Ranger>Cleric v Ranger/Cleric v Fighter/Cleric v Fighter>Cleric

wildernesswoodelf

If adding the mod that allows clerics to inherit druid spells from their ranger class, would that make ranger+clerics better than fighter+clerics?
Specifically I'm thinking about berserker>clerics who have the ability to have immunities against a bunch of nasty effects. Druid spells are nice, but I wonder if they can compete with that berserking ability. Not to mention fighters getting to put more pips into a weapon of choice?

Trouveur

You don't need to cheat the druid spells. You will get them in vanilla EE game, just when you ranger levels allow you to cast them. It means you will only have access to low level druid spells of course.
Strong points of the ranger / cleric is free two points in two weapons style, stealth, favoured enemy, and of course a better thAC0 progression than any fighter dual to cleric.

DinoDin

I've done a full saga run as a dualed ranger into a cleric, and I just don't think it's as good as fighter duals. Principally for the pips, which end up making a huge difference. At least in a typical playthrough. And of course berserker's bonus.

I don't think the ranger/druid abilities synergize all that well. Cleric cuts off the ranger's weapon diversity. Your party cleric generally wants tankiness, which doesn't combine well with stealth, or even two-weapon style.

Having a really big spellbook, at a certain point, isn't that much of an upgrade. It's not as if you will exhaust great options as a single class cleric.

The combat rules reward optimizing spellcasts/item usage and weapon attacks. It's good to have at least one strong or interrupting attack on every member of your party.

Where ranger dualed might be better is soloing or in parties smaller than six, where flexibility helps more. A strong build would probably have to lean in on the stealth side of the ranger, even consider going stalker->cleric. Barkskin is a decent spell to cover your AC deficit. Stealth is the strongest of the abilities ranger brings to a party.

wildernesswoodelf

DinoDin wrote: »

I've done a full saga run as a dualed ranger into a cleric, and I just don't think it's as good as fighter duals. Principally for the pips, which end up making a huge difference. At least in a typical playthrough. And of course berserker's bonus.

I don't think the ranger/druid abilities synergize all that well. Cleric cuts off the ranger's weapon diversity. Your party cleric generally wants tankiness, which doesn't combine well with stealth, or even two-weapon style.

Having a really big spellbook, at a certain point, isn't that much of an upgrade. It's not as if you will exhaust great options as a single class cleric.

The combat rules reward optimizing spellcasts/item usage and weapon attacks. It's good to have at least one strong or interrupting attack on every member of your party.

Where ranger dualed might be better is soloing or in parties smaller than six, where flexibility helps more. A strong build would probably have to lean in on the stealth side of the ranger, even consider going stalker->cleric. Barkskin is a decent spell to cover your AC deficit. Stealth is the strongest of the abilities ranger brings to a party.

But what's the point of stealth if you can't backstab? Have you considered the ranger/cleric multi as an alternative?

Trouveur

Scouting. The thing allowing to spot foes and to cast web and fireball before they see you.