Clerics in AD&D 1st Edition

[@tunkatodd4539]

Clerics are fun to not only play, but to Role Play as well. When I played a cleric I was always trying to convert different NPC’s & party members. Always ended up w/ group laughing & enjoying the role playing.

[@gergernzero6904]

I like how cleric make magic items.

[@Davidballway]

Probably my favorite class

[@nordicmaelstrom4714]

I actively inform my players that there is no such thing as a heal bot. Not all Clerics can cast healing spells. I also go with the rule that Cleric's can wield the favored weapon of their deity. I enjoy a good Cleric character that is not a heal bot that is for sure! I am gearing up to start running an AD&D 2E game in the next few weeks. I have played every version of the game and honestly AD&D is where its at for me anyway.

[@docsavage8640]

Heck, in Basic a 1st level cleric had zero spells

[@CaptCook999]

I never played too many Clerics but I always made sure to give them the respect that they deserved. It's a bad idea to piss off your medic/pastor. He could make you pay penance before he heals you.

[@misterschifano]

Some insight from 1974/3LBB: Another important effect of disallowing edged weaponry for clerics is that it cut off access to magical swords. These were both more common and generally more powerful than other magic weaponry; moreover the ability to use them was a big feature of the fighting-man. This is consistent with why 1974 magic-users couldn't use swords either, despite the obvious counter-example of Glamdring. We solved this one by saying that since all magic swords have some degree of intelligence, they could teach a worthy companion how to wield them; so that magic-users could in fact use magic swords. With little or no armor (*shield* doesn't show up until supplement I: Greyhawk) this wasn't in the least unbalancing. We often justified the clerical prohibition politically, saying that a frocked priest was entitled sanctuary and to certain deference when captured, paying taxes, or in enemy territory; after all, he was a man of God and his armor served only to protect him from those evil people that would do him harm. But a sword and the training to use it were evidence that he was in fact a fighter, and no longer entitled to that important courtesy. This in turn allowed us to have paladins simply be clerics with swords, since their faith was unchanged; and indeed their bravery lay in their willingness to actually fight for God and surrender the poltical protection of the frock.

[@docsavage8640]

All you really need is a decent DM who limits what magical items and weapons show up in the game available to the PCs

[@sebbonxxsebbon6824]

I would argue hold person is one of those most powerful spells at low level and even medium level.

[@docsavage8640]

As I showed my son when he started DMing, pretty much any spell can be valuable and potentially powerful when used cleverly.

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! I usually DM but when I sometimes play, I almost always play a Cleric. 😀

[@joelstein535]

Re: level progression - If the party splits XP evenly (as most have done around me thru the years) Druids are the 1st to get to 7th level! It is an amazing set-up, as they are allowed to cast spell levels equal to their class level up through 4th!

[@glenncox9128]

Access to 3rd level Divine spells (which are granted by the deity’s minion) are available to 3rd level Druids at 4,001 ex.p., and 5th level clerics at 13,001 ex.p.. This is notable, since the minion is authorized to judge and overrule the cleric’s spell request. However, proper role playing requires the minion to offer little or no reasoning for this. There are other PROPER channels for explanation.

[@generaldrago4692]

Love to see the same type video on Cavaliers & Paladins and how you have house ruled them

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

Coming soon to a device near you...

[@DrPluton]

1st Edition AD&D Human Cleric was my first character. I think I made him pretty standard. I asked my uncle (our DM) what class would be needed, and he said cleric. I enjoyed it even at age 5. I often pick clerics even in later editions because it's a very fun archetype. I played clerics during my 3rd/3.5 days before playing a wizard for a while. My next character will probably be a 5th Edition Dwarf Forge Cleric because I haven't played a dwarf in a while, and I like clerics.

[@docsavage8640]

5e isn't D&D, though

[@DrPluton]

@@docsavage8640 It says Dungeons and Dragons on the book. It's some form of D&D.

[@woodwwad]

Clerics are my favorite class and very popular with my play group. I have 3 clerics in the current D&D game I'm running out of 7 players.

[@CFkatehudson]

cleric is my second favorite after magic-user.

[@timothyjseitz]

As a DM, I use the weapons rule as a balance, so if I'm playing very RAW then no edged weapons for human clerics, but otherwise I just find a balance for clerics if they can use edged weapons. Each church can have its own restrictions. Monogamy, chastity, are one thing. Then dietary restrictions, moral laws that they must observe. A chaotic neutral cleric may be expected to never respect an oath or finding a way to follow the letter of the law while doing the opposite of its intention. Also if clerics can use any weapon, make sure the spells they get are what the servants of the deity want, not what the player feels like!

[@docsavage8640]

So...what deity will imbue with power a cleric who doesn't honor his oath to said deity?

[@coachlarry6773]

Great video! I bet 99% of the time, in the 80’s nobody was a straight Cleric. These days there are so many reasons to be a Cleric.

[@Cinhil]

That's not my experience from the 80's. Most of the time a cleric was a straight cleric. Somebody had to play a cleric because the group needed a healer. That means that your spell choices had to be limited to healing spells. Rarely you could switch it up for specific things that you knew were useful in advance. Healing spells were always useful. 2nd edition helped with spell domains to give some variation between deities and some characterization, but 3.5 was where clerics really changed up with the ability to swap in healing without having to dedicate the spell slot to it. Way more playability.

[@docsavage8640]

@coachlarry6773 you'd lose that bet 😆

[@docsavage8640]

@Cinhil many groups had no PC cleric. You never "need" a cleric. There are always other ways around it.

[@patrickbuckley7259]

People forget they where the second best melee fighter in the game, AND could cast spells. That is potent, and fun. On top of that if you like supporting your group at all, you will enjoy playing a Cleric.

[@tabletoptaproom]

I have learned to love clerics- lots of fun- last one was kicked out of the Abby for falling in love with an elf maiden, who did not reciprocate the feeling, but he had confessed this in confession. It resulted in an OMG reaction and he was kicked out but not abandoned by the god because he could still cast spells. He was a bit of a wandering soul- much like David Carrideen in Kung Fu

[@docsavage8640]

That doesn't make any sense.

[@josephbeckett2330]

I'd have to recheck rhis specific edition of the game, but Clerics can cast Reversed versions of a spell at will. Other casters must choose the normal or reversed version when they memorize spells, but Clerics do not. One thing that I would also change about the class is loosening up spells. It makes no sense to me why an evil cleric would be against using Cure Spells, say to keep their bodyguard minion alive and functioning. Yet there is somehow a religious/moral objection? Or a good/lawful Cleric using Cause Fear to protect a town from raiders. I much perfer the original concept for the Cleric which didn't get powers from a deity, but their faith, understanding, and championship of an idea, (like Law, which is usually Good).So a Knights Templar achieves, is not granted their spells and Turning because they embody the ideals of their religious order. That has so much more RP potential and is a lot more clear cut, less arbitrary than "your god is unhappy".

[@glenncox9128]

In 1st ed AD&D, the vast majority of reversible spells must be preselected, but there are some for which the choice may be made at the time of casting, and these are specifically noted as such in the individual spell description.

[@herretik2287]

I really like playing support classes, so I love Clerics.

[@dcw007]

If no one is playing a cleric in your campaign, you are handing out too many healing potions. The divination spells are where a cleric really shines. Try playing a 1/2 orc cleric/thief or cleric/assassin if you really need some spice. You get darkness, silence, hold person, find traps, fast poison, and poison, to name a few with all the thieveing skills in a demihuman that has infravision +1 strength +1 constitution. Plus, both those classes have the fastest leveling rates.

[@glenncox9128]

The correct title for a 5th level cleric is “Prefect”. Some incorrect PHBs also listed “Perfect”, which is a typo.

[@docsavage8640]

What is you're a perfect prefect?

[@glenncox9128]

@@docsavage8640 A perfect prefect adds 10% to their ex.p. for having a wisdom of 16 or higher. The deity’s intermediary also grants them the right 3rd level spells. They also receive an E for Excellent on their performance evaluation which means they will only have to train for 1 week before they qualify to become a Canon.

[@timothyjseitz]

I don't give MUI's bonus spells like clerics, only clerics and druids get that, but did you know thieves can read scolls by everything BUT clerics - MU, Druid and Illusionist spells can be read by thieves

[@glenncox9128]

Rather than granting M-Us bonus spells, I simply allow them to create scrolls at 1st level.

[@KorumEmrys]

Liked & Subscribed. Do you apply the bonuses to characters for primary stats being over 18? I have always used the Deities & Demigods stat info in the front of the book to apply higher benefits for higher stats. I also am greatly pleased to see you using the option for the Deity Weapon and Armor as opposed to just "blunt" weapons, though I do still allow those options. I/We have used my own HomeBrew world since 81'; used Middle-Earth primarily before that from September 75' when I began DM'ing and playing D&D. Using Deities unique to Our Gaming World, Only specific deities grant turn undead or any abilities regarding undead. I/We allow clerics to cast either version of the spell when the deity restores/grants it to the character, a.e., Cure Light Wounds vs. Cause Light Wounds ONLY if the Cleric/Priest in question is Neutral or Evil. Having access to both forms of the spell is based upon which spell it is. Do you use the weapon effect table based upon armor type in your campaign? If you are in Southern Nevada I'd be over-joyed to earn a seat at your table as available. Thank You.

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

Thanks for the invite but I live near Chicago. We do allow stats over 18, but class restrictions apply. We don't use weapon effect table based on armor type.

[@seangriffin2040]

What?!?!? No mention of Deities and Demigods???? You cant really play a cleric without that. Your deity matters when you're a cleric. Limitations, bonuses. Index in the back details certain aspects for clothing, colors, armor etc. Clerics are awesome.

[@protonneutron9046]

What's unattractive? They can fight, wear armor, lots of damaging weapons, 2nd best HP, good saves and magic use. A dwarven cleric is a powerful PC

[@tunkatodd4539]

I could not agree with ya more!

[@ronchristopher8281]

Only if you house-rule to allow Dwarven PCs to be clerics.

[@CaptCook999]

Dwarf PC's aren't allowed to be clerics according to the rules. They can only be NPCs. I did have one DM that allowed me to play a Dwarf Fighter/Cleric. He gave me certain rules and restrictions that I had to follow. I have to say that he did rock as a character, especially since I was playing solo with this character.

[@docsavage8640]

I never understood why players and DMs reduced clerics to "just healers." Any good roleplayer should have a field day playing a god's adherent and representative on earth adventuring for whatever reason you've decided. In fact before paladins, clerics were essentially the holy warriors of the game. So many different deities and emphases you could choose as well.

[@gergernzero6904]

Command " vomit"

[@dane3038]

300xp

[@bkrmom0594]

Have you done anything on Protection from Evil ?

[@page121tabletoproleplaying4]

Not yet.