Build advice for 3.5 Barbarian Cleric

[nellie1973]

Hi all,

After DM'ing for 10 years I have finally got to play and opted to have a Level 4 cleric build. Playing as Neutral good, diplomatic party leader style.
 
Barbarian 1 /Cleric 3

Books allowed PHB 1 (DM is very strict!!!!!)

Stats (rolled) are

Str:18
Dex:12
Con:16
Wis:16 (+1lvl 4)
Int:10
Cha:14

I would like a two handed sword build so for feat choice I have gone for Power attack/cleave/focus greatsword.

The DM has been generous an allowed an extra feat which I have added as dodge. Our local game rules that this applies to ALL attackers.

Domains: Travel and Strength or War. Low mobility full plate to get the best AC that I can. AC 20 at present.

My thoughts so far is that I would be a self bolstering cleric adding bulls strength, divine favour, protection from evil, longstrider etc before wading into melee with the greatsword whilst raging. Adding enlarge person from the Strength domain to up my sword damage to 3d6 I would like to be a high damage kind of guy.

Other members of the party are:

My halfling rogue 3/ cleric 1 (swiss army knife domains Magic and Travel)
Human ranger 2 fighter 2 (solid bowman)
Human fighter 2 rogue 2 (TWF light armour build)
Dwarf fighter 2 Barbarian 2 (tank -axe shield build)
Elven ranger 1 wizard 3 (ray specialist)
NPC divine healer (invented class) -Heals /removes condition etc but cannot bolster and never attacks.

I looked at the optimised damage output and this looks attractive:

MW Greatsword      +9attk   2d6+6   

Bulls str+rage (26)   +13attk   2d6+12   14-24

Enlarge (20)              +8attk      3d6+7     10-25

Enlarge+Bulls (24)   +10attk   3d6+10  13-28

BS+Rage+Enla (28)   +13attk   3d6+13  16-31
Max Power attack       +10attk    3d6+19  22-37

Hit points rolled so far give me 42 at level 4.

I'm looking for the views of other players outside of my friends. Been playing on and off since I was 14 (now 48!!).

DM has offered one chance of a re-build before he ties us down with our final characters. I so want to get this right

Does anyone have any views or has played anything similar?

[Skyrock]

Just to be clear, PHB only also excludes DMG and other parts of the SRD? (Some of the psionic stuff in the SRD could work well, such as the Deep Impact or Psionic Weapon feats.)

If you want to seriously diplomance, you might want to raise Int a bit to grab synergy skills, not that it is necessary.

Assuming your are restricted to the PHB, you'd be best off staying in Cleric, the spellcasting does all the heavy lifting and provides you with problem solution coupons with enough downtime.
The cleric-compatible full spellcasting progressing PrCs in the DMG could be worth a look if they are on the table (Hierophant, Loremaster, Thaumaturgist), but that lies well into the future.

[nellie1973]

Sadly we are only Allowed to select from the PHB. Not even the DMG is allowed.

Level progression is likely to be very slow.

 

[Nytemare3701]

Sadly we are only Allowed to select from the PHB. Not even the DMG is allowed.

Level progression is likely to be very slow.

 

With that in mind, I'll second Skyrock's suggestion to stay in Cleric. The cleric spell list gives more flexibility at any given level than anything the barbarian would give you, and once you reach 4th level spells, Divine Power will take care of your Base Attack Bonus. You can even fluff it as divine rage 

[Skyrock]

Divine Power is not quite as neat in a PHB only game, as you lack the means to persist it cheaply with Divine Metamagic.
My go-to long-term attack boost Cleric spell at that spell level, Crown of Might, is unfortunately also not available in such a restricted game.

One spell you can never go wrong with preparing even in a PHB-only game is the Summon Monster line - combat, mobility, utility, or even something as pedestrian as plain meat shields and brute force trap detection, you can select your purpose as you cast the spell. It's so good and flexible that it has its own handbook.

[nellie1973]

Thanks for the advice all. That summons book is very handy.

Going to grab a Glaive and do the reach cleric build, summons would come in handy

[phaedrusxy]

Divine Power is not quite as neat in a PHB only game, as you lack the means to persist it cheaply with Divine Metamagic.

There are ways to Quicken it without paying the higher spell slot cost, but they're not exactly "cheap". First, of course Metamagic Rods work. Then there is the trick of taking a level in Heirophant, and making it a Spell-like ability, and then taking the Quicken Spell-like Ability feat.

Since most D&D games don't have a boatload of combat encounters per day, and most encounters are fairly short, even the MM Rod is likely enough to cover you. Given the cost, neither of these options would be available till mid to higher levels, but at the earlier levels the missing point or two of BAB doesn't really matter that much, anyway. I'd still agree with the others that just sticking with the single level of barbarian, and taking Extra Rage, would be the way to go as far as class levels.

[Skyrock]

PrCs are explicitely out, I have already asked about them.

[nellie1973]

Many thanks to all who replied. Much appreciated

I have gone Barbarian 1/cleric 3.
STR:18
Dex:16
Con:14
Wis:16
Int:10
Cha:12

Feats Focus glaive/Dodge (modified to +1 AC for all opponents-DM rule)
Combat reflexes. Bonus feat (dm rule) Toughness.

Dm has further nerfed power attack to a one for one including one handed weapons.

Domains :Strength and Travel. Enlarge with the glaive is so sexy

42 HP rolled so not too bad.

Spells are mainly self bolstering-Enlarge/bulls strength which combines well with rage. 28 strength with 20ft reach.

[phaedrusxy]

Nerfed Power Attack... oh boy... lol. Got some armor spikes?