Help with PrC for LN cleric of St. Cuthbert?

[Joshua Randall]

I'm planning the career path for my (currently) 2nd level Lawful Neutral cleric of St. Cuthbert (full stat block below). But I'm having a tough time finding a cleric PrC to fit my needs. Many of the PrCs from Defenders of the Faith have prohibitive alignment or skill rank requirements, or are just not thematically appropriate.

Does anyone have any ideas? I'd like for the PrC to preserve cleric spellcasting progression if possible (i.e., not something like the Templar PrC that gains its own spell list). Pretty much any WotC/D&D source is legit, but no non-WotC d20 sources. Thanks!


Jalrael, Male Human Clr2 of St. Cuthbert: Medium humanoid (human); HD 2d8+2; hp 14; Init -1; Spd 20 ft. (base 30 ft.); AC 15 (+4 armor, +2 shield, -1 Dex), touch 9, flat-footed 15; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk/Full Atk +2 melee (1d8+1, heavy mace) or +0 ranged (1d8, light crossbow); SA spells, turn undead 5/day, smite 1/day; SQ aura of law, spontaneous casting; AL LN; SV Fort +4, Ref -1, Will +5; Str 13, Dex 8, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 14.

Skills: Concentration +6 (5 ranks), Diplomacy +6 (5), Knowledge (religion) +5 (5).
Feats: Divine Might*, Power Attack.
* from Defenders of the Faith.
Cleric Spells Prepared (4/3+1; save DC 12 + spell level): 0—detect magic, light (2), resistance; 1—comprehend languages, detect evil, enlarge person*, shield of faith.
* domain spell. Domains = Destruction, Strength.
Aura of Law: As a cleric of St. Cuthbert, Jalrael radiates a moderate aura of law.
Smite (Su): Once per day, Jalrael can add a +4 bonus to his attack roll and deal an extra 2 points of damage to a foe.
Feat of Strength (Su): Jalrael can perform a feat of strength as a supernatural ability, gaining a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength. Activating the power is a free action, the power lasts 1 round, and it is usable once per day.
Turn Undead (Su): Five times per day, Jalrael may turn undead. He gains a +2 bonus on his turning check for possessing 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (religion).
Possessions: heavy mace, light crossbow, 10 bolts, dagger, scale mail, heavy wooden shield, wooden holy symbol, backpack with typical adventuring equipment, potion of cure moderate wounds, 2 potions of cure light wounds.

 

[Pax]

From DotF, what about the Church Inquisitor? Rather suits the attitude St. Cuthbert, and his Church, quite well, I'd say.

 

[Nightfall]

Don't think I can help you if you won't go outside WotC.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

A stat block is nice, but the moral description of your cleric would probably be useful in finding an appropriate Prestige Class, especially since you said that some of the PrC you've seen are not "thematically" appropriate for your PC...

How does your Cleric want to serve St-Cuthbert?

As a "generic" cleric PrC, you could probably check out Divine Disciple from FR.

AR

 

[Joshua Randall]

Pax: the Church Inquisitor PrC is an interesting case. According to Defenders of the Faith, a requirement for entering the PrC is that the character must be a member of a Lawful Good church. St. Cuthbert is Lawful Neutral, so it appears his clergy cannot become Church Inquisitors - despite the seeming appropriateness of the PrC.

However, Defenders of the Faith also states, under the section on Lawful Neutral churches, that Church Inquisitors may be found as part of the church! (p. 33, second column) Huh.

Nightfall: thppt! But see below.

AR: Divine Disciple is a good suggestion. I forgot about that one.

As for Jalrael's "moral description", here's some stuff I wrote up regarding his background:

Jalrael was always a stern, humorless child and now he's a stern, humorless young adult. He looks around and sees too much disorder in the world - disorder that must be corrected. Fortunately the church of St. Cuthbert is here to see that it happens. ... Jalrael longs to smite things in the name of his god.

According to the [Living Greyhawk] blurb on St. Cuthbert, there are three divisions of the Cuthbertian clergy: Chapeaux, Stars, and Billets. Jalrael hasn’t officially joined any division yet, but he is philosophically partial to the Chapeaux, those who seek to convert people to the faith. ... Jalrael personally believes the best way to convert people is by actively displaying the might of St. Cuthbert; he thinks people are more swayed by examples than by pious speeches. However, he also has the personal magnetism (high Cha, ranks in Diplomacy) to proselytize in the more usual fashion.

I'm surprised there isn't some type of proselytizing PrC. Maybe something in Book of Exalted Deeds that I overlooked? Or in a non-WotC source? (There ya go, Nightfall!)

Thanks again.

 

[pawsplay]

Why does this Cleric of St. Cuthbert need a Prestige Class? What about Cleric is not doing it for you?

 

[shilsen]

Considering the description of the character and the chosen domains, how about Warpriest?

 

[Nightfall]

Nightfall: thppt! But see below.

Thanks a lot.

I'm surprised there isn't some type of proselytizing PrC. Maybe something in Book of Exalted Deeds that I overlooked? Or in a non-WotC source? (There ya go, Nightfall!)

Thanks again.

Nope really can't think of anything out of BoED and that's about the best source these days. Wait for Complete Divine perhaps. Otherwise I can't help you if I can't stray into d20.

 

[Joshua Randall]

pawsplay: There's nothing wrong with cleric, but I like being a PrC munchkin sometimes. If I can't find something appropriate, Clr20 will be fine.

shilsen: Warpriest is a strong PrC for a Ftr/Clr; I'm not sure it's so great for a pure Clr because of the loss of caster levels. On the plus side, the feats required for Warpriest are both useful (Combat Casting, Leadership) which is more than can be said for many PrCs (e.g., all the ones that require Endurance - ugh!).

Also, getting access to the Glory prestige domain nets some nice spells that aren't available to vanilla clerics (2-bless weapon, 4-holy smite, 5-holy sword...). It might be worth going to Clr9 before entering Warpriest: that way holy sword kicks in instantly since you already have 5th level spells. Then either pop right back out into cleric, or stay for Warpriest 2 if you want the better BAB and special ability. (So either Clr9/Warpiest1/Clr10... or Clr9/Warpriest2/...)

Nightfall: BoED has some outstanding PrCs for Lawful Good characters, but (obviously) none for Lawful Neutrals. Emissary of Barachiel is thematically close to the proselytizer that I want, although it gives up regular caster level progression. Fist of Raziel is an awesome smite evil machine -- too bad it doesn't work with the Destruction domain's smite ability.

As for "stray[ing] into d20", I thought I just said that I would? So, what's out there?

 

[the_mighty_agrippa]

Church Inquistor is a dead-on match for St. Cuthbert, so presenting it to the DM might be a simple solution. Also, the LG restriction says "church or knightly order" and there are plenty of paladins in service to the Cudgel.