CLERIC Role Playing Guide | Color Pie System

[@DiceTry]

So tell me what's your domain?

[@Luiz_orneduom]

Red. I am a fool, but a free one nonetheless.

[@gillanranger9561]

I've alway vibed with life & grave fomains

[@edelweissaven3780]

Order Domain

[@gabrielmauricio6414]

Welp, um trickery domain

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

If I had to pick one it would be the knowledge domain, because I very much enjoy learning about things. But only very spesific and mostly useless things. Still fun tho

[@jantheflyingdutchman]

Love this video. Cleric is a class I would've overlooked not too long ago, but becomes incredibly interesting the more you learn about it. It can be incredibly deep.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

Honestly that you get so few views per video is a crime. You make so much good and thought provoking content. Best of luck to you in the future

[@DiceTry]

I hear ya there. I think it just has to do with color philosophy being something that not a lot of people know about. I think it'll be a slow growth. At least the people who are my fans are very passionate

[@copycrow4486]

A bit late, and don't know if I've shared this before. But a concept that I have for a Cleric story is twin siblings with opposite domains and ideals. (So I can't really play it, but the thought is fun). Basically, the eldest twin died when they were young, and upon being brought back to life, not only did their entire hair turn white, but a bunch of other potential things about them becomes whiter/lighter in shade. But they gained a twisted ideal from the experience. Becoming a Life Domain Cleric, their belief is that if they can control life (and/or healing) they control who dies. So they become this sadistic and twisted individual who essentially is a psychopath. They would happily waste 300 gold worth of diamonds for Revivify, if it means they can kill someone as a threat, revive them, and threaten to do it again. The younger twin, on the other hand, is also changed from the death their twin underwent at a young age. Still maintaining their black hair and darker colored features, their color palette if you will, is opposite their older twin. Striving to become more empathetic and caring, turning to the Death Domain of being a Cleric. They gain the belief that if they have power over death (/damage) they control who lives. So what you're left with is a weird ying-yang type of thing, where both essentially want the same thing. But they go about it in completely different ways. Life is outgoing, perhaps a bit preachy, and cruel. While Death is quiet, calm, and understanding/empathetic. But only once you dig beyond their appearance do you discover such a thing.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

That sounds really fun. Maybe if your Dm was down the other twin could be a campaign villain or npc for example.

[@copycrow4486]

@@roguepsykerhaaker4813 See that's what I was thinking. The Life Domain twin could potentially become an antagonist to face down or just a villain to other people that forces them to be our antagonist.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

@@copycrow4486 that sounds like a really interesting and fun campaign idea, hope it works out for you sometime

[@copycrow4486]

@@roguepsykerhaaker4813 Thanks. I already have been playing something different for a while now, and oh how I can't wait for all the beans to be spilled. To keep it brief, a villain who essentially popped and dipped like a cameo here and there in our campaign that we played prior to our last. (It was the first, we're on our third). They want to become the King of the Beasts, and there's a whole bunch of monster stuff going on, with the human originally being one of the nicest people ever, but took the brunt of a Lycanthropy curse so his friends wouldn't suffer too much. Cut to the current times, in order to stabilize all the various monster blood coursing through, and become the ultimate beast, they have gaslit and raised by Human, Draconic Blood Sorcerer. (A good amount of homebrew so there is some frontline action). The villain killed my PC's parents and raised them, with the goal in mind of sheep to the slaughter. They want my character to become strong, simply to murder them, and become the ultimate beast thanks to my blood. This character was a big-time threat even when they first appeared in C 1, and got references made over time in C 2. So think Acnologia from Fairy Tail, that kinda thing.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

@@copycrow4486 that's super cool man, I wish I could plan things out like that in my campaigns tbh. I mostly just fly by the seat of my pants and that works for me so I'm content with what I do, but I would like to introduce some elements like that

[@perezo27]

This video sort of highlighted my mechanical problem with the cleric. Everyone knows you don't have to take healing spells if you don't want to, but their spell list mostly revolves around those spells, and most will think the main healer is the cleric. Why does it make sense that a cleric of a god of knowledge heals all the time? Or a death god, or even a trickery god, and so on. It doesn't a lot of the times, yet the cleric is the healer. And when it isn't, you are likely to get a bit of shit for it, and you'll be at a disadvantage because most cleric spells are healing. Which is why I like class reshuffling classes so much. An Undead Warlock 100% could be a Death Cleric, a Conquest Paladin a War Cleric, a Lore Bard a Knowledge Cleric, a Storm Sorcerer a Tempest Cleric, and so on. Loved the video, this is more of a problem I have with the Cleric's spell list.

[@gabrielmauricio6414]

you don't have to get the healing spells you know? you won't even be at a disadvantage if you don't get them, the cleric still has many good tricks like guiding bolt, inflict wounds, spirit guardians, spirit shroud, dawn and etc, the cleric is a very versatile class to be stuck in a single niche silly healer, but if you really want to heal, just use the cleric of life hué

[@trainercoty2757]

@@gabrielmauricio6414 The cleric class and the idea of a follower of a deity are very different, and that leads to a disconnect. For example, if I were to play a cleric of the Egyptian god Geb, god of the earth, in a literal sense of the dirt, then the cleric spell list has almost no appropriate options to pick from. Then I have to hope that there’s an official subclass, and even then you only get 2 spells per spell level. If you wanted to play a thematically appropriate character, then you get to cast maybe one or two spells from the spell list, and two subclass spells. This greatly limits your potential, especially at low levels. Why would a follower of a god of dirt use a spell that does necrotic damage (inflict wounds), heals (healing word/cure wounds), or does radiant damage (guiding bolt)? It would make more sense to give them access to all “Earthy” spells in the game. Unfortunately for game balance it doesn’t quite work that way. This argument also works for the sorcerer, which is less limited, but still could be better.

[@imphoenixfire]

I'm so happy you did this video. I have been thinking about green/white clerics lately, and I really appreciate your perspective. Thank you 💚

[@realmsofroleplaying]

Man, this makes me want to make a Cleric character. Every example you shared felt very unique from the classic cleric often seen in fantasy.

[@Ymryrth]

Thank you for another great video, I have been looking foward to this one since I have Cleric in my DnD group. The campaign is taking place in a dark fantasy world and they are playing a Black Blue Green charakter, they pretend to be a devout follower the church (of the setting) but they are not afraid to look for power in dark and ancient places if it serves them and their cause.

[@andrewmiller8410]

Dark Souls, MtG, and watching my brother play Ultima way back on SNES got me into Clerics. I don't play DnD, but I still occasionally collect some badass MtG Clerics. This is really cool, thanks

[@nicktapio2822]

I've watched the videos in this series multiple times to get ideas for characters. My friends and I are starting Descent into Avernus next week and I am thinking about playing a cleric. The idea is this, he is a preacher that uses his parish as a way to enrich himself, but he does believe in the some/most of the church, maybe even writing some himself. He is caught and flees, now he is running from Bounty hunters and sheriffs alike. I look forward to the challenge of him maneuvering through Avernus where his church has no power.

[@GoblinLord]

what I think is neat about doing it this way for cleric more than any other class is that you don't fall into the idea of "what does a Cleric of Torm" look like, which can lead to in universe stereotyping in a way, but if you have a personality to start, you now have motivation separate from just being Torm's lackey

[@DefaultSeaTurtle]

Great video! My two clerics were a White/Green Life Domain Minotaur and a White/Black Death Domain Elf. I wonder what a non-White cleric would be like.

[@defiantmars9910]

Removed from elemental and species associations, a character's motivations are the largest factor in defining their Colors, right? So a Blue centered Cleric might shift their focus to self-improvement. I can see both Blue and Green clerics having rather ascetic lifestyles even when they're adventuring. As Dice talked about in the video, Green makes a compelling core color replacement for the class, as Green characters see themselves as a smaller piece in a greater whole. A Red characters are driven to act by their emotions. So I think a Red Cleric could take a variety of forms. If they're driven by anger or accomplishment, maybe they pursue combat. If they're driven by joy, maybe they seek to bring hope to others? Black centered Clerics need to reconcile their belief in a higher power with their desire for agency, but there are cool stories to be found in that conflict.

[@killfear]

Love this! this really pulls out how a cleric's personal philosphy leans into White while their god could be, like Thassa in Theros is primarily blue... a cleric of Thassa would seem to then sit in the White/Blue spectrum of magic. vs Mogis (Black/Red) ... a cleric of Mogis could be White/Black or White/Red.. (this could lead to different sects among Mogis' followers) or White/Black/Red as a more complicated color representation (and more difficult to build a balanced deck too!)... while a less dovout, but favored soul to Mogis could be Black/Red specifically without any characteristics of White at all.

[@Tomrash]

Like how you go into Mogis here, as I play the Red/Black kind of Mogis Cleric in a campaign. It is a Planeswalking campaign, so my character follows whatever power on that plane allows him to cause the most chaos. He is originaly from Ravnica, where he was in the Cult of Rakdos. He just follows Gods/Demons to get some fun toys, so he and his friends can have a good time (by giving others bad times).

[@filkearney]

@@Tomrash Sweet! If you haven't seen the 5 Color Mana Spell Point Variant Rules on DMsGuild yet, the spells by color and cleric color devotion content makes it pretty easy to build out a Black/Red "divine ronin" style cleric that would obviously NOT be very White in theme, since your character is basically siphoning the B/R energy from any entities that can provide it.

[@joaocisne556]

I will be asking for the paladin class again

[@maxpower7113]

My friend recently made a Naya Cleric with deep beliefs in tradition and piety but follows his heart more than anything even if it's a Jeskai Artificer.

[@rkmh9342]

Fantastic video as always! I have found it takes me far more discipline to play a cleric than any other class. And it is the hierarchy thing. i just hate hierarchy. the only times i have willingly played a cleric at all is the g-dless sorts that tap into a divine principle, y'know the left hand path option they first introduced in 3rd edition if i am not mistaken. The idea of being so irresponsible as to just follow orders because it came from higher ups is just anathema [lol pun intended]. So i am thinking of a red-blue cleric that studies the cosmic principles themselves instead of worshiping the entities that claim to be those principles would most suit my default predispositions. i think the difference between a mage and a red-blue cleric like this would be how the mage might see the cosmic principles as just tools for manifesting her will, while the red-blue cleric might focus on how these cosmic principles resonate with her sense of self-worth and so learn how she might honour these principles in how she expresses her self-worth. I think the domains compatible with this approach would depend on the individual's nature. Even death might be just be seen as the ultimate perspective of knowledge. i think the only domain that would not make so much sense would be civilization domains. But even the anarchist might be a champion of civilization as long as they can do so from outside of its grasp. Much love!

[@Draco9909]

Gotta love seeing my abzan kin almost immediately in the beginning of the video.

[@phenaxdk5857]

Dude... I am literally playing a MTG Campaign rn... I have backup characters for my backup characters, and now suddenly I think I want to create a Cleric Backup character too.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

It's not really dnd if you don't have more characters planned than you'll ever play. I myself have 5 characters I want to play and I've only ever dmed

[@daniellelafortune0]

Thanks Dice

[@phobiawitch835]

I’m actually trying to better define my own Cleric I have recently begun playing, a CG Drow Cleric of Eilistraee. They are fully devout to their goddess, bringing joy and hope to people through songs, dance, and giving blessings to those on Hunts or working the forge. They are a Nomad, kissed by the goddess of Winter, and while they do not follow the Winter Maiden, they make use of this blessing to traverse the Eternal Winter of Icewind Dale, doing what others could not without being weighed down by hefty furs. This is a Peace Domain character who will fight if they must, but wishes to be a beacon of Moonlit Hope in the darkness.

[@infjeff]

Idea for a video topic - talking about existing and hypothetical gods based on the colors, to go along with the clerics.

[@ADruid25]

I'm currently playing multi-classed Twilight cleric/warlock. He is a cleric who has been bestowed power by a dying goddess. He eventually made a pact with an ancient fae who had been an exarch of his goddess during her heyday. He was originally a White-Blue-Green filled with a curiosity about his benefactors and a desire to help. But as time goes on, and he learns more of the circumstances of the goddess's fall, his started to slide into White-Green-Red, as he slowly becomes fixated on the desire to tear down the agents and organizations of the rival faith that had plotted her fall so long ago.

[@jackk8756]

Yayyyy I’ve been waiting for this

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

What makes your 3rd cleric azorius and not boros or jeskai? We know from lorehold on strixhaven that white red can easily be the 2 color combo for all those things you mentioned, how do they lean more towards blue the way you see it?

[@DiceTry]

Well jeskai could easily replace what I mentioned. In the end its how you want to builld your character. That said i do think white blue works for this character because their motivations are simple. A better world for all (w) through the sharing and gathering of knowledge (u).

[@Tomrash]

Not to be rude, but I am missing from the patron list, even though I was even part of the discussion in the making of this video.

[@DiceTry]

Oh man I am so sorry Thomas that was a mistake on my end. I had a Patron leave recently and I totally got mixed up on the name when I deleted the name off the list. I'll be sure it's on there for the next video.

[@Tomrash]

Thanks. Keep up the great work.

[@marshallwaters2305]

Hi! Just looking for some insight on how can i challenge a U/R tempest cleric in a Bant/Naya setting.

[@ziyadal-agla2782]

Slightly confused, does is green about the idea of 'no self' or does follow its heart?

[@DiceTry]

Maybe follow your heart was the wrong wording. Maybe I should have said follows it's motivations or something

[@ziyadal-agla2782]

@@DiceTry green os easier to separate from white than red. White is 'conscious' and 'articulated' compared to green which is unconscious and hidden within a forest. Hwoever, comparing green and red is harder, because both are driven by subconscious instinct. The difference might be 'temporal awareness'. Therefore, red short tempered and impulsive while green is temperate and willing to forego immediate benefits for long-term tradeoffs.

[@DiceTry]

Keep in mind tho that green also follows nature's example ie instinct while red follows impulse both can actually be very similar. Them being neibors means they have crossover in their beliefs.

[@fiethsing9988]

I'd love to "start with a character and then pick the domain after" but unfortunately WotC are dogs and didn't properly balance classes. So I'm stuck picking the domain first if I want to have fun gameplay-wise. Imagine making a great character that fits the Knowledge domain and then getting stuck with their awful combat.

[@Luiz_orneduom]

I hate clerics. I like video. Thanks.

[@roguepsykerhaaker4813]

Can I ask why you hate clerics? The archetypes they usually embody I can understand hating but they're so versatile that I really don't see how you can hate the whole class, but maybe that's just me