Cleric Variant..Is it worth it? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cleric Variant..Is it worth it? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MoltenDm
12-29-07, 03:02 AM Hi im not sure if this is the thread i should put this on but i need some help ASAP.
Im a Lvl 6 Cleric and im leveling on Cleric again at my next lvl.
There is a variant on Complete Champion on Sacrificing a 4th lvl spell slot to gain a Healing pool that heals 5xlvl a day and pretty much works as a Paladin's lay on hands.

Now my Cleric has a 16 on Wisdom so im not getting any bonus spells and if i want this i need to give my other spell and that would leave me with one domain spell to cast.
We've never made it above 7th level and i dont want to die, do you think this is worth it? ( i would heal like 40 and there isnt alot of healers besides me..and i dont heal that much cus i use pretty much all my spells as buffs)
navar100
12-29-07, 04:31 AM At 7th level that would heal 35 hit points.
A 4th level Cure Critical Wounds spell heals 4d8+7 hit points. That averages to 25 hit points As you gain levels, the ability increases 5 hit points of healing per level while a Cure Critical Wounds spell increases 1 hit point per level. For the cost of completely dedicating a 4th level spell slot to healing, you get a better healing output than if you used that slot for a normal Cure Wounds spell.

Since, as you say, you have been using up a lot of your spells for things other than Cure Wounds, this ability will give you a boost to make up the healing power you aren't using. A cleric should not only be used for healing, but neither should he ignore it.

Healing 35 hit points at one shot is a big deal. Wands and potions of healing are more efficiently used after combat. A guaranteed 35 hit points keeps a party member in the combat longer.

It comes down to what you feel comfortable with. The ability is economically sound. Are you willing, finally, to put some specific emphasis into healing?
MoltenDm
12-29-07, 04:45 AM Thanks as you can see im in a dilema, now im not sure if it helps but, Im aiming at Ordained Champion which restricts me of converting spells to healing spells (can only convert to war spells)
Im trying to give you specifics to see what you would do.
Because i really have no clue if its worth it or not, one more thing i cant use Cure critical until i reach lvl 8th (the 1st ordained cha lvl doesnt give spellcasting) and at 7th i only have my domain spell..Divine Power

Until 9th lvl that is..i get an extra 4th lvl spell one which i can select from the cleric list, and let me say me reaching 9th lvl is unheard of so..
navar100
12-29-07, 07:46 PM It's still just a matter of tactics. I presume your party has ways to heal up after combat since you aren't using spontaneous curing. Even as you say you don't have healers in your party you do have means of healing. Therefore, this ability is more efficiently used in combat. If it helps, think of it as a buff spell. You are buffing someone's hit points. You are giving a character 35 more hit points, the amount increasing by 5 each level. You may decide to spread it out - give one character 20 hit points and another character 15 hit points.

I'm not saying yes, you must take it. What I am saying is you aren't gimping your character if you do take it. Healing others is a passive action, just like buffing others. You aren't always getting the killing blow, but your contribution allows another to get the killing blow. That's teamwork. When another character is close to zero hit points, he has a morale problem. He wants to attack the enemy, but he's worried about his own health. You giving him 35 hit points saves him a round or two. He can spend that round or two taking offensive action against the enemy. He couldn't have done it without you. At 8th level you can easily break it down to two uses of 20 hit points each, not necessarily the same combat in the day. 20 hit points is a lot.

You have your War spells. Especially with Divine Power you'll have your share of spotlight in combat, but it won't be every combat. I'm getting the impression you are worried of losing spotlight time. What spell did you have in mind for that spell slot if not used for this ability?

To use this ability out of combat requires one of two scenarios. You are resting for the night and for whatever reason haven't used the ability. You use it to heal to save a few potions or wand charges. After a combat when you haven't used the ability, the party is about to use potions and wand charges. However, unexpectantly another threat is imminent. You only have a round or two, and someone needs fast healing, now. You use the ability.
DarkRhystar
12-29-07, 08:37 PM Pass on it.

Buy a wand of cure light wounds for in between battles.

Enjoy having 4th level spells.
MoltenDm
12-29-07, 09:02 PM Thanks again Navar and Rhystar
I think im going for the Healing pool, im not trying to get all the spotlight but its important that i dont give away useful spells like Restoration and Death ward and such.
Trust me ive been thinking about it all week, we dont have tons of gp to spend on wands (yeah not even that much) and as you said Navar those 35 could save a life, im playing a martial cleric but my character is still good and i have to worry about teammates dying not just killing evil things.
Divine power will have to do for now. thank you all
DarkRhystar
12-29-07, 09:08 PM Thanks again Navar and Rhystar
I think im going for the Healing pool, im not trying to get all the spotlight but its important that i dont give away useful spells like Restoration and Death ward and such.
Trust me ive been thinking about it all week, we dont have tons of gp to spend on wands (yeah not even that much) and as you said Navar those 35 could save a life, im playing a martial cleric but my character is still good and i have to worry about teammates dying not just killing evil things.
Divine power will have to do for now. thank you all

Good luck with your choice. :)
MoltenDm
12-29-07, 09:12 PM Thanks :D we'll see how it works out
navar100
12-29-07, 10:51 PM Restoration and Death Ward are important, but while campaigns vary, you'll tend to use the healing power more often than you would cast one of those spells. Get scrolls for those spells. If you find you need them more often than that, get wands of them. The wands are expensive, but the party as a whole should be willing to share the cost since they are for everyone.
runestar
12-29-07, 11:59 PM Dungeonscape should also have a variant which lets your cleric spontaneously cast a small number of utilitarian healing spells like restoration (the downside is that you give up one of your domain abilities).

I would also suggest investing in a wand of CLW as well. It is generally more efficient to heal outside of combat, and contribute damagewise in combat anyways.:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MoltenDm 12-29-07, 03:02 AM	Hi im not sure if this is the thread i should put this on but i need some help ASAP. Im a Lvl 6 Cleric and im leveling on Cleric again at my next lvl. There is a variant on Complete Champion on Sacrificing a 4th lvl spell slot to gain a Healing pool that heals 5xlvl a day and pretty much works as a Paladin's lay on hands. Now my Cleric has a 16 on Wisdom so im not getting any bonus spells and if i want this i need to give my other spell and that would leave me with one domain spell to cast. We've never made it above 7th level and i dont want to die, do you think this is worth it? ( i would heal like 40 and there isnt alot of healers besides me..and i dont heal that much cus i use pretty much all my spells as buffs)
navar100 12-29-07, 04:31 AM	At 7th level that would heal 35 hit points. A 4th level Cure Critical Wounds spell heals 4d8+7 hit points. That averages to 25 hit points As you gain levels, the ability increases 5 hit points of healing per level while a Cure Critical Wounds spell increases 1 hit point per level. For the cost of completely dedicating a 4th level spell slot to healing, you get a better healing output than if you used that slot for a normal Cure Wounds spell. Since, as you say, you have been using up a lot of your spells for things other than Cure Wounds, this ability will give you a boost to make up the healing power you aren't using. A cleric should not only be used for healing, but neither should he ignore it. Healing 35 hit points at one shot is a big deal. Wands and potions of healing are more efficiently used after combat. A guaranteed 35 hit points keeps a party member in the combat longer. It comes down to what you feel comfortable with. The ability is economically sound. Are you willing, finally, to put some specific emphasis into healing?
MoltenDm 12-29-07, 04:45 AM	Thanks as you can see im in a dilema, now im not sure if it helps but, Im aiming at Ordained Champion which restricts me of converting spells to healing spells (can only convert to war spells) Im trying to give you specifics to see what you would do. Because i really have no clue if its worth it or not, one more thing i cant use Cure critical until i reach lvl 8th (the 1st ordained cha lvl doesnt give spellcasting) and at 7th i only have my domain spell..Divine Power Until 9th lvl that is..i get an extra 4th lvl spell one which i can select from the cleric list, and let me say me reaching 9th lvl is unheard of so..
navar100 12-29-07, 07:46 PM	It's still just a matter of tactics. I presume your party has ways to heal up after combat since you aren't using spontaneous curing. Even as you say you don't have healers in your party you do have means of healing. Therefore, this ability is more efficiently used in combat. If it helps, think of it as a buff spell. You are buffing someone's hit points. You are giving a character 35 more hit points, the amount increasing by 5 each level. You may decide to spread it out - give one character 20 hit points and another character 15 hit points. I'm not saying yes, you must take it. What I am saying is you aren't gimping your character if you do take it. Healing others is a passive action, just like buffing others. You aren't always getting the killing blow, but your contribution allows another to get the killing blow. That's teamwork. When another character is close to zero hit points, he has a morale problem. He wants to attack the enemy, but he's worried about his own health. You giving him 35 hit points saves him a round or two. He can spend that round or two taking offensive action against the enemy. He couldn't have done it without you. At 8th level you can easily break it down to two uses of 20 hit points each, not necessarily the same combat in the day. 20 hit points is a lot. You have your War spells. Especially with Divine Power you'll have your share of spotlight in combat, but it won't be every combat. I'm getting the impression you are worried of losing spotlight time. What spell did you have in mind for that spell slot if not used for this ability? To use this ability out of combat requires one of two scenarios. You are resting for the night and for whatever reason haven't used the ability. You use it to heal to save a few potions or wand charges. After a combat when you haven't used the ability, the party is about to use potions and wand charges. However, unexpectantly another threat is imminent. You only have a round or two, and someone needs fast healing, now. You use the ability.
DarkRhystar 12-29-07, 08:37 PM	Pass on it. Buy a wand of cure light wounds for in between battles. Enjoy having 4th level spells.
MoltenDm 12-29-07, 09:02 PM	Thanks again Navar and Rhystar I think im going for the Healing pool, im not trying to get all the spotlight but its important that i dont give away useful spells like Restoration and Death ward and such. Trust me ive been thinking about it all week, we dont have tons of gp to spend on wands (yeah not even that much) and as you said Navar those 35 could save a life, im playing a martial cleric but my character is still good and i have to worry about teammates dying not just killing evil things. Divine power will have to do for now. thank you all
DarkRhystar 12-29-07, 09:08 PM	Thanks again Navar and Rhystar I think im going for the Healing pool, im not trying to get all the spotlight but its important that i dont give away useful spells like Restoration and Death ward and such. Trust me ive been thinking about it all week, we dont have tons of gp to spend on wands (yeah not even that much) and as you said Navar those 35 could save a life, im playing a martial cleric but my character is still good and i have to worry about teammates dying not just killing evil things. Divine power will have to do for now. thank you all Good luck with your choice. :)
MoltenDm 12-29-07, 09:12 PM	Thanks :D we'll see how it works out
navar100 12-29-07, 10:51 PM	Restoration and Death Ward are important, but while campaigns vary, you'll tend to use the healing power more often than you would cast one of those spells. Get scrolls for those spells. If you find you need them more often than that, get wands of them. The wands are expensive, but the party as a whole should be willing to share the cost since they are for everyone.
runestar 12-29-07, 11:59 PM	Dungeonscape should also have a variant which lets your cleric spontaneously cast a small number of utilitarian healing spells like restoration (the downside is that you give up one of your domain abilities). I would also suggest investing in a wand of CLW as well. It is generally more efficient to heal outside of combat, and contribute damagewise in combat anyways.:)