You "could" dump strength and Dex, but I enjoy putting my Cleric in hand to hand combat sometimes. And many domains offer some bonus in HtH . So I like to have either a good Dex or a good Str.
I agree, I like throwing my Cleric in hth sometimes. So I like to have a good Dex or Str. And Clerics can be pretty powerful in hth. Spiritual weapon + spirit guardian + swinging a weapon or casting cantrips...forget about it . And like you said, several Clerics get bonuses to hth, like all the ones with hvy armor and smite, and the Light Cleric.
You won't have the strength to be able to even carry all your gear, much less wear it.
Negative Strength/Dexterity Saving Throw Modifiers means that you are susceptible to being dragged across a battlefield like someone's rag doll, or seeing a Fireball coming your way while your legs refuse to budge.
That argument means you can't dump anything, for example it is regarded as normal for characters (other than Wis spell casters) to dump wisdom unless they are looking for high perception, but negative Wis saving throws result in you either being paralyzed (attacks against have advantage auto crit if melee along with auto fail of dex and strength saving throws) or you killing off the rest of your party.
Are you suggesting you don't dump anything, that means there is nothing you are good at (you are attacking with a +2 modifier at early levels).
I'm suggesting you don't dump Strength and Dexterity.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
It is absolutely possible to dump both (but I would advice that you get 10 DEX for initiative).
Just play a hill dwarf nature cleric, you get heavy armor without speed restrictions (thanks to dwarf) and you can attack with WIS thanks to shillelagh.
Its a total win win and you have a good CON thanks to bumping STR and DEX
You won't have the strength to be able to even carry all your gear, much less wear it.
Negative Strength/Dexterity Saving Throw Modifiers means that you are susceptible to being dragged across a battlefield like someone's rag doll, or seeing a Fireball coming your way while your legs refuse to budge.
That argument means you can't dump anything, for example it is regarded as normal for characters (other than Wis spell casters) to dump wisdom unless they are looking for high perception, but negative Wis saving throws result in you either being paralyzed (attacks against have advantage auto crit if melee along with auto fail of dex and strength saving throws) or you killing off the rest of your party.
Are you suggesting you don't dump anything, that means there is nothing you are good at (you are attacking with a +2 modifier at early levels).
Yes, you have to dump something(s). Or like you said, you won't be good at anything. Every character has a weakness, and a thing or two they are "ok" at, and the 2 or 3 things they are pretty good at. I like to have either a Strength or Dex of 14. So I can jump in to hth combat. Cleric is my fav class. My ability priorities are 1-Wisdom, 2-Con, 3-either Dex or Str (not both). Either Int or Chr is my dump stat.
Right now Int is my dump. And yes, a Beholder, or Mind Flayer, or something, attacked my Int and dropped me like a stone. That's just the way it goes. Obviously it quite hard to attack my Wis.
I'm suggesting you don't dump Strength and Dexterity.
If you dump a stat, you'll be vulnerable to attacks that target that stat. You'll also be expected to role-play around any limitations that your dump stat creates.
Unless you're doing point but or if you get very lucky when rolling for stats, you'll have to have some weaknesses.
If your DM lets you still play like you have excellent wisdom and doesn't expect you to intentionally make suboptimal decisions if you dump wisdom, that makes it a lot easier to dump wisdom (but you will be very vulnerable to magic). If your DM lets your character use impeccable logic and create complicated strategies even though you dumped Intelligence, it's a lot easier to dump intelligence. If your DM doesn't make NPCs instinctively distrust and dislike your low charisma character, it's a lot easier to dump Charisma.
If you have to choose a stat or two to dump, choosing to dump both strength and dexterity isn't that bad. It's not that much worse than dumping other stats.
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I agree, I like throwing my Cleric in hth sometimes. So I like to have a good Dex or Str. And Clerics can be pretty powerful in hth. Spiritual weapon + spirit guardian + swinging a weapon or casting cantrips...forget about it . And like you said, several Clerics get bonuses to hth, like all the ones with hvy armor and smite, and the Light Cleric.
That argument means you can't dump anything, for example it is regarded as normal for characters (other than Wis spell casters) to dump wisdom unless they are looking for high perception, but negative Wis saving throws result in you either being paralyzed (attacks against have advantage auto crit if melee along with auto fail of dex and strength saving throws) or you killing off the rest of your party.
Are you suggesting you don't dump anything, that means there is nothing you are good at (you are attacking with a +2 modifier at early levels).
I'm suggesting you don't dump Strength and Dexterity.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
It is absolutely possible to dump both (but I would advice that you get 10 DEX for initiative).
Just play a hill dwarf nature cleric, you get heavy armor without speed restrictions (thanks to dwarf) and you can attack with WIS thanks to shillelagh.
Its a total win win and you have a good CON thanks to bumping STR and DEX
Yes, you have to dump something(s). Or like you said, you won't be good at anything. Every character has a weakness, and a thing or two they are "ok" at, and the 2 or 3 things they are pretty good at. I like to have either a Strength or Dex of 14. So I can jump in to hth combat. Cleric is my fav class. My ability priorities are 1-Wisdom, 2-Con, 3-either Dex or Str (not both). Either Int or Chr is my dump stat.
Right now Int is my dump. And yes, a Beholder, or Mind Flayer, or something, attacked my Int and dropped me like a stone. That's just the way it goes. Obviously it quite hard to attack my Wis.
If you dump a stat, you'll be vulnerable to attacks that target that stat. You'll also be expected to role-play around any limitations that your dump stat creates.
Unless you're doing point but or if you get very lucky when rolling for stats, you'll have to have some weaknesses.
If your DM lets you still play like you have excellent wisdom and doesn't expect you to intentionally make suboptimal decisions if you dump wisdom, that makes it a lot easier to dump wisdom (but you will be very vulnerable to magic). If your DM lets your character use impeccable logic and create complicated strategies even though you dumped Intelligence, it's a lot easier to dump intelligence. If your DM doesn't make NPCs instinctively distrust and dislike your low charisma character, it's a lot easier to dump Charisma.
If you have to choose a stat or two to dump, choosing to dump both strength and dexterity isn't that bad. It's not that much worse than dumping other stats.