Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 getouttadodge01 Jul 12, 2015 20:55:01	Hey Gang,   I'm rolling a dwarf Tempest Cleric.  Just curious about whether I should be going STR > WIS or WIS > STR for ability scores.   Right now I've built a Hill Dwarf with:   Str - 14 Dex - 10 Con - 16 (14 + 2)  Int - 8 Wis - 16 (15 + 1)  Cha - 10   Should I be taking the hit to wis and going Mountain Dwarf with +2 Str?  Im kinda stuck in the multi-ability-dependent mire at the moment.   Anyone with experience playing a Tempest Cleric have any good advice?  Thanks!
#2 Danny_Montanny Jul 13, 2015 4:26:04	I'd just stick with what you got. You want that Wrath of the Storm as many chances you can get. The melee can be swaped with Sacred Flame whenever needed. Tempest Dwarves are plain bad ass, but I'd stick with Wisdom first because your main damage (Spirt Guardians) will rely on your spell save DC.
#3 jaappleton Jul 13, 2015 4:40:13	Consider the Polearm Master feat if you really want to hang around in melee.
#4 mellored Jul 13, 2015 5:37:48	Don't forget you can use Dex to attack as well.
(Reply to #4) jaappleton	mellored wrote:
#6 mellored Jul 13, 2015 5:53:26	jaappleton wrote:
#7 jaappleton Jul 13, 2015 6:05:15	Hammers and axes only! It's in the by-laws of being a Dwarf.
#8 getouttadodge01 Jul 13, 2015 11:20:07	Thanks for chiming in everyone.  I think a dex based rapier wielding human (who takes defensive duelist feat) seems the way to optimally play a tempest, but alas, I have committed to the stout race.  One must abide by all by-laws.    Im going warhammer & shield for AC 18 at lvl 1 and Hill Dwarf HP buff should make the little guy a brick s***house.  The party looks like it'll be a moon druid, rogue, and two spellcasters.    Only thing I'm a bit bummed about is that splint mail requires STR 15, so lvl 4 has to be devoted to bumping my bonus up to +3.  Looks like it'll be a while until I get to take warcaster/resilient.
#9 mellored Jul 13, 2015 11:28:26	getouttadodge01 wrote:
(Reply to #9) getouttadodge01	mellored wrote:
#11 Danny_Montanny Jul 14, 2015 7:16:44	A battle Cleric never once needs to swing a weapon. You can mix it up in the thick of things and do just fine offensively and defensively without a maxed offensive stat. Grabbing Heavy Armor Master will give you that 15 STR plus a good perk, though I'd be wary to give up the WIS for it. Maybe go 15/10/16/8/16/8 a your starting stats? He's just a little gruffer and then you can focus on +2 WIS at 4 and 8.
#12 getouttadodge01 Jul 14, 2015 16:40:24	Crisis averted: Dwarves do not incur the -10 movement when wearing armor a character is proficient in, but not strong enough to use without encumbrance.   Hopefully grabbing a magic weapon at some point pre 4th level will help hit things in melee, but a +2 vs a +3 I can live with.  Bless should keep myself and the other 2 melee folks slugging away.   I'll report back and let everyone know how it goes....at lvl 1 haha
(Reply to #12) Danny_Montanny	getouttadodge01 wrote:
(Reply to #13) getouttadodge01	Danny_Montanny wrote:
#15 getouttadodge01 Jul 16, 2015 1:09:10	Had my first session as the hill dwarf tempest cleric.  Wen't really well.  Fell unconscious twice, but I soaked good damage for level 1.  Thunderwave ended two battle encounters.  After a long rest, guiding bolt REALLY tipped the scales of the third by nuking a bugbear.  Cure wounds kept an NPC alive, securing us an extra 50 gold for a quest turn in.     Wrath of The Storm reaction for 2d8 damage on a failed dex did incredibly well, although my heart breaks seeing as how this doesn't scale.   AC 18 at level one is fantastic, and I'm really glad I had a +3 Wis.     Over all, I'm very happy how things went -- thanks to everyone for chiming in.
#16 Danny_Montanny Jul 16, 2015 12:54:19	May Marthammor Duin keep your trail safe and full of adventure, friend!