Priests are one of the playable classes in first appeared in::Pillars of Eternity.
They are devoted followers of one or more deities, though almost all have a primary dedication to a single god above all others.[1] They are capable in combat, but their true power comes from their prayers. These prayers form the common spells priests use in battle, ranging from healing magic and divine attacks to a variety of blessings and curses.
Description
Background
In a world with many gods, there are many different types of priests. Though the majority of priests spend their time tending to worshipers or engaged in relatively peaceful pursuits, there are ranks of dedicated adventuring or mercenary priests who have turned the flame of their faith into a spark to ignite the power of their souls. Such men and women have found a divine link to their chosen deity, but their abilities stem solely from within.[2]
Dedicated to spreading the news of their gods' dominions in the realms of mortals through their own deeds, adventuring priests thrust themselves into lethal conflict to prove their worth. Often trained to fight alongside soldiers of their respective churches, priests are capable in the fray (and near the fray, for those who follow less melee-oriented faiths), but their true power comes from their prayers, faith-inspired miracles that aid their allies and punish their enemies. These miracles range from combat blessings, weapon enchantments, and protective barriers to divine summons, sanctified wards, and crippling curses. In many ways, the prayers of priests have almost as much variety as wizards spells, though priests are restricted to invoking prayers that are aligned with their faith. Additionally, priests often specialize in the weapons, armor, and litanies of prayers most beloved by their church. Thus, the multitude of gods produces a multitude of different priests, each with their own unique array of abilities.[2]
Priests are well-versed in philosophy, myths, and legends, giving them an inherent bonus to the Lore skill. Additionally, the requirements of their faith often involve traveling long distances in difficult circumstances, giving them an inherent bonus to Athletics.[1]
Deity
The power of Holy Radiance can be modified by their behavior and the reputations they develop from the choices they make. When players make a priest character, they select a deity. Each choice highlights two types of behavior that are celebrated and two types of behavior that are condemned. For priests played as the main character, their Holy Radiance power will shift based on their behavior. Reinforcing their deity's preferred behavior will gradually increase their power, while playing against type will cause a small diminishment in their power. These changes are not dramatic, but reflect a measure of dissonance between the character's stated faith and how they choose to conduct themselves.[1]
| Deity | Favoured dispositions | Condemned dispositions | Favoured weapons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eothas | Honest, | Benevolent | Cruel, | Deceptive | Flail, | Morning star |
| Magran | Aggressive, | Clever | Passionate, | Diplomatic | Sword, | Arquebus |
| Berath | Stoic, | Rational | Cruel, | Passionate | Mace, | Great sword |
| Wael | Deceptive, | Clever | Rational, | Honest | Quarterstaff, | Rod |
| Skaen | Cruel, | Deceptive | Aggressive, | Benevolent | Stiletto, | Club |
Attributes
Highly Recommended:
Recommended:
Abilities
Priests have few personal buffs,few single-target strike spells, some crowd control abilities,[3] many AoE buffs[4] and healing spells. They can use combo attacks with other priests[5] and are the first class that is able to provide party wide healing.[6]
Spells
Priests do not gain power directly from their deity, but from their belief in the deity and the tenets of their religion. Priests gather energy into their own souls and release it through the use of specific prayers. These prayers form the common spells priests use in battle, ranging from healing magic and divine attacks to a variety of blessings and curses. Relying on large area of effect bonuses mixed with small area offensive spells to direct combat from afar.[1]
Priests gain access to all spells of a given level as soon as he/she is able to cast from that level, but their overall access is limited by their faith.[7] There are 8 spell level in Pillars of Eternity. On the first level the priest gains access to the first spell level, on the third level he/she gains access to 2nd spell level and on the 5th level he/she gains access to the 3rd spell level, and so on.[8]
Compared to wizards, priests have access to a smaller number of spells overall but do not need to prepare those spells in a grimoire. And while priests do have offensive spells, they are smaller in area and generally weaker in power than similar effects available to wizards and druids.[1]
Progression
| Level | Ability gained | 1st level | 2nd level | 3rd level | 4th level | 5th level | 6th level | 7th level | 8th level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holy Radiance | 2 per Rest | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| All 1st level spells | |||||||||
| 2 | choose one talent | 3 per Rest | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| 3 | All 2nd level spells | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| 4 | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| 5 | All 3rd level spells | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest | none | none | none | none | none |
| 6 | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest | none | none | none | none | none |
| 7 | All 4th level spells | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest | none | none | none | none |
| 8 | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest | none | none | none | none |
| 9 | All 5th level spells. Spell Mastery (per Encounter) of one Level 1 Priest spell. | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest | none | none | none |
| 10 | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest | none | none | none |
| 11 | All 6th level spells. Spell Mastery (per Encounter) of one Level 2 or lower Priest spell. | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest | none | none |
| 12 | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest | none | none |
| 13 [WM1] | All 7th level spells. Spell Mastery (per Encounter) of one Level 3 or lower Priest spell. | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest | none |
| 14 [WM1] | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest | none |
| 15 [WM2] | All 8th level spells. Spell Mastery (per Encounter) of one Level 4 or lower Priest spell. | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 2 per Rest |
| 16 [WM2] | choose one talent | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 4 per Rest | 3 per Rest |
Talents
- Interdiction – Condemns the priest's foes, Dazing any enemies in the area of effect.
- Empowered Interdiction – The priest's condemnations of an enemy become more apt, increasing the Accuracy of his or her Interdiction ability.
- Untroubled Faith (Priest) – The priest's ability to inspire becomes more than just a sum of his or her actions, negating Reputations that negatively influence Holy Radiance.
- Painful Interdiction – Priests are able to channel their fury through Interdiction, adding a painful Weakening affliction to the attack.
- Brilliant Radiance – Enemies take Burn damage from the priest's Holy Radiance (vessels take increased Burn damage)
- Inspiring Radiance – Allies gain an Accuracy bonus from the priest's Holy Radiance.
- Aggrandizing Radiance – Allies gain less healing from the priest's Holy Radiance, but the priest gains a bonus to all Attributes and Movement.
- The Pallid Hand – only for Berath. Accuracy bonus with Mace and Great Sword. Can cast special version of Concelhaut's Corrosive Siphon.
- Inspired Flame – only for Magran. +10 Accuracy with Sword and Arquebus. Can cast a limited version of Burst of Summer Flame.
- Hope Eternal – only for Eothas. Accuracy bonus with Flail and Morning Star. Can cast healing spell that shortens Frightened and Terrified.
- Prey on the Weak – only for Skaen. Accuracy bonus with Stiletto and Club. Adds Baby Sneak Attack.
- Incomprehensible Revelation – only for Wael. Accuracy bonus with Quarterstaff and Rod. Can cast a weaker version of Arkemyr's Dazzling Lights.
- Bonus 1st Level Spell – Gain an extra spell cast of level 1 spells.
- Bonus 2nd Level Spell – Gain an extra spell cast of level 2 spells.
- Bonus 3rd Level Spell – Gain an extra spell cast of level 3 spells.
- Bonus 4th Level Spell – Gain an extra spell cast of level 4 spells.
Related items
Notable NPCs
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Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 #78: The Leaders of the Band: Chanters and Priests
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Update #15: PayPal, Polish and Russian support, $2.5M/$2.6M stretch goals, new reddit Q&A, classes, and art!
- ↑ Forum post by Josh Sawyer
- ↑ Forum post by Josh Sawyer
- ↑ Update #60: Camaraderie
- ↑ Forum post by Josh Sawyer
- ↑ Forum post by Josh Sawyer
- ↑ Josh Sawyer in the video for update #74
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