So.... why, exactly, is Lay on Hands an at-will?

[Flipguarder]

I'm definitely sorry if I came off as malicious, that was 100% not my intent.

I disagree.

 

[Piratecat]

To try to convince people its a useless topic?

Buh-bye.

 

[Nail]

Nobody's saying it should be an Encounter. It's a power that can be used a certain number of times per day. Thus, it should be a daily with more than one use.

I know that when introducing newbies to the game, having Lay On Hands labeled as an "At-Will" is confusing.

That said, it's not exactly a "Daily" either, as it's not "used up" at the end of an encounter. Put differently: Are there any other Dailies that you can activate during an encounter, then activate again during a short rest, then activate again during another encounter (etc)?

It is At-Will. You can activate it whenever you feel like it. But - and we all know this - you may only use this particular At-Will as many times per day as your Wisdom mod, and only if you have enough healing surges to pay for it.

Bottom Line: LoH follows the At-Will power structure better than the Daily power structure.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I know that when introducing newbies to the game, having Lay On Hands labeled as an "At-Will" is confusing.

(snip)

It is At-Will. You can activate it whenever you feel like it. But - and we all know this - you may only use this particular At-Will as many times per day as your Wisdom mod, and only if you have enough healing surges to pay for it.

Bottom Line: LoH follows the At-Will power structure better than the Daily power structure.

I think you've nailed it (haha ). It's a clarity issue. It's easier to explain an as at-will with a limited number of uses than as a daily with special rules and exceptions. It preserves dailies as "use once a day," even if you would most naturally describe LoH as "use X times a day."

 

[Edrick]

Lay On Hands

Lay on Hands is an At-Will because the number of times you can use it per day is based on your Wisdom modifier, not once per day or once per encounter - AND you can use it whenever you want, as many times per encounter/day as you wish (though only once per round).

If you have a +6 WIS modifier, then you have 6 uses that you can take advantage of anytime. 6 in the first encounter, 2 per encounter, or maybe none if things are going very well.

As weird as it looks, this is by far the most sensible way to classify the power given the way it is used. It is unique compared to any other classes healing out there and fits the flavor of the Paladin perfectly!

 

[Eric Finley]

When doing up my own power cards I just use the frequency "Limited" instead of At-Will/Encounter/Daily. Which basically means "see text". I find this is the simplest way to communicate the relevant part to players, which is the important part.

 

[rainsinger]

>.>

Look, I came here because I noticed an inconsitency in the Player's Handbook. (You can't argue that there are plenty of them.) And instead of being helpful, or in any way whatsoever constructive, you've wasted both your own time and mine in order to "convince people it's a useless topic". If you disagree, simply say so and let that be the end of it. Are you trying to be malicious, or do you honestly have nothing better to do?

Wait, but I responded with a legitimate answer above because I have nothing better to do...

 

[fuzzlewump]

Show me a daily power that uses the 'usable more than one time per day' clause, because otherwise there is no inconsistency. If there are no other examples, then Lay on Hands is the precedent.

 

[Caliban]

Show me a daily power that uses the 'usable more than one time per day' clause, because otherwise there is no inconsistency. If there are no other examples, then Lay on Hands is the precedent.

Well, there is Swordmage's Decree in Arcane Power. It's a level 6 daily utility that acts like an encounter power if you use it on a single target.

Not sure that it really meets your criteria though.

 

[fuzzlewump]

Ah here we go, Barbarian Rage Strike specifically says that it is usable twice per day and it is a daily power. I'm about to Rage Strike these power denominaaatttiooonnss-!!