Article-At-A-Glance
- Master healing and combat with the High-Brewmaster Cleric build using versatile spells.
- Select Protection and Earth domains for defense and expanded tactical options.
- Integrate key equipment for optimal defense and attack strategies.
- Progress through levels as Loremaster and Hierophant for enhanced spellcasting and healing.
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The Level 1 build for the High Brewmaster Cleric focuses on integrating spellcasting with frontline survival and support. Starting with Skill Focus (Knowledge: Religion) emphasizes a strong foundation for the Loremaster progression. This allows the character to leverage domain powers like Turn Undead and reinforce party defenses with Protection domain spells.
Stat Block Level 1:
Unnamed Character: male, dwarf cleric 1; CR 1; Medium humanoid (dwarf); HD 1d8+3; hp 11; Init 0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +0; Grp +2; Atk Heavy Mace +2 melee (1d8+2, x2); Full Atk Heavy Mace +2 melee (1d8+2, x2); SA Turn Undead; SQ Dwarf traits, domain (Earth), domain (Protection); AL Lawful Good; SV Fort +5, Ref +0, Will +5; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Knowledge (Religion) 4, Concentration 4; Skill Focus (Knowledge: Religion).
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Turn Undead allows influencing undead foes. Dwarf traits include a +2 racial bonus against poisons and spells.
Possessions: Heavy Mace, Heavy Shield, Chainmail, holy symbol.
By level 5, the High Brewmaster cleric can manage fearsome foes with powerful buffs and strategic spellcasting. With substantial armor and shield defenses, and boosted healing capabilities due to his feats like Extend Spell, the cleric is a resilient force. Knowledge of religion and planes supplements combat prowess, providing valuable insights during adventures.
Stat Block Level 5:
High-Brewmaster: male, dwarf Cleric 5; CR 5; Medium humanoid (dwarf); HD 5d8+17; hp 39; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 20; Base Atk +3; Grp +5; Atk heavy mace +6 (1d8+3) or mace +5; Full Atk heavy mace +6 (1d8+3) or mace +5; SA Turn Undead; SQ Dwarven defense bonuses, domain abilities; AL lawful good; SV Fort +7, Ref +1, Will +7; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Knowledge (Religion) +8, Knowledge (The Planes) +5, Concentration +7; Skill Focus(Knowledge-Religion), Extend Spell.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Turn Undead, Protection Domain – grants defensive spells, Earth Domain – improve defense and can control earth creatures.
Possessions: Heavy Mace, Heavy Shield, Chainmail Armor, utility flasks.
At Level 10, the Dwarf Cleric/Loremaster build is strategically poised for both offensive and defensive roles. With Incredible healing capabilities due to Divine Reach, the character excels at keeping the party alive. It’s equipped for battlefield control and can cast extended spells to maintain crucial buffs. Their toolkit includes Cure spells at range and metamagic enhanced spells.
Stat Block Level 10:
Unnamed Dwarf: gender, Dwarf Cleric 9/Loremaster 1; CR 10; Medium Humanoid (Dwarf); HD 10d8+40; hp 85; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 24, touch 10, flat-footed 24; Base Atk +6; Grp +8; Atk Heavy Mace +8 melee (1d8+2) or Heavy Shield Bash +8 melee (1d4+2); Full Atk Heavy Mace +8/+3 melee (1d8+2) and Heavy Shield Bash +8 melee (1d4+2); SA Turn Undead, Quicken Spell; SQ Dwarven Traits, Divine Reach, Instant Mastery; AL Lawful Good; SV Fort +13, Ref +3, Will +9; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Knowledge(Religion) 15, Knowledge(The Planes) 10, Concentration 9, Spellcraft 6; Skill Focus(Knowledge-Religion), Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Quicken Spell.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Divine Reach (30 ft.) allows casting Cure spells at range, Instant Mastery (Profession-Brewer) bonus.
Possessions: Heavy Mace, Heavy Shield, Adamantine Full Plate Armor, Periapt of Wisdom, Cloak of Resistance +2.
The main aim of this Level 15 character is fusing strong divine magic with defense and fighting skills. With levels in Loremaster and Hierophant, he is a Dwarf Cleric who is skilled in using Metamagic abilities. His primary skills are Divine Reach, which enables assaults or healing at a distance, and Secrets like Knowledge of Avoidance, which boost survivability.
Stat Block Level 15:
Cleric of Haela: male, dwarf Cleric 9/Loremaster 5/Hierophant 1; CR 15; Medium humanoid (dwarf); HD 9d8+5d4+1d8+68; hp 126; Init +0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 29, touch 10, flat-footed 29; Base Atk +10/+1; Grp +12; Atk Heavy Mace of Disruption +14 melee (1d8+2) or Shield Bash +10 melee (1d4+1); Full Atk Heavy Mace of Disruption +14/+9 melee (1d8+2) and Shield Bash +12 melee (1d4+1); SA Turn Undead, Rebuke/Control Earth Creatures; SQ Divine Reach, Dwarf Traits, Instant Mastery, Secret Health, Knowledge of Avoidance; AL Lawful Good; SV Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +16; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Concentration +15, Knowledge (Religion) +18, Knowledge (The Planes) +10, Spellcraft +7; Skill Focus (Knowledge-Religion), Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Quicken Spell, Power Attack, Tower Shield Proficiency, Maximize Spell.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Divine Reach allows casting Cure spells at a distance, Secrets enhance survivability and abilities.
Possessions: Heavy Mace of Disruption, Tower Shield, Adamantine Full Plate, Periapt of Wisdom, Cloak of Resistance +2, and other protective items.
The High Brewmaster blends martial skill with celestial magic. They can strengthen allies’ defenses, cast strong spells from a distance, and transition to frontline combat with combat durable equipment and magic. Additionally, they offer tactical benefits by using preemptive spell choices and reconnaissance to surprise adversaries.
Stat Block Level 20:
Unnamed Dwarf: male, dwarf Cleric 9/Loremaster 10/Hierophant 1; CR 20; Medium humanoid (dwarf); HD 9d8+10d4+1d8+68; hp 164; Init 0; Spd 20 ft.; AC 27, touch 10, flat-footed 27; Base Atk +13; Grp +15; Atk Heavy Mace +16 melee (1d8+2); Full Atk Heavy Mace +16/+11/+6 melee (1d8+2); SA Turn Undead, Rebuke/Control Earth creatures; SQ Dwarven traits, Lore; AL LG; SV Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +21; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 10.
Skills, Abilities, and Feats:
Knowledge (Religion) 15, Knowledge (The Planes) 10, Concentration 10, Spellcraft 5; Skill Focus (Knowledge-Religion), Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Quicken Spell, Power Attack, Tower Shield Proficiency, Maximize Spell.
Special Attacks and Qualities:
Divine Reach, Instant Mastery, Greater Lore, True Lore.
Possessions: Heavy Mace of Disruption, Tower Shield, Full Plate of Fortification, Heavy Shield (spares), Periapt of Wisdom, Cloak of Resistance, Cloak of Charisma.
Milestones Of Character Development
- Levels 1-5: Starting as a Cleric with Skill Focus in Knowledge-Religion. Unlock domains like Earth and Protection. By level 3, leverage Extend Spell for extended buffs.
- Levels 6-10: Transition to Loremaster. Gain Empower Spell to enhance healing. Achieve Instant Mastery at Level 10, boosting your brewing skills significantly.
- Levels 11-15: Merge into Hierophant. Obtain Divine Reach for remote healing with Cure Light Wounds. Embrace Power Attack for melee strength.
- Levels 16-20: Finalize Loremaster abilities. Utilize Maximize Spell for spell potency. Gather True Lore at Level 20, ensuring complete knowledge and preparedness for any encounter.
Core Abilities & Features
The High Brewmaster Cleric build artfully combines healing prowess with strategic combat capabilities. The cornerstone of this build lies in its impressive spellcasting enhanced by metamagic feats. Utilizing Extend Spell allows spells to last longer, crucial in sustained encounters. Empower Spell boosts the effectiveness of Cure spells, ensuring party members recover more hit points rapidly. Quicken Spell injects the ability to cast spells like Divine Power instantaneously, providing a significant tactical advantage.
The chosen Domains, Protection and Earth, offer special offensive and control options in addition to improving defensive capabilities. While the Earth Domain expands the cleric’s tactical options by enabling the caster to Turn Undead and Control Earth creatures, the Protection Domain provides resilience through improved saving throws. A Heavy Mace of Disruption or armor of fortification are examples of equipment choices that enhance the character’s resistance to and capacity for doing harm.
In terms of skills and knowledge, the Loremaster progression brings wisdom to the fore. With Secret Health, knowledge is turned into defense, allowing the Cleric to maintain health under dire circumstances. Greater Lore and True Lore abilities offer foresight, revealing the mysteries of upcoming threats. Combined with Divine Reach, which allows healing from a distance, these abilities make the High-Brewmaster a strategic linchpin in any adventuring party.
Equipment Progression
| Level Range | Equipment | Details |
|---|---|---|
| L1-5 | Heavy Mace | Baseline weapon, effective in early levels before enhancing. |
| L1-5 | Heavy Shield | Provides solid defensive bonuses at the start. |
| L6-10 | Heavy Mace of Disruption | Enhance your mace to fight undead effectively, causing them to crumble. |
| L6-10 | Adamantine Full Plate | Ideal upgrade providing superior protection, making you almost impervious. |
| L11-15 | Armor of Fortification | Reduces the critical hits and sneak attacks against you. |
| L11-15 | Periapt of Wisdom | Boosts your Wisdom, crucial for spellcasting prowess. |
| L16-20 | Cloak of Charisma +4 | Enhances charisma, crucial for turning undead and other charisma-based checks. |
| L16-20 | Mace of Smiting | Upgraded weapon for dealing additional damage to constructs or sunder opponent’s weapons. |
Combat Responses for the High Brewmaster
- Dungeon Crawls:
- Utilize your Protection Domain spells to scout ahead and avoid traps. Cast Righteous Might and Power Attack for dealing with combat quickly and protectively. Ensure you have Empowered Cure Wounds spells prepared for longer battles.
- Open Fields:
- Leverage Quicken Spell to cast Divine Power swiftly, boosting melee capabilities. Use your Magic Heavy Mace to destabilize foes with the Disruption property. Maintain tactical positioning behind allies for optimal spellcasting range, utilizing Divine Reach.
- Ambushes:
- Extend buff spells ahead of time if ambushes are anticipated; be ready with spells like Sanctuary. Activate defensive equipment, particularly the Full Plate armor and Tower Shield, enhancing defenses during surprise attacks. Quicken a healing spell if needed, and reposition using the Dodge Trick.
- Defensive Stands:
- Deploy Tower Shield to maximally increase your area of protection. Channel spells through your Divine Reach, enabling support from a protected stance. Rely on Heavy Mace of Disruption for any creatures breaching defensive lines.
- Urban Encounters:
- Prepare divination spells through your Lore ability to gather intelligence. Discreetly use your cloak’s resistance bonuses in social situations. Maximize your Charisma for Turn Undead if a swift response is necessary against chaotic forces.
Weaknesses & Counters
| Weakness | Counter |
|---|---|
| Relatively Low Hit Points | High Constitution (Con 17) and Dwarven Toughness inherent, use defensive spells like Shield of Faith and Defensive items like Adamantine Full Plate for added protection. |
| Limited Mobility | Utilize spells like Dimension Door for quick escapes or mobility in combat. Tower Shield provides additional cover if advancing slowly is necessary. |
| Average Charisma for Turn Undead | Equip a Cloak of Charisma to enhance Turn Undead and Rebuke capabilities. Focus on buffing and healing as alternative strengths. |
| Susceptible to High Level Spellcasters | Use Cloak of Resistance for bonus to saving throws, and counter with Silence, Dispel Magic, or Divination spells for anticipatory strategy. |
| High Spell Slot Use for Buffs | Expand through Extend Spell and Metamagic feats, prepare lower-level slots with utility spells to conserve higher-level slots for crucial buffs or combat transformations. |
Roleplaying the High Brewmaster
Embrace the Brew
Your High Brewmaster is not just a master of divine spells but a connoisseur of potent brews. Picture them strolling through the tavern, identifying exotic ales and sharing tales of their own crafted potions. Roleplay your character as someone whose deep knowledge in both brewing and religious lore makes them a sought-after figure in local inns and holy gatherings. This duality of faith and brewcraft opens a world of interaction possibilities, as allies and strangers alike are drawn to your character’s charismatic (though religiously driven) disposition.
Protector of Stricken Allies
The greatest example of your Dwarven Cleric’s perseverance is when he defends allies from harm. Emphasize instances in which your character’s abilities, such Divine Reach for healing from a distance, propel them into the role of the hesitant but competent savior during roleplay. Your Cleric becomes the peacemaker in the midst of mayhem when comrades are harmed, offering healing not only through magic but also through the comforting words, shared drink, and time of rest. Utilize these roleplaying exercises to demonstrate how your Cleric exemplifies divine intervention and dwarven tenacity by remaining steadfast in the face of insurmountable obstacles while holding onto their beloved brew.
FAQ
How does the High-Brewmaster Cleric build enhance magic?
he build leverages metamagic feats to boost your spellcasting versatility. Using Extend Spell, you can prolong buffs, crucial in drawn-out fights. Empower Spell amplifies healing, restoring party health rapidly. Quicken Spell lets you cast crucial effects like Divine Power instantly, offering a tactical edge.
Why are Protection and Earth domains selected for this build?
Protection improves saving throws and increases resilience. Turn Undead and Control Earth are two of Earth’s abilities, these broaden your battle strategy by providing you with opportunities to exploit both offensive and defensive tactics.
What milestones should I aim for in character development?
By Level 6, transition into a Loremaster to gain Empower Spell. Aim for Hierophant and remote healing abilities around Level 11. Finalize as a Loremaster by Level 20, ensuring your character is prepared for any encounter.
How should I approach combat scenarios as a High Brewmaster Cleric?
Prepare Protection domain spells in dungeons to scout and trap avoidance. Use Quicken Spell for instant boosts in open fields for melee prowess. Always position strategically, keeping allies covered with spells and staying behind for optimal proficiency.
How can role-playing enhance the High Brewmaster experience?
Embrace your character’s unique mix of faith and brewing expertise. As a charismatic brewer, engage others with your knowledge in both combat and tavern settings. Depict resilience and divine intervention in your role-play, showcasing your cleric’s dependable presence.
Join us at Stellar Dragons with the High Brewmaster!
Consider including the High Brewmaster in your next campaign and explore their potential. Discuss with fellow enthusiasts on the Stellar Dragons Discord server at https://discord.gg/uAPvgEq6Z7.
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