-04, 09:33 AM Just because nobody mentioned it, I like the bard seen as a (pseudo)religious figure, something like a preacher or a missionary with all of his class abilities seen in that light. Something like the TeleEvangelists of the modern times.
Mirikon
12-06-04, 01:26 PM Healer from Minatures Handbook is a good one. So is Favored Soul, Paladin/Hospitaler, etc. Or, if you wanna play a variant cleric, you could look at some of the alternate versions listed in Unearthed Arcana.
EvilVegan
12-06-04, 04:17 PM Artificer from Eberron.

They get lots of buffs, decent BAB, ability to create any magic item cheaper and faster. Lots of feats. Metamagic on wands. Etc.

I played one for a while and was the party's primary healer. We never seemed to have enough down time, but we were always in good health.
legowarrior
12-06-04, 07:27 PM spirit shaman is the like a druid when it comes to spells, but if you are looking for more spelling casting power and then try a shugenja, with the order using water and the order of the gentle rain. A healing mage, which you you should get a prestige class for as soon as possible.
Lilt
12-06-04, 08:03 PM Arcane caster plus Arcane Disciple with the healing domain from CD. The feat lets you add the spells fom any one domain to your class spell list.

For added fun, take a few levels in the Sneak Attack fighter varient from UA. Since a healing spell is a touch attack, you can 'sneak attack' for additional healing.
LOL! Although this is *almost* allowed by Complete Arcane, it's disallowed on one technicality.

The damage from sneak attack on weaponlike spells is the same type of damage as the spell used to deliver it, but to be a weaponlike spell the spell needs to both require an attack roll and deal damage. (1st paragraph under Weaponlike Spells, P85, Complete Arcane)

If your DM did allow this interpretation, however, you could have fun with Improved Critical (touch attack) and similar tom-foolery to try and double the 'damage' dealt by the spell.
Tony Vargas
12-06-04, 10:53 PM Well, that'd make 'coup de grace' less metaphorical....
CzarGarrett
12-07-04, 08:29 AM Favored soul.

Fighter - Paladin - Favored Soul - Cleric

martial--------------------------divine

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord Welkerfan 12-03-04, 06:40 PM	My character just died. My group would like me to play a cleric and I would be happy to oblige them. However, I don't want to play the cleric class. What are some good ways to play a cleric-like character (esp. for healing) without playing a cleric? No druid please.
Thermanshs 12-03-04, 07:32 PM	Almost every class can play the healer's role if the appropriate equipment is used. Saying equipment I mean wands of cure light wounds (750 gp...average total HP to heal=275) To mention a few...every caster with cure light wounds in his spell list can use this wand at 1st level. These being: bard,cleric,druid,paladin,ranger. Now if you don't wanna play a caster you can then spend some ranks at use magic device so that you can EMULATE the spellcasting ability for this spell.
MetalGemini 12-03-04, 07:40 PM	Paladin with Hospitaler PrC is a pretty good healer. Definitely get a high Charisma with that one. They can also use the wands of cure light wounds like Thermanshs said. Otherwise, I believe the Favored Soul class (CD) has some cure ability, but I don't have the book in front of my to double check.
Sensei Gith 12-03-04, 08:51 PM	What's wrong with the cleric class? With a bit of character tweaking, you can bend it into any shape you want, and if you don't want to bother with the spells, you can blow them on buffs beforehand. Pallies are good healers, though not nearly at the cleric's level. Rangers and rogues are decent, but make sure you have another healer in the party. Or you could play a sorcerer/contemplative. :rolleyes: :D :devil:
Shadowbane 12-03-04, 10:12 PM	Paladin with Hospitaler PrC is a pretty good healer. Definitely get a high Charisma with that one. They can also use the wands of cure light wounds like Thermanshs said. Otherwise, I believe the Favored Soul class (CD) has some cure ability, but I don't have the book in front of my to double check. The favored soul mimics the sorcerer for spell usage. Wisdom decides how many spells per day and charisma decides how powerful a spell is or vice versa. All in all its a great healing class with alot of spells to boot and you get cool wings at 17th level. Your DM should have the complete divine if you dont. Also the radiant healer is the best healing PrC for clerics, or the paladin/hospitaler is a great combo as the person above stated.
MushroomSpore 12-03-04, 10:26 PM	[QUOTE=Thermanshs To mention a few...every caster with cure light wounds in his spell list can use this wand at 1st level. These being: bard,cleric,druid,paladin,ranger.[/QUOTE] Just a nitpick: paladins and rangers have NO caster level (and thus no ability to use wands) until level 4, at which point they can use wands and scrolls as a caster of 1/2 their level. :)
Thermanshs 12-03-04, 10:56 PM	The sage calrified this point several times....the ranger has these spells in his spell list so he can activate wands at whatever level he wishes From the 3,5 SRD Magic Items I Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it’s even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Anyone with a spell on his or her spell list knows how to use a spell trigger item that stores that spell. (This is the case even for a character who can’t actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin.) The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.
DM Zoc 12-03-04, 11:09 PM	I've always liked the Healer class from the Miniature's Handbook: all of the healing, none of the killing-power, plus a horsey.
Arcane Guyver 12-03-04, 11:16 PM	Idea: be a Healer/Ranger, taking the archery combat style. May not be too powerful, but it sounds interesting to play, IMO.
trapspringer 12-04-04, 12:35 AM	Arcane caster plus Arcane Disciple with the healing domain from CD. The feat lets you add the spells fom any one domain to your class spell list. For added fun, take a few levels in the Sneak Attack fighter varient from UA. Since a healing spell is a touch attack, you can 'sneak attack' for additional healing.
mercurywyrm 12-04-04, 01:56 AM	Can you really do that trapspringer?! I thought sneak attack was DAMAGE only?!
DracoRuler 12-04-04, 02:07 AM	since when did we want you to play a cleric? and besides, you dont need to be a cleric, we have a battle-cleric, and a great druid who would be willing to help out :P but if you insist, i think healer is a good idea -DR
ninjarabbit 12-04-04, 08:24 AM	Paladin is your best bet. Otherwise I'd recommend taking your first level as a human paragon and taking Use Magic Deviec as your adaptive learning skill.
CzarGarrett 12-06-04, 08:36 AM	Go with something like a good aligned cleric with War and Protection Domains. That way you can get the protective buff spells, still hold your own in combat, and switch in healing spells if you need them.
Just another user 12-06-04, 09:33 AM	Just because nobody mentioned it, I like the bard seen as a (pseudo)religious figure, something like a preacher or a missionary with all of his class abilities seen in that light. Something like the TeleEvangelists of the modern times.
Mirikon 12-06-04, 01:26 PM	Healer from Minatures Handbook is a good one. So is Favored Soul, Paladin/Hospitaler, etc. Or, if you wanna play a variant cleric, you could look at some of the alternate versions listed in Unearthed Arcana.
EvilVegan 12-06-04, 04:17 PM	Artificer from Eberron. They get lots of buffs, decent BAB, ability to create any magic item cheaper and faster. Lots of feats. Metamagic on wands. Etc. I played one for a while and was the party's primary healer. We never seemed to have enough down time, but we were always in good health.
legowarrior 12-06-04, 07:27 PM	spirit shaman is the like a druid when it comes to spells, but if you are looking for more spelling casting power and then try a shugenja, with the order using water and the order of the gentle rain. A healing mage, which you you should get a prestige class for as soon as possible.
Lilt 12-06-04, 08:03 PM	Arcane caster plus Arcane Disciple with the healing domain from CD. The feat lets you add the spells fom any one domain to your class spell list. For added fun, take a few levels in the Sneak Attack fighter varient from UA. Since a healing spell is a touch attack, you can 'sneak attack' for additional healing. LOL! Although this is almost allowed by Complete Arcane, it's disallowed on one technicality. The damage from sneak attack on weaponlike spells is the same type of damage as the spell used to deliver it, but to be a weaponlike spell the spell needs to both require an attack roll and deal damage. (1st paragraph under Weaponlike Spells, P85, Complete Arcane) If your DM did allow this interpretation, however, you could have fun with Improved Critical (touch attack) and similar tom-foolery to try and double the 'damage' dealt by the spell.
Tony Vargas 12-06-04, 10:53 PM	Well, that'd make 'coup de grace' less metaphorical....
CzarGarrett 12-07-04, 08:29 AM	Favored soul. Fighter - Paladin - Favored Soul - Cleric martial--------------------------divine