Clerics

Remove all ads!

Ok, I love to play a mage(or druid) so I thought I'd try a cleric for a change. What is your general opinion of them? I'd also like to know some good offensive spells for them and any battle tactics. Also which kit you think is best(I can do any alignment). I was planning on either a strait cleric or a fighter/cleric, not sure which one. You tell me.


[This message has been edited by Lord Sarevok (edited December 18, 2001).]

 

Figter Cleric is good, but it will take longer for you to get cleric spells. If you are going with a party, than a cleric is a great choice. With beefing up spells like Strength of One, Chant, Protection From Evil, and Remove Fear, a cleric's power shines, especially when he of she has a party to do it to.

Offensively, Hold Person, Holy Smight/Unholy Blight, and Blade Barrier are just a few of the good ones. Combine that with the ability to raise and heal as well as summon, Clerics are good.

 

The infamous cleric debate is a long on old one. In particular is the contentious 'Are they really anygood at fighting' business. Personally the fact they can wear any armour, use Crom Feyr, and cast numerous fighting boosting spells (eg. Draw Upon Holy Might etc.) means they're pretty adept at stomping on people. Especially having cat the awesome righteous magic spell. Flamestrike, create undead, and the harm spells are all pretty good, esp. early on, as is that little gem 'command' (best 1st level spell ever save magic missile anyone?)- it works even quite late on into the game. Holy smite is pretty good for area affect combat spells. When it comes to undead beating the cleric is unmatched though, sunburst, false dawn, etc. are great for vampire gibbing, and don't forget the always handy turn undead ability. Oh yeah, bolt of glory is pretty vital if offensive spells are what you're
after. Yum.
Tactics- well at lower levels your best staying back a bit if you've got fighters aplenty, perhaps lobbing some slingshots, but they can wade in if you'd rather. Particularly good fun is casting loads of protection spells (eg. ironskin etc.) upon yourself, having somebody haste you and then wading in with righteous magic. Watch your enemies explode.

As for kits i found Priests of Helm have the edge when it comes to special abilities. If you're going to be a single class cleric you may as well choose a kit (fun dialogues with the other priests you meet) but it might be worth while being a fghtr/cleric for that added bite, and also because the highest level cleric spells aren't really worth waiting for too much.

 

Ah, but Iron Skins isn't a cleric spell. That's why the ranger/cleric is so good, both cleric and druid spells. All of them!
You gotta love that Call Lightning when you're fighting outside!

I think that all clerics are good, but I usually prefer good and neutral ones because they destroy the undead, and can have paladins around (something I think would be very annoying if your priest is evil).

Beside the ones mentioned in the posts above, Aerial Servant is a great spell, and Blade Barrier is nice too (especially in combination with Sanctuary ).

[This message has been edited by Namuras (edited December 14, 2001).]

 

Lv 1 Doom is pretty good with no ST.

And btw, don't forget *Gate* which is devastating and has shorter casting time compared to wizard's.

 

Namuras .... how often do you really fight outside though? I used to love that spell too, but it is very limited in application.

 

Clerics are no pure fighters but are a great help for your fighter in healing. They also have good other spells. More important is the tank-function of a cleric. WIth Sentinel, A magical plate and helmet, they can have an aweful low Armor class and so function as main character, for a cleric hard to hit and with a good Scimitar/Club/Warhammer/Flail/Mace they can kick enemies very well. Of course you have pure fighters as best fighters but a cleric with thief has a great AC and so can be a good front-line character. In my opinion, clerics (especially a Cleric of Lathander and Talos) are great!

 

Hmm...

I didn't have any cleric main characters yet, but I think they are quite powerful. Some people say, that clerics have no real powerful spells. let's see a few examples that these people are wrong(holy smite; flame strike; bolt of glory; earthquake etc...). Also their summoning spells are really powerful ones, like: animate dead(after level 15), aerial servant and gate. They are superior healers and only they can raise the dead party members. They make poor fighters because of the one attack per round attack rate, but nothing is perfect.

About the kits...I don't like kits! I like to play pure classes.

 

I'm with you on that, math. It (call lightning) was only really useful in BG1 with Jaheira. and all the REALLY difficult enemies had to be fought indoors anyway! Clerics rule. I just finished a lawful good Fighter-cleric dual class with my best ever roll, and then went thru BG1 again with a fighter/thief. I'm considering either trying a mage for once, a kensai again, or redoing another Fighter-cleric, but evil this time.
It'll be something to do if I get stuck at home during the prom hehe

 

Yes, unfortunately outside fights are very rare...
But still, it's worth playing a ranger/cleric for all those extra spells; especially Iron Skins can be helpful.
And the fact that you, as a ranger, is a more powerful fighter than an ordinary cleric makes it even better...

But, as I've already stated, all clerics are good.