[PF] melee cleric build (mid op, first time cleric)

[Vixsor Lumin]

Hello! I'm not new to rpgs, but I am new to clerics. I usually play skillmonkeys or beatsticks, so I wanted to branch out at least a little. A completely new player PMd me asking if I would play in a game he was DMing (we met through the playground, and I showed them how to start and join PbP games). Its a new player game so I don't want to be to optomized and overshadow everyone, but I want to be able to step in and help avoid a TPK if the newbie DM accidentlly makes something to hard.

Its PF SRD only, and I rolled up a 14,9,9,10,14,15
Lvl 1 with standard WBL
Race will probably be human, but its all undecided beyond that.

So, who wants to help me build a moderatly optimized Cleric?

[doko239]

If you're not completely married to the Cleric class, you might look into Oracle (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advanced/baseClasses/oracle.html) instead. In particular, the Battle, Wind, Ancestor (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/oracle.html) and Metal (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/oracle.html) mysteries might suit you.

[CigarPete]

If you're not completely married to the Cleric class, you might look into Oracle (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advanced/baseClasses/oracle.html) instead. In particular, the Battle, Wind, Ancestor (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/oracle.html) and Metal (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/oracle.html) mysteries might suit you.

I've seen a few places where people have said the Oracle with the right mystery is better than the Cleric at melee. Can you explain why? I would think the versatility given by the cleric would be more useful in most situations and (s)he can still do the same melee beatdown that the Oracle can do.

[grarrrg]

I've seen a few places where people have said the Oracle with the right mystery is better than the Cleric at melee. Can you explain why? I would think the versatility given by the cleric would be more useful in most situations and (s)he can still do the same melee beatdown that the Oracle can do.

Cleric more versatile? Yes, but this is what kills it when it comes to Melee Beatdown, the LACK of specialization.
Granted, any Random Cleric will probably be better than any Random Oracle, but the argument is that a Melee-Focused Oracle will beat a Melee-Focused Cleric.

Cleric/Oracle do have the same basic stats, Bab/HD//etc... (Oracle has +2 Skills, but this is minor as far as Melee is concerned).
And both have the same list of spells to work with (more or less), but there are only so many Melee Buff-type spells, and the Oracle has 1 more spell slot each level. Advantage Oracle.

Now we're down to unique class features.
Clerics have Domains, and Channel Energy.
Oracles have Mysteries, and Curse.

Channel Energy 'can' help in melee, but it's fairly limited.
Curses don't give much in the way of Combat/Melee bonuses.

This leaves Domains vs. Mysteries.

A Cleric can have 2 Domains, each Domain gives 2 powers and 9 Domain spells, for a total of 4 Powers and 18 spells.

Oracles get 1 Mystery, can choose 6 Revelations (from a list of 10), and a 7th 'Final' Revelation at 20. They also get 9 Bonus spells.

This is where Oracles shine.
Domain powers 'typically' have fairly limited durations, usually measured in Rounds. Whereas Revelations are typically measured in Minutes.

Clerics can only prepare _1_ of each level Domain Spell each day, where Oracles can cast it as many times as they have slots.
For example, the Strength Domain gives Enlarge Person as a bonus spell. A Cleric can cast this once on any given day.
The Battle Mystery also gives Enlarge Person as a bonus spell. An Oracle can cast this as many times as they have slots, or they can not cast it at all and use the slot for something else.

[watchwood]

Cleric vs Oracle is basically the same argument as wizard vs sorceror. Cleric/wizard gives you a broader array of options, but take intelligence and planning to get the most out of. Sorceror/Oracle basically take a bazooka to your problems.

There's a massive array of cleric cleric spells that or situationally useful - restorations, remove X, assorted buff spells, etc. I'd go cleric just so you have access to all of that with just a night's sleep. With the right feats, Channel Energy even makes for a decent source of combat healing - one of the very few classes that can do that.

[Hylas]

Since no one has said it yet:

Channeled Smite and Guided Hand. Guided Weapon if you come across one. Pick a deity with a cool weapon.

If you get death domain you can heal yourself with negative energy and smite with negative energy too (with channeled smite). I'm not sure if you can channel negative energy to hurt the bad guys and heal yourself simultaneously (which could be useful in a sticky situation) so you'll have to check yourself.

Travel domain has bonus speed and a dimension door ability. The spells are all very useful, even longstrider so at higher levels you'll be at a base speed of 50.