Why are clerics so popular?

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Arcane spells, depending on the spell, require use of vocal, somatic (gestures) and material components either for consumption by the energy or a focus for the energy - arcane magic is about drawing together energy and then shaping it into the spell you require.

Divine spells, depending on the spell, can require vocal and somatic components although usually make use of a divine focus, generally the holy symbol they carry with them, if they have no focus they cannot cast spells that require it - divine magic is about channelling energy from the divine that is granted to them in predefined forms, the only alteration they can make to the channelled energy is directing it into positive or negative energy depending on alignment of the patron deity to directly heal or harm themselves or another. While a magi has to weave his spells to an affect - the priest can unravel his spells into their basic essence.

It's the difference between each night a priest picks up an apple, an orange and a lemon and can throw those at enemies, or make them into a juice. A magi reads instructions on how to grow apples, oranges and lemons very quickly and has to remember how to do this in stressful situations.

 

I presume the non-story reason is because wizards get far more damaging spells than clerics, especially at low levels. Letting them into combat gives them something to do whilst waiting for one of the fighters to get injured enough to need healing. By giving them the armour but not the weapons they can survive but they won't outshine the fighters.

 

Is it? I never managed to turn anything in IWD2.

 

I would have to agree somewhat to this, because of what has been said before. If you don't use buffs, then you won't really miss a cleric in your party. If you do, play once with a cleric and once without and you will notice a difference. And any big mistake during a battle could mean a Power Word: Reload, instead of a Raise Dead/Resurrection.

In terms of Turning Undead, I've found only really one place worth using it, yielding quest XP - the rest of time, it is better to simply to just kill those grave-walkers.

 

You need charisma to turn undead (IIRC). It's in the special abilities button

 

"She's chanelling the power of a God. I'm wresting arcane energies from the fabric of the universe itself. It's completely different." -Raistlin Majere