07-23-2017, 09:52 PM
I have 3 clerics - one is my 15th level character. The other two are clerics partly because that's the base class that the most easily (mechanically and thematically) fits into the Prestige Classes that I wanted to play. I don't currently play a shaman but of the "theoretical" builds I have the shaman delivering all spells through his familiar is probably the next one I'm going to use. It best fits the themes I like to play (underused mechanic and a fun role-playing background).
I certainly don't regard either class as a "lesser life oracle." But that's probably because I don't play any of those characters as "I'm a healer." Sure I prepare a couple of heals and a mass cure serious. But using those is always my last resort; I prefer to do other things. I doubt you'll see anyone playing a straight high-wis, mid charisma, healing domain, un-archetyped cleric these days.
Mechanically I will agree that the low skill points lower the desirability. (Though I would point to seasons 3 & 4 as the reason for the nosedive in the number of clerics - No points in a trained-only skill and no one else has chosen your faction out of the ten options? Probably going to miss at least one prestige point. It's gotten better since the success conditions are group-based.) More than that I think the desire to "do something" is a reason many people don't choose to play a cleric or shaman. You aren't a particularly damaging frontliner. Your attack spells aren't the greatest. You don't have the best buffs. Often your best option is to wait and see where your help is needed in combat. By which time the combat is over.
I certainly don't regard either class as a "lesser life oracle." But that's probably because I don't play any of those characters as "I'm a healer." Sure I prepare a couple of heals and a mass cure serious. But using those is always my last resort; I prefer to do other things. I doubt you'll see anyone playing a straight high-wis, mid charisma, healing domain, un-archetyped cleric these days.
Mechanically I will agree that the low skill points lower the desirability. (Though I would point to seasons 3 & 4 as the reason for the nosedive in the number of clerics - No points in a trained-only skill and no one else has chosen your faction out of the ten options? Probably going to miss at least one prestige point. It's gotten better since the success conditions are group-based.) More than that I think the desire to "do something" is a reason many people don't choose to play a cleric or shaman. You aren't a particularly damaging frontliner. Your attack spells aren't the greatest. You don't have the best buffs. Often your best option is to wait and see where your help is needed in combat. By which time the combat is over.