Is a channel-focused cleric even a little viable?

[Corwin_of_Amber]

The channel feature is a real step up from TU (although divine feats make that an amazing power source), but it feels to me like it's a "better than nothing" feature, rather than something that can actually be utilized well. I have noticed that there are a large number of feats that modify channeling, along with variant forms of channeling that provide bonuses.

Is it possible to give it a reasonable ability to buff, debuff and/or damage via feats or even PrCs?

[cecil1994]

While this isn't exactly what you're looking for, the Grayflame weapon ability allows the equivalent of "channeled smites", and is quite the steal for only a +1.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/magic-weapons/magic-weapon-special-abilities/grayflame

Plus, it sounds awesome.

[Abrasis Mindlef]

Fateful channel (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/fateful-channel) is awesome. You need to worship Pharasma, however.


Variant Channeling(Rulership) + Channel Ray, Improved Channel, Extra Channel, Quick Channel, Selective Channel...
You can either perform an AoE damage+daze(via normal channel; use selective channel to exclude allies)
OR shoot a ray that targets a single enemy with +2 DC with 30' range per 1d6 of channel energy.

[grarrrg]

I'd look at the Envoy of Balance (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/e-h/envoy-of-balance) PrC for a boost.
Enter with the Versatile Channeler (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/versatile-channeler) feat (and a neutral deity), then take the Spiritual Equilibrium Endowment at level 2 so you can channel either Positive or Negative at full strength.
Then at 4th take Twinned Channeling (and make sure you have Selective Channeling). This lets you do "wacky" things like Channeling to Harm opponents while simultaneously Healing your allies.

Combine with Variant Channeling and you've got a good little toolbox of possibilities.


Fateful channel (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/fateful-channel) is awesome. You need to worship Pharasma, however.

A fair number of those "worship deity > get Channel bonus" feats are awesome.
A handful are awesome...except for the high requirements, and/or the "1/day" limits.
Channeling Energy to grant those healed Protection from Evil? SWEET! Having to wait until level 13 (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Protective%20Channel)? not so sweet...

Grant those healed DR 2/-? SWEET! Having to wait until level 13? AND limited to 1/day? (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Steelskin%20Channel) Completely, utterly worthless.

[deuxhero]

Paizo ruins a lot of their feats with daily limits or requirements like "when the tide is low and you have consumed 5 gallons or rare alcohol worth 500 GP". Hardly exclusive to channel stuff.

[grarrrg]

Paizo ruins a lot of their feats with daily limits or requirements like "when the tide is low and you have consumed 5 gallons or rare alcohol worth 500 GP". Hardly exclusive to channel stuff.

I'm well aware there are lots of over-limited feats. But he specifically wants to know about Channeling-stuff, so that's all I mentioned. :smalltongue:

Some, like the DR one, are almost down to "Monkey Lunge" power level. Even without the '1/day', by the time you qualify for the DR-feat it is meaningless. If it was 1/day, but only required 2d6 Channeling, it might be worth a build now and then.

[Elder_Basilisk]

I'm planning on running a semi-channel focused cleric in PFS. The key feat is quick channel to channel as a move action by spending two uses of the ability.

A cleric of Milani can pick up a feat that also turns the channel into a good hope ability for allies
http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Beacon%20of%20Hope
A very strict RAW reading of the ability might require allies to be injured in order to benefit (so that they can be healed by the channeled energy), but that is easily arranged--either by enemies or by just not quite topping off everyone's hp before moving on.

If you aren't too concerned about having two domains or the ability to channel to harm undead, the merciful healer archetype adds paladin mercies to your channeled healing. If you choose wisely, that will enable you to reverse a lot of nasty effects and make your party as a whole a lot more resilient.

The plan for my character is to take the merciful healer archetype and worship Milani then build the character as a reach-focused battle cleric with as much charisma as wisdom. If in the front line, he can both attack and heal in the same round (attack at reach, move action channel or (if adjacent to a foe), 5' step, attack, channel). He will have some good in-combat buffing, condition removal, and healing ability from channeling and will be able to do it while still laying a beat-down on his foes.

It's tempting to try to combine Quick Channel with Vital Strike and optimize standard-attack action damage in order to minimize the offensive sacrifice involved in using the move action for channeling but I suspect that the feats and energy are probably better spent on other things such as extra channel to be able to do it more often, Quicken Spell, etc.

[Necromancy]

Paizo ruins a lot of their feats with daily limits or requirements like "when the tide is low and you have consumed 5 gallons or rare alcohol worth 500 GP". Hardly exclusive to channel stuff.

You mean like this oddly specific awesomeness?

Twin Thunders (Combat)
When you fight giants, your powerful blows combine with skills learned from generations of your people to quickly even the odds.
Prerequisite: Dwarf or gnome, defensive training racial trait, Two-Weapon Fighting or flurry of blows class feature, Weapon Focus with both wielded weapons.

Benefit: Once per round, when wielding a bludgeoning weapon in each hand against a creature with the giant subtype, if you hit the creature with your off-hand weapon after you hit with your primary weapon, roll the damage dice for your off-hand weapon twice and add the results together before adding any bonuses. Such extra weapon damage dice are not multiplied on a critical hit

That's like 1d8 or an average 4.5 pts of damage... Yeah


In regards to the OP, yes you can. I forget how it was done exactly but cleric player heals by negative damage, channels negative energy. Runs into center of battle and rocks em

[Psyren]

Use variant channeling (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/variant-channeling) - no extra feats required or limited uses/day beyond that of your channel itself.

[Corwin_of_Amber]

I'd look at the Envoy of Balance (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/e-h/envoy-of-balance) PrC for a boost.
Enter with the Versatile Channeler (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/versatile-channeler) feat (and a neutral deity), then take the Spiritual Equilibrium Endowment at level 2 so you can channel either Positive or Negative at full strength.
Then at 4th take Twinned Channeling (and make sure you have Selective Channeling). This lets you do "wacky" things like Channeling to Harm opponents while simultaneously Healing your allies.

Combine with Variant Channeling and you've got a good little toolbox of possibilities.



A fair number of those "worship deity > get Channel bonus" feats are awesome.
A handful are awesome...except for the high requirements, and/or the "1/day" limits.
Channeling Energy to grant those healed Protection from Evil? SWEET! Having to wait until level 13 (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Protective%20Channel)? not so sweet...

Grant those healed DR 2/-? SWEET! Having to wait until level 13? AND limited to 1/day? (http://www.archivesofnethys.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Steelskin%20Channel) Completely, utterly worthless.

That looks like an interesting class. Too bad the endowments are so limited. You pretty much have to take one that is outside your focus. Looks interesting, however.


Fateful channel (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/fateful-channel) is awesome. You need to worship Pharasma, however.


Variant Channeling(Rulership) + Channel Ray, Improved Channel, Extra Channel, Quick Channel, Selective Channel...
You can either perform an AoE damage+daze(via normal channel; use selective channel to exclude allies)
OR shoot a ray that targets a single enemy with +2 DC with 30' range per 1d6 of channel energy.

This is amusing. I looked through all of the variant channeling options and rulership did seem to be the best, especially when you can use versatile channeler to give you an option for combat or social situations.


Use variant channeling (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/cleric/variant-channeling) - no extra feats required or limited uses/day beyond that of your channel itself.

I figured one of these would be featured in the build. The only thing that is annoying is the fact that this is a cha-based save. Is there a feat that switches it over to wis-based?

[Psyren]

I figured one of these would be featured in the build. The only thing that is annoying is the fact that this is a cha-based save. Is there a feat that switches it over to wis-based?

Not that I know of, but SAD classes with channel like (Anti)Paladin or Life Oracle can use these too.

[grarrrg]

That looks like an interesting class. Too bad the endowments are so limited. You pretty much have to take one that is outside your focus. Looks interesting, however.

The higher level abilities are pretty limited in use and/or 1/day anyway.
I'd say jump in for 5 or 6 levels and get out (level 5 is situational, but can be pretty handy).

[Spore]

Personally positive channeling is a "I'd just invest nothing and use those up before I start healing people with actual spells" for me while negative channeling is where the fun combat mechanics start for me. Aside from any specialised buff and debuff feats I'd just use ability focus, high Charisma, items and feats that buff the damage and take the Death domain (for healing from negative energy). Selective/quick channel is a must then. And then...just blast things. Channeling twice in combat is much damage (remember it circumventing any resistances). If you stack Command Undead on it, your undead opponents actually have it worse.


You mean like this oddly specific awesomeness?
snippeted sillyness

How....why? Is there a new Drizz't-esque character that requires EXACTLY that feat under these circumstances?

[atemu1234]

Paizo ruins a lot of their feats with daily limits or requirements like "when the tide is low and you have consumed 5 gallons or rare alcohol worth 500 GP". Hardly exclusive to channel stuff.

I'm pretty sure I know which deity's clerics have the second feat.