Cleric/Barbarian? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cleric/Barbarian? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dark Stryke
05-02-06, 10:18 AM Hey all, I'm looking for a little bit of advice. In my campaign, there is a Cleric of Kord5/Barbarian1. He wants to take more levels of barbarian for roleplaying purposes (Kord is the god of strength, and he hopes to become a paragon of it), but he is concerned about his divine caster level. He is the party's only healer, so they need him to be at least reasonably competent at higher levels. What I'm wondering is:
Is there any prestige class the combines the Barbarian's Rage and Cleric's Spellcasting? I've looked in complete divine, but haven't found anything. Complete warrior has Rage Mage, but that's for aracanists. If I don't find something appropriate I'm either going to have to buckle down and create a prestige class or tell him his concept isn't possible. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
FEADIN1
05-02-06, 11:36 AM I think there is something in the Book of Exalted Deeds, Champion of Gwynarf maybe.
Lotus Crane
05-02-06, 11:57 AM If it's just his caster level that he's concerned about, he could take the Practiced Spellcaster feat from Complete Divine.
The_Shaman
05-02-06, 01:00 PM The Champion of G does not gain extra spell levels, they have a spell progression of their own, like the assassin or B-guard PrCs. Basically, if you are a normal Barb, it's the thing, but a cleric won't benefit much from it... Although it could be house-ruled to fit (they are divine spells a bit like the Holy Liberator). I will check for any non-lawful PrCs that retain spellcasting.
bob_the_great
05-02-06, 01:58 PM you know, prestige classes aren't required to finish a concept. simple multiclassing + feats will work. practised spellcaster will help with the caster level, while extra rage makes up for the lack of rage/day. as long as he keeps his cleric levels 3 or 4 times his barbarian levels his casting won't suffer too much, while adding minor barbarian benefits.

it wouldn't be too hard to homebrew either, though it should be a half-casting prestige class. from a cleric perspective he'd lose caster levels and turning, from a barbarian perspective he'd lose trap sense, hp, skills, dr

maybe something like :

prereqs:
cast level 3 divine spells
ability to rage
knowledge (religion) 8 ranks
extra rage
*some other feat like improved toughness or endurance, or maybe any metamagic feat*
could require character be a follower of kord, and you could make it more specific to him

d8 (d10?) hd, 2 sp, +1 bab/lvl, +1 spellcasting every even level, good fort and will, either levels stack for rage or give an extra rage at a couple levels (3 & 7, 5 & 9) and greater rage at 10, maybe at level 5 grant a bonus domain of Kord

i'm neither good nor experienced at balancing, so this is just meant to give you an idea of what immediately occurred to me. i don't know if the full bab + 2 good saves + half caster is balanced, one of the saves or the bab could be dropped, though i like the full bab because otherwise it seems like the only barbarian thing being brought to the PrC is the rage.

the prereqs show that its built for a cleric 5+ / barbaran X. the extra feat slot can be used as a balancing factor, i'm personally not a huge fan of this but Wizards is and it allows you to make the PrC a little more powerful.
Dark Stryke
05-02-06, 10:25 PM Thanks all for the input, I'll let him know about Practiced Spellcaster (which I can't believe didn't occur to me as I've already recommended it for the party's Wizard/rogue). Bob the Great, I like your idea for the PrC. Seems a good framework to get me going if that's what I decide to do. I bet my player would like a bonus domain.
Thanks again all! And any other suggestions or input would be appreciated. I'll post the class here if I end up doing it.
Sken Dingle
05-03-06, 05:27 AM Also look at the War-Priest in the CD for balance. It has half caster levels and full BAB. Might be a good template for a new PrC. Or even the Hospitaler. There might be a couple more with spell level progression and full BAB.
Maxxx
05-03-06, 07:33 AM In a Dragon magazine there was a Rage Cleric once, it basically was a cleric that got rage instead of turning, can't remember the issue, but you could let him trad his Kord cleric levels for rage cleric levels, that would give him good rage, without suffering from spellcasting loss.
Quirriff
05-03-06, 08:08 AM Screw it, if he wants to take annother level of barbarian let him take annother level of Barbarian, it's his character no the other players, so they shouldn't influence what he wants his character to be.
Dragonan
05-03-06, 10:05 AM Screw it, if he wants to take annother level of barbarian let him take annother level of Barbarian, it's his character no the other players, so they shouldn't influence what he wants his character to be.

LOL, that is correct but the game is very hard to play without any healing. When I created the latest group I made a requirement that the group at least had one full level cleric (she could use an PrC that also made advancement in divine, but that was it).
Now it is his choice but if the group can't fight at its realy level because the lack of healing. Another ex. could be the fighter in the group at level 2 deside to become wizard instead and in that move the cleric up front :rolleyes: You need to have fun both in and out of combat, not only one place (in my group any way).
FEADIN1
05-03-06, 11:05 AM In a Dragon magazine there was a Rage Cleric once, it basically was a cleric that got rage instead of turning, can't remember the issue, but you could let him trad his Kord cleric levels for rage cleric levels, that would give him good rage, without suffering from spellcasting loss.
In a Dragon 283 there was also a PrC for followers of Kord (Mighty Contender of Kord, if I remember) with PrC for Elhonna and others.
Dark Brandon
05-03-06, 12:15 PM LOL, that is correct but the game is very hard to play without any healing. When I created the latest group I made a requirement that the group at least had one full level cleric (she could use an PrC that also made advancement in divine, but that was it).
Now it is his choice but if the group can't fight at its realy level because the lack of healing. Another ex. could be the fighter in the group at level 2 deside to become wizard instead and in that move the cleric up front :rolleyes: You need to have fun both in and out of combat, not only one place (in my group any way).

You could go cleric 3/barb X, and have the cleric learn brew potions. Potions are relativly cheap to make, easy to use and quick to make as well. He could go cleric 5 and take craft wands as well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dark Stryke 05-02-06, 10:18 AM	Hey all, I'm looking for a little bit of advice. In my campaign, there is a Cleric of Kord5/Barbarian1. He wants to take more levels of barbarian for roleplaying purposes (Kord is the god of strength, and he hopes to become a paragon of it), but he is concerned about his divine caster level. He is the party's only healer, so they need him to be at least reasonably competent at higher levels. What I'm wondering is: Is there any prestige class the combines the Barbarian's Rage and Cleric's Spellcasting? I've looked in complete divine, but haven't found anything. Complete warrior has Rage Mage, but that's for aracanists. If I don't find something appropriate I'm either going to have to buckle down and create a prestige class or tell him his concept isn't possible. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
FEADIN1 05-02-06, 11:36 AM	I think there is something in the Book of Exalted Deeds, Champion of Gwynarf maybe.
Lotus Crane 05-02-06, 11:57 AM	If it's just his caster level that he's concerned about, he could take the Practiced Spellcaster feat from Complete Divine.
The_Shaman 05-02-06, 01:00 PM	The Champion of G does not gain extra spell levels, they have a spell progression of their own, like the assassin or B-guard PrCs. Basically, if you are a normal Barb, it's the thing, but a cleric won't benefit much from it... Although it could be house-ruled to fit (they are divine spells a bit like the Holy Liberator). I will check for any non-lawful PrCs that retain spellcasting.
bob_the_great 05-02-06, 01:58 PM	you know, prestige classes aren't required to finish a concept. simple multiclassing + feats will work. practised spellcaster will help with the caster level, while extra rage makes up for the lack of rage/day. as long as he keeps his cleric levels 3 or 4 times his barbarian levels his casting won't suffer too much, while adding minor barbarian benefits. it wouldn't be too hard to homebrew either, though it should be a half-casting prestige class. from a cleric perspective he'd lose caster levels and turning, from a barbarian perspective he'd lose trap sense, hp, skills, dr maybe something like : prereqs: cast level 3 divine spells ability to rage knowledge (religion) 8 ranks extra rage some other feat like improved toughness or endurance, or maybe any metamagic feat could require character be a follower of kord, and you could make it more specific to him d8 (d10?) hd, 2 sp, +1 bab/lvl, +1 spellcasting every even level, good fort and will, either levels stack for rage or give an extra rage at a couple levels (3 & 7, 5 & 9) and greater rage at 10, maybe at level 5 grant a bonus domain of Kord i'm neither good nor experienced at balancing, so this is just meant to give you an idea of what immediately occurred to me. i don't know if the full bab + 2 good saves + half caster is balanced, one of the saves or the bab could be dropped, though i like the full bab because otherwise it seems like the only barbarian thing being brought to the PrC is the rage. the prereqs show that its built for a cleric 5+ / barbaran X. the extra feat slot can be used as a balancing factor, i'm personally not a huge fan of this but Wizards is and it allows you to make the PrC a little more powerful.
Dark Stryke 05-02-06, 10:25 PM	Thanks all for the input, I'll let him know about Practiced Spellcaster (which I can't believe didn't occur to me as I've already recommended it for the party's Wizard/rogue). Bob the Great, I like your idea for the PrC. Seems a good framework to get me going if that's what I decide to do. I bet my player would like a bonus domain. Thanks again all! And any other suggestions or input would be appreciated. I'll post the class here if I end up doing it.
Sken Dingle 05-03-06, 05:27 AM	Also look at the War-Priest in the CD for balance. It has half caster levels and full BAB. Might be a good template for a new PrC. Or even the Hospitaler. There might be a couple more with spell level progression and full BAB.
Maxxx 05-03-06, 07:33 AM	In a Dragon magazine there was a Rage Cleric once, it basically was a cleric that got rage instead of turning, can't remember the issue, but you could let him trad his Kord cleric levels for rage cleric levels, that would give him good rage, without suffering from spellcasting loss.
Quirriff 05-03-06, 08:08 AM	Screw it, if he wants to take annother level of barbarian let him take annother level of Barbarian, it's his character no the other players, so they shouldn't influence what he wants his character to be.
Dragonan 05-03-06, 10:05 AM	Screw it, if he wants to take annother level of barbarian let him take annother level of Barbarian, it's his character no the other players, so they shouldn't influence what he wants his character to be. LOL, that is correct but the game is very hard to play without any healing. When I created the latest group I made a requirement that the group at least had one full level cleric (she could use an PrC that also made advancement in divine, but that was it). Now it is his choice but if the group can't fight at its realy level because the lack of healing. Another ex. could be the fighter in the group at level 2 deside to become wizard instead and in that move the cleric up front :rolleyes: You need to have fun both in and out of combat, not only one place (in my group any way).
FEADIN1 05-03-06, 11:05 AM	In a Dragon magazine there was a Rage Cleric once, it basically was a cleric that got rage instead of turning, can't remember the issue, but you could let him trad his Kord cleric levels for rage cleric levels, that would give him good rage, without suffering from spellcasting loss. In a Dragon 283 there was also a PrC for followers of Kord (Mighty Contender of Kord, if I remember) with PrC for Elhonna and others.
Dark Brandon 05-03-06, 12:15 PM	LOL, that is correct but the game is very hard to play without any healing. When I created the latest group I made a requirement that the group at least had one full level cleric (she could use an PrC that also made advancement in divine, but that was it). Now it is his choice but if the group can't fight at its realy level because the lack of healing. Another ex. could be the fighter in the group at level 2 deside to become wizard instead and in that move the cleric up front :rolleyes: You need to have fun both in and out of combat, not only one place (in my group any way). You could go cleric 3/barb X, and have the cleric learn brew potions. Potions are relativly cheap to make, easy to use and quick to make as well. He could go cleric 5 and take craft wands as well.