Alternative for "lay on hands" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternative for "lay on hands" [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
srkingdavy
06-18-05, 09:11 PM hey people, I'm running a low-magic game in which divine magic is non-existant since the gods pretty much up and left centuries ago. To compensate, there are some arcane spells which can heal (over-costed as per druid)

someone wants to be a paladin, not of a god but of a cause (of elves, in this case.) The non-casting paladin variant from "complete warrior" seems good, but the lay-on-hands ability still seems out of place. I was thinking of replacing it with bonus feats, since in this world paladins are basically just fighters that are uber-commited to a cause.

So, my question is, how many feats, and does anyone else have ideas for a balanced swap-out for lay on hands?
Galaktia
06-18-05, 09:12 PM Lay on hands, becomes Healing touch

The paladin gains the heal skill as a class skill and can add his paladin level to the skill as a religious healer bonus that stacks with all other bonuses.
srkingdavy
06-18-05, 09:16 PM seems like a good ability, but underpowered as compared to lay-on-hands, especially since the DCs for heal checks max out at 15.
Galaktia
06-18-05, 09:18 PM Add a new option to heal checks,

You can use your knowledge of herbs and bandaging to add 1d6 hit points as per healing to your target DC 20, plus 1d6 for each 5 you beat the dc by
SwitchUK
06-18-05, 09:18 PM The "lay on hands" ability stems from the paladin's ability to channel positive energy, as opposed to being a divine spell. Seeing as you've still got arcane magic in, I wouldn't say it's beyond the bounds of possibility for a character to tap the positive energy plane for such a basic purpose as healing. Just descibe it as an arcane spell-like class ability.

Honestly, though, mate, I have a hard time understanding why people want to run low-magic campaigns at all, so my opinion or advice won't be unbiased...

The paladin gains the heal skill as a class skill and can add his paladin level to the skill as a religious healer bonus that stacks with all other bonuses.

"Heal" IS a paladin class skill.
Sildatorak
06-19-05, 03:00 PM If you're looking to get rid of paladins' divine-ish abilities, you should consider the variant from Unearthed Arcana that trades in lay on hands, turning undead, and remove disease for favored enemies. They have to choose from a particular list of types (monstrous humanoid, giant, dragon, evil outsider, aberration, and undead are the list given), but you could probably add an extra enemy that is the primary enemy of their cause.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
srkingdavy 06-18-05, 09:11 PM	hey people, I'm running a low-magic game in which divine magic is non-existant since the gods pretty much up and left centuries ago. To compensate, there are some arcane spells which can heal (over-costed as per druid) someone wants to be a paladin, not of a god but of a cause (of elves, in this case.) The non-casting paladin variant from "complete warrior" seems good, but the lay-on-hands ability still seems out of place. I was thinking of replacing it with bonus feats, since in this world paladins are basically just fighters that are uber-commited to a cause. So, my question is, how many feats, and does anyone else have ideas for a balanced swap-out for lay on hands?
Galaktia 06-18-05, 09:12 PM	Lay on hands, becomes Healing touch The paladin gains the heal skill as a class skill and can add his paladin level to the skill as a religious healer bonus that stacks with all other bonuses.
srkingdavy 06-18-05, 09:16 PM	seems like a good ability, but underpowered as compared to lay-on-hands, especially since the DCs for heal checks max out at 15.
Galaktia 06-18-05, 09:18 PM	Add a new option to heal checks, You can use your knowledge of herbs and bandaging to add 1d6 hit points as per healing to your target DC 20, plus 1d6 for each 5 you beat the dc by
SwitchUK 06-18-05, 09:18 PM	The "lay on hands" ability stems from the paladin's ability to channel positive energy, as opposed to being a divine spell. Seeing as you've still got arcane magic in, I wouldn't say it's beyond the bounds of possibility for a character to tap the positive energy plane for such a basic purpose as healing. Just descibe it as an arcane spell-like class ability. Honestly, though, mate, I have a hard time understanding why people want to run low-magic campaigns at all, so my opinion or advice won't be unbiased... The paladin gains the heal skill as a class skill and can add his paladin level to the skill as a religious healer bonus that stacks with all other bonuses. "Heal" IS a paladin class skill.
Sildatorak 06-19-05, 03:00 PM	If you're looking to get rid of paladins' divine-ish abilities, you should consider the variant from Unearthed Arcana that trades in lay on hands, turning undead, and remove disease for favored enemies. They have to choose from a particular list of types (monstrous humanoid, giant, dragon, evil outsider, aberration, and undead are the list given), but you could probably add an extra enemy that is the primary enemy of their cause.