I am hoping to pick up the 2024 phb soon. Though my group is still 'out to lunch' on whether to use these updates or not. I have played the cleric class before. Although, it has been a long time. I was not looking to build a generic healer.! The problem is the flavor text for all of the abilities a cleric gains as they level up. Every thing is eithrr radiant or necrotic damage! I was looking to build goliath tempest domain cleric. Well, in forgotten realms, there are few clerics with the death domain in thier portfolio. So that kind of limits the death cleric, as my group plays that campaign the most. The forge domain dwarf cleric is pretty solid. But that is just to bleh. Why didn't wizards incorporate more elemental flair for a tempest domain cleric? The ONLY cantrip for ALL clerics to deal damage is "sacred flame", which sucks for a tempest domain. I do intend to discuss this with me DM. Because, in my opinion, and I doubt that I am alone, radiant and necrotic damage should not belong in the tempest domain. There should have been a more detailed and in depth review of this domain, to allow for more elemental flair fire, wind, thunder, lightning, frost et ect. Wizards kind of dropped the ball.
All the Tempest Domain's features are about lightning and thunder damage. I would agree that its greatest weakness is the lack of any cantrips that deal those damage types, but the extra armor and weapon proficiencies you get are, I think, meant to steer you toward using weapons more than cantrips.
To answer the question of why there isn't more "elemental flair" in it, the answer is the same as why there isn't more "elemental flair" in the War Domain subclass: because that's not what the point of this subclass is. Other "elemental" damage types don't really seem on-theme for it.
It sounds like you're really looking for a whole new domain that focuses on elemental damage, which doesn't exist in the official subclasses but certainly seems like something you could homebrew if you wanted.
I would have to say, that WotC dropped this ball. There are some wizard cantrips that should be allowed for tempest domain. I will bring this to the attention of my dm. "Shocking grasp" and "Thunder wave". 5hat is just two solid suggestions for cantrips for tempest domain clerics.
I rechecked, thunderwave is level 1. Oops. Ray of frost is a cantrip, and suitable for the tempest domain, in my opinion.
I would have to say, that WotC dropped this ball. There are some wizard cantrips that should be allowed for tempest domain. I will bring this to the attention of my dm. "Shocking grasp" and "Thunder wave". 5hat is just two solid suggestions for cantrips for tempest domain clerics.
I rechecked, thunderwave is level 1. Oops. Ray of frost is a cantrip, and suitable for the tempest domain, in my opinion.
Thunderwave is level 1 and they have it always prepared already. But you might be thinking of the very similarly named Thunderclap, which is a cantrip that deals Thunder damage in an Emanation around you, and I think would be great for them.
If all you are worried about is the flavor and damage type of cantrips, just rename Sacred Flame to Sacred Spark and ask your DM to allow lightning damage instead of radiant. Easy enough.
You could also just play variant human or custom lineage to take Magic Initiate at level 1 to get Shocking Grasp, Thunderclap, and Chromatic Orb or Thunderwave right from the start. I've always liked the idea of a melee range Tempest Domain Cleric with [spell]Shocking Grasp[/spells] as their go-to cantrip for basic damage.
I’m not sure if this helps you or not, but you can get both heavy armor and cantrips if you start off as a fighter and then pick the cantrip build for clerics. The o ly downside is no level 20 ability if your group even makes it that far. Then again, you really need to be an expert to make the most of wish… which is basically what that ability is.
Witchbolt is a worthy pickup if you're willing to spend an origin feat for it.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
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I am hoping to pick up the 2024 phb soon. Though my group is still 'out to lunch' on whether to use these updates or not. I have played the cleric class before. Although, it has been a long time. I was not looking to build a generic healer.! The problem is the flavor text for all of the abilities a cleric gains as they level up. Every thing is eithrr radiant or necrotic damage! I was looking to build goliath tempest domain cleric. Well, in forgotten realms, there are few clerics with the death domain in thier portfolio. So that kind of limits the death cleric, as my group plays that campaign the most. The forge domain dwarf cleric is pretty solid. But that is just to bleh. Why didn't wizards incorporate more elemental flair for a tempest domain cleric? The ONLY cantrip for ALL clerics to deal damage is "sacred flame", which sucks for a tempest domain. I do intend to discuss this with me DM. Because, in my opinion, and I doubt that I am alone, radiant and necrotic damage should not belong in the tempest domain. There should have been a more detailed and in depth review of this domain, to allow for more elemental flair fire, wind, thunder, lightning, frost et ect. Wizards kind of dropped the ball.
All the Tempest Domain's features are about lightning and thunder damage. I would agree that its greatest weakness is the lack of any cantrips that deal those damage types, but the extra armor and weapon proficiencies you get are, I think, meant to steer you toward using weapons more than cantrips.
To answer the question of why there isn't more "elemental flair" in it, the answer is the same as why there isn't more "elemental flair" in the War Domain subclass: because that's not what the point of this subclass is. Other "elemental" damage types don't really seem on-theme for it.
It sounds like you're really looking for a whole new domain that focuses on elemental damage, which doesn't exist in the official subclasses but certainly seems like something you could homebrew if you wanted.
I would have to say, that WotC dropped this ball. There are some wizard cantrips that should be allowed for tempest domain. I will bring this to the attention of my dm. "Shocking grasp" and "Thunder wave". 5hat is just two solid suggestions for cantrips for tempest domain clerics.
I rechecked, thunderwave is level 1. Oops. Ray of frost is a cantrip, and suitable for the tempest domain, in my opinion.
Thunderwave is level 1 and they have it always prepared already. But you might be thinking of the very similarly named Thunderclap, which is a cantrip that deals Thunder damage in an Emanation around you, and I think would be great for them.
If all you are worried about is the flavor and damage type of cantrips, just rename Sacred Flame to Sacred Spark and ask your DM to allow lightning damage instead of radiant. Easy enough.
You could also just play variant human or custom lineage to take Magic Initiate at level 1 to get Shocking Grasp, Thunderclap, and Chromatic Orb or Thunderwave right from the start. I've always liked the idea of a melee range Tempest Domain Cleric with [spell]Shocking Grasp[/spells] as their go-to cantrip for basic damage.
I’m not sure if this helps you or not, but you can get both heavy armor and cantrips if you start off as a fighter and then pick the cantrip build for clerics. The o ly downside is no level 20 ability if your group even makes it that far. Then again, you really need to be an expert to make the most of wish… which is basically what that ability is.
Witchbolt is a worthy pickup if you're willing to spend an origin feat for it.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha