Clerical Help

[BlackDog918]

Been playing 3.5 for a while now, but never played a cleric before. I have a game coming up where I want to give it a try, and I'm limited to the three Core Books. Any advice for feat choices, spell preparation, etc?

Also, I was thinking a LG cleric of Heironeous with the Law and War domains.

[Eldariel]

Been playing 3.5 for a while now, but never played a cleric before. I have a game coming up where I want to give it a try, and I'm limited to the three Core Books. Any advice for feat choices, spell preparation, etc?

Also, I was thinking a LG cleric of Heironeous with the Law and War domains.

Those aren't the best domains but you can make do. Clerics have a wonderful spell list (they don't have too many options but the options they do have are amazing) and you can be a good fighter while at it.

Feats:
Extend Spell
Quicken Spell (level 9 - Quickened Divine Favor is great for combat)
Power Attack (two-hand something, turn your To Hit boosts into damage)
(Combat Expertise -> Improved Trip) [if you have a tripping capable weapon; probably not as a Cleric of Heironeous; provided you have the Int]
Spell Penetration > Greater
[Leadership] (if allowed)
Craft Wondrous Items & Craft Magic Arms & Armor

Make your stuff outta those. Spells, just go with the usual control spells (Silence, Wall of Stone, Antilife Shell, the like) and maybe an occasional summon (consider Thaumaturgist too; better than Cleric that advances nothing) and the good all-day buffs along with few combat buffs (especially Quickened ones).

[BowStreetRunner]

A solid option for a core-only cleric build is a focused summoner using the Thaumaturgist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/thaumaturgist.htm) PrC and the Augment Summoning (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#augmentSummoning) feat. Ehlonna or Obad-hai will give you the Animal domain which adds Summon Nature's Ally IV to your repertoire as well. Focus on summoning and buffs and let your allies do the heavy fighting for you.

[BlackDog918]

Forgot to mention, the DM is experienced, but the other players are not. Fresh lvl 1 campaign, a lot of folks getting used to the rules.

Also, my god and domains aren't set in stone, do you have some better alternatives to consider?

[Gavinfoxx]

Why don't you read these:

http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=1238
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=10961
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=2773
http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=10556

[Tokuhara]

Limited to core... Crud.

My only suggestion is to be an Idealist Cleric, and grab Luck and Time (too bad you cannot get the Planning domain, otherwise I'd suggest that over Time, but hey, beggars can't be choosers...) and then just have fun by ignoring the Spontaneous Cure spells in favor of spells you actually WANT to cast.

[Gavinfoxx]

For PHB/DMG/MM1 Clerics, I prefer:

-Human
-Travel & Trickery domains
-Martial Weapon Proficiency Guisarme or Exotic Weapon Proficiency Spiked Chain
-Extend Spell
-Quicken Spell (eventually)
-Get Improved Trip
-Get 50 gp potions of Enlarge Person, use them
-Get 750 gp wands of Cure Light Wounds, use them
-Get Power Attack
-Weapons to use pre MWP/EWP include: Gauntlet+Longspear or Morningstar, used two handed

[Eldariel]

For PHB/DMG/MM1 Clerics, I prefer:

-Human
-Travel & Trickery domains
-Martial Weapon Proficiency Guisarme or Exotic Weapon Proficiency Spiked Chain
-Extend Spell
-Quicken Spell (eventually)
-Get Improved Trip
-Get 50 gp potions of Enlarge Person, use them
-Get 750 gp wands of Cure Light Wounds, use them
-Get Power Attack
-Weapons to use pre MWP/EWP include: Gauntlet+Longspear or Morningstar, used two handed

I've played pretty much this. Works, especially with good stat rolls. Very intensive for 13 Int, High Str & Wis and preferably 14 Con too tho. But a solid frontliner, buffer and controller.