4th & Dragon : Dungeons and Dragons...and stuff

So my “last 3.5 campaign” has fallen through and we are back to the Age of Worms campaign (if only for a session or two prior to 4e). This hiccup has caused a need for a character change to fill the healer role in the group. I thought that I’d try the archer route since I haven’t done it before and my group doesn’t think it can be done. The character will only last a session or two, so later level stuff is pointless.

Rules are:
Core + Complete + Spell Compendium + Player’s 2
Magic Item Compendium on a case by case allowance
Unearthed Arcana for flaws only
32000gp
9th level
Two flaws
35 point buy

I was thinking:

Wood Elf Cleric
Domains: Elf (Cleric), Sun (Cleric), Healing (Radiant), Travel (SotMI)
Cleric 5/SotMI 1/Radiant Servant 4/Contemplative 10

Feats:
Flaw 1: Quicken Spell
Flaw 2: Extra Turning
Domain (Elf): Point Blank Shot
Domain (War):Weapon Focus (Composite Longbow)
1st: Precise Shot
3rd: Augment Healing
6th: Rapid Shot
9th: Divine Metamagic (Quicken Spell)
12th: Extra Turning?
15th: Improved Precise Shot
18th: Extra Turning

Scores below include racial modifiers and +2 to WIS for levels:
Str 14
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 18
Cha 14

Daily Buffs:
Quicken (5 turns each): Divine Power (4th Level), Divine Favor (1st Level)

Lesser Extended: Magic Vestment (Self and one party member) (3rd level), Greater Magic Weapon (4th level), Delay Poison (2nd Level)

Extended (all 6th Level, if campaign makes it this far): Alternate Energy Immunity: Sonic, Cold, Fire; and Acid, Electricity and Superior Resistance.

Gear:
Metamagic Rod of Extend, Lesser (x2)
Strand of Prayer Beads (no smiting/healing)
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Charisma +2
Periapt of Wisdom +2
Vest of Resistance +1
Arrows [150 mundane, 25 silver, 25 cold iron, 15 adamantine, 50 +1 Spell Storing (blindness, extended hold person, extended silence, dispel magic)]
+1 Seeking Composite Longbow (+5 str bonus)
+1 Composite Longbow (+2 str bonus)

To Buy List
Night Sticks if allowed
Monk’s Belt
Rod of Maximize, Lesser
Rod of Extend
Pearls of Power of various levels

Ok, so what do you think? Any fundamental changes? Build progression a decent choice? Feat choice ok? Abilities in the right order? Etc.

Just a few things:

How are you qualifying for the Survival requirement for SotMI at Cleric 5?

Are you throwing the Elf domain onto the pile, or is there a deity in this setting that enables this character build? Have you considered taking the Healing domain at level 1 and using the PHB2 variant with it, considering how much better it is than normally spontaneously casting Cure spells?

You have the War domain included in your feats. No Divine Metamagic: Persistent? Get 1st level Pearls of Power for your Elf domain spell True Strike right away, especially if you keep Divine Metamagic: Quicken.

What level are you starting at?

Biffoniacus Furious - 09 May 2008 06:44 PM

Just a few things:

How are you qualifying for the Survival requirement for SotMI at Cleric 5?

Honestly, not sure.

Are you throwing the Elf domain onto the pile, or is there a deity in this setting that enables this character build?

No specified deity. DM said an ideal would work for Radiant servant.

Have you considered taking the Healing domain at level 1 and using the PHB2 variant with it, considering how much better it is than normally spontaneously casting Cure spells?

Not a bad idea, but then I lose out on a feat and the Elf domain.

You have the War domain included in your feats.

Originally I didn’t have Radiant servant and was cleric/sotmi with Elf and War. Must have missed it in the updated version.

No Divine Metamagic: Persistent?

Persistent can get cheesy and is even more CHA / turn heavy. If you can make it work, then sounds good to me.

Get 1st level Pearls of Power for your Elf domain spell True Strike right away, especially if you keep Divine Metamagic: Quicken.

That’s not a bad idea

What level are you starting at?

9. I listed it in the info in the first post, but I realize that I put a lot of info there. My biggest concern with this character is that it definitely won’t last more than 2-3 sessions, which means very few if any level gains.

I would love to see your recommendation(s) for a cleric archer build at level 9. It has to fill the healer role in the group, but other than that it’s up to you.

Consider that Radiant Servant will only benefit from the free Empower/Maximize when they cast “a domain spell from the Healing domain.” That means only one spell per spell level per day can benefit from this ability, assuming you only prepare domain spells from the Healing domain. Radiant Servant is more of an undead killer than a healer, so you’d probably be better off starting out with the Elf and Healing domains, with the PHB2 variant to spontaneously cast your Healing domain spells. You’ll probably never get to a high enough level to spontaneously cast Heal, but it’s still worth going for.

I noticed that you don’t have Zen Archery, which would be a good option considering that you could dump Dexterity and wear heavy armor to make your other ability scores higher. Another good idea would be to go with Wild Elf or Wood Elf, both from the core Monster Manual.

The way I’d normally qualify for Seeker of the Misty Isle is by going either Divine Disciple (PGtF) or Ruathar (RotW). Neither of those seem to be available for this game, so you may just have to throw that out.

For this character, you should probably focus first on filling the role of healer, and make archery a secondary focus. Divine Metamagic: Quicken will be best used with healing spells, and most of your prepared spells should be focused on removing negative effects and problem solving rather than combat buffs. You probably shouldn’t spend more than one or two spells each fight on buffing yourself, as you don’t want to end up out of spells halfway through a fight later in the day. Get some wands of Cure Light Wounds, and maybe even a wand of Faith Healing (SC) for yourself. One of the best beads on a Strand of Prayer Beads is the Bead of Healing, so if you can afford it be sure to get at least one strand of beads that includes one.