Rattus
2008-10-24, 06:24 AM
Okay, I'm soliciting opinions on a new (homebrew) line of 'healing' (okay, more protection) for clerics.
The whole reason for this is that I find cleric healing very uninspiring in 3e; the SC at least gave us Heal Over Time spells from the vigor line, and a fun new (but weak) idea in the form of Close Wounds, but other than that, healing is mostly just reactively restoring hitpoints on someone standing next to you. Bye bye useful actions.
Inspired by a certain souce that we all recognise and you aren't clever for pointing out :smallyuk: and continuing where the lackluster-strength Close Wounds left off, I present a line of spells I'm looking for feedback on.
Power Word: Shield
Clr 2
Action: Immediate
Range: Close (25ft + 5ft/level)
Target: 1 living
Duration: 1 round
You utter a single word of supreme power, calling on the targets soul to shield them from harm. A protective bubble of energy instantly envelops the recipient, shielding them from harm by absorbing up to [2d6 +1/2levels (max +10)] damage. This spell can be cast reactively, preventing a target from taking a degree of damage (and even saving it from death, if the target would otherwise have dropped below -10 hitpoints).
While the shield holds, attacks such as injury poison and spellcasting disruption do not occur (although all actions provoke Attacks of Opportunity as normal).
The spell only affects living targets, who have a soul present. After casting this spell, both the caster and recipient gain the Weakened Soul ailment, preventing them from both casting and recieving another Power Word: Shield spell until a swift action is taken to fortify the soul.
Pros
- Immediate action.
- Ranged.
Cons
- Less potent than cure X wounds. (d6 vs d8 HD)
- Inefficient scaling compared to cure X wounds. (literally half)
Aims
- Targets and casters are limited to performing/recieving 1 PW:S spell per round.
- Used for when mitigating damage quickly is a priority, at the expense of efficiency.
- More interesting healing options than mindless reaction. Shield 1 target and heal another! Risk losing HP efficiency by potentially preventing an effect like poison/spell interruption!
- 1 round duration = no 'spamming' the spell before battle; it requiures careful thought and placement to use without wasting. Using mindlessly = 0 hp saved, and you should have just cast a cure x wounds instead.
- Something that's not just another fire-and-forget Cleric buff.
(rest of the line:)
Power Word: Shield, Minor
Clr 0
As Power Word: Shield, but [1d2] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Lesser
Clr 1
As Power Word: Shield, but [1d6 + 1/2levels (max +8)] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Greater
Clr 3
As Power Word: Shield, but [3d6 +1/2levels (max +15)] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Major
Clr 4
As Power Word: Shield, but [4d6 +1/2levels (max +20)] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Mass Lesser
Clr 5
Targets: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
As Power Word: Shield, Lesser but [1d6 +1/2levels (max +25)] shield.
Thoughts? If you think it's a sensible idea, suitably balanced, please say so. :smallbiggrin: I'm hoping the "whoah that's overpowered" and "whoah that needs buffed" posts will balance each other as usual, but it would be nice to see them both outnumbered by some "Yeah, that sounds fine". :smallwink:
The whole reason for this is that I find cleric healing very uninspiring in 3e; the SC at least gave us Heal Over Time spells from the vigor line, and a fun new (but weak) idea in the form of Close Wounds, but other than that, healing is mostly just reactively restoring hitpoints on someone standing next to you. Bye bye useful actions.
Inspired by a certain souce that we all recognise and you aren't clever for pointing out :smallyuk: and continuing where the lackluster-strength Close Wounds left off, I present a line of spells I'm looking for feedback on.
Power Word: Shield
Clr 2
Action: Immediate
Range: Close (25ft + 5ft/level)
Target: 1 living
Duration: 1 round
You utter a single word of supreme power, calling on the targets soul to shield them from harm. A protective bubble of energy instantly envelops the recipient, shielding them from harm by absorbing up to [2d6 +1/2levels (max +10)] damage. This spell can be cast reactively, preventing a target from taking a degree of damage (and even saving it from death, if the target would otherwise have dropped below -10 hitpoints).
While the shield holds, attacks such as injury poison and spellcasting disruption do not occur (although all actions provoke Attacks of Opportunity as normal).
The spell only affects living targets, who have a soul present. After casting this spell, both the caster and recipient gain the Weakened Soul ailment, preventing them from both casting and recieving another Power Word: Shield spell until a swift action is taken to fortify the soul.
Pros
- Immediate action.
- Ranged.
Cons
- Less potent than cure X wounds. (d6 vs d8 HD)
- Inefficient scaling compared to cure X wounds. (literally half)
Aims
- Targets and casters are limited to performing/recieving 1 PW:S spell per round.
- Used for when mitigating damage quickly is a priority, at the expense of efficiency.
- More interesting healing options than mindless reaction. Shield 1 target and heal another! Risk losing HP efficiency by potentially preventing an effect like poison/spell interruption!
- 1 round duration = no 'spamming' the spell before battle; it requiures careful thought and placement to use without wasting. Using mindlessly = 0 hp saved, and you should have just cast a cure x wounds instead.
- Something that's not just another fire-and-forget Cleric buff.
(rest of the line:)
Power Word: Shield, Minor
Clr 0
As Power Word: Shield, but [1d2] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Lesser
Clr 1
As Power Word: Shield, but [1d6 + 1/2levels (max +8)] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Greater
Clr 3
As Power Word: Shield, but [3d6 +1/2levels (max +15)] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Major
Clr 4
As Power Word: Shield, but [4d6 +1/2levels (max +20)] shield.
Power Word: Shield, Mass Lesser
Clr 5
Targets: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
As Power Word: Shield, Lesser but [1d6 +1/2levels (max +25)] shield.
Thoughts? If you think it's a sensible idea, suitably balanced, please say so. :smallbiggrin: I'm hoping the "whoah that's overpowered" and "whoah that needs buffed" posts will balance each other as usual, but it would be nice to see them both outnumbered by some "Yeah, that sounds fine". :smallwink: