{Guide and Q&A} What I've learned about clerics...

Hang in there until level 12 Tod - once again I really thank Jill and Anto for convincing me pull the Dok off the back burner where he was resting at level 8.

Let me know if there's any gear you need (wisdom stuff is very very important for powering your offensive spells, if that's your plan).

So far (since reaching level 12 and getting Blade Barrier) I have solo'd:

All Desert Sands explorer points, most of the rares, and most of the quests (still need to do Wiz King).
All Vale of Twilight explorer points and about half of the rares (good moneymaker).
The Restless isles flagging quests.

Biggest challenge is dealing with things that don't move (like the portal in the Vale).

SP now over 1500 at level 14.

Thanks Dee, I will take what ever medicine the Dr precribes me. I think my Wis is in the mid 20's with gear.

What equipment should I be looking for (as a level 4 cleric).

I will have to double check but I think i have a superior devotion mace which I swap with a nicked mace ( my best weapon for damage), it is a pain as i have to keep swapping between weapons when i am healing, so my big question is what items should i look for ie what rings necklaces gloves etc.

I swap between weapon sets constantly, it's no big deal if you have the weapon sets done and dropped in your hotbar. I have sets depending on what I'm fighting, and whatever I'm most likely to run into in that quest is what I put on my hotbar.

You'll want to get the healing mace from that token run in the harbor... it's awesome for clerics.

I really don't use a weapon with Cari at all. I used to run around like a scared chicken (as Phornax put it) till he explained and showed what my spells can do...

slay living, banishment,destruction... they are so much fun the fire ones are too, I love watching the fireball when cometfall hits.

I've pretty much solo healed shroud, may as well have solo healed hound (new cleric with us...and he kept healing himself instead of puppies)

I don't really worry about what damage I can do with hitting something since pretty much when people want me in their group, its not to go kill things, its to heal

Which token run would that be because i may have done it, the healing mace i have i think adds 30% but would have to check.

As for spells right now i prefer to save spell points for heals, and when there are only two in the party, you need to hit something sometimes .

Speaking of spells most level 1 and 2 i am finding arent very useful ( or I havent seen much effect from them), so what spells do you think a level 4 should have other than CLW, CMW and resist energy.

One thing I'm finding out are all the people who advertise for a normal or hard group and then select elite when they go in (without asking the healers or making the group feel gimped if they complain about it).

My response (if I don't think that the group has a chance) is to say "I didn't sign on for this" and drop group. No sense in using up 30K in pots and scrolls on a run that has a high probability of failure.

I'm loving my cleric and the runs he's doing with guildies. Thanks Seldom, Kaireth, Tikk, Bella and Grace for your patience and help, it's a real blast at the moment ^^

I've managed to kit him out pretty well and he's up to level 6. A few more action points and I'm confident he'll be a radiant servant (thanks for pointing that out Jill)! Can't wait for level 7 when he can use raise dead scrolls and I can spoil him with his +2 tome of supreme ability

Youve been doing a great job keeping us alive, except when grace decides to go seek out traps and takes the lead ( alittle to squishy to be doing that ), I think for the most part we have been running quest at or slightly above our level and the groups we had seemed to be well balanced almost has the feeling of a static group. For me it is a totally different experience running a tank Wannabe, and as we start getting into the higher level quest i have to remember to start checking my health meter.

Just get more HP and it gives me more chance to keep you alive lol! In terms of DPS, Bangit seems to be bang on!

Would you prefer I let you lead your way through the traps instead?

Zog, it's been lots of fun for us as well, and you've been great as always.

Talking of spells...

Which spells do you normally take/never leave the ship without on your clerics?

Which is the best offensive spell (I'm not planning on using many, but one or two are always useful)?

The low-level spells are very short lists because I don't use many of them at level 20 so I've only included the ones I still use Cure spells are a given since you can't switch them out anyway.

At low levels I usually kept whatever my highest Summon Monster was. My favorite low-level offensive spells are Soundburst (lvl 2) and Searing Light (lvl 3). Soundburst stops being useful after Lvl 8-10 or so but I still keep Searing Light because some things are resistant to everything but light will still get through.

Should also keep the highest Restoration spell you have (lesser, normal, or greater).

Level 1

Remove Fear


Level 2

Resist Energy


Level 3

Mass Aid
Magic Circle Against Evil
Prayer
Searing Light
Water Breathing


Level 4

Divine Power
Freedom of Movement
Holy Smite
Panacea (a cheaper version of Heal, nice when you just need to get rid of disease/fatigue/blind/etc)
Mass Shield of Faith


Level 5

Break Enchantment
Flame Strike
Greater Command
Stalwart Pact
True Seeing


Level 6

Banishment
Blade Barrier
Cometfall
Heal
Heroes Feast


Level 7

Destruction
Greater Restoration
Mass Protection from Elements
Resurrection
Mass Spell Resistance


Level 8

Mass Death Ward
Firestorm
Holy Aura


Level 9

Energy Drain
Mass Heal
Implosion
True Resurrection

Yes, I keep both Resurrection and True Resurrection because of the cooldown timers. I can get people up faster if I have 2 spells to switch between instead of just 1.

Usually I find that the Firestorm/Flame Strike/Cometfall spells aren't worth the mana, though Cometfall can be nice if you can knock the mobs over.

Destruction is just FUN. I still giggle to myself when I get a giant with that one and the huge skull is over their head as they die. Implosion aura is a lot of fun too (fries everything) but it has a long cooldown timer.

Well Dok is now level 20.

What I've learned is that my ignore list is in the hundreds now from unsolicited tells asking "hjeal me plz!!!" or "are you busy right now?".

Grace wrote:

Would you prefer I let you lead your way through the traps instead?

Zog, it's been lots of fun for us as well, and you've been great as always.

No it is much more fun watching you trip the traps, and then make fun of you only to turn the corner and run into a trap myself

Psht, I haven't tripped a trap accidentally in I don't even know how long, and the couple times I did it on purpose it doesn't matter cause I have rogue saves What's funny is when those of you that don't have rogue saves follow me in and die! Muahahahaha!

You know I love you all

make sure you have a good potency item and those ardor clickies.. they help =)

What about Quicken? Isn't it something that all clerics should have?

I've never had Quicken and I've done just fine

I have it on Cari, helps get BB up faster, and throw a few more comet falls then normal, think it's mostly a preference of the player not a "needed" thing.

quicken is nice if you have an extra feat. my wizard wont have quicken tho

Zogdor wrote:

What about Quicken? Isn't it something that all clerics should have?

really quicken is only needed for mass heal

good info on the level 12 FVS being able to tear things up in the desert...mine's been on the backburner at level 9 for a while...may be time for a renewal

Refutor

Actually, I have discovered that quicken is more useful than just being something to help you cast mass heal.

It can also be used on bursts and a quickened raise dead will be more likely to hit a player running to you from a distance where he/she died from loads of mobs. It can also be useful on insta-kill spells.