Hey all, I am playing a Tempest cleric in my friend's Elemental Evil campaign. We just hit level 4 in our group and I'm kind of on the fence about where I should take my next ASI. Choosing hill dwarf I was able to get 16 Wis and 16 Con using point buy which allowed me a max of 14 Str. I'm leaning towards going 2 ASI points into Str so I can eventually wear plate once we come across enough gold to throw down for a new suit.
Am I losing out on much by not immediately trying to max out my wisdom? For context, I've sort of been the main tank for the party since the rest of the group consists of a valor Bard, 2xMonks, and a GOO Lock.
I would go Wis personally but I like maxing my casting stat on full casters. Tempest Clerics can go either way so going 16 STR isn't bad but I feel like maybe second ASI you can do that since 8th level is when your weapon strikes become empowered with divine strike.
Technically it isn't it's own feature strangely enough, but read over their section on speed. Why it was done like this I have no idea.
"Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor."
Oh wow, I've totally overlooked that little part in the dwarf section for the past 3 years. Thanks, I'm probably going to go wisdom first because of that line.
The racial feature doesn’t matter here. If his strength is too low he can’t wear the plate armor. The racial feature means it doesn’t slow him down, but it doesn’t allow him to wear it without meeting the str minimum.
While the armor is a consideration, I’d still say WIS. I played a tempest cleric up through level 14 and rarely, if ever, made a weapon attack. Sacred flame was doing almost as much damage as my weapon would, at range, and I never had to worry about being at disadvantage. I carried an ax, but I don’t know that I ever used it. So don’t get it thinking it will help you hit things
I’d say the wisdom bump is more important, it will boost your healing output, and make your save DC higher. Alternatively, the war caster feat, casting a spell as an opportunity attack, not needing a free hand to cast spells (even with your holy symbol on your shield, you still need a free hand if the spell has an S in the description, unless you have this feat), plus advantage to maintain concentration, it’s a must for any front line cleric.
And what’s your DEX modifier? Medium armor that lets you add DEX can be nearly as effective as plate. And then you don’t need to put points into a STR score that you’ll barely use — as you go up levels and have more spell slots, you’ll be casting much more often than making melee attacks.
The "Str minimum" isn't a thing. For example, if you have a 13 STR and try to wear plate, you can do it and your AC becomes 18. However, your walking speed slows by 10 feet. That's the only detrimental effect of wearing heavy armor if you're not strong enough to do so - the strength isn't a prerequisite to proficiency or anything weird like that.
The "Str minimum" isn't a thing. For example, if you have a 13 STR and try to wear plate, you can do it and your AC becomes 18. However, your walking speed slows by 10 feet. That's the only detrimental effect of wearing heavy armor if you're not strong enough to do so - the strength isn't a prerequisite to proficiency or anything weird like that.
And in this case with the dwarf race under their walking speed. It says "Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor."
The racial feature doesn’t matter here. If his strength is too low he can’t wear the plate armor. The racial feature means it doesn’t slow him down, but it doesn’t allow him to wear it without meeting the str minimum.
Actually under Equipment in the rules there are two things that happen that keep people from wearing heavy armor. The first is if you lack proficiency.
"Armor Proficiency. Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the armor's use know how to wear it effectively, however. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can't cast spells."
The second thing that prevents people is STR score.
"Heavy Armor. Heavier armor interferes with the wearer's ability to move quickly, stealthily, and freely. If the Armor table shows "Str 13" or "Str 15" in the Strength column for an armor type, the armor reduces the wearer's speed by 10 feet unless the wearer has a Strength score equal to or higher than the listed score."
So as a tempest cleric he will have proficiency and since Dwarfs have a walking speed that isn't reduced by wearing heavy armor then he doesn't need a 15 STR to wear plate. If he was any other race he would have to reduce his speed by 10 while wearing the armor.
I would go with Wisdom. You can always use a cantrip such as sacred flame or toll the dead in melee.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
I recommend War Caster. If your DM follows the rules about not being allowed to cast spells with a Somatic component if you have items in both of your hands, then War Caster is extremely important. It's also extremely useful if you wish to maintain concentration on Bless or Spirit Guardians. If your DM lets you cast spells that have Somatic components even when you're holding a shield in one hand and a war hammer in the other hand, War Caster becomes much less useful.
So an extremely important question is: Does your DM let you cast spells when you're holding a Shield and a War Hammer?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Hey all, I am playing a Tempest cleric in my friend's Elemental Evil campaign. We just hit level 4 in our group and I'm kind of on the fence about where I should take my next ASI. Choosing hill dwarf I was able to get 16 Wis and 16 Con using point buy which allowed me a max of 14 Str. I'm leaning towards going 2 ASI points into Str so I can eventually wear plate once we come across enough gold to throw down for a new suit.
Here's my character sheet: Orin Stormhand
Am I losing out on much by not immediately trying to max out my wisdom? For context, I've sort of been the main tank for the party since the rest of the group consists of a valor Bard, 2xMonks, and a GOO Lock.
I would go Wis personally but I like maxing my casting stat on full casters. Tempest Clerics can go either way so going 16 STR isn't bad but I feel like maybe second ASI you can do that since 8th level is when your weapon strikes become empowered with divine strike.
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
I wouldn't raise your strength for your armor, since dwarves actually get a racial feature that makes it so you don't get slowed either way.
What racial feature?
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
Technically it isn't it's own feature strangely enough, but read over their section on speed. Why it was done like this I have no idea.
"Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor."
Huh I've never noticed. Thanks for the tip.
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
Oh wow, I've totally overlooked that little part in the dwarf section for the past 3 years. Thanks, I'm probably going to go wisdom first because of that line.
If you're mostly a front liner I'd up your strength.
The racial feature doesn’t matter here. If his strength is too low he can’t wear the plate armor. The racial feature means it doesn’t slow him down, but it doesn’t allow him to wear it without meeting the str minimum.
While the armor is a consideration, I’d still say WIS. I played a tempest cleric up through level 14 and rarely, if ever, made a weapon attack. Sacred flame was doing almost as much damage as my weapon would, at range, and I never had to worry about being at disadvantage. I carried an ax, but I don’t know that I ever used it. So don’t get it thinking it will help you hit things
I’d say the wisdom bump is more important, it will boost your healing output, and make your save DC higher. Alternatively, the war caster feat, casting a spell as an opportunity attack, not needing a free hand to cast spells (even with your holy symbol on your shield, you still need a free hand if the spell has an S in the description, unless you have this feat), plus advantage to maintain concentration, it’s a must for any front line cleric.
And what’s your DEX modifier? Medium armor that lets you add DEX can be nearly as effective as plate. And then you don’t need to put points into a STR score that you’ll barely use — as you go up levels and have more spell slots, you’ll be casting much more often than making melee attacks.
The "Str minimum" isn't a thing. For example, if you have a 13 STR and try to wear plate, you can do it and your AC becomes 18. However, your walking speed slows by 10 feet. That's the only detrimental effect of wearing heavy armor if you're not strong enough to do so - the strength isn't a prerequisite to proficiency or anything weird like that.
Partway through the quest for absolute truth.
And in this case with the dwarf race under their walking speed. It says "Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor."
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
Actually under Equipment in the rules there are two things that happen that keep people from wearing heavy armor. The first is if you lack proficiency.
"Armor Proficiency. Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the armor's use know how to wear it effectively, however. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can't cast spells."
The second thing that prevents people is STR score.
"Heavy Armor. Heavier armor interferes with the wearer's ability to move quickly, stealthily, and freely. If the Armor table shows "Str 13" or "Str 15" in the Strength column for an armor type, the armor reduces the wearer's speed by 10 feet unless the wearer has a Strength score equal to or higher than the listed score."
So as a tempest cleric he will have proficiency and since Dwarfs have a walking speed that isn't reduced by wearing heavy armor then he doesn't need a 15 STR to wear plate. If he was any other race he would have to reduce his speed by 10 while wearing the armor.
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
I stand corrected.
I would go with Wisdom. You can always use a cantrip such as sacred flame or toll the dead in melee.
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
I recommend War Caster. If your DM follows the rules about not being allowed to cast spells with a Somatic component if you have items in both of your hands, then War Caster is extremely important. It's also extremely useful if you wish to maintain concentration on Bless or Spirit Guardians. If your DM lets you cast spells that have Somatic components even when you're holding a shield in one hand and a war hammer in the other hand, War Caster becomes much less useful.
So an extremely important question is:
Does your DM let you cast spells when you're holding a Shield and a War Hammer?