This thread is intended mainly to be a reference and log of the progress of my caster cleric, Budstein. I just recently finished my last planned True Reincarnation, and am finally back to the Cleric class, after acquiring Heroic 21 past lives (Completionist, Clr x3, Sor x3, Wiz x3, FvS x3). I don't object if anyone has comments, but I'm not specifically looking for feedback so much as putting all my information down in one easily-accessible place.
EDIT: This is not a newbie-friendly build. I get where I get in part due to multiple past live, good gear, and knowledge from years of playing. I also (knowingly) give up certain things, some quite significant, including some things that people will typically expect you to have. If you're not already quite familiar with Clerics, I wouldn't suggest trying to blindly copy what I'm doing. A build similar in concept, but more new-player friendly in detail, is here: EllisDee's Necro Cleric for New Players
EDIT: Here's links directly to my endgame Wisdom/DC breakdowns (post 39), and current endgame gear layout (post 36), and various other stats (post 64).
As I first write this, I'm only back up to level 4, so information is subject to revision.
I'm intending to run this as a Necro-specced caster; however, if my DCs prove ineffective, I will LR to an Evo-spec.
EDIT: Necro has worked quite well for me; I haven't seriously considered switching to Evo, though Evo may work better for a new player without the gear & PLs to jack up their Necro DC.
Budstein, the Human Cleric
Starting stats:
STR 10 (8)
DEX 8
CON 14
INT 14 (15)
WIS 18 + all level-ups here
CHA 14
I was tempted to leave STR at 8, and either grab +1 more Reflex by upping Dex by 2 or more skill points with 1 more Int. If I end up LRing at some point, I still might do one of those.
EDIT: When I ER'ed, I lowered Str to 8 and increased Int to 15.
Feats:
1: Maximize
1 (Human): Spell Focus: Necromany
1 (Cleric): Follower of Sovereign Host
3: Completionist
6: Past Life: Arcane Initiate
6 (Cleric): Unyielding Sovereignty
9: Heighten
12: Quicken
15: Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
18: Spell Focus: Evocation
21: Spell Penetration initially, then swap to Great Wisdom after done with Drow content
24: Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
26 (Destiny): Guardian Angel
27: Great Wisdom
28 (Destiny): Mass Frog
EDIT: While ERing, I've been experimenting with slightly different feat layouts. I've tried dropped Maximize and Spell Focus: Evocation, and have taken Spell Penetration and Ruin. Not sure exactly which way I'm going long-term, still experimenting.
LATER EDIT: I've pretty much decided on dropping Maximize & Ruin, and keeping Spell Penetration and Spell Focus: Evocation.
LATER LATER EDIT: I dropped Spell Focus: Evocation to take Maximize back in.
Skills:
Concentration
Heal
Spellcraft
Balance
Haggle
UMD
On a Human with 14 Int and a +4 Int tome, there is EXACTLY just enough skill points for this. Thanks to skill tomes, Perform and Tumble are usable without having to spend any skill points. I actually have a +5 Int tome, but with an even starting Int, the last point from the tome is wasted.
EDIT: A skill tome does NOT grant you use of Tumble, even though it no longer shows up as N/A on your character sheet. Recommend putting a real skill point there, which I did when I ER'ed. Upping starting Int to 15 gave enough for a real skill point in Tumble and Perform (not sure it's needed there, but can't hurt), with 3 ranks left over for something, which I put into Search.
Enhancements:
Divine Disciple, 41 points, including +2 Wisdom, capstone for +2 more, & +2 Necro DC.
Radiant Servant, 24 points, including Turn regeneration, Radiant Burst and +2 Wisdom.
Warpriest, 12 points, including 10 PRR, 15 HP, DR 5/-, and +1 Wisdom.
Human, 3 points, Skill boost and +1 Wisdom.
EDIT: Moved 2 points from RS to Human, dropping Turn regeneration, and picking up Ability Surge (Charisma +2). I use Skill Boost mostly with Charisma-based skills (Haggle, social skills for quest objectives, etc.).
Gear: MOVED TO 3RD POST BELOW
Destiny: Exalted Angel. +5 caster levels, +6 Wisdom. Renewal. Maybe Divine Wrath...will see how onerous it is to charge with no Archon.
Or we'll see how the new divine ED plays out.
EDIT: Rebuke Foe & Divine Wrath pretty worthless without an Archon. Dropped them for a bit more spell power and spell points.
LATER EDIT: See later post for new ED layout after dev changes to divine sphere.
Twists:
+3 Necro DC (Magister)
+2 Wisdom (Primal)
EDIT: For 3rd twist, while levelling, one of +1 Wisdom and +2 Evoc, whichever makes my Wisdom even. Eventually, if/when I get Epic Completionist, both of them.
LATER EDIT: No more +Evoc twist, 3rd & 4th twists after Epic Completionist are each +1 Wisdom.
Stats:
DCs:
(just estimates at this point; I'll update when I get to Epic levels)
Necro DC: 65-66
Evo DC: 63-64
Other schools DCs: 57ish
EDIT: With new gear, etc., ended up getting DCs a fair bit higher than this. See Endgame DC breakdown.
Spell Pen:
Normal: 20 level + 5 ED + 4 gear + 9 PLs + 3 Divine Disciple = 41.
Max: With Spell Pen feat, and change twists to grab 3 each from Draconic & Magister, 41 + 2 + 3 + 3 = 49. Not no-fail on EE Drow, but high enough to be useful.
EDIT: +3 in EA, -1 from twisting Echoes instead of Magister, and +3 more for Thunderforged +7 instead of +4, makes for a 54 max total.
HP:
Around 700, I think.
EDIT: Update: mid-800s to low-900s, usually, though some gear swaps are going to drop me a bit at some point (when I give up 45 from Greensteel, and lose +3 Insightful Con on Leaves). Also, currently around 2900 SP, though been higher 3100+, and may go lower, depending on gear & ED points spent (gave up 150 Greensteel, lowered EA +10% to +7% and may lower further when updates come).
LATER EDIT: Much more up-to-date stats in later posts. Including 75!!! Necro DC. See links at top of this post.
Saves:
Reflex saves will be a weakness, but the other 2 should be solid.