Miniatures Handbook Healer Class optimization - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Miniatures Handbook Healer Class optimization

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
solitonman
Nov 17, 2009 8:59:09 Hi, we're playing a Shackled City campaign that is approaching the end of the story. Unfortunately our group has suffered losses (players, not characters) and we're in a kind of bind with respect to group size vs. upcoming challenges. One option we're exploring is running multiple characters. Our DM has approved a few limited options, and the one I'm looking at is the Healer from the Miniatures Handbook.

I know that there are many many ways to address healing in D&D - especially the idea of not getting hurt in the first place! However, what I'm looking for here is the best optimization for the Healer class from the MHB. No prestige classes or multiclassing. Feats from various WotC sources are probably ok, as are alternative class features if such exist. Any ideas for useful items would be great. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.
#2
damien_the_bloodfeaster
Nov 17, 2009 12:26:06 The Augment Healing feat from Complete Divine seems a natural choice--adds +2 hp healed per spell level.

From a strategic standpoint on what I've seen of healers, your best bet is to make the character like a cockroach--not too threatening but very hard to kill. Get him a ring of invisibility or the like, since his spells are generally not offensive. Look for ways to add spells to his spell list, which is extremely limited (see if your DM allows the use of Extra Spell to add non-healer spells to the spell list). See if you can find a way to get Use Magic Device as a class skill, then have the healer hang back and do buff spells and the like from scrolls when not actively healing anyone. Sorry I can't provide more specific suggestions--hopefully others can do that for you!
#3
solitonman
Nov 17, 2009 13:07:25 Thank you, that's very helpful advice I haven't checked out Complete Divine too much, but Augment Healing sounds perfect.

Scrolls sound like a good idea. General stuff to allow for various situations, including running away.

Invisibility is a great idea! I hadn't thought about that, making the healer invisibile...hmm, maybe a pixie healer would be a good start - naturally invisible, small, and mobile... ;)
#4
tdsaw111
Nov 21, 2009 0:59:28 Since so many of the Healing spells are touch, try to get a Metamagic Rod of Reach.
#5
gorfnad_the_shiznit
Nov 21, 2009 1:16:19 Touch of Healing and Mitigate Suffering feats from Complete Mage
Mastery of Day and Night from Players Guide to Eberron
Spontaneous Healer from Complete Divine
Skin of Ectoplasmic Armor (MIC)
The 3.5 Cleric Handbook has some magic items listed that would work well for healers too.
#6
CantripN
Nov 21, 2009 8:32:08 I must say that Healer, as a class, is not the best Healer around. Cleric takes that one, and with many more abilities, to boot. Failing that, so does a properly made Paladin. As does a Favored Soul.

Cleric is best, though.

In any case, even if you can only play a Healer (Class), these are good, in addition to those mentioned:
Feat - Imbued Healing (CC)
Feat - Initiate of Ilamater (Player's Guide to Faerûn)

Prestige Class - Radiant Servant of Pelor (CD), Combat Medic (HoB), Celestial Mystic (BoED)

Items:
Amulet of Retributive Healing (2000gp, MiC Page 69): This handy little doodad lets you double up on your healing 3 times per day. When activated (as a swift action) this amulet allows you to cure yourself of an amount of damage equal to however much you cured your buddy of. So, if you cast Heal on your ally, you can activate this item to use a free quickened Heal on yourself. Works with scrolls and everything, too.

See if you can use these Alternate Class Features for a Cleric:
Divine Restoration (DS, p 9): Lose a domain granted power. Gain the ability to spontaneously cast restoration spells.
Pool of Healing (CC, p 47): lose 4th level spell slot, gain a pool of healing to use at will (equal to 5 time your divine caster level +1)
Spontaneous Domain Casting (PHB 2, p 37): Lose the ability to spontaneously cast cure spells, cast domain spells instead. = Healing/Life Domain.

Pool of Healing + Caduceus Bracers (MIC, item, 2K gold) makes for a well rounded ability, able to cure most minor conditions, and some major ones.
#7
streamofthesky
Nov 25, 2009 17:23:13 I assume the options for secondary characters were rather yucky and didn't include Cleric.

Check out C.Champion. Touch of Healing lets you heal without items all day long (up to half max hp of the target). There's other feats to use healing to remove conditions, too.

Ring of Mystic Healing (I think that's the name) from MIC is some extra healing oomph. From the same book is the dirt-cheap 3/day immediate or swift (forgot, sorry) action Amulet of Retributive Healing. It's only 2k, and upon activation, heals you for the same amount you just healed a spell target. It takes the same slot as +wisdom, but is so inexpensive it's worth paying 1.5x cost to stack on top of it.

If you really want ot get ridiculous with the cockroach method (which is a great idea), there's Stone Power from Tome of Battle. It's like Power Attack, take up to a -5 to hit in melee, but instead gives you 2 temp hp per attack penalty for 1 round. The Minor Shapechange reserve feat (C.Mage, available level 9+ barring the ability to take a feat at level 7-8) is absolutely better in every possible way -- swift to get temp hp equal to your HD for 4+ rounds, renewable whenever you like -- but requires having a polymorph spell of level 4 or higher, which I don't believe you can get as a healer, sadly.
#8
dawnmor
Nov 30, 2009 22:23:45 Forget the Rod of Reach, that uses charges. I suggest Taking the feat REACH spell Feat. I think its out of Complete Divine as well.

You want a good healer, I think the Healer base class is good, specially if you combine it with that Radiant Pelor PRC from Complete divine, its 10th lvl ability allows you the caster to cast a Empowered and Maximized Healing spell WITHOUT furthering the + metamagic thing that most meta magic spells can use.

Can someone translate that ? my brain isnt working very well atm LOL.
#9
tytalus
Dec 01, 2009 3:32:13
Forget the Rod of Reach, that uses charges. I suggest Taking the feat REACH spell Feat. I think its out of Complete Divine as well.

Increasing the spell level by +2 hurts, though. A lot. That means reserving a 3rd level spell just to be able to heal a single ally for ~1D8+5 points of damage.

Also: Metamagic Rods do not use charges. Instead, they can be used three times per day. See DMG, p. 236.

Getting one of them is an excellent idea.

You want a good healer, I think the Healer base class is good, specially if you combine it with that Radiant Pelor PRC from Complete divine, its 10th lvl ability allows you the caster to cast a Empowered and Maximized Healing spell WITHOUT furthering the + metamagic thing that most meta magic spells can use.

Can someone translate that ? my brain isnt working very well atm LOL.

Healers can't qualify for Radiant Servant of Pelor.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 solitonman Nov 17, 2009 8:59:09	Hi, we're playing a Shackled City campaign that is approaching the end of the story. Unfortunately our group has suffered losses (players, not characters) and we're in a kind of bind with respect to group size vs. upcoming challenges. One option we're exploring is running multiple characters. Our DM has approved a few limited options, and the one I'm looking at is the Healer from the Miniatures Handbook. I know that there are many many ways to address healing in D&D - especially the idea of not getting hurt in the first place! However, what I'm looking for here is the best optimization for the Healer class from the MHB. No prestige classes or multiclassing. Feats from various WotC sources are probably ok, as are alternative class features if such exist. Any ideas for useful items would be great. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.
#2 damien_the_bloodfeaster Nov 17, 2009 12:26:06	The Augment Healing feat from Complete Divine seems a natural choice--adds +2 hp healed per spell level. From a strategic standpoint on what I've seen of healers, your best bet is to make the character like a cockroach--not too threatening but very hard to kill. Get him a ring of invisibility or the like, since his spells are generally not offensive. Look for ways to add spells to his spell list, which is extremely limited (see if your DM allows the use of Extra Spell to add non-healer spells to the spell list). See if you can find a way to get Use Magic Device as a class skill, then have the healer hang back and do buff spells and the like from scrolls when not actively healing anyone. Sorry I can't provide more specific suggestions--hopefully others can do that for you!
#3 solitonman Nov 17, 2009 13:07:25	Thank you, that's very helpful advice I haven't checked out Complete Divine too much, but Augment Healing sounds perfect. Scrolls sound like a good idea. General stuff to allow for various situations, including running away. Invisibility is a great idea! I hadn't thought about that, making the healer invisibile...hmm, maybe a pixie healer would be a good start - naturally invisible, small, and mobile... ;)
#4 tdsaw111 Nov 21, 2009 0:59:28	Since so many of the Healing spells are touch, try to get a Metamagic Rod of Reach.
#5 gorfnad_the_shiznit Nov 21, 2009 1:16:19	Touch of Healing and Mitigate Suffering feats from Complete Mage Mastery of Day and Night from Players Guide to Eberron Spontaneous Healer from Complete Divine Skin of Ectoplasmic Armor (MIC) The 3.5 Cleric Handbook has some magic items listed that would work well for healers too.
#6 CantripN Nov 21, 2009 8:32:08	I must say that Healer, as a class, is not the best Healer around. Cleric takes that one, and with many more abilities, to boot. Failing that, so does a properly made Paladin. As does a Favored Soul. Cleric is best, though. In any case, even if you can only play a Healer (Class), these are good, in addition to those mentioned: Feat - Imbued Healing (CC) Feat - Initiate of Ilamater (Player's Guide to Faerûn) Prestige Class - Radiant Servant of Pelor (CD), Combat Medic (HoB), Celestial Mystic (BoED) Items: Amulet of Retributive Healing (2000gp, MiC Page 69): This handy little doodad lets you double up on your healing 3 times per day. When activated (as a swift action) this amulet allows you to cure yourself of an amount of damage equal to however much you cured your buddy of. So, if you cast Heal on your ally, you can activate this item to use a free quickened Heal on yourself. Works with scrolls and everything, too. See if you can use these Alternate Class Features for a Cleric: Divine Restoration (DS, p 9): Lose a domain granted power. Gain the ability to spontaneously cast restoration spells. Pool of Healing (CC, p 47): lose 4th level spell slot, gain a pool of healing to use at will (equal to 5 time your divine caster level +1) Spontaneous Domain Casting (PHB 2, p 37): Lose the ability to spontaneously cast cure spells, cast domain spells instead. = Healing/Life Domain. Pool of Healing + Caduceus Bracers (MIC, item, 2K gold) makes for a well rounded ability, able to cure most minor conditions, and some major ones.
#7 streamofthesky Nov 25, 2009 17:23:13	I assume the options for secondary characters were rather yucky and didn't include Cleric. Check out C.Champion. Touch of Healing lets you heal without items all day long (up to half max hp of the target). There's other feats to use healing to remove conditions, too. Ring of Mystic Healing (I think that's the name) from MIC is some extra healing oomph. From the same book is the dirt-cheap 3/day immediate or swift (forgot, sorry) action Amulet of Retributive Healing. It's only 2k, and upon activation, heals you for the same amount you just healed a spell target. It takes the same slot as +wisdom, but is so inexpensive it's worth paying 1.5x cost to stack on top of it. If you really want ot get ridiculous with the cockroach method (which is a great idea), there's Stone Power from Tome of Battle. It's like Power Attack, take up to a -5 to hit in melee, but instead gives you 2 temp hp per attack penalty for 1 round. The Minor Shapechange reserve feat (C.Mage, available level 9+ barring the ability to take a feat at level 7-8) is absolutely better in every possible way -- swift to get temp hp equal to your HD for 4+ rounds, renewable whenever you like -- but requires having a polymorph spell of level 4 or higher, which I don't believe you can get as a healer, sadly.
#8 dawnmor Nov 30, 2009 22:23:45	Forget the Rod of Reach, that uses charges. I suggest Taking the feat REACH spell Feat. I think its out of Complete Divine as well. You want a good healer, I think the Healer base class is good, specially if you combine it with that Radiant Pelor PRC from Complete divine, its 10th lvl ability allows you the caster to cast a Empowered and Maximized Healing spell WITHOUT furthering the + metamagic thing that most meta magic spells can use. Can someone translate that ? my brain isnt working very well atm LOL.
#9 tytalus Dec 01, 2009 3:32:13	Forget the Rod of Reach, that uses charges. I suggest Taking the feat REACH spell Feat. I think its out of Complete Divine as well. Increasing the spell level by +2 hurts, though. A lot. That means reserving a 3rd level spell just to be able to heal a single ally for ~1D8+5 points of damage. Also: Metamagic Rods do not use charges. Instead, they can be used three times per day. See DMG, p. 236. Getting one of them is an excellent idea. You want a good healer, I think the Healer base class is good, specially if you combine it with that Radiant Pelor PRC from Complete divine, its 10th lvl ability allows you the caster to cast a Empowered and Maximized Healing spell WITHOUT furthering the + metamagic thing that most meta magic spells can use. Can someone translate that ? my brain isnt working very well atm LOL. Healers can't qualify for Radiant Servant of Pelor.