Cleric 2-man Campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Cleric 2-man Campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
maxbarton
Apr 05, 2009 0:06:58 Well I've lurked around the board for over a year now and I find myself in need of some help due to personal time constraints.

I'm needing to optimize a cleric... I've been a DM for a couple of years, however I've never actually had much interaction with character clerics so my knowledge (at least in depth) is limited. I'm aware of the sheer amount of power within a cleric, but I don't know the builds that take true advantage of it.

The reason I'm needing this is because I just joined a campaign in which there will only be two of us players. My companion is planning on playing the divine variant of the enlightened fist with a cleric. I'm needing to take as much advantage of cleric as possible without doing anything ridiculous or super cheesy (mildly cheesy wold be fine). I have a feeling I'll need as much firepower both offensively and defensively as I can get.

Before anyone asks my DM has already stated that he won't use the gestalt variant, however he is allowing us to use a modified Feral Template (SS) on our characters. The modification being that it gets rid of the natural attacks and special qualities. So we still get the speed bonus, natural armor, d10s, and stat adjustments.

The only rule as far as creation goes is that I cannot be evil aligned and doing anything along the lines of necromancy is at the least ill-advised. Apparently the campaign however will involve fighting undead at some points. The gist I have gotten is that it will be more of a battlefield style campaign dealing with lots of enemies. Something revolving around a kingdom fighting an army of darkness ala LotR.

As for what books I have available I for the most part have most of the regular books (complete series, fiendish codecs, etc) as well as most of the Faerun and some Eberron. I have no way to access any dragonlance books so those are out of the question, but anything else I'm sure I either have it or know someone who does.

I appreciate any help I can get.

EDIT: Also we will be starting out at 3rd lvl and my stats are 18,18,16,16,15,14. Don't ask me why he decided to give us this statline but it makes me all the more sure that I should take full advantage of it.
#2
gorfnad_the_shiznit
Apr 05, 2009 2:38:07 Mildly cheesy...
Cloistered Cleric 4/ Crusader 1/ Ruby Knight Vindicator 10/ Divine Disciple 5 (or Contemplative, Divine Oracle, Paragnostic Apostle, Dweomerkeeper, basically any full divine casting prestige class)
Human CG
Deity: Mystra
Domains: Planning, Magic, Knowledge
Feats:1. Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic Persistent Spell 3. Initiate of Mystra
(alternatively The Cheater of Mystra is also very nice)
Basically this build combines the combat options of Tome of Battle with the casting of a cleric. At 20th level you'll end up with 9th level spells, ability to cast in an antimagic field, and some slightly cheesy DMM + ToM combos. Just pump your caster level and turn undead attempts as high as you can. If you don't go with Mystra you can still do the first level feats and then just pump your turn undead attempts. Reserve Feats and Tome of Battle feats may also be of use to you with this build.
#3
malkavon
Apr 05, 2009 2:48:24 For an undead-heavy campaign, I highly recommend getting ahold of the Return to Castle Ravenloft campaign book. There's a decent turn undead variant in it, as well as several useful items for such a campaign.
#4
maxbarton
Apr 05, 2009 13:45:46 After speaking with my DM he has informed me that he doesn't want ToB used.

Thanks for the build though, sorry I can't use it.
#5
chibishuffle
Apr 05, 2009 14:08:24 I would second getting access to expedition to castle ravenloft as it has a prestige class called knight of the raven in a undead heavy game well it seems ideal.
#6
keithio
Apr 05, 2009 14:13:40 Is the other guy an arcane caster?

Because if not then I'd recommend (cringe) mystic theurge, hopefully with some early entry cheese.
#7
maxbarton
Apr 05, 2009 14:34:15 I know someone with the Ravenloft book so I'm waiting to get a hold of it at the moment. However as far as the enemies in the campaign go I've been told to expect undead as well as more typical forces (goblinoids and such).

EDIT: No the other person is also divine. Though I'd be interested in seeing what you mean by early entry cheese for theurge.
#8
ninjarabbit
Apr 05, 2009 14:36:21 cloisteredcleric4/conjurer wizard1 with the rapid summoning and spontaneous summoning variants from UA/SRD/malconvoker9/thaumatugist5/contemplative1

You lose 2 CL but the improved summons and planar allies make up for the fact that you have a 2 man party and give you a lot of flexibility
#9
gorfnad_the_shiznit
Apr 05, 2009 14:48:55 Cloistered Cleric 4/ Warlock 1/ Eldritch Disciple 10/ again Divine Disciple 5 (or Contemplative, Divine Oracle, Paragnostic Apostle, Dweomerkeeper, basically any full divine casting prestige class)
9th level spells and some useful warlock abilities. Ability to combine Eldritch Glaive + Divine Power for some nice combat damage.
#10
keithio
Apr 05, 2009 15:00:18 For early entry cheese, this thread looks like it might have what you need:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1154128

Also, are you allowed to take leadership? Because if you can you might get yourself an arcane caster through that.

Not having anyone with arcane spells seems like a very bad idea.
#11
maxbarton
Apr 05, 2009 15:34:15 Thanks for the ideas so far everyone, I'm looking up all the different ones now.

I like the idea of Eldritch disciple to some degree since you retain 9th lvl spells. The Mystic Theurge early entry cheese is interesting, but I think I'll avoid Mystic Theurge.

EDIT: Moved the idea to a more broad topic...

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1172226

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 maxbarton Apr 05, 2009 0:06:58	Well I've lurked around the board for over a year now and I find myself in need of some help due to personal time constraints. I'm needing to optimize a cleric... I've been a DM for a couple of years, however I've never actually had much interaction with character clerics so my knowledge (at least in depth) is limited. I'm aware of the sheer amount of power within a cleric, but I don't know the builds that take true advantage of it. The reason I'm needing this is because I just joined a campaign in which there will only be two of us players. My companion is planning on playing the divine variant of the enlightened fist with a cleric. I'm needing to take as much advantage of cleric as possible without doing anything ridiculous or super cheesy (mildly cheesy wold be fine). I have a feeling I'll need as much firepower both offensively and defensively as I can get. Before anyone asks my DM has already stated that he won't use the gestalt variant, however he is allowing us to use a modified Feral Template (SS) on our characters. The modification being that it gets rid of the natural attacks and special qualities. So we still get the speed bonus, natural armor, d10s, and stat adjustments. The only rule as far as creation goes is that I cannot be evil aligned and doing anything along the lines of necromancy is at the least ill-advised. Apparently the campaign however will involve fighting undead at some points. The gist I have gotten is that it will be more of a battlefield style campaign dealing with lots of enemies. Something revolving around a kingdom fighting an army of darkness ala LotR. As for what books I have available I for the most part have most of the regular books (complete series, fiendish codecs, etc) as well as most of the Faerun and some Eberron. I have no way to access any dragonlance books so those are out of the question, but anything else I'm sure I either have it or know someone who does. I appreciate any help I can get. EDIT: Also we will be starting out at 3rd lvl and my stats are 18,18,16,16,15,14. Don't ask me why he decided to give us this statline but it makes me all the more sure that I should take full advantage of it.
#2 gorfnad_the_shiznit Apr 05, 2009 2:38:07	Mildly cheesy... Cloistered Cleric 4/ Crusader 1/ Ruby Knight Vindicator 10/ Divine Disciple 5 (or Contemplative, Divine Oracle, Paragnostic Apostle, Dweomerkeeper, basically any full divine casting prestige class) Human CG Deity: Mystra Domains: Planning, Magic, Knowledge Feats:1. Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic Persistent Spell 3. Initiate of Mystra (alternatively The Cheater of Mystra is also very nice) Basically this build combines the combat options of Tome of Battle with the casting of a cleric. At 20th level you'll end up with 9th level spells, ability to cast in an antimagic field, and some slightly cheesy DMM + ToM combos. Just pump your caster level and turn undead attempts as high as you can. If you don't go with Mystra you can still do the first level feats and then just pump your turn undead attempts. Reserve Feats and Tome of Battle feats may also be of use to you with this build.
#3 malkavon Apr 05, 2009 2:48:24	For an undead-heavy campaign, I highly recommend getting ahold of the Return to Castle Ravenloft campaign book. There's a decent turn undead variant in it, as well as several useful items for such a campaign.
#4 maxbarton Apr 05, 2009 13:45:46	After speaking with my DM he has informed me that he doesn't want ToB used. Thanks for the build though, sorry I can't use it.
#5 chibishuffle Apr 05, 2009 14:08:24	I would second getting access to expedition to castle ravenloft as it has a prestige class called knight of the raven in a undead heavy game well it seems ideal.
#6 keithio Apr 05, 2009 14:13:40	Is the other guy an arcane caster? Because if not then I'd recommend (cringe) mystic theurge, hopefully with some early entry cheese.
#7 maxbarton Apr 05, 2009 14:34:15	I know someone with the Ravenloft book so I'm waiting to get a hold of it at the moment. However as far as the enemies in the campaign go I've been told to expect undead as well as more typical forces (goblinoids and such). EDIT: No the other person is also divine. Though I'd be interested in seeing what you mean by early entry cheese for theurge.
#8 ninjarabbit Apr 05, 2009 14:36:21	cloisteredcleric4/conjurer wizard1 with the rapid summoning and spontaneous summoning variants from UA/SRD/malconvoker9/thaumatugist5/contemplative1 You lose 2 CL but the improved summons and planar allies make up for the fact that you have a 2 man party and give you a lot of flexibility
#9 gorfnad_the_shiznit Apr 05, 2009 14:48:55	Cloistered Cleric 4/ Warlock 1/ Eldritch Disciple 10/ again Divine Disciple 5 (or Contemplative, Divine Oracle, Paragnostic Apostle, Dweomerkeeper, basically any full divine casting prestige class) 9th level spells and some useful warlock abilities. Ability to combine Eldritch Glaive + Divine Power for some nice combat damage.
#10 keithio Apr 05, 2009 15:00:18	For early entry cheese, this thread looks like it might have what you need: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1154128 Also, are you allowed to take leadership? Because if you can you might get yourself an arcane caster through that. Not having anyone with arcane spells seems like a very bad idea.
#11 maxbarton Apr 05, 2009 15:34:15	Thanks for the ideas so far everyone, I'm looking up all the different ones now. I like the idea of Eldritch disciple to some degree since you retain 9th lvl spells. The Mystic Theurge early entry cheese is interesting, but I think I'll avoid Mystic Theurge. EDIT: Moved the idea to a more broad topic... http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1172226