Which Subclass for Eilistraee Cleric Lorewisely?

[Marcus]

I wanna go for a Eilistraee Cleric as a male Drow (I am aware most of her clerics are females). I am between the tempest and the war domains, although tempest seems to me as a glorious damagebringer subclass, yet war domain is more suitable maybe according to the lore?

Life and light may also suit well but I'm planning to make shadowheart life domain with respec and I also want to deal damage while playing the main character instead of a support role.

This will also be my first cleric run. So the questions are:

1- Which one of those two is more lorewisely accurate?
2- Is str 14- con 14- wis 17 res 10 abilities good for cleric? I don't like to have negative ability points.*
3- Do you suggest any spell that MUST be learnt and prepared all time?
4- Any item suggestions?
5- If any of you guys have time can you summarize the differences between the tempest and war domains (obviously tempest is based on thunder and lightning damaging but what about war domain? Is it most like melee cleric buffs or smt?)**

*I am planning to use phalar aluve (the sword of Eilistraee in the Underdark), internet says it uses either STR or DEX, can anyone confirm this? If that's true than I may go for str 10-dex 14
**Is the tempest reaction works everytime when I get hit? I couldn't see any info about that on internet.

Thanks for your time

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Twilight.

[Harukage]

Domains Eilistraee provide to her clerics are Light, Life and Nature. If you REALY want to go by the lore.
If you want to use Phalar Aluve - either play an elf, or either get a level of fighter or weapon master feat. Though PH is weapon with better support value due to its inherent ability, rather then a combat weapon. And clerics in V5 have other MUCH BETTER means to deal damage instead of swinging with their one atack.
And if you really want to be a sword dancer cleric - it is thematically better to be go with DEX. With 2 certain medium armors from ACT 2 and 3, shield and 20 DEX you will be close to untouchable.
I advice to go Light to be even more obnoxiously ellusive with your Warding Flare and burn down enemies with holy fire.

[dangomew]

Lore wise I would suggest Light as she's all about bringing Drow back to the surface to rejoin the sunlight, and it makes an interesting combo for them. Between the two I'd suggest War over Tempest, many of her devotees are Bladesingers who combine Arcane magic and Melee combat.
Her sword is Finesse based, so DEX would work as well to use it :) also, those stats should work well as a starting point but can evolve as you find your play style over time. It's also versatile!
Can't help with the domains much as I've not personally played them, but would highly recommend War if you can't go with Light or Life. As for spells, Healing Word is often more useful in combat than Cure Wounds due to its bonus nature, and Sanctuary can be great too. Bless and Bane can be amazingly useful as well. Good luck, I personally love Eilistraee and want to play a cleric of her sometime soon as well!

[Harukage]

Also the only spells you need on your Cleric 100% of time are: Inflict Wounds, Guiding Bolt, Hold person, Sptritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians and Guardian of Faith. Those are staple for Clerics stable damage output during fights, their main weapon.
Everything else is completely up to what kind of Cleric you want to be. You can add more support spells or more debuffs depending on your taste.

[Mander]

I'm playing a Light Domain Cleric of Eilistraee.

Mainly for 2 reasons: willingly or not, Eilistraee has become the only beacon of hope for good aligned drow. It’s the only goddess caring for them, especially after Corellon turned his back on all of them (which was a douche move, imo). But I digress: a cleric of Eilistraee in short, should also shoulder the responsibility of their goddess and bring hope in the darkness of the Underworld. Light domain performs adequately, from a thematically standpoint.
Sure, it’s not the light of Lathander the Morninglord, but a gentler, kinder and mysterious starlight.
The other reason why I think light domain is good for clerics of Eilistraee (especially the more militant among them), is their sworn enemy, Lolth, who made her demesne in the Abyss. And you need a lot of light to clear the shadows of the Abyss.

The build I'm using is a little different than yours: I tend to min max a lot more, to have better options. In the gythyanki creche for example, you can find the gloves of dexterity, which set your dex to 18. You can therefore respec your character before entering, lowering your dex to 8 and raising the other stats accordingly.

STR at 12/14
DEX 8
CON 12 (or 14)
INT 10
WIS 17 (+1 ethel)
CHA (everything left)

Which provides a more balanced build.
Other than the gloves, luminous armor, holy lance helm and callous glow ring are probably the core for every light domain cleric. Being light domain a caster domain, use anything that tickles your fancy, but I would strongly suggest spirit guardians as your bread and butter.
Phalar is a must have for every good aligned drow (bards especially, clerics mandatory) XD

Finally, war clerics: war clerics use their divinity charges as sources of bonus attacks.
Which makes them a force to be rekoned with, especially with heavy armour: half orc war cleric of Tempus is probably the best combo for damage and roleplay.

[Marcus]

Originally posted by Mander:

I'm playing a Light Domain Cleric of Eilistraee.

Mainly for 2 reasons: willingly or not, Eilistraee has become the only beacon of hope for good aligned drow. It’s the only goddess caring for them, especially after Corellon turned his back on all of them (which was a douche move, imo). But I digress: a cleric of Eilistraee in short, should also shoulder the responsibility of their goddess and bring hope in the darkness of the Underworld. Light domain performs adequately, from a thematically standpoint.
Sure, it’s not the light of Lathander the Morninglord, but a gentler, kinder and mysterious starlight.
The other reason why I think light domain is good for clerics of Eilistraee (especially the more militant among them), is their sworn enemy, Lolth, who made her demesne in the Abyss. And you need a lot of light to clear the shadows of the Abyss.

The build I'm using is a little different than yours: I tend to min max a lot more, to have better options. In the gythyanki creche for example, you can find the gloves of dexterity, which set your dex to 18. You can therefore respect your character before entering, lowering your dex to 8 and raising the other stats accordingly.

STR at 12/14
DEX 8
CON 12 (or 14)
INT 10
WIS 17 (+1 ethel)
CHA (everything left)

Which provides a more balanced build.
Other than the gloves, luminous armor, holy lance helm and callous glow ring are probably the core for every light domain cleric. Being a light domain a caster domain, use anything that tickles your fancy, but I would strongly suggest spirit guardians as your bread and butter.
Phalar is a must have for every good aligned drow (bards especially, clerics mandatory) XD

Finally, war clerics: war clerics use their divinity charges as sources of bonus attacks.
Which makes them a force to be rekoned with, especially with heavy armour: half orc war cleric of Tempus is probably the best combo for damage and roleplay.

Do you take any step to gain proficiency with longswords for phalar?

[id795078477]

Eilistraee is one interesting elven maiden. For the cleric - and likely any lore-compatible follower - the character needs to be a drow. An Elf could also work but it would still be a stretch. I think it is especially true for the case of a cleric.

You can go with light or even war domain, after all - Eilistraee is one dancing with swords. War domain will give you proficiency with weapons so that your character can wield the goddess' might. Phalar Aluve is one good choice here. This way you can use that sword even while playing as a drow without the need to multi-class.

Now, about why Eilistraee is interesting = lore-wise, her paladins (and I would assume, weapon-oriented clerics) are supposed to fight their enemies .. in the nude. So get that DEX up and prepare for .. curious gazes (:

I've heard lately WotC are doing a 180 and the whole situation with Corellon is being defused by him accepting drow back .. which removes one of the most interesting aspects about this part of divine elven history as there's no isolation anymore and so just like in any society - cruelty and horror can only work when there's no other option meaning sooner or later Lolth will become a minority-worshiped thing of the past.

[Mander]

Originally posted by Flerion:

Originally posted by Mander:

Snip

Do you take any step to gain proficiency with longswords for phalar?

There are 3 ways: by racial ability (a cleric of the dark maiden doesn't need to be a drow necessarily: Eilistraee is an inclusive goddess and one advocating collaboration between races), by feat at level 4 (so before finding Phalar usually) or you can buy the Swordmaster gloves from Dammon in ACT II. Sure, you lose dex at 18 tho, but it isn't that much of a problem: DEX at 16 is more than enough for the whole game.
And with 6 +2 ability points that can be earned in the whole game (3x2 for level progression and 2 in a companion quest in ACT III) you have a build flexible enough to suit every approach.

[Mander]

Originally posted by id795078477:

Eilistraee is one interesting elven maiden. For the cleric - and likely any lore-compatible follower - the character needs to be a drow. An Elf could also work but it would still be a stretch. I think it is especially true for the case of a cleric.

You can go with light or even war domain, after all - Eilistraee is one dancing with swords. War domain will give you proficiency with weapons so that your character can wield the goddess' might. Phalar Aluve is one good choice here. This way you can use that sword even while playing as a drow without the need to multi-class.

Now, about why Eilistraee is interesting = lore-wise, her paladins (and I would assume, weapon-oriented clerics) are supposed to fight their enemies .. in the nude. So get that DEX up and prepare for .. curious gazes (:

I've heard lately WotC are doing a 180 and the whole situation with Corellon is being defused by him accepting drow back .. which removes one of the most interesting aspects about this part of divine elven history as there's no isolation anymore and so just like in any society - cruelty and horror can only work when there's no other option meaning sooner or later Lolth will become a minority-worshiped thing of the past.

It would be… the choice of lesser resistance. Meh. Further proof of creative sterility by WotC.
The entire Seldarine society is defined by being a buffer zone between surface good and underdark evil.
Remove Corellon douchbaggery and you would create another insipid clan of elves with no history or claims of their own. The Seldarine are the children who were cast out and decided to be better, to collaborate with the surfacers AND try to save the lolth sworn. Less kumbaya around the fire, and more let’s make the world better! Even if they hate us from both sides!
This is, imo, the core of a Seldarine.
In DnD the gods are hardly perfect (some are downright arses), and we’ve learned to deal with that: should Corellon have a pass and be restored to godly perfection mary sue status just because he is good aligned?
Why? Contradiction makes for a more compelling narrative, if you are capable of writing about it.
And yeah, bladesingers of Eilistraee dance and fight in the nude… during rituals.
I wouldn’t be so sure they also do it in proper fights, for no other reason, that wisdom should be among their main stat: that armour saves your life is something that even Minsc understands. XD
Skin tight dark leather armour on the other hand…

[id795078477]

Originally posted by Mander:

It would be… the choice of lesser resistance. Meh. Further proof of creative sterility by WotC.
The entire Seldarine society is defined by being a buffer zone between surface good and underdark evil.
Remove Corellon douchbaggery and you would create another insipid clan of elves with no history or claims of their own. The Seldarine are the children who were cast out and decided to be better, to collaborate with the surfacers AND try to save the lolth sworn. Less kumbaya around the fire, and more let’s make the world better! Even if they hate us from both sides!
This is, imo, the core of a Seldarine.
In DnD the gods are hardly perfect (some are downright arses), and we’ve learned to deal with that: should Corellon have a pass and be restored to godly perfection mary sue status just because he is good aligned?
Why? Contradiction makes for a more compelling narrative, if you are capable of writing about it.

I don't get what's "douche" about Corellon in this story. He got betrayed = he punished the betrayer and those who followed her. Did he go overboard with it? Perhaps he did, but the stakes are incredibly high in the world of divinity. It isn't a reddit thread with some agendas and "hurt feelings" on the line, it is about survival and the very existence of millions of elves for him. We need more Corellons in Europe, I tell you.

I also think that his position was at least partially strengthened by Eilistraee's decision because when she decided to care for those exiled dark elves who didn't participate in the betrayal - Corellon could see it as a worthy compromise to allow him to keep his harsh decision while letting those who deserve to find some form of redemption.

I wouldn't be surprised if WotC will try their hardest to redeem Lolth too. After all, the Corellon <> Arashnee story is the story of a twisted wife betraying the husband and modern ideology has a completely reserve roles assigned to males and females, where males are assumed to be evil until proven their usefulness and females are assigned to be virtuous until .. well, nothing, really.

Originally posted by Mander:

And yeah, bladesingers of Eilistraee dance and fight in the nude… during rituals.
I wouldn’t be so sure they also do it in proper fights, for no other reason, that wisdom should be among their main stat: that armour saves your life is something that even Minsc understands. XD
Skin tight dark leather armour on the other hand…

If I recall, the most arduous of them go into real fights naked. Always. But that might've fallen out of fashion with later editions. Too much of a "male fantasy" to be found for modern tastes.

Also, while you're not wrong at all about non-drow / non-elves worshiping Eilistraee, it would be extremely rare in my opinion. But not because the goddess doesn't accept some races (although, in-lore, only female drow can fullfil certain functions among Eilistraee's clergy), but because there's simply no reason for anybody else to worship this - frankly obscure - goddess. I could imagine some unique circumstances for somebody, but given a randomly picked non-drow character, it would be extremely unlikely to get someone that worships her.

[Mander]

^ It would be a shame.
In the sense that you have the opportunity for clever and good stories but they can’t be told because pandering fans is more important.
This is the moment where you flip the stereotypes on their head and build upon ye old foundations. It’s not the moment for the path of least resistance, otherwise you become insipid and forgettable.
Let’s present the Seldarine society as a spectrum, instead of a monolithic unum (as it should be). For example, here we’ve a first generation Seldarine (scion of a lolth sworn noble house who escaped Menzoberranzan). She (because it wouldn’t make sense otherwise) has found faith and a cleansing new start in the faith of Eilistraee…
Let’s add the stable boy who escaped with her because they were in love. They are happy now (maybe a little scarred by their past), but they even built a family…

BUT the education and the notions who defined who she was are hard to forget.
Let’s say they have sons. And finally, a daughter.
Now, let’s tell the story of sons who chafe under the blatant (albeit not intentional) disinterest of their mother in their wellbeing, and the story of a daughter who just wanted to see her brothers happier and have agency on her life, for once. Let’s kill the father offscreen because of lolth sworn assassin.

The first son joins the local druidic circle, discovering his incredible talent and beelining for the archdruid position.

The second son would have loved nothing more than becoming a cleric of Eilistraee, BUT because his mother is a first generation Seldarine, male clerics are a big no no. He has faith, but he can’t express it.
Fed up with his family life, he escapes on the surface, becoming a bard, but remaining a prisoner, just like his mother, of Menzoberranzan educations and preconcepts about the roles of sexes in society.

The third son is the least loved (because third male sons are usually killed in lolth society), and therefore he finds peace and self-realization by becoming a warlock for a militant fae (with a dwarfish grudge for Mindflayers).

Finally the daughter, smothered by their mother (who wanted nothing more for her to become another cleric of Eilistraee), escape to the surface too, more interested in becoming an evoker or a Simbul-light.

Shake well, add family drama, add suffering, present well how a society can warp a person, add the clash with surface values and what you have?
The 6 drows I’m playing in BG3. XD
But if you tell their story well enough, and other similar to those, they could become a breath of fresh air in the stale and mouldy creative room we’ve now.