Channel Divinity Cleric - what exactly does "another use" really mean ?

[Balesir]

Yes, I know that all CD powers are Encounter powers; what I'm saying is that:

1) The rule wording is ambiguous, but supports (as one possibility) the interpretation I am saying I prefer, and

2) Choosing the interpretation I do leaves open the option of developing (as a house rule, now) CD powers that are not Encounter powers.

The fact that WotC never used this design space I see as merely a missed opportunity, but it's one of a myriad, so no real biggie...

 

[Ferghis]

I see.

So, nobody has a source that clarifies this in any meaningful way?

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

I see.

So, nobody has a source that clarifies this in any meaningful way?

Nope, there was a LOT of debate about this back a couple years ago. We haven't even touched on some of the more obtuse interpretations (one being that you can NEVER use more than one TYPE of CD power in a single encounter, this was heavily argued by some people back a while but seems to have mercifully been forgotten since). I'd also note that EACH CLASS has its own writeup of CD, there's no universal one. The wording on the PHB2 classes that have CD varies somewhat from the cleric. It doesn't change anything we've said here, but it did complicate some of the arguments back in the day.

I think Balesir has it right and since WotC hasn't seen fit to comment on this topic in any way that provides a different interpretation I think it is the most solid interpretation. You get more CD uses, but you have to use them each with different powers (unless you also get a recharge of a CD power, that is a possibility). I think one of the major reasons for this is also Turn Undead, which is really a darn nasty power (a bit nerfed a while back, but still really vicious).