Shattered Kingdoms

I started my time on Sk playing a priest, not a very good one but a priest never the less. I see now that it was through my ignorance as to what other classes had to offer that I stuck with it. I play the game now and I remember how fun it was to be a priest, thus I start one, I reach novice, then I reach innitiate and I realize that I am still hitting things one time per round and It takes me nearly five mins at times to kill a much more powerfull than you NPC and I'm exhausted afterward from healing close calls and the sort. I would bet that many young priest get discouraged because I know I do, and I also know that I have a good deal of patience. So I ask? Why not have a low level damage spell for priest?
Between burning hands, magic missle, and cause light, give something to the humble priest and priestess, perhaps not a spell, but even a skill (though I don't know what). But something needs to be done, because all to often when playing a priest I do delete because of slow leveling and and even slower character development because I can't get into the so called "thick" but I do meet every friendly merc barb swashie and rogue that blazes past me onto their way to grand master whilest I struggle to make journeyman. I can attest to the usefullness of low level damage spells having mentor'd many hellions using nothing but cause light and the enter key, same goes for Necro's and Warlocks with burning hands and an elemental etc. Perhaps this does seem like some QQ here and there, but I'm not complaining to whine, I'm complaining because I don't see the reason "why not".
As a side note, who doesn't wanna see a priest level faster, be able to resurrect faster, or be able to deliver a hella holy word faster? I know I would and I know the number of priest would rise significantly with this minor change.
Thanks for your time and I hope I have presented a valid argument.


Lightbringer

I think it makes sense.

Ooo, something equal to magic missile called smite, maybe?

I would love to see a low level damaging spell for priests. In my humble and often ignorant opinion they are one of the hardest classes to level. There may be a balance issue or something that I'm not aware of, but I do know that until a priest gets flamestrike it is a very slow grind. Well, it was for me.

Please implement this before I roll a priest, kthx.

cure light can be a damage spell if you think it's easier to level using your mana pool (and then sleeping to recover instead of just going from NPC to NPC)

Killing NPCs that are "much more powerful than you" probably isn't the most efficient way to level if it leaves you so drained.

If you must fight NPCs that are a lot higher than your level, use a pet to start the fight with a bash.

get a more experienced priest from your religion to put a bunch of enchants on your weapon (and repeat if it gets stolen)

use bless/frenzy and armor/protection if you are taking hits

get eq mods to boost dex/strength

I think the difficulty of leveling priests is overstated.

Acquire these:

- Train or boost strength to a reasonable level.
- A reaching weapon such as a pole-mace.
- A sturdy pet such as a heavy-set camel.

Having a moderate amount of charisma will help. With that setup getting to mentor will take time, but manageable solo.

I've already given this suggestion to the D, buuut....

Just lower second attack to jman.

The reason your looking for your a priest not a paladin, hellion, shaman, sorceror or warlock.

Cure light is the answer to all your goodly priest worries. Its something of an answer for evil priests due to the extra XP you get from casting spells to do damage over melee damage. As a priest dont push to far above your level range, keep it simple.

Armor, protection and a pet make for a good tank at low levels fight things that can hardly wound you (so long as you fight foes of opposed aura) and you wont be drained after each fight.

Frenzy and bless enable you to increase your damage output dont be scared to use these in a group.

Getting free mentor training will enable you to have extra cash to spend on things like armor, weapon even spell buffs via potions.

It's a pain to level priests.

Shield block and second attack are too high to be of any good at lower levels. I used shield block but have not really touched second attack. Once I had spear of faith and summon, it is just a matter of knowing NPCs and setting your mind to it.

I am very conservative when I level I have died once on my current character in the one hundred hours I have in. Being conservative in how I approach things has slowed my leveling considerably. IF I were to take the time and risk and find the right NPCs I could probably chew the next five levels pretty quick.

Priests provide different play than mages. They're not supposed to level in the same way. Nor is there any need for them to. What relief is appropriate can be granted in another way.

Giving priests and shamans Second Attack at Apprentice sounds about right.