Can a Cleric be a Tank?

elting44 · Post by **elting44** » Sat May 05, 2001 2:58 pm

IMHO Yes, Why they have a ton of Self-Enchancement spells: Chant, Bless, Armor of Faith, Barkskin, Aid, Draw Upon Holy Might, Holy Power, Defensive Harmony, Death Ward, Free Action, Chaotic Commands, Righteous Magic, Shield of the Archons, Blade Barrier, Physical Mirror. Plus with all the good shields and AC lowering Magic Items you can get very low ACs. Plus Crom Fayer and Flail of Ages are awesome weapons. What do you think? ? ?

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Sat May 05, 2001 3:04 pm

Yes they can get a low thac0 and AC but cannot put three slots in dual wield and only get one attack per round. I think a priest of helm is a good tank but not a straight cleric. They are better of summoning skeleton warriors.

EMINEM · Post by **EMINEM** » Sat May 05, 2001 3:05 pm

Of course a Cleric CAN'T be a tank, what are you talking about? Tanks are manufactured in factories and weigh 10000 kgs and fire live ammuniti... oh wait... you mean "Tank" right? Sorry...

Yes, I suppose they can, but why bother? In my party, the Fighters were tanks (that's their primary role) while the clerics were like the Medics who healed them afterwards. IF push come to shove, however, I would send them in to melee, but otherwise, I keep them waiting in the wings with those nifty heal and ressurrection spells.

elting44 · Post by **elting44** » Sat May 05, 2001 3:08 pm

@EMINEM, but if you are soloing a Cleric of Lathander than you have no fighters, plus why can't Clerics be the fighters and the medic who heal them after wards?

EMINEM · Post by **EMINEM** » Sat May 05, 2001 3:17 pm

Originally posted by elting44:
<STRONG>@EMINEM, but if you are soloing a Cleric of Lathander than you have no fighters, plus why can't Clerics be the fighters and the medic who heal them after wards?</STRONG>

Ah, you didn't mention anything about soloing. I thought you were in a party.

Clerics can be both fighter and healer, but fighting is not their primary purpose in life - it's to heal Fighters, whose Thacos, number of attacks, and choice of weapons, will always be superior to that of Clerics.

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat May 05, 2001 7:47 pm

IMO Anomen makes an excellent tank, I always use Minsc and either Anomen or my PC as tanks, depending on which would be more useful (PC is a fighter/mage).

Huskylaw · Post by **Huskylaw** » Sat May 05, 2001 8:16 pm

I'm curious if you guys have your clerics memorize alot of healing spells. I'm soloing a ranger/cleric right now, and though he's alot different than your normal clerics, I hardly use any healing spells. I'd much rather bulk up on Draw on Holy Might, or Holy Power type spells than healing spells. Of course, I cheated a little and had Jan pick-pocket me a ring of regeneration. I don't mind waiting a minute or two between fights with it.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sat May 05, 2001 11:02 pm

Originally posted by Georgi:
<STRONG>IMO Anomen makes an excellent tank, I always use Minsc and either Anomen or my PC as tanks, depending on which would be more useful (PC is a fighter/mage).</STRONG>

Anomen is also a fighter/cleric - shuch a dual-class makes a great tank, but I would be reluctant to send in a pure cleric, unless of course a lot of magic has been used

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sun May 06, 2001 2:19 am

Yes contary to popular belif he is a good tank he gets loads of spells and has lots of HP due to a bug that thinks he's under lvl 9(if above said lvl you gain 1 hp lvl or 2 i think)

sigurd · Post by **sigurd** » Mon May 07, 2001 2:04 am

If im not mistaking a "tank" should be able to take damage, not make i, so a Cleric would make just a good a tank as a fighter, with a few less hp.

Radek · Post by **Radek** » Mon May 07, 2001 2:35 am

A dual class ranger/cleric or fighter/cleric is a real tank. The dual classing removes the cleric's restriction on weapon proficiencies and allows him to put 3+ in 2 weapons, 2+ in 2H weapon or 5+ in a weapon. Now, cleric spells are far more than a compensation for inability to use bows and swords.

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Mon May 07, 2001 3:05 am

Sure, they do just fine on the front line. The party I am currently running has no fighters (except for my stalker) and the main PC is a cleric of lathander and my frontline tank. With a -10 AC, he does just fine. He uses mostly offensive spells. His HPs are okay and, since he doesn't get hit often, he's able to withstand most assaults without problem.

On a side note, my Totemic Druid had the shadow dragon armor, ironskins, and good HPs. She made as good a tank as most fighters. She couldn't dish it out as well, but she was far better defensively with her ironskins.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Thu May 10, 2001 10:19 am

Well, arie is in my party and is doing fine...she has mauler's arm equiped for a streghnth of 18...a belt that ups her constitution to 18 for 8 hours at a time...Saving Grace shield since she has an 18 strength now...and a cloak that I can't remember the name of but it looks like it has the effect of a blur spell...AC -5

U_Niq · Post by **U_Niq** » Thu May 10, 2001 11:03 am

If you want to solo a cleric and want it to be a tank, you should start of as a fighter. If you dual at lvl 9 or so you get a lower thac0, 3 stars in dual wield, an extra attack, and you lose only 1 level of your cleric part. Worth it, i think.
As a figther/cleric you will have a very low ac, and lots of hp. With the crom faeyr + warhammer+2, 3 stars in dual wield and the rest in warhammer, you'll be almost invincible. (with cloak of mirroring, strength girdle, ring of gaxx, boots of speed, and book of infinite spells to cast a fireball when needed

)

sigurd · Post by **sigurd** » Fri May 11, 2001 1:26 am

U_Niq, Crom Faeyr AND a strength girdle?

Yes, Berzerker/Cleric makes good solo, resistant to most statuschanges. Some prefer the ranger/cleric, but for solo i would say Berzerker is better, as they dont need to cast all spells.

Dualwield should be maxed, but split between warhammer and flail for the rest.

A fighter/cleric dualled at level 9 actually makes a better tank than an ordinary fighter, with all them spells.