Healing Belt Adjustments [Archive] - Wizards Community

Healing Belt Adjustments [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Symeon_Quykk
02-07-08, 07:40 PM Well, I have some questions about an MIC item called the Healing Belt.

Background... we just hit 3rd level and my wizard took Craft Wondrous Item as his feat. First thing I did was start looking for things to craft to help out the party. I found the Healing Belt and thought WOW! Since we just got on the favorable side of the Luminous Order in our Slaughtergarde campaign, I thought it would be easy to find a cleric to cast cure mod wounds for its creation. We only have one divine spellcaster (a druid) and if he was to go down in combat, we'd be hardpressed to get him back on his feet. I thought if someone other than the druid was able to do a little healing, the overall party would be better off for it!

Now, at this point, I let my DM have a look at my sweet belt I wanted to make. He looked it over and said it looked a little TOO good for the price and didn't like the 3 new charges everyday and it never runs out. He was probably thinking that we would use it to save money on healing (potions, wands, etc) and thought I was trying pull a fast one on him.

Now I agree that we would save money on alternative healing methods, but I'm willing to work with him to make something "balanced" and still useful. I was thinking of using the item as a "oh ****, the druid went down last round and HE had the ONLY wand of CLW!!!" problem-fixer and a way for the druid to make better use of his spell slots by not having to take cure spells as much and expanding his spell use.

I have suggested a few things to the DM to make this thing work. I have suggest to reducing the healing to 1d8 for 1 charge, 2d8 for 2, and 3d8 for 3. I have also thrown the option of the belt only regaining 1 charge per day (making it still useable, but it would have a more "last option" feel to it) instead of gaining all 3 charges each day.

Any suggestions on other ways to adjust the Healing Belt (MIC) to be more DM-friendly, but still a useful item would be much appreciated.

I also tried to explain that since I invested a feat (CWI) and my XP into making these things, I should be able to make SOMETHING CLOSE if it's not the Healing Belt in the MIC.

Thanks in advance!!!
trapspringer
02-07-08, 11:42 PM Honestly your proposed variant looks very good. You did an excellent job mitigating the usefulness of the item while preserving its feel and function for your party.

Your DM should strongly consider allowing it.
dawnbringer
02-08-08, 06:27 AM Your DM should strongly consider allowing it without modifications. It's not too good at all.
Neutronium_Dragon
02-08-08, 06:36 AM While someone can probably write a longer explanation, the short form is that the belt is balanced as written. While it looks good compared to an equally priced wand from the perspective that it never runs out of charges, the per-day limitation seriously limits its utility compared to the wand - a belt might give you more d8s of healing over time, but the wand can give you 50d8 *right now* when you need it.
Rederik
02-15-08, 12:12 PM I price the Belt of healing at about 4500gp in my game (the cost of about 3 Eternal wands of CLW) Same amount of healing, same number of charges... AND can be used by any character... They are still getting a bargain...

Yes, the Belt of Healing *IS* that good...
mtbOgre
02-21-08, 01:22 AM I price the Belt of healing at about 4500gp in my game (the cost of about 3 Eternal wands of CLW) Same amount of healing, same number of charges... AND can be used by any character... They are still getting a bargain...

Yes, the Belt of Healing *IS* that good...

You are right. I'm not sure what they were smoking when they wrote this. Only thing I can figure is it was a precursor to the whole "Everyone can heal themselves" concept in 4... ?? That's just a wild guess, I'll bet even at 4500 it's still tempting to buy.
Krusk
02-21-08, 02:25 PM It was probably an attempt to make playing in a game without a cleric possible. Without this item it costs tons of money if you want to try, and is generally not cost effective.

If your DM won't allow it as it is, I like both of your varients a lot. I like the 1 charge regained a day one better out of the two.
Jopustopin
03-12-08, 03:52 PM Can you hold a charge if you miss your touch attack against the undead?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Symeon_Quykk 02-07-08, 07:40 PM	Well, I have some questions about an MIC item called the Healing Belt. Background... we just hit 3rd level and my wizard took Craft Wondrous Item as his feat. First thing I did was start looking for things to craft to help out the party. I found the Healing Belt and thought WOW! Since we just got on the favorable side of the Luminous Order in our Slaughtergarde campaign, I thought it would be easy to find a cleric to cast cure mod wounds for its creation. We only have one divine spellcaster (a druid) and if he was to go down in combat, we'd be hardpressed to get him back on his feet. I thought if someone other than the druid was able to do a little healing, the overall party would be better off for it! Now, at this point, I let my DM have a look at my sweet belt I wanted to make. He looked it over and said it looked a little TOO good for the price and didn't like the 3 new charges everyday and it never runs out. He was probably thinking that we would use it to save money on healing (potions, wands, etc) and thought I was trying pull a fast one on him. Now I agree that we would save money on alternative healing methods, but I'm willing to work with him to make something "balanced" and still useful. I was thinking of using the item as a "oh ****, the druid went down last round and HE had the ONLY wand of CLW!!!" problem-fixer and a way for the druid to make better use of his spell slots by not having to take cure spells as much and expanding his spell use. I have suggested a few things to the DM to make this thing work. I have suggest to reducing the healing to 1d8 for 1 charge, 2d8 for 2, and 3d8 for 3. I have also thrown the option of the belt only regaining 1 charge per day (making it still useable, but it would have a more "last option" feel to it) instead of gaining all 3 charges each day. Any suggestions on other ways to adjust the Healing Belt (MIC) to be more DM-friendly, but still a useful item would be much appreciated. I also tried to explain that since I invested a feat (CWI) and my XP into making these things, I should be able to make SOMETHING CLOSE if it's not the Healing Belt in the MIC. Thanks in advance!!!
trapspringer 02-07-08, 11:42 PM	Honestly your proposed variant looks very good. You did an excellent job mitigating the usefulness of the item while preserving its feel and function for your party. Your DM should strongly consider allowing it.
dawnbringer 02-08-08, 06:27 AM	Your DM should strongly consider allowing it without modifications. It's not too good at all.
Neutronium_Dragon 02-08-08, 06:36 AM	While someone can probably write a longer explanation, the short form is that the belt is balanced as written. While it looks good compared to an equally priced wand from the perspective that it never runs out of charges, the per-day limitation seriously limits its utility compared to the wand - a belt might give you more d8s of healing over time, but the wand can give you 50d8 right now when you need it.
Rederik 02-15-08, 12:12 PM	I price the Belt of healing at about 4500gp in my game (the cost of about 3 Eternal wands of CLW) Same amount of healing, same number of charges... AND can be used by any character... They are still getting a bargain... Yes, the Belt of Healing IS that good...
mtbOgre 02-21-08, 01:22 AM	I price the Belt of healing at about 4500gp in my game (the cost of about 3 Eternal wands of CLW) Same amount of healing, same number of charges... AND can be used by any character... They are still getting a bargain... Yes, the Belt of Healing IS that good... You are right. I'm not sure what they were smoking when they wrote this. Only thing I can figure is it was a precursor to the whole "Everyone can heal themselves" concept in 4... ?? That's just a wild guess, I'll bet even at 4500 it's still tempting to buy.
Krusk 02-21-08, 02:25 PM	It was probably an attempt to make playing in a game without a cleric possible. Without this item it costs tons of money if you want to try, and is generally not cost effective. If your DM won't allow it as it is, I like both of your varients a lot. I like the 1 charge regained a day one better out of the two.
Jopustopin 03-12-08, 03:52 PM	Can you hold a charge if you miss your touch attack against the undead?