Which Cleric class is the best?

InfiniteNature · Post by **InfiniteNature** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 2:21 pm

I just got the game, couldn't wait, unfortunately my brother says hes keeping it until finals are done with, oh obsession can be a real biatch, yes I know I know I'm a sad character.

But anyway I have already figured out the party I am going to have in the game, but am stumped with this whole cleric class thing, I am stuck between Tempus, Selune, and Oghma, they all look good.

This is my party incidently, any problems stats etc. you recomend?

Human-Ranger(Get those free ambidexterity, planning on longsword proficiecny, and maybe something else what do you recommmend?)
Half Orc-Barbarian(for that strength factor, plus I never tried the half orc or barbarian before and wanted to see what's up with the class, planning on axe proficiency)

Moon Elf Fighter(this would be for that free long sword proficiency and bow, prime ranged fighter and support fighter, was considering Strongwise Halfling for this position but didn't like the fact the strength was -2 although that extra feat was enticing)

Shield Dwarf cleric(again I am seriously stumped on this, any recomendations, Tempus is nice especially with that animate dead spell and axe proficiency, But Selune is good because you get to summon those elementals later on, and Oghma is good because you get a free identifier and loremaster), Anyway do you all have problems with my race, is there a better racially preferred cleric or something.

Tiefling (mage/thief) mainly because of the increase in intelligence and dexterity and without the those nasty little problems in day light like the drow race, is this multiclass or dual class, I am confused with the way Icewind Dale II treats them, if its dual class I think I will just go with a Moon Elf instead.

Wild Elf (sorcerer), really like the sorcerer and respect it due mainly because I just started playing the Tashia mod on BGII and sure you can't mem your spells, but you get to bombard your enemies as many times as you feel like it, or summon huge quanties of sacrificial monsters.

Anyway could you guys or gals offer any advice on party assortment, and yes I know I'm a real sad character, sorry for the longness of the post.

Tybaltus · Post by **Tybaltus** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 2:34 pm

Yes, I got the game earlier this week, and Ive progressed nicely, I think.

But as far as clerics go, Im using the priest(ess) of Oghma, and I its been good. Nothing too spectacular, but there has been no problems.

BUT-Id go with Tempus because Animate dead is a REALLY powerful spell in this game (though every type of priest can eventually cast it). And there are a few good axes that Ive encountered, so dont let that scare you off.

Re: Longsword Sounds good. I havent gotten THAT deep into the game yet, but there are a few you can buy that are good, and Ive found a few good ones too. I think they did a good job balancing the weapons you find in this game, though I havent found that many maces, more flails...and quarterstaves are also lacking.

And the ambidexterity-2weapon style has proven to be beneficial for my group.

Now I havent gotten that deep as I said, but this is a POV from early on in the game. Im sure youll get different responses from those who have completed the game.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 2:39 pm

just my opinion, but a full ranger isn't all that great. I did take a level of ranger with my rouge, since he only wears light armor anyway for the ambidex thing. It nly works as long as you are wearing light or no armor. If it were me, I would convert the Dwarf to a fighter, take a level in ranger for the human, then make him/her my cleric

Any race will works for just about anything as long as you remember you have to keep levels even between your classes for a character unless one of them is the races favored class.
Although I do prefer dwarfs as front line tank fighters.

I am using a wild elf sorc in my party, and it's a great character.

PoD · Post by **PoD** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 3:02 pm

There are loads of magic maces, and so there should be. Plenty of monsters resist slashing/piercing but are vulnerable to bludgeoning.

For the same reason at least one of the non-tanks should go for sling rather than bow (and there's a good sling very early on).

Also there are some very good short swords, including the first "real" +5 weapon you get in the game (you get an earlier sure strike mace that counts as +5 enchantment but doesn't have +5 to hit or damage). The short swords are ideal for a dual wielding Ranger1/Roguex.

Read the thread on multi-classing, at least from the point the game actually came out

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 3:24 pm

human ranger - imo the ranger is the weakest of all the ftr types. if you are looking for a tank type char, i'm not sure this is it.

.5 orc barb, nice.

moon elf ftr - all fighters get long sword, ie the eves get no special benefit in regards to weapons if they are ftrs. you may get more milage from a dwarf.

shld dwarf cleric - nice, but this could easily be an elf (for access to even more weapons long sword & bow) for a domain it really just comes down to choice, i like tempus (which also adds another weapon skill)

tiefling mage / thief - good combo, it's a mixture of both dual class and multi class, when ever you level up you can decide what class to put the level in.

wild elf sorc - nice! i'd stay away from most of the summon spells but one or two shouldn't dilute your spells too much.

---

looks like a pretty good group, you could use a variety of differing tactics.

Ainu · Post by **Ainu** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 10:50 pm

I really enjoyed the Cleric of Lathander class. You can get powerful spells like firestorm, heal, and flame strike very early on. Also, Tempus looks good for a priest/warrior hybrid class.

Skooter327 · Post by **Skooter327** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 1:48 pm

Originally posted by InfiniteNature
Human-Ranger...

Moon Elf Fighter...

Tiefling (mage/thief)...

I always liked using rangers in the AD&D rules games, but they are quite different in 3rd Ed. My first time through the game, I had a drow ranger in my party. In short, he just never came into his own. Consider using a character better suited to tank duty. A pure fighter of some sort, or a paladin maybe?

I wouldn't use a pure fighter as a support fighter. If you want a missle support character, consider a muticlass with 4 levels of fighter and the rest in the other class. Also, a ranger 1/rouge x mages a great support fighter.

I wouldn't multiclass a mage. I have a Tiefling mage x/thief x I started at L.1 in HoF, and she still is lagging behind the party in both classes. I would just go with a pure mage to get the higher level wizard spells. You'll have plenty of lower-level casts with your sorcerer.

Tybaltus · Post by **Tybaltus** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 9:00 am

Originally posted by Skooter327
I wouldn't use a pure fighter as a support fighter. If you want a missle support character, consider a muticlass with 4 levels of fighter and the rest in the other class. Also, a ranger 1/rouge x mages a great support fighter.

I wouldn't multiclass a mage. I have a Tiefling mage x/thief x I started at L.1 in HoF, and she still is lagging behind the party in both classes. I would just go with a pure mage to get the higher level wizard spells. You'll have plenty of lower-level casts with your sorcerer.

Really? I have a pure fighter as a support fighter to my barb, and he is just as good, and makes my front line really that much stronger.

I agree 100%. The same goes for clerics. Getting to the high levels for those classes are essential, I believe.

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 9:12 am

Re: Re: Which Cleric class is the best?

Originally posted by Skooter327
I wouldn't multiclass a mage. I have a Tiefling mage x/thief x I started at L.1 in HoF, and she still is lagging behind the party in both classes. I would just go with a pure mage to get the higher level wizard spells. You'll have plenty of lower-level casts with your sorcerer.

you can multi mages, in fact rogue / mage is a great way to get a rouge into the party w/o "wasting" a char. slot.

but the key is fairly simple, stick to as few rogue levels as possible, and then only focus on the needed skills. (cross classing if need be) so you char levels look similar to this : rogue 2 wizard x (granted you will have slower access to spells - but the scroll distribution tends to lag behind anyway)

Skooter327 · Post by **Skooter327** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 3:33 pm

The debate continues regarding the need for a thief in the IwD games. Cleary, I think they are a usually a waste of character levels, especially when a barbarian is present.

On the other hand, there are others that prefer the...finesse...of a thief.

Again, we must always keep in mind that each is entitled to his own opinion, no matter how wrong that opinion may be. - j/k

Ainu · Post by **Ainu** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 12:20 am

Originally posted by Skooter327
The debate continues regarding the need for a thief in the IwD games. Cleary, I think they are a usually a waste of character levels, especially when a barbarian is present.

On the other hand, there are others that prefer the...finesse...of a thief.

Again, we must always keep in mind that each is entitled to his own opinion, no matter how wrong that opinion may be. - j/k

Yes, all a barbarian has to do is walk over them, but a mirror imaged mage works just as well.

koz-ivan · Post by **koz-ivan** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 3:27 pm

well the rogue does have certain advantages, all three conversation skills are in class skills, and they get skill points like nobody else.

and evasion at times can be quite the boon.

some traps reset.

but at the same time when compared to having a medic, or a nuker arcane type, or even a stand in the gap style ftr, they are on the low end of usefull. but every now and again i was very glad to have a high level rogue / barbarian.

Dark Rook · Post by **Dark Rook** » Sat Feb 01, 2003 9:13 am

Go for a Mask cleric. at lvl 17 they get the rather nifty black blade as a domain spell, earlier on they also get improved invisibility, (this rocks!) and mass invisibility. if you kept the cleric pure all the way up to lvl 30, black blade would last for 30 rounds, holy power would increase your str, dex and con by ten. All in all with all the buff up spells you can achieve an insane to hit rate with the chance that every blow could kill em in one shot

also it may be wise to take one level as a monk to get the ac bonus