Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SimiD 07-07-04, 09:29 PM	So here's the situation: I'm starting a new character in a FR campaign and I want to try a cleric (been playing a monk for a while, a caster seems like a nice change). I've read all the cleric threads I could find, and if I was starting at 12th level I'd be set, but I'm not. I've got 3 levels and 38 point point-buy to work with. I'd like to do something along the lines of the Mystra cleric that's so popular, but I don't really get how it works at low levels, or does it? How do I survive until I get the goodies? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
Blade2718 07-07-04, 09:34 PM	A cleric is more than survivable at lower levels. You're just not a combat maniac yet. Use your spells to bolster your allies and get yourself into flanking position to help any rogues in the party. Alternately, get a bow and snipe. Or just summon a lot of little critters to distract your opponents.
xorn king 07-07-04, 10:15 PM	A kin to what blade said, i fyou use the Cheater of Mystra Build, it functions just like a normal cleric at low levels, which blade stated the options you can do. If you would be so kind as to give use what books you can use, it would greatly help the process XD
glowworm 07-08-04, 04:50 AM	if the cheater of mystra wont fly in your DM's game there are a lot of powerful and nasty alternatives open to you, prestigse class aside for a second lets look at your god/domain. i have said it before and ill say it again a cleric is the only class to be a perfect blend of every other class. having said that there are lots of options available to you. consider a gnome cleric of mystra with magic and illusion domains. intresting choice provides a little flexabalitly to the cleric spell list. consider a "blaster" cleric granted its not of mystra but the same idea works look at a cleric with the fire domain and or water those are some of the most offensive spells out there and well offense is one of the few areas a cleric lacks. wanna make a cleric a better fighter make a buffer cleric all the staple spells work for any diety. or my fav cleric a "object" cleric a idea i am toying with that revolves around spiritual weapon and later on mystic lash, mace of odo, and animate object. as for a 3rd lv cleric there is a lot of flexabilitly open to you, just remember to keep your eyes and ears open and change your spell list according to the game and youll have a blast.
SimiD 07-08-04, 08:33 PM	Cool! Thanks for the suggestions. Xorn King: I have access to the core books (3.5), as well as the FR setting, Races of Faerun, Players Guide to Faerun, and Complete Divine - pretty much everything, I guess. I was thinking about feats today. Taking extend and persistent at first level (human), as is recommended in the Mystra Cleric builds, doesn't seem like such a good idea when I actually have to play the low levels. Extend is only a +1 level increase, but persistent is +6! It'll be a while before I can use that. Right now I'm leaning towards Extend and Extra Turnings at 1st level, and Initiate of Mystra at 3rd. Quicken, with its +4 level increase, might well be more useful early on. Too bad Divine Metamagic requires you to choose what feat it works on! So Quicken or Persistent at 6th, Divine Meta at 9th, and the other (Persistent or Quicken) at 12th. I want to get to Dweomerkeeper (sp? Btw, how do you pronounce Dweomer, anyway?) as quickly as possible. Thinking to use Dispel Magic as my first spell conversion. I have my doubts about the viability of outsider poly, but I want to keep the option open. I'd like the character to be able to melee well, counterspell (via DK dispel magics), provide fire support with a few wands or such (Magic domain), and still be able to provide some healing and party buffing. Maybe too much, even for a cleric? If you're still with me, thanks for reading so much, and thanks again for your help!
xorn king 07-08-04, 08:39 PM	I was thinking about feats today. Taking extend and persistent at first level (human), as is recommended in the Mystra Cleric builds, doesn't seem like such a good idea when I actually have to play the low levels. Extend is only a +1 level increase, but persistent is +6! It'll be a while before I can use that. Right now I'm leaning towards Extend and Extra Turnings at 1st level, and Initiate of Mystra at 3rd. Quicken, with its +4 level increase, might well be more useful early on. Too bad Divine Metamagic requires you to choose what feat it works on! So Quicken or Persistent at 6th, Divine Meta at 9th, and the other (Persistent or Quicken) at 12th. Actually, unless the official errata has been released within the last 2 days, the wording of the text states you do not need the metamagic feat to us it on. You can cheese your DM saying it isn't offcial yet, since the writer only posted it. Yea.....it is cheesy but hell, it works XD:turkey:
celloshane 07-09-04, 12:38 AM	Originally posted by SimiD Cool! Thanks for the suggestions. Btw, how do you pronounce Dweomer, anyway? I pronounce it Dw-ee-oh-mer. Not too much emphasis on the "oh". Also, I can't endorse what Xorn king just said. You won't earn any respect from your DM by splitting hairs like that.
xorn king 07-09-04, 03:02 AM	Also, I can't endorse what Xorn king just said. You won't earn any respect from your DM by splitting hairs like that. Note: I am not telling you to do that, it can be considered cheating. I was just throwing that option out into the wind for someone to use...thank you. I said that because my Dm, Wyvernslayer, the guy who wrote the PW guide is letting me get away with it due to the High-storyline, high-intreige, and high-power campain he is running. Sorry, just coverning my tracts. If you are still stuck on what you will do in the early levels, just play a normal cleric that you usually do. You do not have to rush into combate, buffs abalzing, you can just sqitch arouns your spell list for more party support
SimiD 07-14-04, 07:59 PM	Update: I talked with my DM. DweomerKeeper is ok, and Divine Metamagic does not require the Metamagic Feat to work, as written. This is gonna be fun! [edit: spelling]
xorn king 07-14-04, 10:36 PM	Good for you, do you still need a build or are you going the Cheater way XD
SimiD 07-15-04, 06:27 PM	Hmmm... If I don't use the DK supernatural spell to cast repeated limited wishes for free, is it still cheating?
catharz 07-15-04, 07:18 PM	Originally posted by SimiD Hmmm... If I don't use the DK supernatural spell to cast repeated limited wishes for free, is it still cheating? It is if you cast unlimited 'limited' wishes, Stoneskins, and Permenencies.
darkwing_bmf 07-16-04, 03:45 AM	I haven't played any clerics other than the PHB cleric, and I'd say its pretty darn good. I like Dwarven Clerics. Use heavy armor and a large shield (and your spells as buffs for certain encounters) plus anything that will increase your saving throws and you will have great defense. Don't get any class levels that will not raise your cleric casting level. I agree with the poster that your primary way to do damage in most situations (regular non-undead foes) will be to buff your group and make yourself a flanking anvil so the rogue can use sneak attack. Anything that improves your turning is nice and you will most likely rock against anything undead (if turning doesn't work, you have some nice spells that will). And keep in mind that using your spells to prevent damage against party members is usually better that curing them, and curing them is better than raising them from the dead. In this case preventing damage can mean destroying the enemy or buffing teammates or keeping the enemy occupied, etc... depending on the situation.