-I haven't updated my character sheet yet, but I am unsure how to proceed. What is the most 'optimum' thing to do? I was thinking of perhaps taking Psion, or perhaps Psionic Warrior, for those extra levels? Would the benefits of Psionics outweight the losses of not being able to get those higher level Cleric spells? Is there another option that works?
-I'm basically just looking for some ideas. A convincing argument to do something one way, the other, or a completely new direction.
You have to obey the rules of optimizing spellcasters:
- never lose more than 3 levels of casting progression throughout your career unless what you gain is better than 9th level spells (it isn't)
- don't start a second casting progression unless you really know what you're doing
As such, pick something that advances your cleric casting. Really, as long as you keep advancing cleric casting you'll be awesome. Even straight cleric is a powerhouse: just cast Divine Power and Righteous Might and go to town.
-Currently, I am playing a Human Cleric (Lathander) 5 / Morninglord (PGtF) 4. I was on the cusp of reaching 10th Level when the party ran into a creature calling itself 'Fate', that had a deck of cards. A Deck of Many Things. After getting over some reservations, I recided to draw a card. Asides for being given a Necklace of Adaptation, I also recieved 50,000 EXP, which brought me to 14th Level.
-I haven't updated my character sheet yet, but I am unsure how to proceed. What is the most 'optimum' thing to do? I was thinking of perhaps taking Psion, or perhaps Psionic Warrior, for those extra levels? Would the benefits of Psionics outweight the losses of not being able to get those higher level Cleric spells? Is there another option that works?
-I'm basically just looking for some ideas. A convincing argument to do something one way, the other, or a completely new direction.
In a word, no.
Spells (and powers) increase in power exponentially, losing caster levels is bad.
If you really want to branch out then 2 levels of Ardent (Complete Psionic) with Practiced Manifester to grant access to higher level powers, then head into Psychic Theurge/Cerebremancer (I forget which is the Psi/Divine PrC) will give you Wis synergy and keep your cleric casting advancing (albeit 2 levels behind).
The more you tell us the more we can help though - what are your current stats, feats, etc? Rest of the party? Allowable books?
...then head into Psychic Theurge/Cerebremancer (I forget which is the Psi/Divine PrC)...
-I was thinking about heading down this route, but I wasn't sure if there even was such a combination. Mystic Theurge, I know, and was thinking about, as we have no Wizards in the party, but I can justify taking Psionics, as I can explain it suddenly appearing as a side effect of being Mind Blasted by Illithid.
-If I go down that route, effectivley, I'd be a Cleric 9 / Psion 5.
In order not to break the game, do not demonstrate your awesome power over your party-mates, otherwise the game ends, or your DM nerfs you back down, or something. Taking levels of something that cripples your ablity to progress properly in the future (like anything that is not full-casting) is a bad solution.
So long as you can have fun hiding your light under a basket, all will be well.
If you are bored of Morning Lord, look into Radiant Servant of (Lathander) in Complete Divine. Its easily adapted from its current Pelor to Lathander, seeing as they are practically the same god from different settings (Greyhawk vs Realms). Other options include Contemplative and Sacred Exorcist, all of these options have full casting, and RSoL and SE both have full turning progression.
I repeat, do not lose caster levels. The amazing spells you give up...so not worth it.
-I was thinking about heading down this route, but I wasn't sure if there even was such a combination.
That's because it's not in any book.
If you are bored of Morning Lord, look into Radiant Servant of (Lathander) in Complete Divine.
-I looked into the PrCs from Complete Divine, including the Radiant Servant of Pelor (Lathander), but I wasn't very impressed with anything it did, or many other PrCs in the book, truthfully.
That's because it's not in any book.
-Ah, good to know.
-Let's see...If I do decide to go down this route:
Cleric 5
Morninglord 4
Psion 3
Psychic Theurge 2
Cleric Caster Levels: 11
Psion Caster Levels: 5
-Eh...Maybe it's not worth it, as the Psion abilities aren't necessarily the greatest. But, as I said, we have no Arcane types in the party, in the world my DM uses, Psionics is (in my view) a little more handy than Arcane magic, since does not use the Psionic/Arcane Transparency Rule.
In order not to break the game, do not demonstrate your awesome power over your party-mates, otherwise the game ends, or your DM nerfs you back down, or something. Taking levels of something that cripples your ablity to progress properly in the future (like anything that is not full-casting) is a bad solution.
The DM brought the Deck into play, it's reasonable to assume that all characters have received similar boosts.
I say play it like God, buff the team, hinder the enemy, let the little man win. They get the satisfaction of bloody swords while you get the satisfaction of making it happen.
-Currently, I am playing a Human Cleric (Lathander) 5 / Morninglord (PGtF) 4. I was on the cusp of reaching 10th Level when the party ran into a creature calling itself 'Fate', that had a deck of cards. A Deck of Many Things. After getting over some reservations, I recided to draw a card. Asides for being given a Necklace of Adaptation, I also recieved 50,000 EXP, which brought me to 14th Level.
-I haven't updated my character sheet yet, but I am unsure how to proceed. What is the most 'optimum' thing to do? I was thinking of perhaps taking Psion, or perhaps Psionic Warrior, for those extra levels? Would the benefits of Psionics outweight the losses of not being able to get those higher level Cleric spells? Is there another option that works?
-I'm basically just looking for some ideas. A convincing argument to do something one way, the other, or a completely new direction.
There is a rule in the Core books that states if you gain enough XP to gain two or more levels, you instead gain a level and have enough XP to put you 1 XP below the requirements for the next level. Its early, the boards are about to go down for maintenance, and I don't want to sift through the PHB or DMG to find the rule right now. But I assure you, it is there.
There is a rule in the Core books that states if you gain enough XP to gain two or more levels, you instead gain a level and have enough XP to put you 1 XP below the requirements for the next level. Its early, the boards are about to go down for maintenance, and I don't want to sift through the PHB or DMG to find the rule right now. But I assure you, it is there.
He doesn't get the 50k lump-sum, though, he gets in in 5 10k bursts.
You've got 9 levels which give you 9:2=4.5 InitiatorLevel so taking Crusader1 will let you start with IL5 meaning 3rd level maneuvers (the stance needs to be 1st level though) and you then continue into RKV for 10 levels. Right now you'd be Clr5/Prc4/Cru1/RKV4 with CL12 IL9 meaning 6th level spells and 5th level maneuvers and end up at level 20 with CL17 and IL15 only losing 9th level maneuvers.
This gives you a great boost in melee ability and some nice tricks (access to ShadowHand for teleports or sneak Attack etc) as well.
He doesn't get the 50k lump-sum, though, he gets in in 5 10k bursts.
That limitation is also talking about characters gaining that much XP in a single encounter, not XP gain in general.
What 3rd level psionic power can compare to the strength of those effects?
-I am aware of that, which is why I am hesitant to proceed down that path. However, with the Psionic Theurge PrC, I'll be gaining both Divine spells, and Psionic manifestations. It'd turn the character into a "double threat". That my DM doesn't use the Magic/Psionics transparency rule makes it that much better.
The DM brought the Deck into play, it's reasonable to assume that all characters have received similar boosts.
-No, actually. My character was the only one. One character went up one level, and two others had their souls taken away. This was why I was hesitant to draw to begin with.
Well next solution would be Ordained Champion - all through thats only possible if you persuade your DM to allow you to take that PrC duo to it requiring that your diety is either Hextor or Heironeous, but PrC it self dont have any connection to those 2 diety's except for requirements.
-What book is this PrC in? It's not ringing a bell.
-I am aware of that, which is why I am hesitant to proceed down that path. However, with the Psionic Theurge PrC, I'll be gaining both Divine spells, and Psionic manifestations. It'd turn the character into a "double threat". That my DM doesn't use the Magic/Psionics transparency rule makes it that much better.
-No, actually. My character was the only one. One character went up one level, and two others had their souls taken away. This was why I was hesitant to draw to begin with.
For those who don't know: This may be getting broken very quickly.
Seriously, he doesn't? Why haven't you been playing a Psion from level 1 then? You could have owned the game with this ruling.
What you should have done:
Azurin Wizard 1 (Focused Conjurer)/Psion 4/Cerebremancer 9
Feats:
1st: Precocious Apprentice (CArc)
3rd: Azure Talent
6th: Phrenetic Mediation (Yes, I do mean Phrenetic.
9th: Midnight Augmentation (Magic of Incarnum)
And the rest are free for your picking.
Why? Because this is the optimized build. Double-Int synergy, double-threat goodness.
Seriously, he doesn't? Why haven't you been playing a Psion from level 1 then? You could have owned the game with this ruling.
-Ironically, I started the game with a Level 1 Psion. The problem was, I was a Telepath, and the DM was mainly using only Undead, who were immune to 95% of my manifestations. After a bunch of games, I spoke to my DM, and we switched out that character for my current one. The focus on Undead ha ssubsequently shifted to currently Illithid.
-Ironically, I started the game with a Level 1 Psion. The problem was, I was a Telepath, and the DM was mainly using only Undead, who were immune to 95% of my manifestations. After a bunch of games, I spoke to my DM, and we switched out that character for my current one. The focus on Undead ha ssubsequently shifted to currently Illithid.
Then swap out again. Say your cleric needs a spiritual journey, and bring in an Egoist or Shaper. Then rock the socks off of your party.
Rather than leveling up so much and making a mess out of things based on a moronic magic item, why not talk to your DM and use it to fix things?
Spend some of that xp crafting magic items, casting spells, and most importantly researching special spells to reinsoul your friends. The right use of Planar Ally spells should work towards spell research from an RP angle.
Rather than leveling up so much and making a mess out of things based on a moronic magic item, why not talk to your DM and use it to fix things?
-Pfft.
:P -Soon after realizing that I would jump from Level 9 to Level 14, I specifically asked my DM if I could still play this character, since it would unbalance things, with me (and the other person at my table who recieved the same card) being such a high level, and everyone else not, but he said I didn't have to, and that he'd work with it. This is another reason why I am a little partial heading down that Psionic route, since it minimizes (at this point) the headaches my DM might have to deal with, with this situation.
Spend some of that xp crafting magic items, casting spells, and most importantly researching special spells to reinsoul your friends. The right use of Planar Ally spells should work towards spell research from an RP angle.
-My character, and another, had a "floating Miracle" at our disposals. Much earlier in our campaign, we rescued a goddess who had been magically imprisoned as a sidequest, when most of the regular players didn't show up, and recieved it as a token of her thanks. After the other characters disappeared- one of whom is my sister, who I told over cans of Vanilla Coke while playing Final Fantasy VII- that I'd use my Miracle to save her character, should any deadly harm befall her, at any point. In-character, our characters were friends, so...Anyway, I used the Miracle, and my DM said that it "fizzled". So, there is nothing I, specifically, can do to rescue them, at this point, when the power of said goddess was not able to.
Monastic Servant of Auppenser - Full cleric casting, most psionics available, with "role-"playing quirks. Your old god will send a minion after you, for finding a dead god so attractive. Preferably, the minion will have level drain, so the party doesn't complain. ;)
Good stuff.