Clerics and Healing Surges

[Tildesee]

Hey there,

I was wondering if anyone had any definite answer on how clerics affect the use of Healing Surges outside of combat, in short rests, etc. It would make sense, in a fashion, that Healing Word could be applied the Healing Surges used outside of combat, but the rules we know appear silent on the matter. Anyone who went to D&D XP able to shed any light, or is there a clause somewhere I missed?

 

[keterys]

Using an encounter ability means it's gone until you rest 5 minutes.

So you're free to use them outside of combat, it just affects how much time you might want to rest and potentially means they might be down for during your next combat.

 

[tombowings]

If my PC EVER thought of something tactical like that, I'd be all over them doing it. It depends on their purpose. I see nothing wrong with them being able to handle additional encounters each day.

 

[mach1.9pants]

If my PC EVER thought of something tactical like that, I'd be all over them doing it. It depends on their purpose. I see nothing wrong with them being able to handle additional encounters each day.

? ?
Sorry what are you saying? Per encounter powers recharge after 5 minutes rest outside combat. So If you use one and then get attacked within 4 minutes you won't have that /e for that encounter because it hasn't recharged. What is wrong with that? It is just the rules.
Edit: because of this they can have more encounters each day

 

[FourthBear]

I hope they have a simple rule for fixed hit point gain upon a short rest with a cleric or warlord in the party. It makes sense for the cleric to be able to increase the hit point gain with healing surges, especially if he has Healing Words left from the last encounter. I just hope they don't expect you to roll the extra hit points from the Healing Word for the healing surges. I would consider that a nuisance and would likely house rule some general bonus hit point increase for all healing surges during a short rest with a cleric in the party.

 

[Incenjucar]

If my PC EVER thought of something tactical like that, I'd be all over them doing it. It depends on their purpose. I see nothing wrong with them being able to handle additional encounters each day.

4E is all about multiple encounters per day.

So this should actually be standard.

 

[keterys]

Effectively you go 'Okay, we're resting a while. I'll be using healing word on people, so when you use a healing surge add 1d6+4 to it' or 'Okay, quick break - 5 minute rest and then we book it'

And if you do the first and the DM goes 'Okay, what order do you healing word people?' 'Okay, after 6 minutes a patrol locates you so you're down both healing words for the fight and anyone who was waiting for a healing word is still down health. Roll initiative'

Or whatever.

 

[Wiman]

Effectively you go 'Okay, we're resting a while. I'll be using healing word on people, so when you use a healing surge add 1d6+4 to it' or 'Okay, quick break - 5 minute rest and then we book it'

And if you do the first and the DM goes 'Okay, what order do you healing word people?' 'Okay, after 6 minutes a patrol locates you so you're down both healing words for the fight and anyone who was waiting for a healing word is still down health. Roll initiative'

Or whatever.

Completely agree with keterys.

If your waiting in the "healing word line" for the extra bonus (pretty much a 2 for 1 on low hp characters) don't expect sympathy from your DM when a random encounter shows up to kick your (still injured) teeth in. On the other hand using a healing surge so you are at least a little combat ready then waiting in the "healing word line" for the 100% guarented top off might not be a bad idea.

 

[Tildesee]

Effectively you go 'Okay, we're resting a while. I'll be using healing word on people, so when you use a healing surge add 1d6+4 to it' or 'Okay, quick break - 5 minute rest and then we book it'

And if you do the first and the DM goes 'Okay, what order do you healing word people?' 'Okay, after 6 minutes a patrol locates you so you're down both healing words for the fight and anyone who was waiting for a healing word is still down health. Roll initiative'

Or whatever.

Cool cool. That was how I read things. I just wanted to know if there was any detail I might've missed.

 

[dm4hire]

Cleric might have some ability keyed off Heal skill outside of battle that is usable once per day per character or at least a couple of times a day. Would be nice to get the full break down for Heal Skill beyond the short description in the rules break down.

Until then I'd rule the Heal Skill for first aid does this for Clerics:

Heal vs Fort; Activate a healing surge with no modifiers without cost of spending a surge while recovering two surges for the day. This may be preformed any number of times per day but only once per day for a specific PC/Target.