At level 1, the Life Domain cleric can cast Bless and Cure Wounds, which are always prepared and don’t use up a spell slot when cast. However, they have a limited number of cantrips, which are only of limited use and are overshadowed by their Channel Divinity. Access to wizard cantrips allows the Arcana Domain easy access to cantrip damage types that go beyond necrotic and radiant damage, which are normally a staple for the domain.
A level one Cleric knows three cantrips of your choice from the cleric spell list. You can cast an infinite number of cantrips per day. Cantrips are typically your goto, meaning once you gain a domain spell, you always have it prepared, and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. Each caster class has a specific number of known cantrips at each level, and by defeault, you can’t swap, prepare, or unprepare them.
Clerics of the Arcana Domain gain access to two Wizard cantrips to improve their versatility in casting cleric spells. At 1st level, Clerics know three cantrips of your choice from the cleric spell list. They can take as many spells as equal to their wisdom modifier plus their current cleric level and are not restricted to the spells attached.
In summary, the Life Domain cleric can cast Bless and Cure Wounds as often as they use cantrips, but they have a limited number of cantrips. The Arcana Domain Cleric gains access to two Wizard cantrips to improve their versatility in casting cleric spells.
📹 Best Cleric Cantrips in Dungeons & Dragons 5E
This video discusses the best cleric cantrips in dungeons & dragons 5e. Cantrip spells are very weak spells in D&D 5e.
Do cleric domain spells count as spells?
Domain spells are prepared at the appropriate cleric level and do not contribute to the total number of daily preparations. In the event that a spell does not appear on the list of cleric spells, it is nevertheless considered to be a spell that can be cast by a cleric. At the second level, the player is able to channel divine energy from their deity in order to fuel magical effects. The spell “Turn Undead,” along with an effect determined by the cleric’s domain, is the foundation of the spell list. As the cleric advances in levels, additional effects are granted by certain domains.
Do known spells include cantrips?
It is important to note that cantrips and other spells are distinct concepts, with the exception of sculpted spells. It is important to note that cantrips are a distinct category of spells, and that the attributes associated with them do not carry over to other, more advanced spells. Similarly, the attributes of more advanced spells do not apply to cantrips.
Do spells known count cantrips?
Cantrips are not associated with recognized or prepared spells and are analogous to the cantrips of other classes. These spells are not leveled and do not consume spell slots.
Can a cleric cast a spell and a cantrip?
It is possible to cast a bonus action spell (regardless of level) followed by a cantrip with the same action. However, the use of the action or reaction to cast a spell of a higher level is not permitted, even if the bonus action spell was a cantrip.
Do clerics know cantrips?
At the initial level, the character is able to cast three cantrips from the cleric spell list. Additional cantrips are acquired at higher levels of advancement. The Cantrips Known column displays the aforementioned cantrips. In the event that your browser does not support cookies or if JavaScript is disabled or blocked, the following message will be displayed:
How many cantrips can a cleric cast per day?
A cantrip is defined as a spell that does not utilize spell slots and can be cast at will, with no limit on the number of times it can be cast per day. These spells are automatically heightened to half the character’s level, rounded up, and are typically equal to the highest rank of a cleric’s spell slot. To illustrate, the cantrips of a 1st-level cleric are of the 1st rank, whereas those of a 5th-level cleric are of the 3rd rank.
Can a cleric cast the same spell twice?
A player may cast any spell that is available within their spell slots. However, certain classes, such as druid, cleric, and wizard, are restricted from casting unprepared spells. This is due to the fact that these classes have prepared spells that they are able to cast.
Can I cast a cantrip twice?
The Illusionist Bracers allow the caster to cast a repeated cantrip as a bonus action, in a manner similar to that of a sorcerer. In the absence of metamagic, the spell may be cast as a bonus action.
How do you tell if a spell is a cantrip?
A cantrip is a spell that can be cast at will without using a spell slot or being prepared in advance. It is fixed in the caster’s mind through repeated practice, with a spell level of 0. Rituals are spells with a special tag, which can be cast following normal spellcasting rules or as a ritual. The ritual version takes 10 minutes longer and doesn’t expend a spell slot, making it unsuitable for higher levels. To cast a spell as a ritual, a spellcaster must have a feature that allows it, such as a cleric or druid, and the spell must be prepared or known on their list.
Can clerics replace cantrips?
The fifth edition of the ruleset states that clerics are unable to alter their selected cantrips, as they are not prepared spells. At the initial level of advancement, the character in question is permitted to select three cantrips from the spell list.
Do clerics memorize spells?
Clerics begin their spellcasting abilities with three cantrips (0-level spells) and subsequently learn more as they gain levels. They are privy to all available spells (1-9), but select which ones to utilize on a daily basis based on their level, statistics, and available slots, in accordance with the established rules.
📹 How People THINK Clerics are Played VS How they’re ACTUALLY Played
Clerics, the Sassy Healers. Support OSQ! Watch all OSQ content Ad Free & Sponsorship Free! ▻ https://www.osqtv.com/ Grab a …
I know that you had laser eye surgery and that the red spots are a side effect of that and that you’re OK which is good. However, I only really noticed it whenever you are portraying how the Cleric was actually played a.k.a. why the cleric is always mad at his party. It did add flavor to it, that the stress of being the healer and always having to heal the rogue or resurrect the barbarian is just getting to him lol.
Party member: Should we buy potions? Other member: No we got a cleric. War Domain Cleric: (“Ok so if I cast spiritual weapon, and attack one round, I can cast inflict wounds and attack with the spirit weapon next round. I’ll also use guiding bolt for long range attacks. And just incase I need to, I’ll prepare shield of faith”. *doesnt prepare healing spells*)
I recall playing a healer in an MMORPG (City of Heroes). I told the team: “I’m happy to keep you healed, but please don’t run away from the team into a different room and go renegade. I won’t chase you down.” Later, a member did just that and continued to yell, “HEAL! HEAL! HEY HEALER! COME HEAL ME!” I got a sick satisfaction of perusal his health drop to zero as I continued to heal the majority of the party.
How people think clerics play: “I cast heal. All the heal. Forever. I shall do naught but spam heal”. How cleric is often played: “Look, there’s an easy way and a hard way. The hard way is I heal you mouthbreathers while you try and fail to show off. The easy way is I call my deity on speed dial and get Daddy to sort things out, mkay?”.
I played a Fire Genasi Cleric of Kossuth, Light Domain, in a Curse of Strahd campaign. I went all in on the fire motive, as you can see. Fire, to her, was purifying and holy – destructive, yes, but the worthy would survive it, and out of the ashes, new life would be born. In other words, in a place as cursed and haunted and infested with darkness as Barovia, her answer to a problem was usually “let’s just burn it all down”. 😂
the Healer i used in my last campaign where i was a player and not DM, smashed the dwarf over the head using his oaken quarter staff and shillelagh for being too loud before his morning coffee. In his defense, the Dwarf was Scottish, and my Cleric is an Irishman raised by Fae, who took a vow of sobriety when he became a cleric.
My first character was a Life Cleric of Hestia. She kept getting called a 6 star toon because of high AC, damage, and healing. The rest of the team (battlemaster fighter and vengeance paladin) converted themselves to Hestia, invoking her name, and their rolls got better. “This toon is such a 6 star that she can turn 3 star toons into 5 star toons!!!” – paladin
It’s my first D&D campaign where I’ve lasted more than one session (I tried a couple times before but I was really really obnoxious as a teen so I got punished in the game to the point I just gave up). I’m a Death Cleric and this article is pretty much spot on. Yesterday’s session was a little something like, me zoned out over my spell cards “Ashley! Ashley… you have to kill goblins.” “Okay there’s like a group of them right?! I’ll use my only fourth level spell slot to cast Burning Hands. succeeds and incinerates the only 2 goblins that were there. Just 2… “Oh dang! There goes that slot! I hope I’m not screwed for the boss battle.” gets teased lightly by the ranger and barbarian “I would like to remind you both that I’m the only healer in the group.” gets to boss battle eventually after reminding the group I’m the only healer another 2 times while killing miscellaneous goblins “So our doom is behind the door? Is the door made of wood? I have another fire spell.” “No the door is made of stone.” “My only weakness!” we get in there “The main bad guys seem pretty intimidating. I hope we don’t take too much damage considering I only took one healing spell.” I literally blast the crap out of them and let the ranger and barbarian finish them off. We kill them in only 2 rounds of combat. “Wasn’t there an injured dwarf? I should go heal him. After all… I’m the only healer in this group.”
This pretty much sums up what happened to the first Cleric I played. A LN Dragoborn Cleric who went out to recover a lost relic and within the first session was wondering wtf she’d gotten herself into. It says alot when you and the LE minotaur Barbarian are the only source of common sense in the group. By the third session she’d brought a bottle of whiskey to cope.
As someone who as only ever played clerics, my first one was a “IM GETTING CHACED DOWN BY A GIANT SHADOW DEMON, PLEASE HELP ME!” my second was a dragon born and had the highest strength stat and became the makeshift tank and was more of a “my team is incompetent” kinda guy. Also my first cleric kinda just let his murder hobo bird tea-mate die under some rubble after he had threatened to skin my character alive and use their blood as clothing dye.
Every campaign I’ve been in, not a single person wants to take a healing spell. DMs can manage their world based around a party without a healer, but literally everyone is like “oh no, there’s no healer, the party can’t work!” so I just be a healer everytime. This is fine, after all I do like healing… until you realize that there’s a very good chance your party is going to do the dumbest decisions, likely causing the party to fight at every opportunity. This article is very accurate to my thoughts sometimes…
As a supports style player, please, don’t forget to thank your healers. Turst me it will make their day. Also I maybe seeing things but your eye looks blood shot in that second half. I don’t know if that was intentional or not but it fits perfectly with the frustration I have do deal with on the daily as a healer.
Played my first D&D campaign last year as a human cleric, I expected to be the party healer and buff everyone but i very quickly became the primary tank (until our goliath barbarian joined halfway) and most inclined to commit unalive, while also keeping the party alive x’) The slow descent into angry healer trope was an adventure
Played a cleric once. Had more health than the fighter and a higher AC than the goddamn paladin. It was a chaotic party. I healed the sorcer once, he dropped to 1 HP and I healed him for 19 and his max health WAS 19. I then left because he hit me with a fireball by accident and I narrowly made the save on it. He went down real hard after and I didn’t heal, he’s been very bitter about it since😂
This reminded me of a character I had once he was specialized in healing and general maintenance stuff, it’s really funny how quickly those murder_hobos start acting civil when you tell them to behave or”no free healing no free consumables no free equipment repair” Quick warning for anyone trying this you will need at least one combat specialist to act as your enforcer so the murder_hobos don’t try to pull a dwarf chained to an anvil scenario ( had that happen to a craftsman character once, took the party for every to realize I was intentionally making items the wrong way trying to blow us all up not sure how we kept surviving)
I played a Shadar-Kai Grave Cleric a while back. If y’all don’t know, Shadar-Kai are lawful evil and the grave domain has a feat called Circle of Mortality (when a creature is at 0 hp, you automatically heal the max possible). To preface this, I got my DM’s permession to do this once during the campaign. My Shadar-Kai was very apathetic towards healing. He did it because his goddess said one of the party member (a ranger) was to survive at all cost. So he did it because he was told to, not because he liked the other members. The barbarian always needed healing and would yell at my cleric to heal him if he was getting impatient. So when they were higher level far in a dungeon, the barbarian had lost almost all of his hp and was yelling how he needed to be max health before they went into the next chamber – where they thought the boss battle would be. My cleric was so over everything and was like “You need it? You really need it? Fine!” My cleric placed a hand on the barbarian and said, “This will hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.” Then he stabbed the barbarian in the gut, bringing him to 0 hp. My cleric stabilized him then used Life Transference and Circle of Mortality. Which meant that the barbarian automatically got 64 hp at the expense of my cleric losing 32 hp. So the barbarian gets stabbed and ends up better off than he was before the stabbing. The barbarian was furious and my Shadar-Kai just brushed him off. “You said you needed it. You’re welcome.” The players had no idea I could do this but the DM just went “that’s your one” while laughing her ass off.
I love the headpiece. He forgot the reason why clerics are so often grumpy: – “I need a HEAL” – “Can I get a HEAL” – “UGH, what are you DOING why aren’t you HEALING me” … inevitably followed by, – “Can’t you do anything other than HEAL?!” This, of course, is when the cleric snaps and just solos the rest of the dungeon (in editions prior to 4e).
as someone who mainly plays clerics, I can safely say I choose violence a lot. inflict wounds is simple yet effective. also in our latest session today my twilight cleric tried to kidnap someone but he made their job very difficult by mind controlling the barbarian. cleric was nearly axed to death. cleric is saved, gets up, and is INCREDIBLY pissed. the person they wanted to kidnap was dead by now and the bard casted speak with dead, dead guy wasn’t cooperating. cleric starts ranting about how if dead guy doesn’t cough up answers they will make his afterlife very difficult instead. DM asked me to roll intimidation, got 17, dead guy gave info and shut up. we called him a little piss baby before the spell ended. “sigh. I miss my boyfriend (Bard). I miss him a lot.” – my cleric, referring to their bf back home
Funny thing is I’m playing a cleric in a 3.5 game. He’s a half orc, I made him after perusal Mr Rhexx’s article on orcs and then I listened to the song of Oshrjad Bonebreaker from Clamavi de Profundis and went… huh…I like that So he’s following a god that offered to help him create a new path for the orcs. But I’m playing him where basically he is actually trying to build a culture, or maybe discover it works better? But the violence is sometimes the answer one was so spot on fit some of the shenanigans we’ve been up to
my first D&D campaign, my friend (and the only one with D&D experience) chose a lawful good cleric. We had moments such as: DM: The monk (who we had to interrogate) is clearly very upset, likely because you just killed his friends. Me: He’s human, right? DM: Yeah Alex (not his real name): I can cast calm humanoid! cheers from around the table as we really, really hoped that spell would come in handy
This is why you stock up on healing potions Even if the Cleric is in your party and can pray for healing wound spells its wasted slots for cooler spells like hold monster, Blade Barrier, protection from Evil, Bless, create water,create food and water,Dispell Magic,plane shift,earthquake,firestorm, Dispel Evil,Banishment,and Summon Celestial for instance
Lmao this feels very accurate to our group He’s kinda stuck with the four of us because of my character (they’re siblings with an incredibly strong bond) And he’s NOTORIOUS for missing every shot or swing he makes Any physical attack he tries either misses completely or is a critical hit (on the rare occasion that he does) With his shield, spirit guardians, and pure stubbornness, he makes for a good wall to shoot over 🙂
A lvl 1 Cleric can start with ‘inflicted wounds’ as well as ‘cure wounds’ ‘Inflict wounds’ does 3d10 necrotic damage. Which actually puts it right in the middle of “Dangerous” and “Deadly” on the ‘Damage Severity by Level’ chart. As one YouTuber I watch says: “The party needs a Cleric, the Cleric don’t need the party.”
The Cleric in my one campaign does not fall under either category. He is a middle aged guy who’s a bit of a pushover who made some stupid decisions and is now trying to survive, do some good, and make sure his daughter is safe. Also, he would never attack my character(the rogue) because she saved his a** from a collapsing building.
My death domain cleric: “Look, I’m happy to heal you, as long as you murder everything but keep their heads intact. Wouldn’t want to ruin a perfectly good corpse.” Ah, necromantic clerics 😁 (Related: why does everyone use a warhammer to smash heads in? Crushing their chest is just as effective at killing them, but way easier to resurrect later!)
Reminds me of how annoying it is to play certain classes. Barbarian: Rush in to deal damage and the wizard blasts you in the ass with a fireball. Wizard: Try to cast fireball, but dumbass barbarian runs into blast zone. Blow him up anyway. Cleric: Whole party is nearly dead and you get 1 round and like 2 level 1 spells left to fix it before they all die. Rogue: Oh look, another army of heavily armored dudes heading straight for us with literally no place to hide. Ranger: Oh, great.. there is a 50% chance my shots hit my own allies like every single time. Illusionist: OH great.. more golems, zombies, and traps… I’m totally useless. Paladin: Everyone in my group is an asshole. I should kill them all and do the world a favor. Warlock: Yay, I have one useful ability and it’s PEW PEW. Let’s spam it a trillion times. Warrior: Oh look, my armor is destroyed again.. now I have to spend thousands of gold to get a new one… but the party doesn’t care.. they keep pressing on further into the dungeon, and don’t give 2 craps if I die. All the sneaking, climbing, swimming and crawling through tight spaces makes me totally useless. Also my abilities are basically what every single monster also has. Only they are stronger and have more HP, and there are 5x as many of them. Bard: Literally no one takes me seriously .. like ever. Everyone wishes I was a cleric, rogue, warrior, or wizard instead. Because I suck at everything. Sorcerer: Wait.. this puzzle doesn’t require a fireball or a magic missile?
I have played a cleric a number of times, sometimes just to help supplement the party… and yeah, threatening to withhold healing for a group that’s making bad decisions has been there XD though clerics can be damn versatile in some games. I tend to have more fun with clerics whose focus isn’t only healing.
DND creator 1: ok so the cleric is a dedicated healer and support unit with mild CC such as turning sticks into snakes DND creator 2: nice, its pretty balanced so far, a soft squishy support with CC to protect itself since it cant figh- C1: we also gave it a cheap spamable high damage attack spell C2: i-im sorry what? C1: oh wait no i forgot, we gave him.. one.. two.. three.. five, we gave them five C2: but.. but that completely defeats the design of the cla- C1: the game is already shipped C2: WHAT
My brother missed ONE episode of Too Many 20s and Shula was dead. In fact he told me he got a message and it went a bit like this: DM: “I may have killed them.” Exasperated Cleric: “Who.” DM: “…all of them….” Managed to turn back time to rescue the rest of the party but the Fire Genasai waaaaaas..a goner. Such use the stand in Cleric was 😂 (he wasn’t a Healy Cleric)
I’m a dm. But this article was very accurate to how I acted as the guild healer in mmos back in the day. I did threathened with “I wont heal you” and I kept my word. I did intentionally let guildies die, because it was funny. I did insult my guildies when they asked for healing, never slapped them in game though. Overall, this article brought back great memories of me playing with my friends.
Sounds like my last healer. Guy bitched about being the healer even though he chose Cleric nobody forced him to and he cried when he got attacked. I was a Warlock and he tried to kill me because “his god told him to,” I nearly killed his ass with two Hellish Rebukes while I was Eldritch blasting a wereboar. Luckily my brother was a Paladin and I went to him for all my healing because the other guy sucked as a healer.
Damn right. Played a Cleric of Life and a leader of the party. Pretty much saved their asses with a voice of reason every single Tim’s they did something idiotic. And then a guy who played a homebrew Racoon race tried to become group leader because “I rolled for persuasion and it’s pretty high!” Left those idiots, haven’t Cleric’d since.
If it was my game the how they’re actually played would be DM – You can make an athletics check to clear the gap Cleric – Guidance DM – Make a thieves tool check to pick the lo…. Cleric – Guidance DM – You attempt to negotiate a bet…… Cleric – Guidance DM – There is a gob… Cleric – Guidance DM – coughs quietly Cleric – Guidance
I have a dream of playing a cleric using Commissar LORD Bernn’s voice lines from Dawn of War: Retribution. “You die on my command, not before.” “I haven’t given you leave to die, you coward, ON YOUR FEET!” “Your wounds mean nothing! STAND!” “This is your last stand, NO doubt, NO fear!” “Follow my example or I will make you one.” “Do I have to die to prove my faith and my fearlessness to you lot?” “DON’T FEAR IT, JUST GET CLEAR!” “No fear, only victory!” “These corpses will pave our way to glory!” “It is me versus a shred of its power!” “How many fighters can I beat to death at once? Let’s find out shall we?”
My own story here. “Hey guys you’re all at less than half health let me use prayer of healing to give you more.” “Just wait for the boss fight” “….it’s a ten minute cast time.” “So?” heals party rather than listen to them tell me how to use my spells. Next session. “I’m about to die!!!” “How?!” “We started the fight at half health.” stares in awe. None of them had listened to me when I told them I healed them. DM was also in shock. “I healed you by like, THIRTY HP” “Oh. When?” silent screaming of rage. I killed my healer off after that.
I play a cleric in one of my groups, and I feel deeply the ‘why do I even put up with you guys’ part as their bad decisions just got me running around a young white dragon alone. We also have the dubious achievement that we got the fighter (who has an extra-special dragon-killing sword btw, because we prepared and wanted to be super smart about the last battle) killed before he got the chance to make even one attack. X'(
You know, I felt the very same way for my party on my very first game, I was playing rouge and everyone else was some sort of melee class. While I tried to sneak up on someone, every one else rushed ahead without thinking. Eventually, they eat more than they could chew and I had to abandon them to save myself. I don’t really regret it.
I made warforged cleric that act as a skitarii of adeptus mechanicus. I made the whole party swear to abbandon flesh and embrace metal in exchange of heals by converting into my religion. They all must offer a prayer to the omnisiah before receiving a heal and they must preach the prayer and not just “I offer a prayer to the omnisiah”.
Reason why my favorite character way back. Playing in a campaign in the old-school setting of World of Greyhawk. That character was a Cleric of Saint Cuthbert. He was literally Judge Dredd. And I yelled, “I AM THE LAW!” A lot. Even giving the middle finger to a natural weather event, ie a tornado, surviving the fall and later ending up building a Church and that location of where I landed became a Holy Sight. To which. Even Nature cannot stop The Law.
Me as a cleric (basically every time I play as a player): “I will heal you… if you will accept my God! He is The God of Gods! Interdimentional diety who is not part of your pantheon and heresy to him is worshipping any other Gods… he is called The Forgotten God, God of Gods and… Oh you refuse? I will heal the bandit attacking you then… Bandit! Want a free necklace? Here! throws him a necklace that makes anyone touching it worship my diety now he is part of our party…” I actually did that in a campaign and I remember the player whom I refused to heal hated my charactwr but the DM liked me… he enjoyed our endless quarrels…
You know, it’d be a funny idea to make a Cleric that heals people by slapping them… Imagine there’s a team member that’s heavily wounded and we’re just sitting there slapping the shit out of them, to a passerby, it looks like we’re the cause of their injuries. They might’ve been weirded out by the scene of this cleric slapping this injured person while the rest of the team looks like they’re praying for it to work.
I’m glad there are a lot of people in the comments mentioning this, but Cleric is badass. Depending on how you build your Cleric, you can play so many roles. They’re much more than just healing, buffs, or protection. Sometimes, the best way to protect the party is to do the most damage to the enemy as possible! Or soak up the most damage. lol
How cleric are actually played : – Well, as a Cleric of Umberlee in can put sea salt on your wounds but that’s it. You guys have strange ideas, talking nonsens about healing spells or whatever unrealistic things like that. – But your a Cleric, you should hea – I SWEAR TO THE WAVEMOTHER I’LL DROWN YALL ALIVE AND EVERYONE WILL CELEBRATE IF YOU EVER TALK ABOUT HEALING AGAIN!!!
Life clerics: I AM THE BEST HEALER IN THE GAME! BEHOLD I HEAL YOU FOR A EXTRA 3 HP! Stars druids: neat, I heal for a extra 1d8 + my wisdom score Life cleric: OH YEAH?! MY LAST FEATURE I JUST HEAL FOR MAX ALL THE TIME! Stats cleric: I mean that’s cute, by then I’m healing for a extra 2d8+5 because who doesn’t have 20 wisdom at that point so on advrage I still out heal you, your level 1 healing word will heal for 10 hp while line heals for a advrage of 20 hp. Life cleric:….I hate you Stars druid: did I mention I still get all the crazy druid damage spells like this? casts firestorm at level 9 Cleric: I really hate you Stats durid: also one of the most powerful spells in the game I get at level 2 and its fits well with my subclass casts moonbeam at level 9 for 9d10 radiant damage
How people things druids are played Vs How they’re actually played ROAR FEAR ME OR I CAN HAVE THE WRATH OF NATURE SMITE YOU! Animal, tell me which way the bandits went. I’ll use wildshape to scout up ahead Hm… I’ll leave some druidic markings for others, as a sign These plants are safe. We may use them I will protect these forests until I die Vs Can wr adopt the (animal) PLEASEEE I TURN INTO THE BEAR… to be a bear why not Shoot I forgot I can wild shape I don’t have that spell prepared… Can I just talk to the animal for fun? never uses forest spells
The way I play my cleric: Player: “Please! Heal me, I’m at 3 HP!” Me: “Rub some dirt in it and walk it off. I’m not here to heal you, I’m here to keep you alive. Now watch me upcast Inflict Wounds and turn this guy into fertilizer. We call this… preventative medicine.” Player: “Failed first death save.” Me: “Ugh…. fine. I’ll waste my bonus action and give you 3 HP. Get up and fight you wussy. Now stand back while I burn this dude with Sacred Flame.”
Eh to me, Clerics are think of as: “No I can’t fight back! Please don’t hurt me! ;-;” “Rogue help! It’s goblin!” “Oh no! I can’t use Cure Wounds any more!” How Clerics are played: “You are against the wall and I’m the fucking wall!” Punches with a 5th level infected wounds Summons 6th level Blade Barrier to shred the enemies and use it as a wall to give team time Cast Mass Cure Wounds to heal party
How I mean to play clerics: “I’ll heal you, my dearest friends, and we’ll fight this battle to victory!” “My sword serves not to injure, only to scare.” “My goddess, may I ask of your blessing? We’re so close, and yet I feel a looming danger before us.” How I keep playing clerics: “I did not sign up to be a father!” “Of course I’m front line! I’m always front line!” “Gods above I’m so sorry for my party’s actions.”
My Warforged Haunted One Grave Cleric (5e): “I don’t heal what’s going to be last in half a round, if you get downed I heal you but anything short of that is going into Buffs or Support. No I don’t take constructive criticism.” “I can and will slap the shit out of anyone who thinks they have a shot at my armor” (AC of 20, also Inflict Wounds is a hell of a spell when you have a +7 to hit). “If someone goes down don’t remind me, I know. If I go down, don’t prioritize it but I gave you a healer’s kit for a reason.” (He has a tad bit of a deathwise lol, he is very willing to sacrifice himself). “Don’t look into this, it should help save your a$$ so do us both a favor and don’t ask questions.” (Warding Bond using two platinum rings lol, I barely ever take more than 5-7 damage in a fight without it). And of course “My job isn’t to keep you up it’s to keep you alive so I don’t have to bury you.”
I think my next cleric character should be a duality: bloodthirsty battle zealot in combat… But a kindly, old, hunched over pastor out of combat with that “neighbor at the fence” practical wisdom patter, carefully withheld until the conversation hits a lull. The soft voice in the sunset. Here, a verse, there, a blessing, in towns near and far. A friend to children, an ear for the weary and saddened. “Ach. Faith takes a lot out of a person. Hard to have faith or be worthy of power if it’s about yourself. Mmm. Hand me that water, would you? I should tell you what Aquellan had to say on this… but not now. Later.” Yet have verses and minor poems written for that When. And never explain that zealotry is not merely anger against the harm of evil, but the corruption that evil glories in that FORCES ME TO DO THIS. Wait for the party to ask before I slowly swell with righteousness from kindly old man to Khan from Star Trek to some Shakespearean trembling rage beyond Mars. “Oh. Shh. There are children about. Oof. My old back. I must watch over them. Why? Well, to remind me of the innocence and joy of Life. Aquellan once spoke… ach. Later.”
I’m playing a Twilight Cleric of Dumathoin in Rime of the Frost Maiden, and we have a rogue thief who is a Faerie Dragon (homebrew race). My cleric is an exorcist who wants to guard people from monsters, but when we encountered a hag who was literally cooking human remains in a stew, she’s like, “Let’s not kill her! She’s fey, she’ll keep her promises!” And my cleric is like “…Kind of not my job to take these things at their word, but okay.”