Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 12:08 AM	I am at my wits end. I posted earlier about playing a 'good' oriented cleric of a god involving death in some form or fashion. Tonight I went to our session and pitched the idea. The group wasn't happy. They want a priest of Pelor, because he is a general "Good" God, who is easy to write into a campaign and has a place in society that isn't hard to find followers for. I tried other ideas, but it was always too far of a stretch for the campaign or it would be hard to write it. Pelor works well with the group, exc. The thing is, I have played a cleric for almost every single campaign we have done, and it has been Pelor every single time. To be honest, I've gotten burned out on Pelor. It's gotten boring playing a Cleric of Pelor /EVERY/ time. I consider myself a roleplayer, and like to try and challenge myself. I want to do something else! The way the group is laid out, if I don't play a healer, we are stuck without a healing class and that's a disaster waiting to happen. So by default, I am stuck playing a healer. Is it so much to ask to play something that I enjoy? I mean, I can understand it being easier, but in the end I am playing the character and it should be enjoyable to me. The thing that is ticking me off the most is the fact they tell me to play what I want, but when I choose something they don't want, I get criticized for it. Any suggestions? I am desperate right now.
Enmarnacu 01-08-08, 12:36 AM	If you want to play something other than usual, do it. If they have a problem with it then they can (1) suck it up or (2) throw you out. One is probably more likely. It's a group effort and you shouldn't be expected to play something just to fill in a role for them. Let someone else be the healer for a change. Or be a healer of some other god if you like. Pelor can be pretty worn out. Take a stand and don't let them push you around. If you go a way other than super first aid kit, coerce the rogue into taking lots of ranks in use magic device so he can carry around some wands. Then everyone hooks themselves up with as many potions as they can afford and the party finds out that a healer can be done without, it just costs a little more gold. On a side note that I was going to post on your other thread: I had a lawful neutral cleric of Wee Jas. Tons of fun until the lawful good drones of St. Cuthbert got dogmatic and stopped thinking. I say to hold onto your idea. It's worth it for the roleplaying application. Any god can be fit into a campaign easily enough. Tell your DM to stop being lazy.
MadWand 01-08-08, 12:56 AM	Play a LG cleric of Wee Jas. Wee Jas is a great diety; I kind of think of her like Death from the Sandman comic, though that's just me. She hates undead, too, thinking of them as escaping from her domain. Death domain doesn't actually make that much sense for her because of this, my DM allowed me to swap Glory domain for it. If you want something even more different, play a Ruby Knight Vindicator. Cleric of Wee Jas 4/Crusader 1/RKV 10 is an excellent and fun build. You still get almost full cleric casting.
CCS 01-08-08, 01:30 AM	Don't get desperate. Do exactly what they've told you to do; play whatever you want. If that turns out to be something other than a cleric/combat medic? Then so be it. Afterall, aren't the rest of them playing what they want? And apparently none of them want to play a cleric.... So why should you be any different? Btw, you say being without a healer is just a disater waiting to happen. I say BS. It will teach the group to aproach things a bit differently though. :)
kuonji 01-08-08, 06:15 AM	This type of situation is why I like to get my groups together ahead of time and discuss what people would like to play. This allows for the chance at some kind of group balance and lets everyone get in their reasons for wanting to play a particular class. It sounds like everyone else got to choose to play whatever they wanted but you are being "forced" into being the healbot. Present your argument for your alternate cleric or whatever class you want to play to the group in a calm manner giving your reasons for wanting to play that character. You may need to point out that you are "always" the Pelorite and that you would like to branch out, even if just playing a cleric of a different deity. You might also try speaking with your DM about why they do not want a non-Pelorite cleric in the game, if the DM has a problem with it at all that is. Using Wee Jas as an example, just because she's a death goddess doesn't mean that her temples aren't around and out in the open. As for you being the default cleric...just because your group expects you to play the cleric doesn't mean you have to play the cleric. Play something else and see how the game goes without a healer-type. If it's a disaster maybe they will learn to appreciate your cleric playing a little more and be more open to allowing a cleric from some deity other then Pelor.
WhiteSatyr 01-08-08, 07:41 AM	If the group insists on you being the healer, there are still a lot of options open. A rogue with enough ranks in UMD and a wand of cure light wounds will heal you just as good. Any class with divine spellcasting and said wand is just as good a healer as a cleric. If they've taken a lot of damage in combat, just suck down a potion. I'm currently playing in a group without a healer, this works just fine. Don't let yourself be forced into a role you don't want to play. After all, you're playing D&D because you want to have fun!
drunkendrake 01-08-08, 07:43 AM	There are plenty of other options for a healer without playing a cleric- any class can be a healer if you try to. Healing Belts are useful in this respect, but a few ranks in UMD and a decent Charisma are enough to pull it off. Right now in my campaign, I'm playing an Artificer who's the party's closest thing to a healer- I've hardly been needed at all, but I have a near-automatic success on UMD for a Wand of Cure Light Wounds for when it's needed. To tell the truth, I doubt you really need a dedicated healer- play what you want. A few custonizations are all that's needed, and considering the situation, it might be better if someone else tried it. -Drake-
Yruc 01-08-08, 08:48 AM	Rarely has my group needed a cleric in the middle of a fight, it is usually after the fight to heal everyone up. So There is usually someone or 2 that can use wands of cure light. We just pitch in as a party and use them liberally :) Play what you want. If you want to play a cleric of some other diety, so be it. If the DM can't work it in, especially a good or neutral God into their campaign, then he just isn't trying. Play what you want, and if the DM HAS to have a cleric of Pelor in the group, let him make one up and then let it just be a heal bot, says nothing, does nothing but cast healing spells after fights. This way avoids being a DM PC. If they (party and DM) still insist you play a cleric of Pelor, then insist you'll be looking for another group, get up and leave. They just want a heal bot, not someone to play with.
Etarnon 01-08-08, 09:04 AM	It seems like you have a conciliatory / diplomatic, easygoing personality. I would tell them, (and sounds like you have) point blank, in the lowest, most direct tone you can muster: "No more cleric, and certainly not of Pelor. Need it so bad, have the DM run an NPC. I'm done, Period." If after that, they don't allow you your choice, depart the group, because they don't respect you.
Sereetha 01-08-08, 10:17 AM	There is usually always one who gets stuck always playing the healer of the group. It definately can be a pain, talk to the DM ahead of time and explain that you are not enjoying the game anymore due to the restriction put on you as a player. I am both a player and a DM and to be quite honest with you I would rather have a player enjoy the game, then feel like they have to play a certain class. There is enough other outlets out there for a DM to compensate for healing, rather than having a miserable player at the table. Hunt for a new type of class and try something totally uncharacteristic for you to play, the Book of Nine Swords has some pretty neat classes and they are definately different. Good Luck!:)
Magrus 01-08-08, 10:20 AM	Play whatever you want, and if that isn't a cleric, guess what? Someone else in the party can play one and ditch the character they want to play. In fact, someone can hire a healer as well. If they give you attitude that you picked say, a Wizard instead, tell them your sick of playing their healbot and one of them can do it this time around. That is ludicrous they are forcing you to play a cleric of the same god every game. Personally, that alone would make me not want to play with them at all.
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 12:02 PM	I understand all your suggestions, but I don't know if it would help in this situation. The potions and wands likely won't even find a way into our campaign. Our DM always seems to play campaigns with practically no magic. In all of our campaigns, I have seen NO wands of healing, and about 6 healing potions.
Magrus 01-08-08, 12:08 PM	Find a different DM, or run another game yourself? It seems as though the problems you are having are stemming from the way the rest of your group runs their games.
drunkendrake 01-08-08, 12:11 PM	That is not good. I give you one solution, which your DM might not like: Play an Artificer. Make a load of CLW wands, potions, and everything else. Make wands of Fireball. Make wands, staves, wondrous items. If you don't have the MIC, get it. you'll like it. Bunko's Bargain Basement in the CharOp forum has some items you can make, if you want to annoy your DM/players for railroading you into a class and then removing half the tools for the job so that you can't say 'but he could do this with one wand of CLW!' 'If all else fails, make a new one' - Gauntlet, Warforged Artificer -Drake-
LSMFT 01-08-08, 12:16 PM	First of all, I agree with the others that you should play what you want. It is bad enough that your group is forcing you to be a cleric, but god damn, to then say what god you follow too? What crap. They want a priest of Pelor, because he is a general "Good" God, who is easy to write into a campaign and has a place in society that isn't hard to find followers for. That could really be any god. Any "good" one anyway. Anyway, you seem locked in to cleric, so I am going to throw this idea at you: I almost always play arcane, so when I was shoehorned into a cleric role, I went with a Warlock/Cleric/Eldritch Theurge. You lose only two levels of cleric casting - so you can me almost as good a healer as you normally would be. But you add some fun flavor (mine is a chaotic good cleric of a generic nature god; the warlock flavor is fey, not fiendish. Warlocks are just plain fun.) To help heal the party I have Healing Blast. (EB heals, not harms.) I also, as an arcane caster, acquired a familiar, and use it to deliver touch-ranged spells to allies (cures and buffs). So, no one seems to mind that I'm a tier behind in casting, and it is not your every-day cleric. Just an idea, for what it's worth.
Salla 01-08-08, 12:21 PM	You could go Druid, with the PHB2 substitution for Spontaneous Rejuvenation.
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 12:22 PM	I've never looked into artificers. What book are they from and what makes them so powerful? I personally dislike crafting because it takes so much experience to craft the magical goods.
Tonil 01-08-08, 12:24 PM	A few possibilities: 1. My favorite is to convince the DM to have a healer NPC. If his campaigns assume there is a healer, then he can provide a healer. 2. Perhaps you can convince them to let you play another class that can cast some cure spells: Ranger, Druid, Paladin, Bard, some prestige classes. Then perhaps one of them can multiclass to get some cure spells. 3. I do not know why they are so focussed on Pelor, as clerics of other gods can also cast cure spells (for example, my campaigns have never had a cleric of Pelor in the party). Perhaps it is the death domain that is throwing them off. Try again with another god. 4. The more risky proposition is to roleplay a cleric as either a devoted or greedy healer. The devoted healer wants everyone to repent and praise his god over all others. Characters that are reluctant to convert find that there are no cure spells left. The greedy cleric asks for a donation with each cure spell. Maybe only a few silver, but it gets the point across that you serve Pelor, not the fghter. For example, I once played a cleric of the war domain who, if he was in a pitched battle, refused to stop fighting to cure characters. In his eyes his contribution was to destroy evildoers, not to be a nurse. The rest of the party changed their combat tactics, and we actually took less damage per encounter. All were happy.
Magrus 01-08-08, 12:28 PM	You could always do what a friend of mine did. Play a cleric that refused to assist those weaker than himself. Hence, he would refuse to heal anyone who couldn't best him in combat. Play your cleric of Pelor, and head over to the Optimization boards, provide your character creation info, and turn the tables on them. Play a zealot, intent on converting everyone to the service of Pelor the great. Those that do not drop everything to take up the role of a cleric of Pelor shall be snubbed as unworthy louts. Insist that everything you fight is undead, and if it isn't, refuse to assist the others. Don't heal any wounds not inflicted by undead. Focus your spells on light based spells, and instead of bashing foes or buffing allies, dispel the darkness with light. A cleric of Pelor can be great at healing, yes. However, you can pick Sun and Light as a focus as well as healing. Be a cleric of light, literally. Stick to metamagic feats, and fill every slot you have with light spells. EVERY SLOT. Make your character obscenely useless. Pick the Cloistered Cleric variant and ditch armor and carry a quarterstaff. If someone gives you crap, blind them with the GLORY OF PELOR. Then take their stuff and donate it to the temple. Be Lawful Neutral, and be a stern cleric, with no pity for the wicked, and disdain for goodly folk. As soon as you come into contact with undead however, spontaneous convert all of your spells to healing and spank them. Then babble about the glorious healing powers of Pelor and the wonders it can do. Refuse to heal the party, and chuckle, saying how if they served Pelor too, they could heal themselves.
drunkendrake 01-08-08, 12:49 PM	I've never looked into artificers. What book are they from and what makes them so powerful? I personally dislike crafting because it takes so much experience to craft the magical goods. The Artificer class can be found in the Eberron Campaign Setting. They are fun to craft items with, primarily because of their 'craft reserve'. This is a pool of points they can spend instead of exp when crafting items, which gets renewed (and bigger) each level. Artificers can alse give items temporary bonuses with their Infusions, heal constructs, and other mechanical-based stuff. The ECS also has some other excellent thigs to use, especially feats- reduce your crafting costs (exp, time or gp) by 25% is particularly fun Also, Extra Rings- wear 2 additional rings, for a single feat. wins. As a side bonus, getting the ECS may get your group into playing an Eberron campaign. This looks like it'll be a change, because an Eberron campaign without magic items is like a DM without players. because if he runs it, that's what he will be. -Drake-
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 01:13 PM	The thing that is sorta ticking me off (well, really ticking me off) is the fact that most of the other players aren't playing straight, by the book, classes. And they are giving me such a hassle about this. I suggested a house diety, but it got shot down faster than I could get it out of my mouth. The 'ranger' is playing a house cross between the 3.5 ranger and the woodsman from the Wheel of Time campaign setting. The fighter is doing something similar, but with a prestige class that he has made a variant of. The name escapes me. If they are doing that to make them happy, why can't I do something to make /me/ happy.
Magrus 01-08-08, 01:18 PM	I'd say don't play with them. Ever again. They sound like jerks.
Salla 01-08-08, 01:19 PM	The thing that is sorta ticking me off (well, really ticking me off) is the fact that most of the other players aren't playing straight, by the book, classes. And they are giving me such a hassle about this. I suggested a house diety, but it got shot down faster than I could get it out of my mouth. The 'ranger' is playing a house cross between the 3.5 ranger and the woodsman from the Wheel of Time campaign setting. The fighter is doing something similar, but with a prestige class that he has made a variant of. The name escapes me. If they are doing that to make them happy, why can't I do something to make /me/ happy. That is a remarkable double-standard. I'd be wary of playing a game with that level of arbitrary nonsense. There's also the possibility of simply playing a Cleric of a cause or ideal, rather than deity, now that I think about it, which removes the whole 'we dun like ur relijin' argument.
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 01:21 PM	That is a remarkable double-standard. I'd be wary of playing a game with that level of arbitrary nonsense. There's also the possibility of simply playing a Cleric of a cause or ideal, rather than deity, now that I think about it, which removes the whole 'we dun like ur relijin' argument. Tried it, but they argued that as well. Where would I draw my powers from? How would I determine my domains? They didn't like it at all.
drunkendrake 01-08-08, 01:25 PM	I'd say don't play with them. Ever again. They sound like jerks. Ditto. But first, break their campaign by playing an Artificer. Recommended items: Thought Bottle (CAdv, if I remember correctly- might be CArc) Heward's Handy Haversack Wand of Magic Missile Wand of Fireball/Lightning Bolt I'd recommend not taking healing kit- instead, only make it if someone else will use it and pay you for their trouble. Later on, use staffs for some more fun effects- Divine Power and Righteous Might are my favourites, with Polmorph Any Object for emergencies. -Drake-
Sereetha 01-08-08, 01:51 PM	It is too bad that the DM and other players are being such a pain. The options provided to you by Drake are great ideas. I would strongly consider them. Maybe, he might let you PM him and assist you in creating/revising your character. The others seem to min/maxing their characters, so if you ask maybe someone can help you do the same. That or find another group to play with. Fustrating situations are fine to be in, however this seems to be an unbalanced situation. The game should be fun with challenges, not a chore. Try to talk to the DM in private and express your concerns without the other players around. You might find him more responsive without the other players jumping down your or his throat.
Legdiwena 01-08-08, 02:09 PM	It's your character, not theirs. Play what you want and damn the torpedoes.
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 02:20 PM	It is too bad that the DM and other players are being such a pain. The options provided to you by Drake are great ideas. I would strongly consider them. Maybe, he might let you PM him and assist you in creating/revising your character. The others seem to min/maxing their characters, so if you ask maybe someone can help you do the same. I tried PMing him, but no reply as of yet? Anyone else willing to give me a hand?
Legdiwena 01-08-08, 02:24 PM	What level are you starting at?
Disposablehero 01-08-08, 02:25 PM	Level 2 characters.
Legdiwena 01-08-08, 02:36 PM	What sort of character would you like to play? Is DM saying you can't serve a good deity of death or is it just the other players?
Dunsel 01-08-08, 02:37 PM	A group I was in a while back who decided all PCs take 1 level of cleric or druid so we all have healing!
Prom 01-08-08, 02:50 PM	Hi Disposablehero, I've been in your situation, so I know how hard it is. I did infact get myself out of it, so I will tell you what happened. Finding a new group seems extreme to me at this point. I was playing a cleric in two different games, which was alright for a while, but I got bored. As you know cleric spells tend to get used on healing and nothing else. If you start at level one then you really have no choice, which can suck. My level 4 cleric of mordin died so I told the DM and players I wanted to play another class, so I made a dragon Shaman with a vigor aura. This provided a small amount of healing and gave me a fresh class to try out. The party got badly knocked about, so the DM brought in a NPC cleric of Pelor, lol. You really do have to stick to your guns on using a different class, because players and DM need to learn your value and how difficult they have been. I asked and suggested to other players to try playing a healer, but no-one listened. My Dragon Shaman died, so I built a Fighter with no healing abilities. Now the NPC cleric was still around but the DM took it away, because it was acting like a crutch for the party. This move on the DM's part was very useful, because a large numbers of PC's started to died at this point. Eventually the whole party got TPK'ed and a new party had to be created. We then sat down and asked everyone what they wanted to play, then we looked at missing roles and asked people to fill them if they had not done them before, you need to talk with your DM alone before this. No one wanted to play a healer again, my bad luck I guess. I said I would not play a cleric again and told them I would take a Druid as the healer. As the role of healer seemed to fall on me again. Druids are very powerful, believe it or not they can stand toe to toe with arcane casters because of the summoning abilities. This resulted in another player seeing the possibilities or finally realizing it was time to give the healer role a go and they took a Druid character. I now play a warmage, lol. This all took a year to play out. It's a rough road you will have to walk, I hope it's not as hard as mine. Your only way out without leaving is to play a different class and let the group suffer the consequences. Otherwise you will still be playing a cleric of pelor or some cleric, five years from now. Stand strong and best of luck. Prom
Elsydeon 01-08-08, 02:58 PM	Whether it's true or not, take a stand. A big shift. "I hate playing healers now. I refuse to play one again. Ever. Let me play something else or let me get my sodas out of the fridge and go home." Even if you're not that fed up yet, I guarantee you will be if you keep getting forced into it. Better to cut it off now than later.
LordTarmos 01-08-08, 03:48 PM	First and formost play something that interests you, if they want a healer they can hire one, or be one themselves. Just make your character good enough and play it smart enough and make sure that you do not die. This way someone else can become the healer. Tell them you are always the healer and want something new, if they complain ignore it, go on make it anyway(as long as it fits there campaign) and have fun. eventually they will forget and go on. don't let them run your choices. The best way not to get burned out on dnd is to make sure you play things that you like.
Sereetha 01-08-08, 08:25 PM	I am writing under my wife's account. I am a long time player that has played many clerics over my tenure. My last two have been Priests of Pelor. One of them the DM brought back Specialty Priests from 2e, you lose access to Domain Spells and instead you would gain access to Spheres of Spells. Some of these Spheres contain powerful Mage spells. Do not ever allow a group force you to play the healing aspect of Pelor. This could allow you to be more of a Martial Priest rather than a Healer. Each Pantheon has more than one division, you can play the Priest/Cleric and have them take on different aspects of the Pantheon. The one Priest seeks justice from his mace and rarely casts, the other has never drawn blood with his weapon, but loves to blow stuff up.
Kyric 01-08-08, 08:47 PM	okay, first off, I completely understand your plight. I think the best cleric I've ever played was a guy who played him as a semi-tank. Probably not the best optimization wise, but who cares he had fun. He was a cleric of Mordain (sp? dwarven names screw me up) and most of his spells were combat oriented. However this may not work for you because our group had no main fighter and 3 divine classes (1 paly, 1 cleric, 1 druid) and me, so we all specialized in combat somewhat, there was always enough healing to go arround. That said, I played horribly made characters and died in increasingly Darwin award-worthy fashions. Finally, any good/neutral cleric is healer to the extent of the spontaneous casting rules allow him to drop any spell for a cure spell. So play whatever they want and give them the damned healing, they'll survive (and if they don't it's probably their fault for doing something stupid). If they don't let you play that, perhaps you should consider leaving. If they're going to force you into playing a character you won't have fun playing, what's the point of playing with them at all? I mean if they don't want to play clerics then they really shouldn't be complaining, how about you be the unique fighter with a special prestige class (by the way how did he get to have a prestige class at level 2?) and one of the others play the generic cleric of Pelor, see how they like it.
FarSouth 01-08-08, 10:02 PM	I really sympathise with you, but you need to be very firm. There are two aspects to this - the attitude of the other (PC) players and the attitude of the DM. It's not clear to me how your DM feels about this. Is he also ganging up with the others to force you to playe the cleric of Pelor? Or is it just intense pressure from the other players? If your DM is part of this push, then you need to politely but firmly point out the following things to him in private (ie without the other players around to gang up on you): D&D is a game that everyone should enjoy; however you are currently very unhappy because you are being forced to play a character you don't want to. The other players are not being restricted in this way; they are playing the characters they want to, with considerable personal modification. To placate the rest of the group, you have always played Clerics of Pelor in the past. You now deserve the opportunity to play a character you want to play. It is now time for one of the other players to make a "scarifice" for the team and play the healing role; you have done more than your fair share. If the DM says that if you don't play the cleric then no-one else will, point out that that is not your problem. It is up to him to provide a solution, which may include any of the following: Instructing one of the other players to play the cleric for a change Providing an NPC healer to accompany the party Ensuring that the campaign is sufficiently populated with healing magic items If all of this fails, tell him that the very least he can do is meet you part way by allowing you to play a different kind of cleric - one which still fulfils the healing role, but worships a different deity and can have a different feel to the character. It is simply unfair for you to be continually railroaded like this, and it should be no problem for a DM to accommodate alternative deities to Pelor. If you can bring around the DM to your way of thinking, then that's the most important thing. As long as he agrees to your character selection, it shouldn't matter what the other players say. Your posts give the impression that the other players are used to treating you like a doormat and expect to have "veto" power over your character decisions. You need to make it quite clear to them that things aren't going to be that way from now on. If the players and/or DM - as people - are unable to grasp the basic injustice of their treatment of you and change their attitude, then you're probably best off trying to find another group to play with.
Etarnon 01-08-08, 10:35 PM	If they are doing that to make them happy, why can't I do something to make /me/ happy. I think the concensus is, demand satisfaction. Let us know when you do.
Salla 01-09-08, 12:52 AM	Tried it, but they argued that as well. Where would I draw my powers from? How would I determine my domains? They didn't like it at all. Your faith, and appropriate domains to represent your cause. It's right there in the PHB in black and white.
Yruc 01-09-08, 01:00 AM	The thing that is sorta ticking me off (well, really ticking me off) is the fact that most of the other players aren't playing straight, by the book, classes. And they are giving me such a hassle about this. I suggested a house diety, but it got shot down faster than I could get it out of my mouth. The 'ranger' is playing a house cross between the 3.5 ranger and the woodsman from the Wheel of Time campaign setting. The fighter is doing something similar, but with a prestige class that he has made a variant of. The name escapes me. If they are doing that to make them happy, why can't I do something to make /me/ happy. Seriously it sounds like the people you're playing with just want a heal bot. They don't want to play with you, they want someone there to take care of them. And it sounds like your DM just wants a heal bot too.. Seriously, if your DM is letting stuff like this go on and not letting you pick something you want to play then your best bet is to find another group. or pick one of these great ideas.. You could always do what a friend of mine did. Play a cleric that refused to assist those weaker than himself. Hence, he would refuse to heal anyone who couldn't best him in combat. Play your cleric of Pelor, and head over to the Optimization boards, provide your character creation info, and turn the tables on them. Play a zealot, intent on converting everyone to the service of Pelor the great. Those that do not drop everything to take up the role of a cleric of Pelor shall be snubbed as unworthy louts. Insist that everything you fight is undead, and if it isn't, refuse to assist the others. Don't heal any wounds not inflicted by undead. Focus your spells on light based spells, and instead of bashing foes or buffing allies, dispel the darkness with light. A cleric of Pelor can be great at healing, yes. However, you can pick Sun and Light as a focus as well as healing. Be a cleric of light, literally. Stick to metamagic feats, and fill every slot you have with light spells. EVERY SLOT. Make your character obscenely useless. Pick the Cloistered Cleric variant and ditch armor and carry a quarterstaff. If someone gives you crap, blind them with the GLORY OF PELOR. Then take their stuff and donate it to the temple. Be Lawful Neutral, and be a stern cleric, with no pity for the wicked, and disdain for goodly folk. As soon as you come into contact with undead however, spontaneous convert all of your spells to healing and spank them. Then babble about the glorious healing powers of Pelor and the wonders it can do. Refuse to heal the party, and chuckle, saying how if they served Pelor too, they could heal themselves. D&D is supposed to be fun for everyone, not just the DM and a few party members
Magrus 01-09-08, 04:09 AM	pick one of these great ideas.. Thank you, thank you. Now that I know the OP has to make a 2nd level char....assuming basic, 28 point buy, lets see a basic rundown of what he could do, using core+complete books. Lets say we go with the basic Human. I prefer not to, but most people seem to prefer the extra skill points and feat, so meh. 2nd level Cloistered Cleric of Pelor. ( http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#clericVarian tCloisteredCleric ) HP: 12 (Assuming full 1st and 1/2+ Con after) Str 10 Dex 10 Con 14 Int 10 Wis 16 Cha 12 Init: +0 BAB: 1 Fort: 3+2= 5 Ref: 0+0= 2 Will: 3+3= 6 Skills: (6x4) + 4 + 6 = 34 Concentrate: 5+2= 7 K: Arcana: 5 K: Dungeoneering: 5 K: Religion: 5 K: Planes: 5 Spellcraft: 5 Profession: Irritating bastard: 4 (Insert anything here, really) Feats: Sun Devotion (Complete Champion, extra damage vs undead) Quicken Turning Spells: O: Light x3 1: Extended Light x2, Endure Elements (Domain slot) Equipment: Chain Shirt, Gauntlets (1d3 damage) You end up only useful should you face undead in the dark, or really hot or cold weather. Should anyone complain, you made a cleric of Pelor. You deal 3-5 points of damage everytime you hit an undead creature after activating Sun devotion, and hey, who doesn't love that?
Tanath 01-09-08, 10:58 AM	You already have a healer in the party. Have everyone pitch in and pick up a wand of Healthful rest, and a Wand of Lesser Vigor. The ranger can use em both. Play a wizard, and use battlefield control spells.
JerichoAlar 01-09-08, 03:17 PM	I'm a big fan of VoP druid leveraging exalted wildshape (you can do a strong build just with PHB+exalted deeds, throw in CDiv or CChamp for extra silliness) put approximately half your spells into curing magic and make the rest battlefield manipulation spells. - enough healing to get by but not your character's main focus at all. I'll put up a general build when I get home tonight.
Sinfire Titan 01-09-08, 03:22 PM	Has anyone ever told you that Pelor is actually Evil?
LordTarmos 01-09-08, 04:53 PM	[QUOTE=Magrus;14782400]Thank you, thank you. Profession: Irritating bastard: 4 (Insert anything here, really) I so love this have to do it on my next charracter
LordTarmos 01-09-08, 04:57 PM	I still say play what you want to play, have fun and let the others adapt eventually, probably real soon, they will get over it.
FarSouth 01-09-08, 06:07 PM	The stupid thing about all this is that playing a cleric doesn't have to be a predictable bore - it can be great fun, encompassing much much more than just healing up the party. Disposablehero's fellow players are really denying themselves a great opportunity. And even by preventing him from playing a different kind of cleric they're missing the chance to develop the richness of their game. Disposablehero - has there been any progress from your end? Have you tried discussing this further with your DM? Have you considered pointing him in the direction of this thread?
Arminel 01-09-08, 06:35 PM	I had this same problem, except that I normally get stuck as an arcane caster in games with a DM who tries his very best to gimp them while throwing bucket loads of homemade prestige classes, feats, items both mundane and magical, skill tricks, the whole nine yards, at the rogues and fighter types. You really have three options: 1) Submit to their bidding with a twist. I like the idea of making people pay for their healings. Even in combat, make them waste a round giving you a few silver for a CLW. 2) Play whatever you want. If your fellow PCs cannot adjust, they obviously suck at this game, or your DM sucks at DMing. Really, it is almost that simple. 3) Play something stupidly broken. Artificer can be right up that alley as previously mentioned. Another type could be a Druid or Cleric (CoDzilla). My current Wizard that prestiged into Incantrix from the Player's Guide to Faerun, is silly powerful I find in the above mentioned campaign even when the DM constantly tries to gimp me (my spellbook has been destroyed three times already among other things). Good luck with your party. I finally got through to mine =]
nowiwantmydmg 01-09-08, 11:17 PM	Has anyone ever told you that Pelor is actually Evil? you wouldn't happen to be one of my players perhaps??(Where Pelor is infact evil) In response to the OP: Clerics are great, call him a "war mage" or "spell sword" and only cast damage spells and buffs and engage in a lot of melee combat. When you get real hurt heal yourself and call it a magical item :p
Magrus 01-10-08, 04:19 PM	[QUOTE=Magrus;14782400]Thank you, thank you. Profession: Irritating bastard: 4 (Insert anything here, really) I so love this have to do it on my next charracter The profession thing, or the light spell cleric? They really only work together you know. ;)
celloshane 01-10-08, 06:05 PM	Disposable, I can think of quite a few ways to handle this. First off, I'd suggest you keep working on your group to let up on their restrictions. As long as you aren't dedicated to an Evil diety, I can't see why a DM would have a problem with it (unless he's running an Exalted style game where he wants only Good heroes). Remind them that if they choose to impose restrictions on you, you should be able to place restrictions of your choice on them. I bet that fighter wouldn't like it if you got to choose his weapons and armor for him. (I'd saddle him with a Tower shield and Mountain Plate, insisting that he needs the optimum AC so you can heal him less :P) If the DM restricts you to Good deities only, you ought to be able to find one to fit your concept. St. Cuthbert, Heironeous, Corellon Laratheon, and Moradin all should have a handful of clerics dedicated to wiping out their god's enemies. If everyone refuses to budge, then I'm with everybody else - Move on to Plan B.... Plan B Making the most annoying Cleric of Pelor ever (AKA: Intentionally causing a Campaign Trainwreck) Here's a list of character concepts for Plan B: The Light Cleric - a different twist on Magrus's concept, this cleric never prepares more than a couple Light spells because he refuses to adventure when it's dark. He won't enter caves or deep woods because the Light of Pelor cannot reach him there. At night he holes up and awaits the glorious rebirth of his god. If your allies drag you along forcibly, then insist upon having the brightest light source available up and running at all times. Throw a fit if they don't all carry torches, cast Light and Daylight as often as possible and use Sunrods whenever available. The Over the Top Cleric (Lawful Stupid) - This guy insists on being in the thick of battle "Smiting Pelor's enemies". Heal beggers and needy to show Pelor's charity. Tithe as much party loot as possible to Pelor's churches. The Undead Hater This cleric only fights undead (and possibly demons), all others are not enemies of Pelor. Refuse to turn undead if they won't be destroyed outright, Pelor would not want undead to flee and escape his wrath. If an adventure hook doesn't contain fighting undead, your character is completely uninterested. There are bound to be others you could add to that list. Also of use might be the spell Faith Healing in Spell Compendium.