favored soul or cloistered cleric

[chaotician375]

So after having 2 characters die within 3 sessions of each other I'm back on the drawing board. I'm making a melee focus storm lord and for entry I'm looking at a human cloistered cleric, or a illumian favored soul who gets bonus spells off of strength. The human has about 113 HP AC of 28 and 107 skill points and spontaneous domain casting with the storm domain backed up by war and knowlage domains( DM doesn't like dmm shenanigans so not gonna touch that). The illuman has 131 HP AC of 28 and 75 skill points and more spell slots the more I buff my self and better saves
We are at lvl 12. So my question is should I go with cloisteredcleric or fs

[Acanous]

Cloistered Cleric. It's better than FSoul by leaps and bounds.
If Divine Metamagic isn't banned in your session, take it. Put it on Persist Spell, never look back.

[Urpriest]

You don't have more spell slots after buffing yourself. You need to sleep with the buffs on to get more spell slots.

[Gavinfoxx]

Actually, divine classes don't have to sleep -- they just have to pray for an hour at a particular time, every 24 hours. A few Lesser Restorations each day, and they can stay awake indefinitely...

[chaotician375]

Cloistered Cleric. It's better than FSoul by leaps and bounds.
If Divine Metamagic isn't banned in your session, take it. Put it on Persist Spell, never look back.

My DM does not want me using divine meta magic or believe me I would, besides the storm lord eats up a lot of my feats as it is. I guess what I'm asking is if the skill points are worth it to have less HP and a slightly lower ac

[Urpriest]

If you can't use DMM then you won't have Divine Power up all the time, so you probably want the BAB that non-cloistered cleric or favored soul gives you. That said, the main question is not "how much HP will I have?", rather it is "what spells do I want to cast?" If your list lends itself well to spontaneous casting, go with favored soul. If not, or if there are nice domain powers or Divine Feats you want, cloistered cleric.

[TypoNinja]

I REALLY REALLY like the idea of the favored soul.

The execution of it is terrible however.

You lose far too much, and gain pretty much nothing in return. Cloistered Cleric is a superior choice.

No domains, no turning pool, no longer SAD, slower spell progression, and limited spell list all for the pleasure of casting spontaneously.

All they screwed the Sorc on was bonus feats and ACF's compared to a wizard. Favoured souls lost pretty much everything, to get abilities that come too late to be useful (whooo wings at 17th level!).

[8wGremlin]

So after having 2 characters die within 3 sessions of each other I'm back on the drawing board. I'm making a melee focus storm lord and for entry I'm looking at a human cloistered cleric, or a illumian favored soul who gets bonus spells off of strength. The human has about 113 HP AC of 28 and 107 skill points and spontaneous domain casting with the storm domain backed up by war and knowlage domains( DM doesn't like dmm shenanigans so not gonna touch that). The illuman has 131 HP AC of 28 and 75 skill points and more spell slots the more I buff my self and better saves
We are at lvl 12. So my question is should I go with cloisteredcleric or fs

What is it about the storm lord that you like?

What do you want your character to do in and out of combat?

I have suggestions for alternatives if your interested, but the above questions will help

[Urpriest]

No domains, no turning pool, no longer SAD, slower spell progression, and limited spell list all for the pleasure of casting spontaneously.


That particular situation isn't an issue for this guy. He's playing a melee character, so he'd have Str regardless, and Illumian means he can use Str for bonus spells.

[Sgt. Cookie]

Instead of a Favoured Soul, check out the Spontaneous Divine Casters varaint in Unearthed Arcana, better than a FS any day of the week.

[chaotician375]

What is it about the storm lord that you like?

What do you want your character to do in and out of combat?

I have suggestions for alternatives if your interested, but the above questions will help

Its mostly a flavor thing, I snatched the bracers of endless javalins so I basicly have infinite +3 javalins, but its mostly flavor. A kind of boisterous warrior harnesses the might and fury of the storm to vanquesh lesser warriors. Out of combat, we are desperately in need of healing and general support as our casters keep dying, and being a talker for the party as we have very little in the line of diplomacy. In combat, mess some dudes up with a spear and javalins as needed buffing up and charging in, especially that last bit

[Curmudgeon]

You can play to the Favored Soul's strengths, but it tends to constrain your choices.

The best race is probably the Lesser (Player's Guide to Faerûn, page 191) Aasimar (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/planetouched.htm#aasimar), because it boosts both spellcasting stats, has no level adjustment, and doesn't cost you a racial hit die of Outsider, since as a Humanoid it has the option to exchange that 1 HD for its first class level. I realize that doesn't exactly fit your plan.

The best deity is probably Kossuth (Forgotten Realms) or Zoser (non-setting-specific wastes deity, so everywhere else), because they have the spiked chain as their favored weapon. This means you'll get as class features the following feats:

Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain)
Weapon Focus (spiked chain)
Weapon Specialization (spiked chain)
If you get those feats for "free", you get a significant boost in melee combat capabilities. Add some Steadfast Boots (Magic Item Compendium, pages 138-139), and you'll always be considered set to receive a charge while wielding your spiked chain.

[8wGremlin]

If you allowed to play a Mystic Ranger


Mystic Ranger 1st: Great Fortitude (feat)
Mystic Ranger 2nd
Mystic Ranger 3rd
Mystic Ranger 4th: Endurance (feat)
Mystic Ranger 5th
Warblade 1st: Weapon Focus(Javelins)


Take the following Alternative Class features (ACF) for ranger

Trap Expert (DS, p 12): Lose tracking. Gain trap finding, and disable device as a class skill.

Arcane Hunter (CM, p 32): lose normal favored enemy, gain "Favored Enemy (Arcanists)"

This gives you 3rd level spells, all the required feats to enter stormlord at level 7!

You could enter in to Bloodstorm blade - a TOM prestige class, that specialises in throwing things, and making thrown things usable in melee too.

Just food for thought...