Playable 1-40 PvE. Don't know about PvP but can have high save DCs.
As I was building the melee Crusader of Torm I realized that with some feat and levelling modifications he'd make pretty impressive caster cleric as well.
TyrPaladin's Soldier of Light has the same level split but is a melee character, whereas this is a caster.
Human, Non-Evil Str 10 Dex 10 Con 16 Wis 16 Int 12 Cha 10
1 Clr (1): Combat Casting, Spell Focus (Evocation) 2 Clr (2): 3 Clr (3): Extend Spell 4 Clr (4): +1 wis 5 Clr (5): 6 Clr (6): Zen Archery* 7 Clr (7): 8 Clr (8): +1 wis 9 Clr (9): Greater Spell Focus (Evocation) 10 Clr (10): 11 Clr (11): 12 Clr (12): +1 wis, Empower Spell 13 Clr (13): 14 Clr (14): 15 Clr (15): Spell Penetration 16 Clr (16): +1 wis 17 Clr (17): 18 Clr (18): Weapon Focus (Mace)% 19 Clr (19): 20 Clr (20): +1 wis 21 COT (1): Great Wis 1 22 COT (2): Great Wis 2+ 23 Clr (21): 24 Clr (22): +1 wis, Great Wis 3 25 Clr (23): Improved Combat Casting+ 26 COT (3): 27 COT (4): Great Wis 4, Great Wis 5+ 28 Clr (24): +1 wis 29 Clr (25): 30 Clr (26): Great Wis 6, Epic Spell Focus (Evocation)+ 31 COT (5): 32 COT (6): +1 wis, Great Wis 7+ 33 COT (7): Great Wis 8 34 COT (8): Great Wis 9+ 35 COT (9): 36 Clr (27): +1 wis, Epic Spell (Greater Ruin) 37 COT (10): Great Wis 10+ 38 Clr (28): 39 Mon (1): Silent Spell& 40 Clr (29): +1 wis, Armor Skin
* - Optional Feat % - Any melee weapon will do + - COT or Cleric bonus feat & - Free feat here, took silent spell for spellbook management, could be any character feat including an epic spell.
Evocation spell save DC 29 + spell level, other spells 23 + spell level.
FAQ: Q: Why take zen archery? A: It's optional, but especially as you're levelling up it will give you a non-magic attack at a respectable AB.
Q: You're a cleric for pete's sake, why focus in evocation? A: Because magic is the lion's share of your offense, and because focusing in buff and heal spells doesn't improve them. You heal and buff just as well as a cleric with any other focus, but you gain nuking power.
Notably, your implosion area death spell will have a save DC of 41.
Q: Why take silent spell at the end? A: For spellbook management. At that point you're out of feats. You could any feat at that stage but this is a caster build so I chose one that would be beneficial to me as a caster.
In a pvp environment you might prefer epic skill focus (discipline) there.
Q: How does the monk level benefit you here? A: Evasion and skill selection. Also, in a critically low magic world, you might benefit more from wearing a robe and using your wisdom AC than wearing armor. That's not a given, however.
You might, however, consider variants such as using rogue or bard and siphoning starting stat points from Con into Int for skills. _________________ Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
Edited By griphook on 12/02/05 20:18
The doors of the grand audience hall opened, and the court herald announced our entrance: "My Lord, the honorable Knights of Torm, Sir Reginald and Lady Kalinda, as you requested."
All eyes were on us, the nobles and courtiers of the royal court sizing up the fabled Tormite Crusaders, I guess. I could hear the whispering about it as we passed. What are a pair of Crusaders doing here? Apparently they didn't know what was going on or that we'd been summoned. A few recognized Kalinda by reputation... she was something of a living legend for her swordsmanship.
Certainly some where scheming of how they might use us to their advantage while we were here by involving us in their plotting. Royal courts were always as such, even in goodly lands such as these. And these good lands were threatened by something... the King Benefice had sent an urgent personal request for aid against a dark enemy to our Order, and something about the request had prompted the prelate to dispatch us - two battle-hardened Knight Crusaders, Kalinda a masterful warrior and myself, a devoted wielder of divine magic.
I could sense Kalinda getting even more tense as we walked down the columnade to the throne. She no doubt felt naked without her armor or especially her sword, and although she would appear serene and graceful to a stranger, I knew better. She had little patience for high society and the trappings of court, even though she would play along.
"We humbly greet your Majesty," I said when we reached the throne. "The prelate bid us make all haste from our Chapterhouse to answer your summons. While we are here, we are at you service." We bowed to one knee in unision.
A murmur ran through the crowd. I was certain they had no idea why we had come.
"It is an honor to be here," Kalinda added. We had worked out ahead of time that I would do most of the talking, but she would still have to fulfil the expectations of a courtly knight.
"Welcome to Castanya, noble Knights. The Crusaders of Torm are famed far and wide for their devotion to justice and duty," The King intoned formally. "Guest quarters are being prepared for you in the palace, and you are welcome to travel freely throughout the kingdom. I have many matters of state to attend to this afternoon, but I invite you to join me for dinner and a private audience afterward. Both of your reputations precede you; I am most interested in hearing about some of your adventures."
So we'd be getting the details of the summons in private. I nodded, "We glady accept your gracious offer, Majesty. Your hospitality is most appreciated." And, rising, we were guided to our quarters by a servant.
Continue... _________________ Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.