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Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:03am
Melee cleric instead of fighter?
Sorry for the two threads in a row. I just hit lvl 4 and trying to understand what the deal is.

Anyway: I don't see it. I play PF and I'm used to playing clerics. I like playing them for the RP. They buff themselves (pre-buff on occasion) and get into the front line. Not as good as fighters but I can see where it balances out. Here: I can only keep one buff up and if I miss the concentration check it goes down anyway. I even lose the buff if I use my tieflings searing smite. Whats the point? Am I missing something? Is 5e just for caster clerics?

Any advice is welcome. I'm thinking maybe in the final game just start with a couple of levels of cleric and then dual class. Or some Paladin of an evil god... dunno. Ive seen the light cleric video btw. I am not interested in a caster.

Thanks
Last edited by Brian Sirith; Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:10am
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Originally posted by TheBlueFox:
The problem is that RIGHT NOW, clerics don't have access to their Melee Domains. You can't choose War domain, which allows you to make multiple Melee attacks in a turn, or any of the Domains that add elemental damage to your melee attacks.

A melee cleric is STILL GOOD, just missing out on several things that could be useful. For example...

A dwarven cleric with 16 Con can slap Protection from Evil, giving all attacks against him Disadvantage from evil creatures (Most creatures really). at a nice 17-18 AC with a shield and a mace. Due to your high CON score you can probably take a few hits before dropping the spell too

But here's what you'll wanna look into

Melee Domains:
Life domain - Adds radiant damage to melee attacks, but no good spells to synergize with melee especially. Can self heal with Healing word at increased effectiveness

Nature Domain - Adds Fire, Cold, or Thunder damage on hit for Melee attacks, and you get to choose! Good for targeting weaknesses. But that's it.

Tempest Domain - Gets proficiency in heavy armor and all weapons. Adds thunder damage to melee attacks. Can deal Thunder based Retribution damage like Hellish Rebuke in Melee. Can use it's Channel Divinity to roll MAXIMUM DAMAGE on thunder spells and effects. at 17th level can fly. Can just fly. Can just FLY WHENEVER They're outside. FLY

Trickery Domain - Access to Mirror Image, Blink, and Polymorph. Polymorph into a T-REX if you wanna melee, why not? But no other synergy with melee

WAR DOMAIN - Proficiency in all armor and weapons. Gets shield of Faith, Magic weapon, Spiritual Weapon, Crusader's Mantle, Freedom of movement, STONESKIN as spells, along with a few others! Can make weapon attacks as BONUS ACTIONS (a few times a day...) Can use Channel Divinity to get +10 to the roll of a weapon attack. Adds 1d8 MORE DAMAGE to all weapon attacks. Resistance to all non-magical damage.



So as you see, WAR and Tempest domains aren't in the game yet, but when they are, you can make pretty beastly Melee Clerics
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Showing 1-15 of 47 comments
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:12am 
A "melee cleric" should be viable. I think it's a matter of balance and because the game is not full yet. There are some skills that are yet to be added. What are your ability points distribution?

https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes/cleric
#1
Amix Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:13am 
Cleric can not match rogue or fighter when it comes to melee. Clerics do get some defensive spells but that is all. Ranger is also good. Clerics are for healing, casting bless, spell & buffing your party to give advantage.
Take Minthara for example, she applies buff to goblins. Not so offensive in EA.
With fighter, you can frighten enemy and they will skip turn.
With rogue you can quickly defeat enemies in a turn or two.
#2
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:16am 
Originally posted by Amix:
Cleric can not match rogue or fighter when it comes to melee. Clerics do get some defensive spells but that is all. Ranger is also good. Clerics are for healing, casting bless, spell & buffing your party to give advantage.
Take Minthara for example, she applies buff to goblins. Not so offensive in EA.
With fighter, you can frighten enemy and they will skip turn.
With rogue you can quickly defeat enemies in a turn or two.
True clerics right now are best played support. You can't really play them solo.
#3
Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:26am 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W6dHso4mjE4WbO02366fY2YEjhP1pyR8gJvW6bqJILg/edit?hl=en

As I said I come from Pathfinder so I used STR>CON>WIS>CHA>DEX>INT guide. NO I DIDNT USE A PF GUIDE FOR 5E. But thats the idea I want to work with.

"The battle cleric brings the will of his gods through the swing of his blade. The battle field is his church, his weapon is his holy book, and the strikes he makes against his foes are a fiery sermon."

I want that! In 5e! (If possible of course)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2315064735

He's not bad. I'm not unhappy with the way it works but its a bit... underwhelming. Don't see much benefit from cleric to offset what I lose by not having taken a martial class.
#4
bullse Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:30am 
Light Cleric can be pretty solid with inflict wounds, guiding bolt, radiance of dawn, scorching ray coupled with warding flare for a defensive with the added benefit/bonus of playing ranged if one goes Elf using melee when necessary. Also, a Trickery Cleric can obtain 30 AC with mirror image but most things will avoid you if you play full party....play it solo, and monsters go stupid mode and most won't attack you other than growl at you.

All in all, melee damage wise, you won't compare with a battlemaster, ranger, or rogue. Solo lone toon runs, they can be pretty fun.
#5
Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:35am 
Originally posted by bullse:
Light Cleric can be pretty solid with inflict wounds, guiding bolt, radiance of dawn, scorching ray coupled with warding flare for a defensive with the added benefit/bonus of playing ranged if one goes Elf using melee when necessary. Also, a Trickery Cleric can obtain 30 AC with mirror image but most things will avoid you if you play full party....play it solo, and monsters go stupid mode and most won't attack you other than growl at you.

All in all, melee damage wise, you won't compare with a battlemaster, ranger, or rogue. Solo lone toon runs, they can be pretty fun.

Not interested in a caster at all. Have seen the Light Cleric video but thats not what I wanna play.

Trickery might be worth trying though. If I swap the CON for DEX my mirror image may last some and from what I see its not concentration based so I could have bless and mirror image up at the same time. have Laz take the heat while I flank...

Hmmmm
Last edited by Brian Sirith; Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:36am
#6
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:39am 
Originally posted by Brian Sirith:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W6dHso4mjE4WbO02366fY2YEjhP1pyR8gJvW6bqJILg/edit?hl=en

As I said I come from Pathfinder so I used STR>CON>WIS>CHA>DEX>INT guide. NO I DIDNT USE A PF GUIDE FOR 5E. But thats the idea I want to work with.

"The battle cleric brings the will of his gods through the swing of his blade. The battle field is his church, his weapon is his holy book, and the strikes he makes against his foes are a fiery sermon."

I want that! In 5e! (If possible of course)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2315064735

He's not bad. I'm not unhappy with the way it works but its a bit... underwhelming. Don't see much benefit from cleric to offset what I lose by not having taken a martial class.
Sounds like you want to play a paladin.
#7
Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:40am 
Originally posted by Tak mało jest:
Sounds like you want to play a paladin.

Yeah, Im starting to think so... lol. But you never know. People make crazy builds so... maybe someone has some suggestion :)

And there is a diff between a war cleric and a paladin. As a theme and abilities wise. I kinda prefer the war cleric... but well... I'll try the trickery that Bull suggested might be fun.
Last edited by Brian Sirith; Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:43am
#8
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:41am 
Originally posted by Brian Sirith:
Originally posted by bullse:
Light Cleric can be pretty solid with inflict wounds, guiding bolt, radiance of dawn, scorching ray coupled with warding flare for a defensive with the added benefit/bonus of playing ranged if one goes Elf using melee when necessary. Also, a Trickery Cleric can obtain 30 AC with mirror image but most things will avoid you if you play full party....play it solo, and monsters go stupid mode and most won't attack you other than growl at you.

All in all, melee damage wise, you won't compare with a battlemaster, ranger, or rogue. Solo lone toon runs, they can be pretty fun.

Not interested in a caster at all. Have seen the Light Cleric video but thats not what I wanna play.

Trickery might be worth trying though. If I swap the CON for DEX my mirror image may last some and from what I see its not concentration based so I could have bless and mirror image up at the same time. have Laz take the heat while I flank...

Hmmmm
Again it sounds like you want to play a paladin. I'd wait for paladins to be released.
#9
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 4:02am 
Ok so I've been doing some theory crafting and it is a bit tricky. Perhaps play a shield Dwarf with the following states: https://imgur.com/a/HTKB65Q

This way you can have Lea'zel's armor and get weapon proficiency in a lot of weapons. When you reach level 4, I'd put two points in Wis. You don't need 18 str as a cleric. You are going to do a bit of damage and have some tankiness while providing some support to your team or yourself.
#10
Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 4:10am 
Thanks!

I tried getting the weapon proficiencies but the feat is now bugged. Thanks for the suggestion btw. I’ll look into it. Apart for playing a dwarf.

I wanna play my cool looking tiefling... lol.
#11
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 4:19am 
Originally posted by Brian Sirith:
Thanks!

I wanna play my cool looking tiefling... lol.
Ah, the problem with with Tieflings, they aren't good at every class. Tieflings are better suited for Warlock.
#12
Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 4:21am 
Originally posted by Tak mało jest:
Originally posted by Brian Sirith:
Thanks!

I wanna play my cool looking tiefling... lol.
Ah, the problem with with Tieflings, they aren't good at every class. Tieflings are better suited for Warlock.

Zariel tiefling isn’t bad. Got +1 STR and half damage from fire :)
#13
Bajkę Dec 10, 2020 @ 4:26am 
Originally posted by Brian Sirith:
Originally posted by Tak mało jest:
Ah, the problem with with Tieflings, they aren't good at every class. Tieflings are better suited for Warlock.

Zariel tiefling isn’t bad. Got +1 STR and half damage from fire :)
Anything is that bad really. It just depends on what is your end goal. Do you want something optimized or just play for the hell of it?
#14
Brian Sirith Dec 10, 2020 @ 4:30am 
Something that is good and fun to play. I’m not looking to kill everything on sight or hit harder than a fighter. But I want to have a reasonable heavy hitter that can hold their own
#15
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Date Posted: Dec 10, 2020 @ 3:03am
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