I'm thinking about going with a Ranger/Cleric combo and debating between Forge and Tempest Domains. Would like to hear your thoughts on which of the two would provide most benefit.
Current plan is as follows:
Human (Variant) - +1 Dex, +1 Wis, Perception, Sharpshooter (could get Crossbow instead, but not sure it's worth it), Dwarvish Outlander. Athletics, Survival, Flute, Language (Elvish) Abilities: 8str / 15dex / 14 con / 10 int / 15 wis / 8 cha
Will reach Level 5 Hunter for 2nd Weapon Attack. End goal would be either (R/C) 12/8, 16/4, or 5/15.
5/15 gets the most damage and spell casting but only has 4 ASIs.
12/8 gets 5 ASIs, Land Stride, and either Stalker's Fury/Distant Strike/Magic-User's Nemesis.
16/4 also gets 5 ASIs, adds Vanish, and either Slayer's Counter, Spectral Defense, or Shadowy Dodge
Combat Theory: Spiritual Weapon is not a Concentration spell, so it can be used with a lot of Cleric/Hunter action spells. A Level 2 Spiritual Weapon does D8+5 each bonus action and gains +1d8, which is equivalent to an extra Long Bow Attack and is available at Cleric level 3. Additionally, it gains +1d8 every 2 spell slots. Assuming I go Hunter first (which is the likely scenario), I can get it at 5/3.
Using a Long Bow: For Crossbow add +2 damage to each average damage
Level 4 Spiritual Weapon (available at 5/4) + 2 Attacks = 4d8 + 13 (31 average damage) (would be +15 but at 5/4 would only have 2 ASIs)
Level 8 Spiritual Weapon (only available as 5/15) + 2 Attacks + Divine strike= 8d8 + 15 = (51 average damage)
By comparison, Level 5 Swift Quiver isn't earned until Level 17 Ranger. With a Long Bow Swift Quiver + 2 Attacks = 4d8+20 = (38 damage) and 42 damage with a Heavy Crossbow.
Forge vs. Tempest
Forge domain gives a lot of unique spells that are otherwise unavailable to Clerics or Hunters: Identify and Heat Metal are available as 16/4. +1/1 is nice for early game, but loses value later. If I go 5/15, Fabricate and Wall of Fire are unique spells to Forge domain, I can add another 2D8 fire damage each turn, and can get fire resistance. Channel Divinity is useless though
Tempest Domain also gets a lot of unique spells, but they are strictly combat-related unlike Identify/Fabricate. Wrath of the Storm and Destructive Wrath are excellent though. If I go 5/15, Thunderbolt strike is useful psuedo-CC and Divine Strike is Thunder instead of Fire.
I am usually an advocate for more spells and am not a big fan of the higher level ranger features anyway, so I say 5/15.
Forge domain has a few features that require you to wear heavy armor to benefit from, and I dont think that is what you are going for. So I guess tempest domain.
If you're going Variant Human, you should probably do Gloomstalker to get the dark vision.
DxJxC is right about Forge Domain. Their 6th level ability requires Heavy Armor, which is fine if you swap your Dex and Strength scores. Their 17th level ability also requires Heavy Armor, but you won't be getting to 17th level in Cleric. An important question is what level does the campaign start at, and what level does the campaign end at?
You could be really funny and do a Forge Domain Cleric in Heavy Armor that is also a Gloomstalker. So you're invisible in darkness to enemies relying on darkvision, but you're making a ton of noise stomping around in heavy armor.
I think you should eliminate the Horizon Walker from consideration. The 3rd level ability "Planar Warrior" requires a bonus action every turn, and you're planning on using this bonus action for Spiritual Weapon. Monster Slayer isn't much better, its 3rd level ability "Slayer's Prey" also requires a bonus action if you're attacking a different target than you attacked last turn. At least Slayer's Prey has a 60ft range, unlike the 30ft range of Planar Warrior. Gloomstalker, on the other hand, doesn't have any abilities that make use of your bonus action. I think the Hunter would make more sense than the Horizon Walker or the Monster Slayer.
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I'm thinking about going with a Ranger/Cleric combo and debating between Forge and Tempest Domains. Would like to hear your thoughts on which of the two would provide most benefit.
Current plan is as follows:
Human (Variant) - +1 Dex, +1 Wis, Perception, Sharpshooter (could get Crossbow instead, but not sure it's worth it), Dwarvish
Outlander. Athletics, Survival, Flute, Language (Elvish)
Abilities: 8str / 15dex / 14 con / 10 int / 15 wis / 8 cha
Will reach Level 5 Hunter for 2nd Weapon Attack. End goal would be either (R/C) 12/8, 16/4, or 5/15.
Combat Theory: Spiritual Weapon is not a Concentration spell, so it can be used with a lot of Cleric/Hunter action spells. A Level 2 Spiritual Weapon does D8+5 each bonus action and gains +1d8, which is equivalent to an extra Long Bow Attack and is available at Cleric level 3. Additionally, it gains +1d8 every 2 spell slots. Assuming I go Hunter first (which is the likely scenario), I can get it at 5/3.
Using a Long Bow: For Crossbow add +2 damage to each average damage
Level 4 Spiritual Weapon (available at 5/4) + 2 Attacks = 4d8 + 13 (31 average damage) (would be +15 but at 5/4 would only have 2 ASIs)
Level 6 Spiritual Weapon (available at 12/8) + 2 attacks + Divine Strike = 6d8 + 15 = (42 average damage).
Level 8 Spiritual Weapon (only available as 5/15) + 2 Attacks + Divine strike= 8d8 + 15 = (51 average damage)
By comparison, Level 5 Swift Quiver isn't earned until Level 17 Ranger. With a Long Bow Swift Quiver + 2 Attacks = 4d8+20 = (38 damage) and 42 damage with a Heavy Crossbow.
Forge vs. Tempest
I am usually an advocate for more spells and am not a big fan of the higher level ranger features anyway, so I say 5/15.
Forge domain has a few features that require you to wear heavy armor to benefit from, and I dont think that is what you are going for. So I guess tempest domain.
If you're going Variant Human, you should probably do Gloomstalker to get the dark vision.
DxJxC is right about Forge Domain. Their 6th level ability requires Heavy Armor, which is fine if you swap your Dex and Strength scores. Their 17th level ability also requires Heavy Armor, but you won't be getting to 17th level in Cleric. An important question is what level does the campaign start at, and what level does the campaign end at?
You could be really funny and do a Forge Domain Cleric in Heavy Armor that is also a Gloomstalker. So you're invisible in darkness to enemies relying on darkvision, but you're making a ton of noise stomping around in heavy armor.
I think you should eliminate the Horizon Walker from consideration. The 3rd level ability "Planar Warrior" requires a bonus action every turn, and you're planning on using this bonus action for Spiritual Weapon. Monster Slayer isn't much better, its 3rd level ability "Slayer's Prey" also requires a bonus action if you're attacking a different target than you attacked last turn. At least Slayer's Prey has a 60ft range, unlike the 30ft range of Planar Warrior. Gloomstalker, on the other hand, doesn't have any abilities that make use of your bonus action. I think the Hunter would make more sense than the Horizon Walker or the Monster Slayer.