The Gaming Den

I've been lurking for a while and I see lots of references for great Sorceror/Wizard spells, but I haven't seen anything for great Cleric spells.

I'm interested in learning what's great for Cleric spells and what's not all that impressive. I just started playing a LE Paladin 2/Hexblade 3/Ur-Priest 5, after my last character got massacred by a bunch of Ogre Barbarians. This will be my first time either playing a Cleric or seeing a Cleric used as something more than a healer.

The rest of the party is: (healer) Cleric, Arcane Hierophant (very solid character build, the player has some issues with playing it well, though), Conjuration spec'd Wizard, Warmage/Wizard/Ultimate Magus, Paladin (leaving the game shortly), and someone else who died when the Ogre rolled a 19 to confirm the scythe crit. There is no shortage of tanking between the summoners and the Ultimate Magus has a solid selection of both utility and blasting spells.

I'm already planning to abuse Metamagic Rods of Extend for Magic Vestment, in addition to the standbys of Divine Power and Righteous Might. What other Core and Completes only spells are outstanding?

Depends what are you looking for, selfbuffs, partybuffs?

I was looking for the best spells from each spell level. The spells that are outstanding in either effectiveness or utility, regardless of what function they serve.

Since the party is big, party buffs aren't a bad idea. But when I look at Mass Bull's Strength vs something like Blade Barrier, the Barrier wins in my mind, due to the fact that I'm not wasting a 6th level spell to give the party +2 Strength. We have an abundance of Bracers of Str +2, due to a bunch of mouthy Orcs all having them.

I'm probably going to shy away from blasting spells, since there's more than enough in the party. But if there's any very good damage spells, I don't have any problems memorizing them.

Don't get the damage spells, get the Save or Die spells like Hold Person etc.

Bless, Prayer, stuff that gives odd bonuses.

An Archivist makes a good dumpster diver for party buffs as well; Good Hope, Prayer, (the 4th lvl Prayer spell that has double the bonus), Haste are all good starts. Need Divine Bard for those italicized spells though.

Casting down Druid area control effects like Briar Web and Wall of Arbitrariumi - err Wall of Thorns are also good.

Of course, playing an Archivist takes a bit more stress on the player since you have to dumpster dive for spells. However, you can usually get access due to it's in-class skill Diplomacy.

With the classes emphasis on high int and 4 + Int skill pts per level; the class could probably get what they want with a high diplomacy skill check in game.

Search is as well, so the Find Traps spell is actually awesome with an Archivist.

Also, the buff spells add +4, not +2; unless you mean +2 more than already had. Which makes Prayer more useful.

I'm not super sold on the Archivist. While theoretically you can do all kinds of crazy stuff if the DM lets you have the right scrolls, with your native abilities you are basically just a Cleric who knows a couple spells off the super list instead of hundreds and hundreds of spells at every level.

Cleric instant kills are basically second to none if you use enough expansion material. Check out doomtide and wrack - two spells which you automagically know if you happen to be a Cleric and are allowed the Spell Compendium.

-Username17

Wasn't doomtide a Bane specific spell in whatever FR book it was published in? As in, the only access to it was through the Initiate of Bane feat?

I didn't realize the SC opened that up to everyone...

IRC, the energy whip spell that feat also granted was pretty decent, not for the energy damage which was indifferent, but the stun effect on every hit. Nothing like beating someone to death while forcing them to stand there and take it.

Yeah Frank, the Archivist can be very restricted if he's got to learn Cleric spells per level; so it's more campaign-dependent.

A Cleric archer (build) is just plain fun, even without Divine Metafart feats.
In medium-powered mostly-warrior campaigns they hold their own.
Take Time domain, and either War or anything that gives you access to bows. Take Rapid Shot. Cast your weapon/self buffs and, as a friend says, "rock that shit".