Retro Post: Why the Cleric?

[If you wondered by the Paladin class replaced the Cleric in Fantasy Core, here’s why.]


Seriously. Unlike the other D&D classes, this one has no real historical or fictional archetype upon which it is based. A crusader? The Paladin would fill that role, as he would that of agent of the Inquisition and demon hunter. An Exorcist? Friar Tuck? I’m just not seeing a mace-wielding, armored dude, flinging spells.

The Cleric has been around D&D since the beginning, but is seemingly just a pure invention of game mechanics. He is there to cast healing spells on the Fighter, protect the Wizard, and turn undead.

No wonder nobody wants to play the Cleric. There’s no mental image outside of the game to match the character, and he’s not a class, he’s a game function. While armored, his weapon selection and ability to fight are limited. May as well be a fighter. He casts spells, but they suck, except for raising the dead. Go ahead and roll up a Wizard. Fighting the undead? Turning doesn’t work well against the powerful ones anyway.

Pathfinder gave the Cleric a favored weapon, some of which are better than maces. Unfortunately, they also combined healing and turning into one crappy ability. I’m told this is great for the character, but I’m not seeing it, and it makes it even more of a game function. Even 4e has virtually done away the Cleric via healing surges and fighter defensive maneuvers.

So what to replace them with, since the game function is still needed? Make healing potions pervasive. Make natural healing more potent. Give flagons of ale healing abilities. Give the Paladin the Cleric’s healing and protection spells and ability to turn undead at level one. Do the same with the Druid. (Historically, we don’t really know anything about Druids, except second hand, but they did at least exist.) Give healing and protection spells to the Wizard. Allow holy symbols, plus high Wisdom, plus a good alignment a possibility to turn undead.

I could spot you getting rid of the Thief class, as some Old Schoolers are want. I can see the point. Not only do thieves fill an even more specific party role than the Cleric, but they potentially reduce actual player gaming, with only a die roll. Take a high dexterity fighter, give them leather armor, take away the shield and two-handed weapons. Let them have the backstab, a better chance at thieving skills than regular fighters, or anybody else, and there you go. Anytime they want to slip on chainmail and take up the bastard sword, they lose the thief bonus, but incur no other penalties.