[evileeyore]

The most survivable Cleric I've had in my games was a DX Cleric, he immediately bought DX up to 14 and dropped 10 spells to afford Combat Reflexes (which I allow). In game he bought up his HT to 14 (and was careful to survive till he did so)...

But even so he started with a Dodge of 11*, Block of 14 and Parry of 14 (with his +2 DB shield, so 10 and 12, 12, against enemies not in his front/shield arc which he took care to avoid having). Once his HT was at 14 he had a Dodge of 12* as well.

He then split his focus between spells, ST, and combat skills. He died, like all delvers do, but he did hang in a pretty long time for a Cleric.


* After his Encumbrance penalty. He worked hard to keep himself in light encumbrance, which in the end killed him (not enough DR for the pit + deadfall trap that did him in).