D&D 5E Heavy Armour for Life Domain?

[mach1.9pants]

The extra proficiency in Heavy Armour in the life domain makes no sense to me. For War? Sure but Life? Why I am sure you are preserving your own life, but not quite what I'd like to see. Having messaged with a friend with the PHB it seems there are a few odd choices for the domains in the PHB too.

Knowledge: Seems right, knowledge based proficiencies.
Life: Heavy Armour Proficiency (replace with Medicine Proficiency)
Light: Good stuff!
Nature: Heavy Armour Proficiency (get another of Animal Handling, Nature, or Survival proficiencies)
Tempest: Heavy Armour and Martial Weapons (replace Elemental Adept Thunder or Lightning Feat)
Trickery: Lose Medium Armour Proficiency (replace Stealth and Deception Proficiency)
War: Armour and weapons oh yeah!

It just seems they went with Heavy Armour and/or Martial Weapons as a cop out. My favourite thing from 2E was Speciality Priests and I want that sort of differentiation in 5E by the use of domains.

Anyone else agree?

 

[Mouseferatu]

I agree that heavy armor proficiency seems weird or out of theme for a lot of those. I've been contemplating replacing them myself.

But I don't think a single extra skill proficiency is enough. I was thinking, for nature, granting the Circle of the Land druid's "land's stride" ability. (Just for example.) Not sure about the others, yet, but that's more in line with that I'm thinking.

 

[Prism]

I'd say its to represent the classic 'healing' cleric and the classic cleric got heavy armour. The domains without it are more like the ranged 'lazer' cleric

 

[GX.Sigma]

The extra proficiency in Heavy Armour in the life domain makes no sense to me. For War? Sure but Life? Why

The real answer: Because the aesthetic of the Cleric in original D&D was based on a medieval legend and a tapestry, both of which depicted priests fighting in armor with clubs. The Life cleric in fifth edition D&D is meant to replicate the Cleric of original D&D.

 

[Psikerlord#]

I'd say its to represent the classic 'healing' cleric and the classic cleric got heavy armour. The domains without it are more like the ranged 'lazer' cleric

This. I think life should have got double prof on medicine and prof on persuasion/diplomacy instead of heavy armour.

 

[mearls]

This was actually something that came out of internal testing. Awesome healing clerics with bad ACs dropped early and often in combat, which made them a real drag on the rest of the party.

It's not a deal breaker for house ruling, but it was persistent enough that we gave Life clerics heavy armor.

In terms of flavor, I think the test bore out the idea that healers sent by the gods into deadly places would be outfitted to protect themselves so that they could aid and protect others. It made sense that the cleric would wear heavy armor to better focus her magic on the rest of the party.

 

[Psikerlord#]

This was actually something that came out of internal testing. Awesome healing clerics with bad ACs dropped early and often in combat, which made them a real drag on the rest of the party.

It's not a deal breaker for house ruling, but it was persistent enough that we gave Life clerics heavy armor.

In terms of flavor, I think the test bore out the idea that healers sent by the gods into deadly places would be outfitted to protect themselves so that they could aid and protect others. It made sense that the cleric would wear heavy armor to better focus her magic on the rest of the party.

Good to hear a variant was playtested, but didnt work well in practice.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Well that answers that! /thread

Thanks Mike, and I see why you went that way. Still probably mix it up for my game though ... as it should be and is so easy to do in 5E

 

[Agamon]

Well, if you're going to get Way-of-the-Shadowed by anyone, no shame if it's a lead designer of the game.

But, yeah, my first thought on the subject was, if I'm wading into the middle of combat to heal someone, I'm going to want the best protection available.

 

[Scorpio616]

This was actually something that came out of internal testing. Awesome healing clerics with bad ACs dropped early and often in combat, which made them a real drag on the rest of the party.

It's not a deal breaker for house ruling, but it was persistent enough that we gave Life clerics heavy armor.

You get a casualty off the ground, you are now the primary target!

Unlike Real Life, a ... medic will magically heal critically wounded soldiers back to full combat effectiveness in a matter of seconds - and in many cases, reviving soldiers Back from the Dead isn't any more difficult. This makes an enemy healer a primary target, because when left alone, they will ultimately start reviving and healing your enemies almost as fast as you can take them out; enemies accompanied by healers effectively become Nigh Invulnerable so long as the healer is present, so if you want to have any hope of winning, you must Shoot The Medic First.