Well if you don't go for FOTH, the only other thing I can think of is making a BH/HB cleric variant. Which is basically a weaker BH Pally, because you've got no concentration and very limited points in BH's synergy.
As for playing, well, my personal experience is that you have to get to Act 2 ASAP and hire a merc. Then heal it while it kills everything imaginable. I put points into Prayer 'till I got HB, then maxed HB (and bought a +3 Prayer sceptre), divering the obligatory 1 pt into Cleansing and Meditation along the way. Getting Cleansing was a relief, as it suits Act 2 nicely (all that poison!) and you can finally stop draining mana for puny passive healing.
I hired an Act 3 Cold merc later on... mostly because I was in a party with my wife's sorc and the two mercs would interfere with eachother's healing. If you're solo stick to a Defiance (or Might or Prayer) merc. Prayer stacks with Cleansing/Meditation btw.
As for playing, well, my personal experience is that you have to get to Act 2 ASAP and hire a merc. Then heal it while it kills everything imaginable. I put points into Prayer 'till I got HB, then maxed HB (and bought a +3 Prayer sceptre), divering the obligatory 1 pt into Cleansing and Meditation along the way. Getting Cleansing was a relief, as it suits Act 2 nicely (all that poison!) and you can finally stop draining mana for puny passive healing.
I hired an Act 3 Cold merc later on... mostly because I was in a party with my wife's sorc and the two mercs would interfere with eachother's healing. If you're solo stick to a Defiance (or Might or Prayer) merc. Prayer stacks with Cleansing/Meditation btw.