Best Proficiencies For A Solo Cleric?

Elrandir

I couldn't find any other threads asking this question, so here I am. What would you guys say are the best proficiencies for a solo cleric to take? (Going through BG1&2) I'm inclined to say that the only two essentials are warhammer and sling, with perhaps an eventual choice in flail. And obviously you'll have skills with all of your options eventually, but what other options would you say to take? This may be a short-lived thread with no real depth to it, but I'm interested to see what ideas you guys come up with. I'm assuming warhammer because of Ashideena and Crom Faeyr, and sling, so you'll have a ranged weapon, and then flail because of FoA. Any other worthy weapons to draw my attention and pips?

Loub

It depends on your choice of secondary classes.
Quarterstaves are the best weapon if you have a backstab modifier (stalker or rogue), due to Staff of the Ram having the highest base damage of any weapon. Even if you don't have a bsm, the staff of the ram still beats all of the other weapons by a mile, although you do give up shields.
Slings are the best ranged weapon, but having 19 strength will increase your damage up the wazoo, so that is recommended. That or buffing your str to 25 with your many buffs, which is possible even from level 9.

Elrandir

My idea was a pure cleric, relying on divine help and faith, rather than another way of life.

Skaffen

Mace for mace of disruption and the stunning mace in BG1.

Arizael

@Elrandir As solo cleric you are not gonna experience lack of proficiencies. You can't invest deeply in weapon styles (so no dual-wield) and you are very limited in available weapon types.

Start with warhammers and with sling. Get maces and flails later.

Skaffen

As far as I remember the stunning mace is easier to get than the warhammer from Bassilus so I'd start with that. I might be wrong though, haven't played BG1 as often as 2.

Wanderon

The stupifier mace is perhaps the best overall cleric weapon in BGEE but you need either a thief to pick locks or enough strength to bash open a locked chest to get it (and the desire to do so from an RP standpoint) - if you plan to get it - I'd start with mace and sling.

Elrandir

C'mon guys, you sure I shouldn't take club to use that awesome +1 club that becomes a +2 at night in BG1? =p Jokes aside, I know there's not much depth to your proficiencies, but I was just curious to see what might come up. And I'd say from my personal thoughts that the best course of action would be warhammer\mace and sling to begin with, then whichever one of those two you didn't pick. After that, sword and shield style to help with the threat archers present in BG1. In BG2, take flails as soon as you get your fifth weapon proficiency. That way in BG1 you have the stunning mace for the majority of enemies, with a backup of Ashideena for what the mace can't deal with, sling to keep your distance, and S&S style for obvious reasons. And by the time you reach BG2, you'll easily gain pip #5 in time to use FoA. (Gosh. I sure am wordy. I try to make a short post and it just doesn't happen...)

Kamigoroshi

Nothing's better than clubbing the lights out of everyone and everything.

Vote the club as melee weapon of the year!

Elrandir

@Kamigoroshi‌ To like or agree, that is the question...

That said, I honestly want to make a caveman character one day. Barbarian class. Wields a club. Minimum intelligence. Maximum strength. Probably a half-orc, since it fits. Regardless of what proficiencies I can gain, I just keep on with clubs. Always clubs.

Corvino

Sword and shield style is a complete waste unless you've got everything else you need covered. With decent armour and a large shield the archers shouldn't be a problem. You can set out from Candlekeep with a large shield and splint mail and get the ring of protection on the way to the Friendly Arm.

While admittedly you could complete the whole of BG1/SoA/ToB with just warhammer proficiency, I'd say Mace & Sling to start, add in Warhammer at level 4, Flail at 8 and then whatever takes your fancy.

For a solo Cleric - beware the Werewolf isle. You won't be able to use either sword or the dagger that have significant bonuses against the Greater Wolfwere or Loup Garou. I think it may be possible by abusing a Wand of the Heavens but you may be better off avoiding it completely.

Elrandir

Yes, there are a great many classes who should avoid the Isle of Balduran when soloing. I have a thread going for my solo archer's playthrough, and I plan on fully ignoring that quest line when I get to it. It's simply not worth the hassle.

As for S&S, I think it'd be better to take it before flail. It's nigh on useless in BG2, when ranged damage isn't as threatening. I would say it's best to take it while it's still some use, rather than after it's lost all potency. You're certainly not going to lack in points, especially when you're the only one getting the xp. And since you're leveling quickly, there's a good chance you'll gain S&S before dealing with the bandit camp. An extra 2 defense against that? Sounds handy to me.

Blackraven

@Elrandir and others: how many pips can you get in dual wield as a single class cleric? one or two?
I can imagine (haven't tested) that with Crom Faeyr in the off hand dual wielding becoming viable due to CF's STR bonus. So in that case one could decide to invest in dual wield later in the game (mid BG2)

Elrandir

@Blackraven‌ Only one, unfortunately. Dual wielding is a bad choice for a cleric. There's a reason so many clerics carry a shield. Even so, Crom Faeyr is still an excellent choice. I haven't done a comparison between FoA+5 and Crom Faeyr, but I imagine 25 strength makes up for a lot of other deficiencies. Not to mention, FoA+5 makes you immune to haste, which is a serious drawback. (though with a solo cleric your only real source of haste would be items\potions anyway) It's almost certainly a tie between the two, though. Although as Skaffen said, the mace of disruption is a very nice tool. Perfect clerical weapon, and very handy considering all the vampires in BG2.

Blackraven

@Elrandir, ok so with one pip in dual wielding you get a -2/-6 thac0 penalty in your main and off hand respectively. However Crom Fraeyr's 25 strength will give you a +7 bonus to thac0 for both main and off hand. So all in all you get +5 to hit for whatever weapon you carry in your main hand, for example Flail of Ages or Mace of Disruption, and +1 to hit with Crom Faeyr in your off hand. And then you get a whopping +14 bonus to damage thanks to your 25 STR.
All in all, I think that if you make sure to be proficient in warhammer and whatever weapon you'll be carrying in your main hand, dual wielding can certainly be viable to your cleric, with the mighy Crom Fraeyr that is. And since your question is about a solo cleric, there won't be anyone else who'd make better use of the Crom Fraeyr.
I'm not saying that dual wielding is the way to go. There might be instances where you would prefer to equp a shield (shield of harmony or that of balduran come to mind).

elminster

Corvino said:

Sword and shield style is a complete waste unless you've got everything else you need covered. With decent armour and a large shield the archers shouldn't be a problem. You can set out from Candlekeep with a large shield and splint mail and get the ring of protection on the way to the Friendly Arm.

While admittedly you could complete the whole of BG1/SoA/ToB with just warhammer proficiency, I'd say Mace & Sling to start, add in Warhammer at level 4, Flail at 8 and then whatever takes your fancy.

For a solo Cleric - beware the Werewolf isle. You won't be able to use either sword or the dagger that have significant bonuses against the Greater Wolfwere or Loup Garou. I think it may be possible by abusing a Wand of the Heavens but you may be better off avoiding it completely.

Wand of the heavens won't do enough damage to kill the Greater Wolfwere. He heals 30hp/round and has 50% fire resistance.

Elrandir

@Blackraven‌ Hmm... Y'know, you make a good argument. And it'd be easy to spare a pip into dual wielding by the time you get Crom Faeyr, so that's actually a really valid point. Sure, shields would easily be more useful in plenty of situations, due to the magical one's abilities, but against run of the mill enemies, a dual wielding strategy would actually be pretty dang good. I concede. *bows*

Blackraven

Yes, I think if you need the defense against certain specific attacks, use a shield, by all means. But when you're intent on dealing damage, I'd go with CF in offhand. Just ask yourself, is my shield going to offer any valuable protection in this fight (apart from a slight AC bonus)? Only equip it if the answer to that question is yes.

mjs

maces, slings, warhammers, dual wielding, flails - in that order. flails aren't worth it till FoA and with all the buffs you can reliably dual wield in BG1 with decent THAC0. I'd go priest of Lothander by the way

Skaffen

While CF is certainly a great weapon esp. a solo cleric will not be getting as much mileage out of it as e.g. a fighter - you'll drown in DUHM and will be able to run with maxxed physical stats for all battles where it matters. FoA and DoE will probably be a better combo due to slowing plus damage immunity for max. damage reduction, while still attacking with >20 strength.

Blackraven

@Skaffen, good point. My point was to demonstrate that dual wielding does make sense for a cleric. Your post illustrates this even better. DoE is great, and you're right about having many DUHMs at your disposal at higher levels.

Quartz

Hahaha "The Night Club"

Freakin' hilarious ... and very very stupid.

abacus

I'd largely agree with the stuff above, but would just mention quarterstaves & THWS... there are some great ones around... For instance the Staff of Rhynn has to be one of the easiest +4 weapons to attain in BG2. Staff of the Ram is awesome, and Staff-Spear gives you a piercing option (situationally valuable to a Cleric).

Demonoid_Limewire

Cleric weaponry is limited. Not many choices anyway, and you can get all proficiencies regardless. You are correct. Warhammers and Slings are your best choice. Flails are also useful, but since you are not a Fighter Cleric, you should concentrate on Hammers anyway... Especially the one that gives 25 strength. Single weapon and Sword and shield are good for you.

FinneousPJ

@Demonoid_Limewire‌ "The one hammer" isn't that useful on a cleric, since they can attain high strength easily anyway. Of course, if you're solo, might as well use it before something better comes along.