When Pathfinder dropped the 3.5 Turn Undead ability for the "Channeling" ability it was a mistake, in my opinion.
Let's look at Channel Energy:
Channel Energy (Su): Regardless of alignment, any
cleric can release a wave of energy by channeling the power
of her faith through her holy (or unholy) symbol. This
energy can be used to cause or heal damage, depending on
the type of energy channeled and the creatures targeted.
A good cleric (or one who worships a good deity) channels
positive energy and can choose to deal damage to undead
creatures or to heal living creatures. An evil cleric (or one
who worships an evil deity) channels negative energy and can
choose to deal damage to living creatures or to heal undead
creatures. A neutral cleric who worships a neutral deity (or
one who is not devoted to a particular deity) must choose
whether she channels positive or negative energy. Once this
choice is made, it cannot be reversed. This decision also
determines whether the cleric casts spontaneous cure or
inflict spells (see spontaneous casting).
Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all
creatures of one type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot
radius centered on the cleric. The amount of damage dealt
or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points
of damage for every two cleric levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd,
3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage from
channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage.
The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the cleric’s level
+ the cleric’s Charisma modifier. Creatures healed by
channeled energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point
total—all excess healing is lost. A cleric may channel
energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma
modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke
an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or
not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to
present her holy symbol to use this ability.
I can see where they were trying to go with this ability but in actual play it is sorely lacking. It works okay at low levels but you really have to invest in feats to make it even remotely mediocre. Let's look at a few things.
Let's look at Channel Energy:
Channel Energy (Su): Regardless of alignment, any
cleric can release a wave of energy by channeling the power
of her faith through her holy (or unholy) symbol. This
energy can be used to cause or heal damage, depending on
the type of energy channeled and the creatures targeted.
A good cleric (or one who worships a good deity) channels
positive energy and can choose to deal damage to undead
creatures or to heal living creatures. An evil cleric (or one
who worships an evil deity) channels negative energy and can
choose to deal damage to living creatures or to heal undead
creatures. A neutral cleric who worships a neutral deity (or
one who is not devoted to a particular deity) must choose
whether she channels positive or negative energy. Once this
choice is made, it cannot be reversed. This decision also
determines whether the cleric casts spontaneous cure or
inflict spells (see spontaneous casting).
Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all
creatures of one type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot
radius centered on the cleric. The amount of damage dealt
or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points
of damage for every two cleric levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd,
3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage from
channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage.
The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the cleric’s level
+ the cleric’s Charisma modifier. Creatures healed by
channeled energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point
total—all excess healing is lost. A cleric may channel
energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma
modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke
an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or
not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to
present her holy symbol to use this ability.
I can see where they were trying to go with this ability but in actual play it is sorely lacking. It works okay at low levels but you really have to invest in feats to make it even remotely mediocre. Let's look at a few things.
- You "need" the Selective Channeling feat in order to heal your people and not the enemy.
- It doesn't scale enough with damage.
- It doesn't scale enough for healing.
- It's pretty much only good when it act's like a wand of Cure Light Wounds.