Core Cleric Build

[SuperThunderCat]

Ive had a very stifiling DM for a long time nerfing many things that arent stereotypical. Dwarf Fighter, Gnome Illusionists, Etc. Etc.

Recently he has had a change of heart and is letting anything go. No house rulings or anything. Thing is its core only and possibly Psions.

What i want to do is pay him back and make some form of overpowered spellcaster. Preferably a Cleric but im open to Wizards.

Edit: Forgot to say that this is starting at 5th level.

[Gavinfoxx]

Are you SURE this is wise?

Also, are SRD options allowed?

Human Travel/Trickery Cleric.  Maybe Prestige Paladin.  Wield a Guisarme or Spiked Chain (even if you need to buy proficiency).  Get Improved Trip.  Use lots of buffs.  The reason for Travel/Trickery is that, while other stuff might be more combat awesome, this has more capability to impact setting.  Use lots of divination spells, lots of buff spells in melee, lots of spells to solve problems and do utility stuff.

[Bester]

warforged artificer.  Nothing says I'm not playing d&d like playing a robot with laser beams. (I actually like warforged however)

[Gavinfoxx]

That... was really really unhelpful.  He asked for a CORE cleric build.  How is anything you just said helpful or relevant? O,o

[Mooncrow]

If it's Core-only, you'll be hard pressed to beat the sheer combat power of a druid.  A cleric without Divine Metamagic, while still strong, just doesn't quite match up.  Since you're starting at 5th level, you can deal with abysmally low Str and Dex. Pick up Natural Spell at 6th and even if you never bother to get another feat, you'll still be stomping all over Team Monster. 

Race: Human
Human: Spell Focus: Conjuration
1st: Extend Spell
3rd: Augment Summoning
6th: Natural Spell
9th+ whatever the heck you want

[Bester]

That... was really really unhelpful.  He asked for a CORE cleric build.  How is anything you just said helpful or relevant? O,o

It wasn't.  I'd take luck domain for the day will come when the dm decides to kill you and you will need that reroll.  Other than that, just druid like suggested.  They can use the MM better than any other core class.

[SuperThunderCat]

Thanks guys. With this I should be able to show him that you dont have to pick the races favored class to be good with it.

[PhaedrusXY]

If it's Core-only, you'll be hard pressed to beat the sheer combat power of a druid.  A cleric without Divine Metamagic, while still strong, just doesn't quite match up.  Since you're starting at 5th level, you can deal with abysmally low Str and Dex. Pick up Natural Spell at 6th and even if you never bother to get another feat, you'll still be stomping all over Team Monster. 

I might dispute that... The cleric gets Animate Dead at 5th level. Depending on what corpses he can get his hands on to animate, he could definitely be at least the equal of the druid in combat. Of course, because he needs to find/make useful corpses, this is more DM dependent than the druid, which sounds like it could be a bad thing given the circumstances.

[sirpercival]

Even in core a wizard can still be amazing.  At 5th level you have SMIII, alter self, haste, fly, dispel magic, glitterdust, web, explosive runes...

[Mooncrow]

If it's Core-only, you'll be hard pressed to beat the sheer combat power of a druid.  A cleric without Divine Metamagic, while still strong, just doesn't quite match up.  Since you're starting at 5th level, you can deal with abysmally low Str and Dex. Pick up Natural Spell at 6th and even if you never bother to get another feat, you'll still be stomping all over Team Monster. 

I might dispute that... The cleric gets Animate Dead at 5th level. Depending on what corpses he can get his hands on to animate, he could definitely be at least the equal of the druid in combat. Of course, because he needs to find/make useful corpses, this is more DM dependent than the druid, which sounds like it could be a bad thing given the circumstances.

Yep, that's the main reason there, same with the wizard; with a dick DM, I assume that a character like this is going to get nothing helpful.  Animate Dead also tends to be somewhat pricey at lower levels at 25g/HD, and usually having to replace a certain percentage of them per fight.  This is definitely not meant to be a "OMG droods are the most powerful class evar!!!111!!!" post; but I think in this circumstance, it's the safest road to power.

[X-Codes]

Even in core a wizard can still be amazing.  At 5th level you have SMIII, alter self, haste, fly, dispel magic, glitterdust, web, explosive runes...

Honestly, Wizards are pretty much awesome no matter what.  Even if they were starting at level 1, they'd have grease, color spray, sleep, obscuring mist."I prepared explosive runes this morning."

[Nytemare3701]

Even in core a wizard can still be amazing.  At 5th level you have SMIII, alter self, haste, fly, dispel magic, glitterdust, web, explosive runes...

Honestly, Wizards are pretty much awesome no matter what.  Even if they were starting at level 1, they'd have grease, color spray, sleep, obscuring mist."I prepared explosive runes this morning."

I smell a meme.