Divine Strategist Cleric Optimization [PF]

[Tokuhara]

I was digging around for Cleric archetypes, and came across the Divine Strategist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/archetypes/paizo---cleric-archetypes/divine-strategist) and saw genius. 1/2 Cleric Levels to Initiative? Auto Natural 20 at 20th level? Always act on a Surprise Round? + Intelligence to attack rolls on flanking/AoO's? Aid another on Caster Checks for fellow casters? All for losing 1 domain and Channel Energy? That's a great trade for a Battle Cleric IMO.

So I want to optimize this Archetype.

So here's what I got so far:

Race: Human, exclusively for the extra feat, which will be Skill Focus: Knowledge-Religion

Domain: I'm stuck here. Madness, Darkness, and Glory are my ideal choices, so I need to choose between these three, unless there is a better choice.

Traits: Reactionary and Defensive Tactician. These are great for what I want (basically, I go first and win)

Feats: So far: Skill Focus: Knowledge-Religion, Eldritch Heritage: Arcane (Compsognathus), Improved Initiative, Warrior Priest. Still need past 5th level.

Spells: Barring my Domain, I need to focus on self-buffs, debuffs, and damage spells/crowd control.

If you guys have any suggestions, options, or ideas, please post. I need this done by Thursday. Thanks everyone

[jmelesky]

Race: Human, exclusively for the extra feat, which will be Skill Focus: Knowledge-Religion


Realize that if Skill Focus is your bonus feat of choice, you have other options. First, you can go Half-Elf, as they get a bonus Skill Focus at 1st level.

Second, you can stick with Human, but grab the Focused Study alternate racial trait. You give up your bonus feat, but get a bonus Skill Focus, and then another bonus Skill Focus at levels 8 and 16.

[Tokuhara]

Realize that if Skill Focus is your bonus feat of choice, you have other options. First, you can go Half-Elf, as they get a bonus Skill Focus at 1st level.

Second, you can stick with Human, but grab the Focused Study alternate racial trait. You give up your bonus feat, but get a bonus Skill Focus, and then another bonus Skill Focus at levels 8 and 16.

That might work actually. So at 1, Knowledge: Religion, 8, Spellcraft, and 16, ....????

Any other ideas?

Edit:

I'm stuck between this build and a Dwarf Witch 1/Gun Tank Pistolero 19 that reloads his gun with his magnificent beard

[grarrrg]

I was digging around for Cleric archetypes, and came across the Divine Strategist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/archetypes/paizo---cleric-archetypes/divine-strategist) and saw genius. 1/2 Cleric Levels to Initiative? Auto Natural 20 at 20th level? Always act on a Surprise Round? + Intelligence to attack rolls on flanking/AoO's? Aid another on Caster Checks for fellow casters? All for losing 1 domain and Channel Energy? That's a great trade for a Battle Cleric IMO.

MAD Cleric is MAD

STR to hit things
DEX to not be hit by things
CON for when you are hit by things
INT to help hit things (see Divine Strategist)
WIS cuz clerc LOLZ
CHA need at least 13 for Eldritch Heritage

Guided Hand (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/-guided-hand) can sort of help with this, allowing you to use WIS-to-hit with your deity's weapon.


Domain: I'm stuck here. Madness, Darkness, and Glory are my ideal choices, so I need to choose between these three, unless there is a better choice.

Handy Domain linky (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13224299)
Darkness is available to all but LG and NG
Glory is available to all but LE and NE
Madness is available to all but LG

Note: the listed alignment(s) is YOUR alignment, so while there is no CG deity with Darkness, there is a CN one with Darkness.


As for Smashy Smashy, you'll obviously want to take Cleric to at least level 8 for the INT-to-stuff.
After that, the only things you get from staying Cleric are +1 Init every 2 levels, and slightly better Domain powers.
There are a variety of PrC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12613046#post12613046)s with 3/4 Bab and Full Divine, or Full Bab and 7/10 Divine, but only 2 with better than that.
Demoniac (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/c-d/demoniac) is 3/4 Bab, 9/10 Casting, but you must worship a Demon Lord (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/demon/demon-lords) (CE), which excludes the Glory domain.
Inheritor's Crusader (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/i-m/inheritor-s-crusader) is Full Bab and 3/3 Casting (so the Full Bab does NOTHING without another Full Bab class), you must be LG and worship Iomedae, which most likely means the Glory Domain.

[Tokuhara]

Handy Domain linky (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13224299)
Darkness is available to all but LG and NG
Glory is available to all but LE and NE
Madness is available to all but LG

Note: the listed alignment(s) is YOUR alignment, so while there is no CG deity with Darkness, there is a CN one with Darkness.


As for Smashy Smashy, you'll obviously want to take Cleric to at least level 8 for the INT-to-stuff.
After that, the only things you get from staying Cleric are +1 Init every 2 levels, and slightly better Domain powers.
There are a variety of PrC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12613046#post12613046)s with 3/4 Bab and Full Divine, or Full Bab and 7/10 Divine, but only 2 with better than that.
Demoniac (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/c-d/demoniac) is 3/4 Bab, 9/10 Casting, but you must worship a Demon Lord (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/demon/demon-lords) (CE), which excludes the Glory domain.
Inheritor's Crusader (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/i-m/inheritor-s-crusader) is Full Bab and 3/3 Casting (so the Full Bab does NOTHING without another Full Bab class), you must be LG and worship Iomedae, which most likely means the Glory Domain.

With the highlighted, there is an Option "B": Godless Cleric. Remember: a Cleric can choose to worship an idea, like madness, darkness, heroism, or monkeys flinging poo (probably not that one). So I could be CE and have Glory or LG and have Madness.

And I understand that Divine Strategist is MAD, but it's still Tier 1. Sure, I lose Channel (which is weaker than 3.5's Turn Undead) and 1 domain (now I'm equal to a Druid domain-wise) for some relatively strong class features (initiative, etc.) and I won't overshadow a party of Tier 3's

[grarrrg]

With the highlighted, there is an Option "B": Godless Cleric. Remember: a Cleric can choose to worship an idea, like madness, darkness, heroism, or monkeys flinging poo (probably not that one). So I could be CE and have Glory or LG and have Madness.

True, you can go godless, but there are a few side benefits to having one. Mostly the Free Weapon prof. but there are a couple others.

P.S. THE YELLOW! IT BURNS!!

[Tokuhara]

True, you can go godless, but there are a few side benefits to having one. Mostly the Free Weapon prof. but there are a couple others.

P.S. THE YELLOW! IT BURNS!!

Weapon proficiency was nice in 3.5 when you chose the deity with Spiked Chain as the weapon. But seriously. I wish Paizo had a deity who had every good domain (Madness, Darkness, Glory, and Luck) with Favored Weapon: Firearms