3 Cleric Archer Builds - you tell me which is best [Archive] - Wizards Community

3 Cleric Archer Builds - you tell me which is best [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tantalus222
02-09-06, 12:22 PM I'm looking to play a cleric archer and wanted input on which of these builds is best and how they could be optimized even more. For the cleric builds, I would likely take the Contemplative prestige class starting at level 11. Also, assume that I do not have access to nightsticks in assessing the build. Thanks for your advice.

Build 1
Race: Human
Class: Cleric 1/Fighter 1/Favored Soul 8
Str: 12
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Cha: 16
Domains: Planning (Extend), Undeath (Extra Turning)

1: Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell)
2: Point Blank Shot
3: Precise Shot
4: +1 Cha
5: Weapon Focus (Longbow)
6: Rapid Shot
7: Energy Resistance (Cold)
8: +1 Cha
9: Extra Turning (15)
10:

Build 2
Race: Human
Class: Cleric 1/Fighter 2/Cleric 7
Str: 12
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int: 10
Wis: 16
Cha: 10
Domains: Planning (Extend), Undeath (Extra Turning)

1: Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell)
2: Point Blank Shot
3: Precise Shot; Rapid Shot
4: +1 Wis
5:
6: Extra Turning (11)
7:
8: +1 Wis
9: Extra Turning (15)
10:

Build 3
Race: Human
Class: Cleric 1/Fighter 1/Cleric 8
Str: 12
Dex: 14
Con: 12
Int: 10
Wis: 16
Cha: 10
Domains: Planning (Extend), Undeath (Extra Turning)

1: Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell)
2: Point Blank Shot
3: Precise Shot
4: +1 Wis
5:
6: Rapid Shot
7:
8: +1 Wis
9: Extra Turning (11)
10:
PhoenixInferno
02-09-06, 12:25 PM I would stop taking Fighter levels for one thing.
Tantalus222
02-09-06, 01:30 PM Yeah, ideally I wouldn't have to take any levels of fighter, but I think that greatly hurts effectiveness as an archer. Without a fighter level, I would have to be an elf to get the necessary weapon proficiencies or take the War domain. Either way I lose one or two feats which hurts my ability to take archery feats and lowers the number of spells I can use persistently. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that the tradeoff of taking one or two fighter levels is worthwhile.

Tantalus
Piraatje
02-09-06, 02:20 PM If you can, dump fighterlevels, and buy nightsticks (Libris Mortis) to fuel divine metamagic instead of taking all those extra turning feats.

If you cannot, IMHO, you're simply wanting too much - having 2 feat intensive paths (divine metamagic & archery) cramped into a level 10 cleric build effectively will net you only a reasonable archer and a reasonable cleric.

Drop the archery, and you'll have a great frontline fighter and a great cleric. Drop the divine metamagic, and you can have a proper great archer and a proper cleric. Elf Domain might be interesting if you forget about divine metamagic. If you want to play a favoured soul, i suggest you get turning from a source that nets you casterlevels (Sacred Exorcist i believe, from CD) and push the divine metamagic stuff to later levels.

If you absolutely MUST take this path, i recommend taking 2 levels of ranger instead of 2 levels of fighter - you'll gain skills, favoured enemy, saves & tracking at the cost of 2 hp.
Trakx
02-09-06, 03:51 PM I can't believe on one of your builds you put yourself with a 10 Wisdom!
Listen, highest stat in Wisdom, next highest in Strength.
Take the feat: Zen Archery (uses Wisdom instead of Dexterity for ranged attacks)
carnivore
02-09-06, 03:59 PM try this:

ELF

Cleric of Ehlonna 10

Str 10
Dex 14(12 starting)
Con 8(10 starting)
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 16

Domains : Celerity / Plant

take Animal Domain when you get to Contemplative

or try this:

ELF

Cleric of Ehlonna 6/ Radiant Servant of Ehlonna 4

Str 10
Dex 14(12 starting)
Con 8(10 starting)
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 16

Domains Sun/ Celerity

take Animal Domain when you get to Contemplative

:D
TRome66
02-09-06, 10:40 PM Instead of making another topic, is it alright if I ask to rate a claric archer build of mine?

Suggested Attribute Distribution (Before Racial Mods):
25 pt: Str 11, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha10.
28 pt: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 12.
32 pt: Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14.
Rolled: Wis 13, Str, Con, Cha, Dex 13, Int.

Race: Elf.
Domains: Elf, Planning

1 Clr 1: Point Blank Shot, Extend Spell, Persistent Spell.
2 Clr 2:
3 Clr 3: Divine Metamagic (Persistent).
4 Clr 4:
5 Clr 5:
6 Clr 6: Zen Archery.
7 Clr 7:
8 Clr 8:
9 Clr 9: Precise Shot.
10 Clr 10:
11 Clr 11:
12 Clr 12: Rapid Shot.
13 Clr 13:
14 Clr 14:
15 Clr 15: FREE.
16 Clr 16:
17 Clr 17:
18 Clr 18: FREE.
19 Clr 19:
20 Clr 20:

Basic, but simplicity works sometimes.
Blade2718
02-10-06, 01:10 AM Good PrCs to consider are: Ruathar, Divine Disciple, Church Inquisitor, Contemplative, and Seeker of the Misty Isle.
bikerrule_3
02-10-06, 01:59 AM im playing a archer cleric right now and i dont see wuts wrong with fighter levels but then again my campaign is going to go all the way into the epic levels so i have time to fix everything, but keeping in mind that the only reason i took cleric levels in the first place was because i needed the necessary knowledge religion and from here im maxing out my order of the bw intiate but thats my career path and i love it
Blade2718
02-10-06, 02:02 AM The "Cleric Archer" relies upon Persistant buffs and spell selection to achieve what some consider to be dominance over other archers (Fighters, Rangers, Bards).
PhoenixInferno
02-10-06, 02:03 AM The "Cleric Archer" relies upon Persistant buffs and spell selection to achieve what some consider to be dominance over other archers (Fighters, Rangers, Bards).
Its not so much dominance, than its slightly substandard archery performance WITH full spellcasting.
bikerrule_3
02-10-06, 02:05 AM if i where to go strickly FTR i think i would be slighty more powerfull as an archer then the way i am going as the FTR, CLR, OBI
PhoenixInferno
02-10-06, 02:25 AM Well, as a straight Fighter 20, you would not be more powerful than a Cleric 20 focusing on archery. A Ranger 20 may be better than a Cleric 20 at Archery ONLY...

Besides, you could have just cross classed Know(Religion).
carnivore
02-10-06, 03:30 PM Instead of making another topic, is it alright if I ask to rate a claric archer build of mine?

Suggested Attribute Distribution (Before Racial Mods):
25 pt: Str 11, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha10.
28 pt: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 12.
32 pt: Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14.
Rolled: Wis 13, Str, Con, Cha, Dex 13, Int.

try using these for stats....remember a cleric Archer...needs to focus on Spells(Wisdom) , ranged Attacks(Dexterity) and Turning Attempts(Charisma)

32 point buy

10 Str............ not as important for ranged attacks...your major weapon will be SPELLS
14 Dex..........good for ranged attacks and INITATIVE and Ref saves
14 Con..........Hp always good
10 Int...........skills are not a focus for this build
14 Wis..........this will allow you to cast 4th lvl spells...and with level increases all your spells
16 Cha..........gives you 6 turns per day.....you need to get some Cha boosters or cast Eagles Splendor before you try to make any spells Persistant

level boosts go to Wis

Race: Elf.
Domains: Elf, Planning

1 Clr 1: Point Blank Shot, Extend Spell, Persistent Spell..........nice
3 Clr 3: Divine Metamagic (Persistent)............................ ....nice
6 Clr 6: Zen Archery................................. ......................waste of a feat, since you have so few feats......better something like Greenbound summoning or another Metamagic feat.....or Earth Senseor Extra Turning
9 Clr 9: Precise Shot..............................ok, but i would take Rapid shot here and Improved Rapid shot at 12th
12 Clr 12: Rapid Shot...............................ok
15 Clr 15: FREE.................................... . Heighten Spell ....or Divine feat....Extra Turning
18 Clr 18: FREE.................................... . Earth Spellor Extra Turning

all in all ....not bad

:D
TRome66
02-10-06, 11:29 PM For levels 6, what metamagic feat would be best suited for the build?

Also, for level 15, what Divine feat should I take?

Or should I just opt for the Earth Spell chain?
Blade2718
02-10-06, 11:39 PM Chain Spell for greater magic weapon and other spells that I can't think of off the top of my head.
PhoenixInferno
02-10-06, 11:57 PM Chain Spell is actually pretty weak for Clerics unless you rule that Reach Spell lets touch range spells qualify for Chain Spell. Then there are quite a few things you can do.
TRome66
02-11-06, 12:51 AM Wait a tick, without Zen Archery, I can't walk around in Full Plate shooting arrows, is this a big loss?
Blade2718
02-11-06, 01:01 AM The max Dex bonus is only for AC, not ranged attack bonus.
TRome66
02-11-06, 01:23 AM Really? I did not know that, I thought that applied to everything. Hmmm, interesting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tantalus222 02-09-06, 12:22 PM	I'm looking to play a cleric archer and wanted input on which of these builds is best and how they could be optimized even more. For the cleric builds, I would likely take the Contemplative prestige class starting at level 11. Also, assume that I do not have access to nightsticks in assessing the build. Thanks for your advice. Build 1 Race: Human Class: Cleric 1/Fighter 1/Favored Soul 8 Str: 12 Dex: 14 Con: 12 Int: 10 Wis: 10 Cha: 16 Domains: Planning (Extend), Undeath (Extra Turning) 1: Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell) 2: Point Blank Shot 3: Precise Shot 4: +1 Cha 5: Weapon Focus (Longbow) 6: Rapid Shot 7: Energy Resistance (Cold) 8: +1 Cha 9: Extra Turning (15) 10: Build 2 Race: Human Class: Cleric 1/Fighter 2/Cleric 7 Str: 12 Dex: 14 Con: 12 Int: 10 Wis: 16 Cha: 10 Domains: Planning (Extend), Undeath (Extra Turning) 1: Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell) 2: Point Blank Shot 3: Precise Shot; Rapid Shot 4: +1 Wis 5: 6: Extra Turning (11) 7: 8: +1 Wis 9: Extra Turning (15) 10: Build 3 Race: Human Class: Cleric 1/Fighter 1/Cleric 8 Str: 12 Dex: 14 Con: 12 Int: 10 Wis: 16 Cha: 10 Domains: Planning (Extend), Undeath (Extra Turning) 1: Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell) 2: Point Blank Shot 3: Precise Shot 4: +1 Wis 5: 6: Rapid Shot 7: 8: +1 Wis 9: Extra Turning (11) 10:
PhoenixInferno 02-09-06, 12:25 PM	I would stop taking Fighter levels for one thing.
Tantalus222 02-09-06, 01:30 PM	Yeah, ideally I wouldn't have to take any levels of fighter, but I think that greatly hurts effectiveness as an archer. Without a fighter level, I would have to be an elf to get the necessary weapon proficiencies or take the War domain. Either way I lose one or two feats which hurts my ability to take archery feats and lowers the number of spells I can use persistently. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that the tradeoff of taking one or two fighter levels is worthwhile. Tantalus
Piraatje 02-09-06, 02:20 PM	If you can, dump fighterlevels, and buy nightsticks (Libris Mortis) to fuel divine metamagic instead of taking all those extra turning feats. If you cannot, IMHO, you're simply wanting too much - having 2 feat intensive paths (divine metamagic & archery) cramped into a level 10 cleric build effectively will net you only a reasonable archer and a reasonable cleric. Drop the archery, and you'll have a great frontline fighter and a great cleric. Drop the divine metamagic, and you can have a proper great archer and a proper cleric. Elf Domain might be interesting if you forget about divine metamagic. If you want to play a favoured soul, i suggest you get turning from a source that nets you casterlevels (Sacred Exorcist i believe, from CD) and push the divine metamagic stuff to later levels. If you absolutely MUST take this path, i recommend taking 2 levels of ranger instead of 2 levels of fighter - you'll gain skills, favoured enemy, saves & tracking at the cost of 2 hp.
Trakx 02-09-06, 03:51 PM	I can't believe on one of your builds you put yourself with a 10 Wisdom! Listen, highest stat in Wisdom, next highest in Strength. Take the feat: Zen Archery (uses Wisdom instead of Dexterity for ranged attacks)
carnivore 02-09-06, 03:59 PM	try this: ELF Cleric of Ehlonna 10 Str 10 Dex 14(12 starting) Con 8(10 starting) Int 10 Wis 14 Cha 16 Domains : Celerity / Plant take Animal Domain when you get to Contemplative or try this: ELF Cleric of Ehlonna 6/ Radiant Servant of Ehlonna 4 Str 10 Dex 14(12 starting) Con 8(10 starting) Int 10 Wis 14 Cha 16 Domains Sun/ Celerity take Animal Domain when you get to Contemplative :D
TRome66 02-09-06, 10:40 PM	Instead of making another topic, is it alright if I ask to rate a claric archer build of mine? Suggested Attribute Distribution (Before Racial Mods): 25 pt: Str 11, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha10. 28 pt: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 12. 32 pt: Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14. Rolled: Wis 13, Str, Con, Cha, Dex 13, Int. Race: Elf. Domains: Elf, Planning 1 Clr 1: Point Blank Shot, Extend Spell, Persistent Spell. 2 Clr 2: 3 Clr 3: Divine Metamagic (Persistent). 4 Clr 4: 5 Clr 5: 6 Clr 6: Zen Archery. 7 Clr 7: 8 Clr 8: 9 Clr 9: Precise Shot. 10 Clr 10: 11 Clr 11: 12 Clr 12: Rapid Shot. 13 Clr 13: 14 Clr 14: 15 Clr 15: FREE. 16 Clr 16: 17 Clr 17: 18 Clr 18: FREE. 19 Clr 19: 20 Clr 20: Basic, but simplicity works sometimes.
Blade2718 02-10-06, 01:10 AM	Good PrCs to consider are: Ruathar, Divine Disciple, Church Inquisitor, Contemplative, and Seeker of the Misty Isle.
bikerrule_3 02-10-06, 01:59 AM	im playing a archer cleric right now and i dont see wuts wrong with fighter levels but then again my campaign is going to go all the way into the epic levels so i have time to fix everything, but keeping in mind that the only reason i took cleric levels in the first place was because i needed the necessary knowledge religion and from here im maxing out my order of the bw intiate but thats my career path and i love it
Blade2718 02-10-06, 02:02 AM	The "Cleric Archer" relies upon Persistant buffs and spell selection to achieve what some consider to be dominance over other archers (Fighters, Rangers, Bards).
PhoenixInferno 02-10-06, 02:03 AM	The "Cleric Archer" relies upon Persistant buffs and spell selection to achieve what some consider to be dominance over other archers (Fighters, Rangers, Bards). Its not so much dominance, than its slightly substandard archery performance WITH full spellcasting.
bikerrule_3 02-10-06, 02:05 AM	if i where to go strickly FTR i think i would be slighty more powerfull as an archer then the way i am going as the FTR, CLR, OBI
PhoenixInferno 02-10-06, 02:25 AM	Well, as a straight Fighter 20, you would not be more powerful than a Cleric 20 focusing on archery. A Ranger 20 may be better than a Cleric 20 at Archery ONLY... Besides, you could have just cross classed Know(Religion).
carnivore 02-10-06, 03:30 PM	Instead of making another topic, is it alright if I ask to rate a claric archer build of mine? Suggested Attribute Distribution (Before Racial Mods): 25 pt: Str 11, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha10. 28 pt: Str 12, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 12. 32 pt: Str 14, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 14. Rolled: Wis 13, Str, Con, Cha, Dex 13, Int. try using these for stats....remember a cleric Archer...needs to focus on Spells(Wisdom) , ranged Attacks(Dexterity) and Turning Attempts(Charisma) 32 point buy 10 Str............ not as important for ranged attacks...your major weapon will be SPELLS 14 Dex..........good for ranged attacks and INITATIVE and Ref saves 14 Con..........Hp always good 10 Int...........skills are not a focus for this build 14 Wis..........this will allow you to cast 4th lvl spells...and with level increases all your spells 16 Cha..........gives you 6 turns per day.....you need to get some Cha boosters or cast Eagles Splendor before you try to make any spells Persistant level boosts go to Wis Race: Elf. Domains: Elf, Planning 1 Clr 1: Point Blank Shot, Extend Spell, Persistent Spell..........nice 3 Clr 3: Divine Metamagic (Persistent)............................ ....nice 6 Clr 6: Zen Archery................................. ......................waste of a feat, since you have so few feats......better something like Greenbound summoning or another Metamagic feat.....or Earth Senseor Extra Turning 9 Clr 9: Precise Shot..............................ok, but i would take Rapid shot here and Improved Rapid shot at 12th 12 Clr 12: Rapid Shot...............................ok 15 Clr 15: FREE.................................... . Heighten Spell ....or Divine feat....Extra Turning 18 Clr 18: FREE.................................... . Earth Spellor Extra Turning all in all ....not bad :D
TRome66 02-10-06, 11:29 PM	For levels 6, what metamagic feat would be best suited for the build? Also, for level 15, what Divine feat should I take? Or should I just opt for the Earth Spell chain?
Blade2718 02-10-06, 11:39 PM	Chain Spell for greater magic weapon and other spells that I can't think of off the top of my head.
PhoenixInferno 02-10-06, 11:57 PM	Chain Spell is actually pretty weak for Clerics unless you rule that Reach Spell lets touch range spells qualify for Chain Spell. Then there are quite a few things you can do.
TRome66 02-11-06, 12:51 AM	Wait a tick, without Zen Archery, I can't walk around in Full Plate shooting arrows, is this a big loss?
Blade2718 02-11-06, 01:01 AM	The max Dex bonus is only for AC, not ranged attack bonus.
TRome66 02-11-06, 01:23 AM	Really? I did not know that, I thought that applied to everything. Hmmm, interesting.