[OOC] Converting Your Character: Complete Divine

Favored Soul
Beyond a couple of fairly minor (or high-level) class features, a favored soul is basically a cleric who casts like a sorcerer; thus, your best bet is to choose one of the two cleric builds (Player's Handbook p61) that matches your character’s style of play. It’s possible that one of the paladin builds (p90) might be a better match for you (or one or more paladin multiclass feats), so take a look at that option as well.

Shugenja
This divine spellcaster combines powers traditionally associated with clerics with those more familiar to wizards; thus, it’s likely that your shugenja is a blend of the leader and controller (or even striker) roles. Take a look at the spells you prefer, and use the information in the cleric (p60) and wizard (p156) entries to help guide your decision. Your element focus may help you determine which role (and class and build) is the best fit for you.

Air shugenjas are a slightly better fit for the controller role than any other; however, your non-air spells may actually define your role more clearly than your air spells. If you strongly associate your character with control-based air spells such as sleep, color spray, and control winds, the control wizard build (p157) might be a good choice. With your DM’s permission, you could describe your powers as deriving from the divine power source rather than the arcane—which wouldn’t have to change their mechanics.

Earth shugenjas match the leader role best, and the devoted cleric build (p61) works well for you.

Fire shugenjas generally find themselves in the role of controller or striker, thanks to their wide array of ranged or area spells (burning hands, searing light, lightning bolt, etc.). Either the war wizard build (p157) or the scourge warlock build (p130) is probably best for you, depending on whether you prefer area attacks or single-target attacks. Again, calling your powers divine prayers rather than arcane spells keeps your divine flavor without requiring mechanical changes.

Water shugenjas are traditional leaders, fitting the devoted cleric build (p61) well.

Spirit Shaman
Since the spirit shaman draws her spells from the druid list, her party role depends heavily on the flavor of the spells she uses. Most spirit shamans probably fit best into the leader role (favoring healing and buffing spells); such characters should use the devoted cleric build (p61), and adjust their class features as follows:

* Remove chainmail from list of armor proficiencies.
* Add Nature to the list of class skills.
* Change your turn undead power to chastise spirits, extending its effects to insubstantial undead and creatures with the elemental or fey origin.

However, if your spirit shaman prefers damaging spells, she might be better off using the war wizard build (as a controller; p157) or the scourge warlock build (as a striker; p130), and flavoring her powers as divine rather than arcane. In this case, you’ll have to work with your DM to adapt any spirit shaman class feature to the new class.