Ultimate Cleric Build

[PsyBomb]

I am a fan of Feral-Phrenic

[Keldar]

Saint (BOED) is nice and overpowered for 2 LA.

[adanger2u]

Saint (BOED) is nice and overpowered for 2 LA.

A downside I've seen with that template is that you can't do anything bad, anything. You can't even let the others in your group do bad things if you know they are going to do them. At least, this is my understanding of the Saint template. Though, it's still in consideration.

[adanger2u]

Okay, I know I'm going to add the Shadow Template to my character. Most of the dungeon doesn't have a light source besides what we bring in. That's LA+2. I discussed LA with the DM and the other players and we agreed to put a LA+10 cap on the total character build. We are allowed LA+3 for the race of the character and the rest can go to the 1-3 templates we can apply to the character.

I like the goliath option for race but am still considering the aarimar, zenythri, thrikreen, and lumi for races. The thrikreen was brought to my attention by one of the other players.  I need to be able to be the tank, melee striker and band-aid. The race is what is stopping me from applying templates, choosing, and basically any sort of progress right now. Though once I decide the progress on my character will fly.

[Maat Mons]

Mineral warrior has already been suggested, but I figure I'll go ahead and link it. 

If you want to be all about healing, you could take the vivacious creature template (Planar Handbook, p131).  Its +3 LA and gives you a 10-foot aura that grants fast healing.  The aura even gives temporary hit points when creatures are already fully-healed, but there's a limit to how much you can go above full health without the risk of exploding. 

[JohnnyMayHymn]

divine minion +1LA

ghost savage progression 2

Anthropomorphic bat (savage species)

for -4Str +6Wis, wildshape as 11th level druid(restricted forms), telekinesis 12th CL, fly speed and ethereal

[adanger2u]

Mineral warrior has already been suggested, but I figure I'll go ahead and link it. 

If you want to be all about healing, you could take the vivacious creature template (Planar Handbook, p131).  Its +3 LA and gives you a 10-foot aura that grants fast healing.

Mineral warrior has a minus to all the brain abilities. -2 to cha, int, and wis. That really hurts spell casting and skills. The 3.5 Cleric Handbook that's posted on here says that mineral warrior isn't worth getting for a cleric.

I looked up vivacious creature in the planar handbook. It says that those relying on physical contact attacks won't effect nonethereal creatures. Is that something that I should be concerned about? Oh, the LA is +5 for vivacious creature.

[phaedrusxy]

I'd suggest just summoning vivacious creatures for healing, not being one yourself. IIRC, there is an option for that in the same book.

[SorO_Lost]

I know that all of that gives him +3 caster levels but beyond that I'm not sure if all of that has that much LA. How far did he go?

(click to show/hide)

Dragonspawn: +7 Natural AC, Fly (land*2)ft Average, 3 Natural Attacks, Breath Weapon(30ft cone of cold, 2d6), +2 Dex/Cha, +1 Sorcerer.
So let's see here, decent AC (18+) despite being unable to wear armor, three attacks per round when everyone else has one, Metabreath Feats and wipe entire Encounters, Cha boost because why not, and the Sorcerer Boost makes up the LA so this is one heck of a "Sorcerer" Level. Oh wait, he doesn't have LA...

Lore Drake: He can (and is noted to be allowed to) take Loredrake for +2 Sorcerer Spellcasting. Without the LA, at ECL 3 he'll take his first PrC level for PrCs that check for 5th level CL or 3rd level Spells (add flaws and we're talking spelldancer already). Also, the DM obviously considers a Kobold a True Dragon, a causality of such means he can also take the Alternate Form Feat - possibly at the 3rd level - for 3/day Alternate Form. This has no HD limitations and an infinite duration; so for example he could turn into a Legendary Wolf (14hd) or w/e a half-dozen levels sooner than a Druid. And Alternate Shape doesn't require Natural Spell to preserve Spellcasting.

So at the 3rd level you've got a guy who casts 3rd level Spells when everyone else just now obtained their 2nd level and he does this while Wild Shaped into a 14th level or higher Druid forms. Oh, and he's already PrCed out. That's how far he went.

If you want to out-cheese him, you could go with monster of legend (Monster Manual II, p213).  It was given +7 LA in the 3.5 update booklet, which would normally make it terrible, but if you don't have to pay the cost, the +5 levels of cleric casting become ridiculous.

Clever and fitting, nice.

okay, the DM just put a cap on race LA. Max LA for race of +3. Any suggestions? Also he limited us to three templates per character.

Did I change you're DM's mind that fast? lol.

Well they have been chiming in a bit for you, just remember if you go Ghost, Libris Mortis has a Sage Variant that obtains a +4 Racial Bonus to 1d4+1 Knowledge Skills, for free! Also; Phenric is among the top ranking Templates, check the link it gives you quite a few Psionic Powers, and remember, When a creature uses a psi-like ability, the power is manifested as if the creature had spent a number of power points equal to its manifester level, aka they are auto fully-augmented. For example by the 20th level Iron Will & Intellect Fortress are both Immediate Actions and last over ten rounds, one grants the party SR/PR 30 and the other halves Spell Damage (under transparency). Not to mention healing, teleport, minions, and blasting are included in the obtained selection.

[zugschef]

Magical Training + Initiate of Mystra + Dweomerkeeper ftw!
(Cheater of Mystra)

[DavidWL]

The limit that you start at 1st level presumably means you can only take 1 HD races (unless DM allows savage progressions).  If he allows savage progressions:
Sharn - always overpowered (Just eat the other 2 LA)
Sylph - CL = HD ... (Just eat the other 2 LA)
Phaerimm - CL = HD & Cast spells as a spell-like ability
Steel Dragon - pretty bunk.  Spellhoarding for Wizard casting.  Wyrm of War - arcane gish.

1 HD only race thoughts:
Necropolitan - pretty bunk.  http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147848
Phaerimm - CL = HD & Cast spells as a spell-like ability
Petal - +10 Dex, +8 Cha, +4 Con, +4 Int, Flight 60'

Other nice templates:
Divine Minion +1 (CL = 11 -> 16)
Phrenic +2 / Half Fey / Half Celestial
Feral, Mineral Warrior, Half-minotaur or Half-ogre
Telthor
Shadow

I agree with you - Shadow is Definitely! worth doing.

Best
David

[muktidata]

Phrenic Anthropomorphic Bat of Legend 

Edit: I was beat to the punch like ten times.

[adanger2u]

Thanks guys for all of the suggestions, advise, and overall patience with me.