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critique this cleric

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
oprick
Feb 04, 2009 16:57:25 I designed this as an NPC enounter for 3 lvl 8s for a DM friend of mine. excuse some of the pedantry, as she is not extremely knowledgeable about all the feats and abilities.

he's supposed to be a roman flavored battle priest, the head of a large temple.

im more concerned with spell lists and combat strategy than equipment. remember, if/when he dies, the PCs get all of his stuff.

-------------------
the battle priest is as follows. put this guy in the main dome of the temple. he wears red and white robes, a golden circlet, banded mail, and spiked gauntlets. his armor is polished brass. blackened steel and polished brass blades swirl around him, following him wherever he walks. his marble throne is chipped and worn, as are the collumns and walls. occasionally sparks fly off as the metal blades skim against the stone. the room is cold and echoing, and dim, lit only by two brazers at the foot of the throne.

(obviously customize this, but im thinking of some flavorful things)

Human cleric 8 (this should make a tough fight on his own)

what you'll need to know:

domains: planning, undeath

feats: divine metamagic, extend spell(domain), persistent spell(human bonus feat), extra turning(domain), combat casting, shielded casting

Str:14 (+2)
Dex:12 (+1)
Con:16 (+3)
Int:10 (+0)
Wis: 18 (+3)
Cha:14 (+2)

HP:50

AC: 20 (touch 11) (flat footed 19)

speed: 20'

Attacks: +1 spellstoring spiked gauntlet +9/+4; 1d4+3 (with divine power: +11/+6; 1d4+6)
Base Attack +6/+1

saves: F-9, R-3, W-9

skills: i didnt figure those out, but he gets 22 points. basically, if you think [the rogue] is hiding, walk around until your blades hurt him. put points in diplomacy, sense motive &c. in case they try to talk to you.

equipment:
- strand of prayer beads with the bead of blessing, bead of healing, and bead of karma (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#strandofPrayerBeads)
- +1 spell storing spiked gauntlet. he can cast a spell into it, and have it release on an attack. fill this with one spell before the fight starts
-periapt of wisdom +2 (included in stats)
-+1 adamantine heavy shield
-sundries. scrolls if you want, maybe a ring of protection +1 (not included in the stats)

spells: (save DCs= 13+spell level)
0: any 6
1:sanctuary(x2), command(x2), deathwatch(domain), lesser vigor (complete divine)
2:desecrate(domain), spiritual weapon, frost weapon (frostburn), hold person(x2)
3:ring of blades[cast](mini handbook or complete arcane?), animate dead(domain), vigor(complete divine), wrack(complete divine), dispel magic
4: divine power, inflict critical wounds, cure critical wounds, deathward (domain)

turning attempts: base 3 + 2 (charisma) + 4 (extra turning) = 9. 7 are used for DMM persist.

-----------------------------

divine metamagic (DMM) is from complete divine. you spend turn attempts instead of increasing the spell slot for metamagicked spells. during the fight, you can use 2 more to use extend spell on any spell at no additional cost. use this on divine power. alternatively, you could persist divine power, and extend ring of blades. i just think permanent ring of blades is very flavorful.

shielded casting is from races of stone. while this guy has a shield out, he doesnt provoke attacks of opportunity by casting spells.

strategy:
-ring of blades lasts 24 hours, cast after morning prayers. anything in any adjacent 5' square takes 1d6+8

-i was going to give him a weapon, but you would need to put it down to cast spells. also, you cant be disarmed of a gauntlet.

-note what kind of saves the spells will allow, and decide to shoot them at people who arent as strong. [the paladin/warshaper] will have high saves in general from being a paladin, but fort is still highest. [the cleric/dracolyte] will have a good will and fort, and [barbarian/rogue] will have good reflex and maybe fort.

-use Command (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/command.htm) and have them walk into your blades or run away.

-the bead of karma gives +4 caster level, and works once per day for 10 minutes. you can use this to up the damage from ring of blades, or wait until the fight to activate it. i suggest the latter, as this will increase the duration of many spells. for example, DMM: extend divine power with the bead of karma activated will last 24 rounds !

-cast sanctuary if you want to buff or heal yourself. the ring of blades will still hurt them. while you're in there, you can put another spell in your gauntlet. command, inflict critical wounds, wrack, hold person; all are good.

-wrack is crazy if you can hit someone with it. they become helpless and you can coup-de-grace, or just stand over them and get them all cut up

-basically, your domains grant you good abilities and **** spells, dont cast desecrate or animate dead, they take a long time and have costly material components, and they arent really for fighting anyway. deathward could be decent if you think they will use a death-effect

-So, you'll try to immobilize them with hold person or wrack, or use command to get them to come closer and get hurt, then it comes down to: cast divine power, win the game. it gives you +6 strength and base attacks like a fighter. so, two attacks, +8/+3. you could put some serious hurt on with a chanelled spell and a big attack.

theoretically, if you are all buffed and punch someone, they'd be looking at 1d6+8(ring of blades) + 1d4+6 + 4d8+12(save for half), the good thing is that a lot of that is invariable damage, so even if you roll bad, and they save, they'll still take
#2
phaedrusxy
Feb 04, 2009 17:59:41 Ok, get rid of the enhancement bonuses on his weapons and armor. They aren't needed, and will only serve to give the PCs more wealth when they kill him. Get rid of the Karma bead, likewise. Get rid of Shielded Casting and Combat Casting. Take Divine Spellpower, or whatever feat it is that lets you boost your caster level via Turn attempts.

Here is his buffing routine:
0) If necessary for using Divine Metamagic, cast Eagle's Splendor. If Death Knell will get Magic Vestment or Greater Magic Weapon to the next level, use it, also.
1) Use Divine Spellpower while casting Consumptive Field, and make it Persistent via DMM.
2) Kill a bunch of rats (or sacrifice peasants, whatever). This will boost his caster level substantially, give him temporary hit points and a big boost to Strength.
3) Cast Greater Magic Weapon, and Magic Vestment on his mundane weapon, armor, and shield.
4) Assuming he'll have some warning before the fight, he can throw up alot of shorter duration stuff like Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance, Owl's Wisdom, etc. I'd give him an amulet of natural armor instead of the ring of protection, and rely on Shield of Faith for his deflection bonus.
5) Cast Greater/Major Resistance, and Conviction for big boosts to saving throws. Add Resist Elements/Protection from Elements if desired.
6) You could add on other things to persist like Divine Power, but Consumptive Field makes that one a bit redundant

Using this strategy, this guy could have no magic items and still be buffed through the nose.

Also, you don't need a gauntlet of spellstoring to deliver a touch spell at the same time as a punch. You can do that just by casting the touch spell, "holding the charge", and then punching someone. He's a hell of alot better off using his spells for buffing, instead of direct damage, however.
#3
lormador
Feb 04, 2009 19:49:07 Comment on prepared spells:

1st level: Lesser Vigor is probably better placed in a wand or scroll. Letting the players get their hands on a Wand of Lesser Vigor with a few charges left won't be a bad thing. He could prepare a Shield of Faith with this slot, which will give him a caster level dependent boost.

2nd level: Having a Divine Insight up can help make a crucial skill check now and then. His spells right now look like he's expecting a big combat, which may be unrealistic. PC clerics often prepare this spell when they reach this level. I do anyway. (Then again, I'm playing an Archivist these days.)

3rd level: The Vigor could be packed in a scroll. He's not using this for in-combat healing, is he? Meanwhile, this is Greater Magic Weapon and Magic Vestment level.... which depend directly on caster level, so using those instead should be better.

4th level: Preparing both a Cure and an Inflict? Shouldn't he be able to produce that Inflict spontaneously? This could have been a Moonbolt, or that Consumptive Field, a Recitation, a Freedom of Movement... or something.

Comment on Equipment:
I don't see any consumable magic items, which is the biggest bang for buck that he could possibly get. Potions of Barkskin, Invisibility, and Shield. Scrolls: lots of scrolls, with those situational spells like Panacea, Neutralize Poison, Remove Curse, in them. Summon Monster III isn't a bad scroll. Using things like these will let you make the encounter as punishing as you like, without letting a horde of valuable equipment fall into the hands of the players.

They'll be happy to have scrolls like Remove Curse and Neutralize Poison on hand.

Comment on Undead:
Where are his undead? I don't see any Desecrated armored giant skeletons around, to say nothing of rebuked undead (for example Shadows). If I were playing this cleric my first priority would be to acquire these, by means of a Summon Undead 5 scroll, letting the summoned shadow kill some weak creature, spawning itself. I'd then rebuke the spawned shadow and watch the first shadow vanish, cackling maniacally.
#4
phaedrusxy
Feb 04, 2009 23:47:11
Comment on Undead:
Where are his undead? I don't see any Desecrated armored giant skeletons around, to say nothing of rebuked undead (for example Shadows). If I were playing this cleric my first priority would be to acquire these, by means of a Summon Undead 5 scroll, letting the summoned shadow kill some weak creature, spawning itself. I'd then rebuke the spawned shadow and watch the first shadow vanish, cackling maniacally.

PC thinking. All that stuff counts against the ECL of an NPC encounter.
#5
oprick
Feb 05, 2009 5:23:04 im hoping to offer a hard fight, sort of on one dimension. 2 PCs are fighter types, and the one cleric is into shooting 'searing light'.

im hoping to pair vigor with sactuary, where he can chill and buff and talk to/taunt the party. the group is not extrememly optimized, and would love an in-combat exchange for RPs sake.

point taken about scrolls.
#6
lormador
Feb 05, 2009 6:20:00
PC thinking. All that stuff counts against the ECL of an NPC encounter.

Well of course, it counts towards the ECL of the encounter.... my thinking on the matter is simply that since every evil cleric PC I've ever played or DMed for has rigorously sought the advantages of undead, that NPC evil clerics with sufficient resources should be in possession of some fairly formidable specimens.

To the point where if I had to choose between a higher-level cleric without undead minions, and a low-level cleric with them, I'd use the lower level one every time. And I mean, doesn't it make sense given his domains for him to have some pimp undead?

There's nothing like buffing while taunting the heroes as they struggle to overcome your zombie minions.
#7
phaedrusxy
Feb 05, 2009 13:17:04 All good points, Lormador. I usually have a horde of undead with my evil clerics also, be they PC or NPC, pretty much for the reasons you stated. And given his domains, it is thematically fitting, also. I just thought the OP sounded like they wanted a loner badass, heh.
#8
lormador
Feb 05, 2009 18:42:10 To say nothing of the shame and funny looks my players would give me if they overcame a big-time, famous evil priest known to have talents in necromancy without having to defeat a bunch of horrid undead.

They'd think I was getting a bit soft in the head.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 oprick Feb 04, 2009 16:57:25	I designed this as an NPC enounter for 3 lvl 8s for a DM friend of mine. excuse some of the pedantry, as she is not extremely knowledgeable about all the feats and abilities. he's supposed to be a roman flavored battle priest, the head of a large temple. im more concerned with spell lists and combat strategy than equipment. remember, if/when he dies, the PCs get all of his stuff. ------------------- the battle priest is as follows. put this guy in the main dome of the temple. he wears red and white robes, a golden circlet, banded mail, and spiked gauntlets. his armor is polished brass. blackened steel and polished brass blades swirl around him, following him wherever he walks. his marble throne is chipped and worn, as are the collumns and walls. occasionally sparks fly off as the metal blades skim against the stone. the room is cold and echoing, and dim, lit only by two brazers at the foot of the throne. (obviously customize this, but im thinking of some flavorful things) Human cleric 8 (this should make a tough fight on his own) what you'll need to know: domains: planning, undeath feats: divine metamagic, extend spell(domain), persistent spell(human bonus feat), extra turning(domain), combat casting, shielded casting Str:14 (+2) Dex:12 (+1) Con:16 (+3) Int:10 (+0) Wis: 18 (+3) Cha:14 (+2) HP:50 AC: 20 (touch 11) (flat footed 19) speed: 20' Attacks: +1 spellstoring spiked gauntlet +9/+4; 1d4+3 (with divine power: +11/+6; 1d4+6) Base Attack +6/+1 saves: F-9, R-3, W-9 skills: i didnt figure those out, but he gets 22 points. basically, if you think [the rogue] is hiding, walk around until your blades hurt him. put points in diplomacy, sense motive &c. in case they try to talk to you. equipment: - strand of prayer beads with the bead of blessing, bead of healing, and bead of karma (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#strandofPrayerBeads) - +1 spell storing spiked gauntlet. he can cast a spell into it, and have it release on an attack. fill this with one spell before the fight starts -periapt of wisdom +2 (included in stats) -+1 adamantine heavy shield -sundries. scrolls if you want, maybe a ring of protection +1 (not included in the stats) spells: (save DCs= 13+spell level) 0: any 6 1:sanctuary(x2), command(x2), deathwatch(domain), lesser vigor (complete divine) 2:desecrate(domain), spiritual weapon, frost weapon (frostburn), hold person(x2) 3:ring of blades[cast](mini handbook or complete arcane?), animate dead(domain), vigor(complete divine), wrack(complete divine), dispel magic 4: divine power, inflict critical wounds, cure critical wounds, deathward (domain) turning attempts: base 3 + 2 (charisma) + 4 (extra turning) = 9. 7 are used for DMM persist. ----------------------------- divine metamagic (DMM) is from complete divine. you spend turn attempts instead of increasing the spell slot for metamagicked spells. during the fight, you can use 2 more to use extend spell on any spell at no additional cost. use this on divine power. alternatively, you could persist divine power, and extend ring of blades. i just think permanent ring of blades is very flavorful. shielded casting is from races of stone. while this guy has a shield out, he doesnt provoke attacks of opportunity by casting spells. strategy: -ring of blades lasts 24 hours, cast after morning prayers. anything in any adjacent 5' square takes 1d6+8 -i was going to give him a weapon, but you would need to put it down to cast spells. also, you cant be disarmed of a gauntlet. -note what kind of saves the spells will allow, and decide to shoot them at people who arent as strong. [the paladin/warshaper] will have high saves in general from being a paladin, but fort is still highest. [the cleric/dracolyte] will have a good will and fort, and [barbarian/rogue] will have good reflex and maybe fort. -use Command (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/command.htm) and have them walk into your blades or run away. -the bead of karma gives +4 caster level, and works once per day for 10 minutes. you can use this to up the damage from ring of blades, or wait until the fight to activate it. i suggest the latter, as this will increase the duration of many spells. for example, DMM: extend divine power with the bead of karma activated will last 24 rounds ! -cast sanctuary if you want to buff or heal yourself. the ring of blades will still hurt them. while you're in there, you can put another spell in your gauntlet. command, inflict critical wounds, wrack, hold person; all are good. -wrack is crazy if you can hit someone with it. they become helpless and you can coup-de-grace, or just stand over them and get them all cut up -basically, your domains grant you good abilities and **** spells, dont cast desecrate or animate dead, they take a long time and have costly material components, and they arent really for fighting anyway. deathward could be decent if you think they will use a death-effect -So, you'll try to immobilize them with hold person or wrack, or use command to get them to come closer and get hurt, then it comes down to: cast divine power, win the game. it gives you +6 strength and base attacks like a fighter. so, two attacks, +8/+3. you could put some serious hurt on with a chanelled spell and a big attack. theoretically, if you are all buffed and punch someone, they'd be looking at 1d6+8(ring of blades) + 1d4+6 + 4d8+12(save for half), the good thing is that a lot of that is invariable damage, so even if you roll bad, and they save, they'll still take
#2 phaedrusxy Feb 04, 2009 17:59:41	Ok, get rid of the enhancement bonuses on his weapons and armor. They aren't needed, and will only serve to give the PCs more wealth when they kill him. Get rid of the Karma bead, likewise. Get rid of Shielded Casting and Combat Casting. Take Divine Spellpower, or whatever feat it is that lets you boost your caster level via Turn attempts. Here is his buffing routine: 0) If necessary for using Divine Metamagic, cast Eagle's Splendor. If Death Knell will get Magic Vestment or Greater Magic Weapon to the next level, use it, also. 1) Use Divine Spellpower while casting Consumptive Field, and make it Persistent via DMM. 2) Kill a bunch of rats (or sacrifice peasants, whatever). This will boost his caster level substantially, give him temporary hit points and a big boost to Strength. 3) Cast Greater Magic Weapon, and Magic Vestment on his mundane weapon, armor, and shield. 4) Assuming he'll have some warning before the fight, he can throw up alot of shorter duration stuff like Shield of Faith, Bear's Endurance, Owl's Wisdom, etc. I'd give him an amulet of natural armor instead of the ring of protection, and rely on Shield of Faith for his deflection bonus. 5) Cast Greater/Major Resistance, and Conviction for big boosts to saving throws. Add Resist Elements/Protection from Elements if desired. 6) You could add on other things to persist like Divine Power, but Consumptive Field makes that one a bit redundant Using this strategy, this guy could have no magic items and still be buffed through the nose. Also, you don't need a gauntlet of spellstoring to deliver a touch spell at the same time as a punch. You can do that just by casting the touch spell, "holding the charge", and then punching someone. He's a hell of alot better off using his spells for buffing, instead of direct damage, however.
#3 lormador Feb 04, 2009 19:49:07	Comment on prepared spells: 1st level: Lesser Vigor is probably better placed in a wand or scroll. Letting the players get their hands on a Wand of Lesser Vigor with a few charges left won't be a bad thing. He could prepare a Shield of Faith with this slot, which will give him a caster level dependent boost. 2nd level: Having a Divine Insight up can help make a crucial skill check now and then. His spells right now look like he's expecting a big combat, which may be unrealistic. PC clerics often prepare this spell when they reach this level. I do anyway. (Then again, I'm playing an Archivist these days.) 3rd level: The Vigor could be packed in a scroll. He's not using this for in-combat healing, is he? Meanwhile, this is Greater Magic Weapon and Magic Vestment level.... which depend directly on caster level, so using those instead should be better. 4th level: Preparing both a Cure and an Inflict? Shouldn't he be able to produce that Inflict spontaneously? This could have been a Moonbolt, or that Consumptive Field, a Recitation, a Freedom of Movement... or something. Comment on Equipment: I don't see any consumable magic items, which is the biggest bang for buck that he could possibly get. Potions of Barkskin, Invisibility, and Shield. Scrolls: lots of scrolls, with those situational spells like Panacea, Neutralize Poison, Remove Curse, in them. Summon Monster III isn't a bad scroll. Using things like these will let you make the encounter as punishing as you like, without letting a horde of valuable equipment fall into the hands of the players. They'll be happy to have scrolls like Remove Curse and Neutralize Poison on hand. Comment on Undead: Where are his undead? I don't see any Desecrated armored giant skeletons around, to say nothing of rebuked undead (for example Shadows). If I were playing this cleric my first priority would be to acquire these, by means of a Summon Undead 5 scroll, letting the summoned shadow kill some weak creature, spawning itself. I'd then rebuke the spawned shadow and watch the first shadow vanish, cackling maniacally.
#4 phaedrusxy Feb 04, 2009 23:47:11	Comment on Undead: Where are his undead? I don't see any Desecrated armored giant skeletons around, to say nothing of rebuked undead (for example Shadows). If I were playing this cleric my first priority would be to acquire these, by means of a Summon Undead 5 scroll, letting the summoned shadow kill some weak creature, spawning itself. I'd then rebuke the spawned shadow and watch the first shadow vanish, cackling maniacally. PC thinking. All that stuff counts against the ECL of an NPC encounter.
#5 oprick Feb 05, 2009 5:23:04	im hoping to offer a hard fight, sort of on one dimension. 2 PCs are fighter types, and the one cleric is into shooting 'searing light'. im hoping to pair vigor with sactuary, where he can chill and buff and talk to/taunt the party. the group is not extrememly optimized, and would love an in-combat exchange for RPs sake. point taken about scrolls.
#6 lormador Feb 05, 2009 6:20:00	PC thinking. All that stuff counts against the ECL of an NPC encounter. Well of course, it counts towards the ECL of the encounter.... my thinking on the matter is simply that since every evil cleric PC I've ever played or DMed for has rigorously sought the advantages of undead, that NPC evil clerics with sufficient resources should be in possession of some fairly formidable specimens. To the point where if I had to choose between a higher-level cleric without undead minions, and a low-level cleric with them, I'd use the lower level one every time. And I mean, doesn't it make sense given his domains for him to have some pimp undead? There's nothing like buffing while taunting the heroes as they struggle to overcome your zombie minions.
#7 phaedrusxy Feb 05, 2009 13:17:04	All good points, Lormador. I usually have a horde of undead with my evil clerics also, be they PC or NPC, pretty much for the reasons you stated. And given his domains, it is thematically fitting, also. I just thought the OP sounded like they wanted a loner badass, heh.
#8 lormador Feb 05, 2009 18:42:10	To say nothing of the shame and funny looks my players would give me if they overcame a big-time, famous evil priest known to have talents in necromancy without having to defeat a bunch of horrid undead. They'd think I was getting a bit soft in the head.