A cleric focused upon turning?

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Griefmaker
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A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Griefmaker »

Hi everyone!

I had another character question in mind and hoped that those who know the server can answer it.

Is turning undead of much use on the server once past the graveyard by the farmland? I have always played with the idea of a cleric or paladin focused upon such, but most servers I have played on either did not have much in the way of undeath (like 1-3 places out of hundreds of possible encounters) or they were for some reason incredibly resistant to it. Or like in NWN1, it was just not useful except for when you wanted to cut through much lower level undead spawns quickly.

Is that the same with NWN2 (I am still very much a newbie to NWN2, so pretty ignorant about it in general) and BGTSCC?

If one is viable, I take it Lathander is the only deity with the sun domain (in order to be able to better rebuke undead) and the best choice? Also, is the Doomguide available and able to be chosen on this server too? I do not see Kelemvor in the deity list, but that seems a class that would synergize well with a turning cleric (though it apparently forces a deity change per the nwn2 wiki to Kelemvor, which I suppose could cause some issues).

A second question if such a thing is viable, is there any suggestion on what might be a decent build? I do not really need a step by step, since I tend to sort of wing it once I begin based on the character RP, but there often are some crucial items to ensure one gets to avoid tears of frustration later.

Thanks for your help (and sorry for asking so many question about different characters...too many ideas, too little time to try all out, too little knowledge on what might work, what might not, and so forth) :)
chad878262
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by chad878262 »

Some undead have increased resistance to turning, but it can still be useful... For instance a Cleric/Hierophant (maybe morninglord, but probably better off cleric) with planar turning can destroy the balor, I believe... Certainly can still slay mobs in many areas, but it's probably best to also get high WIS for DC's so you can also be a caster cleric as a backup when turning won't work.
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Zanniej
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Zanniej »

Since Kelemvor wasn't a god yet in this timeline, the class has been renamed to Morninglord of Lathander.

That could get you sun domain and "Doomguide" without deity change.

I can't answer the other questions for you now.
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tfunke
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by tfunke »

Chad summed it up well. I'm not sure about destroying the balor though..

My main is a Cleric/Hierophant and given that there are more undead than any other subrace on the server, you have plenty of places to try your turning ability. Some with more success than others, depending on your turning strength and the level of the mobs you are trying to turn.

side note: if you go a cleric, there is a level (2 i believe?) "spell" that you can cast called consecration, which when cast, gives you a +3 to all your turns in that entire area in which you cast the spell, 2 hours per level.

PS- I suck at builds. You are asking in the right place though..

EDIT: Another final note. From my experience, you generally will not outright destroy undead close to your level, but rebuking them is very possible.
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Wyatt
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Wyatt »

A cleric morninglord hierophant even without a huge cha focus can be an excellent turner. Hierophant has a bonus feat that greatly increases turning potency sun domain increases it even farther. I believe it can even turn many mobs in the vault of the dead.
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Griefmaker
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Griefmaker »

So out of curiosity, what sort of character would be okay for all of this? Something like cleric 17/hierophant 10/ morning lord 3? Then focus more on casting (with its high wisdom)?

As with tfunke, I suck with builds :D (which is why I often wing it and hope to be pleasantly surprised heh. But information is good!). Also any strong recommendations of things to do or not do, take or not take, stuff like that? (not only for this character, but just in general too).

Thanks!
Eclypticon
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Eclypticon »

You can do melee, okay offensive casting, and much better than vanilla turning with a 10/10/10 split. I'd squeeze in EDM into the mix too because all those extra turning feats means you can keep up divine damage for a long time in melee.

*edit*

I'd go aasimar with this build. I'd take spell casting prod on level 1, and extend spell is a must soon. Be sure to take divine might on a cleric level as I do not think it is available otherwise. You will also want to take divine shield on a cleric level I think aiming to take as many ML levels as soon as possible. You will basically only get one free feat of your choosing as you will need all the others.
chad878262
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by chad878262 »

Eclypticon wrote:You can do melee, okay offensive casting, and much better than vanilla turning with a 10/10/10 split. I'd squeeze in EDM into the mix too because all those extra turning feats means you can keep up divine damage for a long time in melee.
+1... I tested this split before Hierophant went in at the QC version of JEGS we had at the time and it was quite strong. You can have some fun going 16/17 WIS, 22 STR and Max CHA with a Cleric/Morninglord/Hierophant. Spell Power x2, improved turning, improved healing and one other of your choice. :) EDM, solid turning and a little extra protection from Mords stripping your buffs. With Strength Domain and Extend Spell you can keep up Divine Power just about non stop (extended Divine Power in 4th and 5th level slots FTW) and if you can get CHA to 26 (30 with Eagles Splendor) you can basically roll through areas with EDM and then use Turn Undead against enemies it works against.

@Tfunke, I have not tested it, but I think at one point we mathed it out and the Balor could be destroyed with planar turning/evil domain and Hierophant/Cleric (not sure about with Morninglord or not), but it does require optimization as a turning cleric (I think you need empower turning IIRC) so you are going to be weaker elsewhere (i.e. CHA needs to end up somewhere around 32/34 etc.) I'll see if I can find the discussion at some point, but it is possible! :)
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Velaris
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Velaris »

When I'm using my cleric in the vaults I can rebuke all but the liches and bosses. Just by taking the feats needed and my Cha bonus I get 19 turns per rest.

That also means I can use the turn undeads for other bonuses/saves without worrying about running out too fast.

Great point about consecration as well. And when not fighting undead, I can still be an excellent healer or crowd control mobs with spells like wall of stone, or damage walls like blade barrier. I will occasionally throw an implosion out there as well, since I double majored in cha/wis.

It's very possible, though I just went pure cleric/hierophant and focused on turning and spell power. I fight well defensively but not a melee threat.
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Griefmaker
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Griefmaker »

That sounds great! And see how much of a noob I am here with this stuff? Totally forgot that those classes continue the cleric progression, so the guy would not need to go cleric until circle 9 spells are available. I never thought of a 10/10/10 split, that sounds pretty cool and would offer a lot of things to play with as well.

Thank you again!
Eclypticon
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Eclypticon »

Here is your build. It is easy to make mistakes when you are new to the mechanics.
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Moltrazahn
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Moltrazahn »

Question then.

If you aim for 30 charisma. What is the strongest turning build you can make on our server with cleric/morning/hero?
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Storm Munin
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Storm Munin »

A turner build should also look at the DC of the new lowlevel spell that can make any foe turnable.
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Wyatt
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Wyatt »

I believe all three classes give full turning progression so as long as you take sun domain and the hierophant's master of energy ability you should be all set with any combo. Just make sure to go all 10 morninglord levels for improved and empowered turning.
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Blackman D
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Re: A cleric focused upon turning?

Unread post by Blackman D »

no creature over 15HD can be destroyed by turning, the balor is at least 20

turn level must be twice the amount of the targeted creatures HD, max possible turn level is only 31
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