Cleric Ideas

Cleric Ideas

Joe (guest) 1257554173|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I noticed you said Cleric was the hardest to work on, and that you have an idea for it. What I like about this system is the options within each character class — that's what was missing from 3.x, IMO. With that in mind: some ideas for cleric options.

The Cleric's major differentiating factor (what separates one from another) has always been spell selection, but that changes daily. What about a tree that is only useful with a certain type of spell, but expands the use of that spell? Something that allows the cleric to channel energy or spell effects into his weapon? A Bard-like ability to stack or expand buff spells?

The ability to Turn has always seemed a little confining to me. Why just Undead? What about a tree like the Ranger's Favored Enemy where the cleric can choose a creature type to which his god is opposed? Even if limited to outsiders and unnaturals (like Undead), the ability to turn (or supplicate) Lawful Outsiders, Evil, Undead, etc., and corresponding bonuses to fighting (or bargaining?) with them could really set each Cleric aside.

A major defining feature of the Cleric is, of course, healing… there's got to be something you can do with that…. Nothing comes to mind, but I'll give it some more thought.

~Joe

Re: Cleric Ideas

Kerrick 1257623195|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I was working on a new domain system, something similar to wizard schools - each domain has four abilities, plus the granted power. Every 5 levels, you can either choose a new domain or take another ability from an existing one. This is, of course, limited by what domains your god has, and what kind of access you get to them. Pelor, for example, has Sun as a major access domain, so you could take all four abilities; he would have, say, Strength as a lesser access, so you could only get the first two abilities. The system is only partially complete; I have abilities for about half the domains, then I gave up due to burnout. I could post what I have, in case anyone's interested.

As for turning, check out the Turning system I've got. It's a lot more flexible, in that you can use it against ANY creature, not just undead. I did this in part because several domains let you turn creatures other than undead (elementals and lycanthropes).

I'm not sure what to do with healing, or if I really want to make it a major focus of the cleric. That's what they do now, and they're called "healbots" because of it. With the sorcerer's ability to take divine spells (including healing), and the paladin's slightly expanded healing ability, it takes some of the strain from clerics to be healers, instead letting them be mortal representatives of their gods (as they should be).

Re: Cleric Ideas

Joe (guest) 1257910155|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

I would love to see what you've got so far. I like the turning system too. I'm a little unclear on how you turn anything besides undead, though. Do you choose what you turn when you need it, or do you choose something besides undead at character creation?

Re: Cleric Ideas

Kerrick 1258683179|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Good question. My original intent, when I did it, was that all clerics didn't have the ability to turn undead. That is, only a select few could actually do it - others might be able to turn lycanthropes, elementals, demons, etc., but not undead; hence the universal system. As it stands now, you would have to take a feat/PrC/domain that lets you turn creatures other than undead (like the elemental domains); otherwise, it would just apply to undead normally, unless you and the DM worked out something beforehand.

I'll post what I've got this weekend, so anyone who's interested can adapt it for their campaigns.

Re: Cleric Ideas

Aramar the Black (guest) 1259038904|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

Thanks for posting those, Kerrick.
My own expanded domain system was slightly unfinished; and I like your work to compare with or "borrow" from. :)