I’m playing in a three member party. Hunter Ranger, Bard and I am the scourge aasimar Tempest cleric. I am currently the party’s DPS/tank. I mainly use AOE’s and spiritual weapon. My stats important to my next levelling decision are 17wis 15cha and 18AC.
My 4 options are: warcaster, Fey touched, ASI or hex bade.
As a hex blade I would take thunderclap, booming blade, shield and armour of Agathys. With Fey touched I would improve mobility and even out an ability score. We don’t play that often but I love the game. Please give me any thoughts.
Why don’t you take 1 level in druid instead of hexblade? You still get thunderclap if you really want, with more room for rituals with prepared spellcasting. The low level spells would be based on your wisdom. You could also get thornwhip or primal savagery to give you damage options on the turns you cast spiritual weapon. Absorb elements could be pretty nice since your AC is already decent.
Turning the bus around on Charisma by leaning into Hexblade is... gonna be a heavy lift, and doesn't really set you up to be a DPS/tank. Being a chunky AOE deliverer who clogs lanes with Spirit Guardians and the like, I get it, that's an interesting and viable approach... but I don't think Hexblade gets you there as well as some other warlocks like Fathomless, Genie, or Undead.
Warcaster is a solid feat you'll want eventually, but it's tough to fit it in T1 and delay your ability score progression.
I'd love to see Shillelagh on you, to free you up to start attacking with Wisdom, so that you can just focus on Wisdom and Con for your ability score progressions from here out. Druid 1 would get you that, yes, but so would Ranger 2. If you took it beyond that, Swarmkeeper is... perhaps challenging to find a coherent theme for, but the mechanics are very flexible and permissive, applying bonus damage on attacks (not weapon attacks) or other effects, with no action on your part required. Thought provoking, for a tanky caster, though to be fair Tempest Clerics do want to be making weapon attacks from 8 on, so maybe not important for you.
But to bring it back to the present... Warcaster, Fey Touched, or a multiclass to Warlock (or Druid or Ranger)? Fey Touched +1 Wisdom, hands down, or anything else that provides you +1 Wisdom like Chef or Skill Expert. I'd happily leave that Charisma at 15 for the rest of your career and never touch it again. It's hard to see how it's relevant to your functions (wisdom spells, tankiness, DPR through attacks or AOEs) in any way whatsoever, other than opening up the possibility of a Warlock or Paladin MC that you probably don't actually want.
Despite having an 8 int I am a party face. With the high wis I roleplay as street smart but not book smart at all unless I received training in that area. I have the soldier background.
In the campaign there are Sacred relics that impact the main plot. We are running a Greek/Roman gods campaign and one of them is a trident. I am a cleric of Poseidon/Neptune. Thematically it would make sense to enter the pact with the weapon that is a symbol of my god.
The increased temp AC and temp Hp with retaliation damage is what I’d be getting from warlock. Booming blade could lock people into my Aoe. I dumped strength saying I received an injury in battle as a soldier. With a trident I could use my +2 cha mod +2 proficiency for attack and damage rolls.
I’m probably going to go Fey touched and take a dip in something later on. Any thoughts on what secondary spell I should take?
When you say one-handed, you mean weapon in one hand and shield in the other? Or shield and empty hand? Because RAW, the first one doesn’t work, but the second one does, at least for spells with S components. There’s actually some weirdness around it, but in general, you need a free hand to cast, even with the holy symbol on the shield. So, technically you should have to do the thing where you drop your weapon, cast, and then on your next turn pick it back up. Warcaster gets you around that.
I played a tempest cleric through level 14, and once I had warcaster, I don’t think I used my weapon more than 3 or 4 times. Especially after my wisdom was maxed, so sacred flame for OAs was a better choice than swinging a weapon. And of course the advantage on con saves is great. Especially as you level and want to throw around call lightning. I realize resilient con can be as good a choice, or better, in terms of maintaining concentration, but warcaster gives you other benefits that resilient does not.
Oh. If you’re empty handed, then warcaster gets less attractive. Doubly if the DM doesn’t care about components. Still nice for the OA, but not as useful.
What’s your con score. If it’s an odd number, the asi for wis and con could be good. Otherwise that fey touched to even out wisdom is a good idea. And booming blade is fun with tempest, since you can max out your thunder damage.
As for another spell, command can give you some good use even out of combat if you get creative. Bless, for a free use of it, or not not have to prepare it. Dissonant whispers can be fun for a little damage with a side of battlefield control.
The build does similar things to what you are wanting to do in a different way. You wouldn't be able to do the wizard levels, but they wouldn't be completely necessary. Consider https://ddb.ac/characters/47200633/qZgaAU.
I think that the storm sorcerer angle could still be useful or a dip into druid as was mentioned a couple times before. I don't remember everything that I put into sorcerer levels on my character, so don't feel like I'm suggesting everything there. It's mainly just for inspiration.
Spellcasters are risky for these kinds of multiclasses. While a non-caster can quite easily invest in one of the mental scores and take a dip in a spellcasting class, a multiclass among spellcasting classes with different spellcasting abilities is hard to pull off.
In general, the primary scores for a spellcaster are their spellcasting ability (INT for wizards and artificers. WIS for clerics, druids, rangers, and monks. CHA for bards, paladins, sorcerers, and warlocks.), followed by dexterity and constitution (AC and HP are critical for a character with a d6 hit dice.)
This means that, outside of Gish builds and preplanned multiclasses, strength and the other two mental scores are usually dump stats (unless you roll for stats and get really lucky).
In the end, multi classing between a Cleric (WIS) and Warlock (CHA) IS possible, but before you do it, take a look at your CHA stat. If it's high enough for a spellcaster, go for it. Otherwise, stick with Cleric or choose a wisdom based multiclass.
I don't think I've written the words "Spellcast" and "Class" so many times in a single comment before XD
Its a bit more complicated to MC spellcasters, but still doable. Often, you can look for support/buff spells in one class like Cleric (which don't need high spell casting modifiers), and focus on another like Wizard for attack/debuff (which do need maximized modifiers). There's also tricky workarounds to consolidate stats, like taking 3 levels of Bloodhunter (Profane Soul) to enable casting all your Warlock spells with Intelligence, even those that come from higher Warlock levels. Often, it isn't that these tricks don't work... it's just that when you take a step back and measure them against where you would have been building a single-class caster, you find you've at best accomplished par, and probably aren't pulling ahead in any way.
While the Tempest Cleric 1 ability very much wants maxed Wisdom in order to be used more often and more effectively, its level 2 channel divinity, level 6 control feature, level 8 attack buff, and level 17 flight are all entirely agnostic as to your Wisdom modifier. If you're able to make attacks (especially lightning attacks) with a different stat... like say, an Armorer's Intelligence-based chest cannon? Or that same chest-cannon, now keyed to Charisma via Hexblade? Then go for it, your Tempest features will work just the same. A +3 or +4 wisdom modifier is plenty enough to be casting non-attribute dependent spells with, or even spells that don't entirely wiff on a save and retain some usefullness, like Spirit Guardians. Just don't expect to have clutch Hold Monster casts or the like with a sub-par casting stat, and you'll find that there's still a very deep roster of useful support or even offensive spells that are tolerant of less-than-perfect wisdom.
I’m playing in a three member party. Hunter Ranger, Bard and I am the scourge aasimar Tempest cleric. I am currently the party’s DPS/tank. I mainly use AOE’s and spiritual weapon. My stats important to my next levelling decision are 17wis 15cha and 18AC.
My 4 options are: warcaster, Fey touched, ASI or hex bade.
As a hex blade I would take thunderclap, booming blade, shield and armour of Agathys. With Fey touched I would improve mobility and even out an ability score. We don’t play that often but I love the game. Please give me any thoughts.
Why don’t you take 1 level in druid instead of hexblade? You still get thunderclap if you really want, with more room for rituals with prepared spellcasting. The low level spells would be based on your wisdom. You could also get thornwhip or primal savagery to give you damage options on the turns you cast spiritual weapon. Absorb elements could be pretty nice since your AC is already decent.
Turning the bus around on Charisma by leaning into Hexblade is... gonna be a heavy lift, and doesn't really set you up to be a DPS/tank. Being a chunky AOE deliverer who clogs lanes with Spirit Guardians and the like, I get it, that's an interesting and viable approach... but I don't think Hexblade gets you there as well as some other warlocks like Fathomless, Genie, or Undead.
Warcaster is a solid feat you'll want eventually, but it's tough to fit it in T1 and delay your ability score progression.
I'd love to see Shillelagh on you, to free you up to start attacking with Wisdom, so that you can just focus on Wisdom and Con for your ability score progressions from here out. Druid 1 would get you that, yes, but so would Ranger 2. If you took it beyond that, Swarmkeeper is... perhaps challenging to find a coherent theme for, but the mechanics are very flexible and permissive, applying bonus damage on attacks (not weapon attacks) or other effects, with no action on your part required. Thought provoking, for a tanky caster, though to be fair Tempest Clerics do want to be making weapon attacks from 8 on, so maybe not important for you.
But to bring it back to the present... Warcaster, Fey Touched, or a multiclass to Warlock (or Druid or Ranger)? Fey Touched +1 Wisdom, hands down, or anything else that provides you +1 Wisdom like Chef or Skill Expert. I'd happily leave that Charisma at 15 for the rest of your career and never touch it again. It's hard to see how it's relevant to your functions (wisdom spells, tankiness, DPR through attacks or AOEs) in any way whatsoever, other than opening up the possibility of a Warlock or Paladin MC that you probably don't actually want.
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Despite having an 8 int I am a party face. With the high wis I roleplay as street smart but not book smart at all unless I received training in that area. I have the soldier background.
In the campaign there are Sacred relics that impact the main plot. We are running a Greek/Roman gods campaign and one of them is a trident. I am a cleric of Poseidon/Neptune. Thematically it would make sense to enter the pact with the weapon that is a symbol of my god.
The increased temp AC and temp Hp with retaliation damage is what I’d be getting from warlock. Booming blade could lock people into my Aoe. I dumped strength saying I received an injury in battle as a soldier. With a trident I could use my +2 cha mod +2 proficiency for attack and damage rolls.
I’m probably going to go Fey touched and take a dip in something later on. Any thoughts on what secondary spell I should take?
Thank you for your input.
How strict is your dm about spell components? Somatic in particular. Cause that’s where warcaster can really shine.
He is a newer Dm and allows me to cast one handed while holding my shield that has my holy symbol emblazoned on the front.
When you say one-handed, you mean weapon in one hand and shield in the other? Or shield and empty hand? Because RAW, the first one doesn’t work, but the second one does, at least for spells with S components. There’s actually some weirdness around it, but in general, you need a free hand to cast, even with the holy symbol on the shield. So, technically you should have to do the thing where you drop your weapon, cast, and then on your next turn pick it back up. Warcaster gets you around that.
I played a tempest cleric through level 14, and once I had warcaster, I don’t think I used my weapon more than 3 or 4 times. Especially after my wisdom was maxed, so sacred flame for OAs was a better choice than swinging a weapon. And of course the advantage on con saves is great. Especially as you level and want to throw around call lightning.
I realize resilient con can be as good a choice, or better, in terms of maintaining concentration, but warcaster gives you other benefits that resilient does not.
Shield and empty handed is what I usually do. My character has a staff and typically plants in in the ground in combat.
The RAW is debatable on S and VS spells while holding focuses, no need to worry about it if the DM isn’t.
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Oh. If you’re empty handed, then warcaster gets less attractive. Doubly if the DM doesn’t care about components. Still nice for the OA, but not as useful.
What’s your con score. If it’s an odd number, the asi for wis and con could be good.
Otherwise that fey touched to even out wisdom is a good idea. And booming blade is fun with tempest, since you can max out your thunder damage.
As for another spell, command can give you some good use even out of combat if you get creative. Bless, for a free use of it, or not not have to prepare it. Dissonant whispers can be fun for a little damage with a side of battlefield control.
The build does similar things to what you are wanting to do in a different way. You wouldn't be able to do the wizard levels, but they wouldn't be completely necessary. Consider https://ddb.ac/characters/47200633/qZgaAU.
I think that the storm sorcerer angle could still be useful or a dip into druid as was mentioned a couple times before. I don't remember everything that I put into sorcerer levels on my character, so don't feel like I'm suggesting everything there. It's mainly just for inspiration.
Spellcasters are risky for these kinds of multiclasses. While a non-caster can quite easily invest in one of the mental scores and take a dip in a spellcasting class, a multiclass among spellcasting classes with different spellcasting abilities is hard to pull off.
In general, the primary scores for a spellcaster are their spellcasting ability (INT for wizards and artificers. WIS for clerics, druids, rangers, and monks. CHA for bards, paladins, sorcerers, and warlocks.), followed by dexterity and constitution (AC and HP are critical for a character with a d6 hit dice.)
This means that, outside of Gish builds and preplanned multiclasses, strength and the other two mental scores are usually dump stats (unless you roll for stats and get really lucky).
In the end, multi classing between a Cleric (WIS) and Warlock (CHA) IS possible, but before you do it, take a look at your CHA stat. If it's high enough for a spellcaster, go for it. Otherwise, stick with Cleric or choose a wisdom based multiclass.
I don't think I've written the words "Spellcast" and "Class" so many times in a single comment before XD
Its a bit more complicated to MC spellcasters, but still doable. Often, you can look for support/buff spells in one class like Cleric (which don't need high spell casting modifiers), and focus on another like Wizard for attack/debuff (which do need maximized modifiers). There's also tricky workarounds to consolidate stats, like taking 3 levels of Bloodhunter (Profane Soul) to enable casting all your Warlock spells with Intelligence, even those that come from higher Warlock levels. Often, it isn't that these tricks don't work... it's just that when you take a step back and measure them against where you would have been building a single-class caster, you find you've at best accomplished par, and probably aren't pulling ahead in any way.
While the Tempest Cleric 1 ability very much wants maxed Wisdom in order to be used more often and more effectively, its level 2 channel divinity, level 6 control feature, level 8 attack buff, and level 17 flight are all entirely agnostic as to your Wisdom modifier. If you're able to make attacks (especially lightning attacks) with a different stat... like say, an Armorer's Intelligence-based chest cannon? Or that same chest-cannon, now keyed to Charisma via Hexblade? Then go for it, your Tempest features will work just the same. A +3 or +4 wisdom modifier is plenty enough to be casting non-attribute dependent spells with, or even spells that don't entirely wiff on a save and retain some usefullness, like Spirit Guardians. Just don't expect to have clutch Hold Monster casts or the like with a sub-par casting stat, and you'll find that there's still a very deep roster of useful support or even offensive spells that are tolerant of less-than-perfect wisdom.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.