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Faith Caster Build.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
noelsj
Mar 10, 2009 3:21:38 Hello everybody.

I want to know what's your opinion on the faith caster (a cleric type base class). Do you think it is overpowered? The thing "all spells available + no preparation" makes me hesitate wether to play it or not as it is the first time i see something like that.

Lots of thanks.
#2
madgryphon
Mar 10, 2009 13:55:19 Where is that from?
#3
noelsj
Mar 11, 2009 4:35:41 It's in "Legends and Lairs: Path Of Faith"
#4
keyes2k4
Mar 11, 2009 15:39:44 I played one for about a year in a campaign that met once every other week or so. I screwed up when making the character (because I didn't have the book with me upon creation) but the DM allowed me to run around with medium armor and shield proficiency. But I will tell you what I did learn about Faithcaster from the experience.

The decreased multiple ability dependancy is a good reason to take Faithcaster. Their spell list is humongous, as you can cast any and all cleric spells spontaneously, you will often find yourself asking "what CAN I do in this situation". This makes the class seem very powerful, which it is, however, it also forces you to spend a rediculous amount of time deciding what you will do for a turn, as your options are almost as limitless as the possibilities. I failed when using my faithcaster because of my lack of knowledge about the "summon monster" line of spells and the rediculous amount of time I was apparently taking every turn trying to decide my spell for the next round/situation.

The lack of turning ability is well made up for by the benefits of spontaneous divine spellcasting, but it also costs you your supremacy over undead and the ever-powerful divine metamagic feat which makes metamagic costs dissapear along with your turn attempts for the day lol. Overall, I would have rather taken divine metamagic and persistant spell than sacrificed what it took to go faithcaster, but didn't know then what I know now about that feat in particular.

So here's what you get, the ratings are completely opinion based
+spont casting = Value of ~300
+skills = ~20

For the cost of this
-Armor proficiency = Value of ~50
-shield proficiency = Value of ~50
-2 spells per spell level per day = ~70
-turning = ~100
-turning related feats (specifically divine metamagic) = ~100

so, 320 - 370 = -50

However, it is important to note, that if your DM doesn't allow DMM that faithcaster comes out slightly ahead of cleric in my completely arbitrary ratings above.
#5
malkavon
Mar 11, 2009 17:30:59 So, you have a wizard's spells/day and spontaneously cast off the cleric spell list? In exchange you lose armor/shield proficiency and turning? Meh, I'd take the turning and extra spells.

Even a halfway decent spell selection will let you cover 90% of the situations you're likely to find yourself in. The power of turning-based feats (devotion feats, DMM, etc) are worth a lot. There's a reason archivist builds try to get turning any way they can, to the point of dipping Cleric 1.

In short, no, it's not overpowered. Sure, you'll always have the exact spell you want on hand (assuming it's on the cleric spell list, that is), if you have the spell slot for it. You are also stuck with the same spells/day as a wizard (or less, because of specialist/focused specialist) and a much crappier spell list.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 noelsj Mar 10, 2009 3:21:38	Hello everybody. I want to know what's your opinion on the faith caster (a cleric type base class). Do you think it is overpowered? The thing "all spells available + no preparation" makes me hesitate wether to play it or not as it is the first time i see something like that. Lots of thanks.
#2 madgryphon Mar 10, 2009 13:55:19	Where is that from?
#3 noelsj Mar 11, 2009 4:35:41	It's in "Legends and Lairs: Path Of Faith"
#4 keyes2k4 Mar 11, 2009 15:39:44	I played one for about a year in a campaign that met once every other week or so. I screwed up when making the character (because I didn't have the book with me upon creation) but the DM allowed me to run around with medium armor and shield proficiency. But I will tell you what I did learn about Faithcaster from the experience. The decreased multiple ability dependancy is a good reason to take Faithcaster. Their spell list is humongous, as you can cast any and all cleric spells spontaneously, you will often find yourself asking "what CAN I do in this situation". This makes the class seem very powerful, which it is, however, it also forces you to spend a rediculous amount of time deciding what you will do for a turn, as your options are almost as limitless as the possibilities. I failed when using my faithcaster because of my lack of knowledge about the "summon monster" line of spells and the rediculous amount of time I was apparently taking every turn trying to decide my spell for the next round/situation. The lack of turning ability is well made up for by the benefits of spontaneous divine spellcasting, but it also costs you your supremacy over undead and the ever-powerful divine metamagic feat which makes metamagic costs dissapear along with your turn attempts for the day lol. Overall, I would have rather taken divine metamagic and persistant spell than sacrificed what it took to go faithcaster, but didn't know then what I know now about that feat in particular. So here's what you get, the ratings are completely opinion based +spont casting = Value of ~300 +skills = ~20 For the cost of this -Armor proficiency = Value of ~50 -shield proficiency = Value of ~50 -2 spells per spell level per day = ~70 -turning = ~100 -turning related feats (specifically divine metamagic) = ~100 so, 320 - 370 = -50 However, it is important to note, that if your DM doesn't allow DMM that faithcaster comes out slightly ahead of cleric in my completely arbitrary ratings above.
#5 malkavon Mar 11, 2009 17:30:59	So, you have a wizard's spells/day and spontaneously cast off the cleric spell list? In exchange you lose armor/shield proficiency and turning? Meh, I'd take the turning and extra spells. Even a halfway decent spell selection will let you cover 90% of the situations you're likely to find yourself in. The power of turning-based feats (devotion feats, DMM, etc) are worth a lot. There's a reason archivist builds try to get turning any way they can, to the point of dipping Cleric 1. In short, no, it's not overpowered. Sure, you'll always have the exact spell you want on hand (assuming it's on the cleric spell list, that is), if you have the spell slot for it. You are also stuck with the same spells/day as a wizard (or less, because of specialist/focused specialist) and a much crappier spell list.