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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stalker0" data-source="post: 5015888" data-attributes="member: 5889">One interesting thing about 4e optimization, healing can actually be one of the strongest abilities a party has. So much so that it can be a challenge to wear down a parties hitpoints. Whether you feel healing in 4e is strong or not is another debate, but if you do, here are some ideas to systematically reduce the effect of healing.Note: Each option can be used together, or mix and match the ones you like.Option 1: Reduce surge healing.A healing surge returns 1/5 of a character total hitpoints, not 1/4.Comment: The math on this is easy to calculate, and it has a small but noticeable effect on healing that tends to scale as levels get higher (which is generally where the power of healing is most felt).Option 2: Reduce Leader Healing.Each Leader's healing ability is reduced by 1 step.Cleric: Heals a surge at 1st (+wis for class ability), 1d6 + surge at 6th, etc.Warlord: Heals a surge at 1st, 1d6+surge at 6th, etc.Bard: Heals a surge at 1st, surge + cha mod at 6th, surge + cha mod + 1d6 at 11th, etc.Shaman: Heals a surge at 1st (no one else is healed). Gains the spirit companion healing at 6th.Artificer: Gains +wisdom to healing at 6th, wisdom +2 at 11th, etc.Note: Assume for sake of argument that leaders are provided something to compensate them for a weakened class ability. We aren't trying to nerf the class outright, just the healing part.Comments: This is one of the bigger changes. It reduces the main source of healing for most parties, and it reduces the healing gap between parties with a leader and those without. Once again, remember to assume leaders get something to compensate for this, we don't want to nerf the class.Option 3: Healing below 0Version 1: A character below 0 who receives healing is brought up to 1 hitpoint (regardless of the amount healed).Version 2: A character below 0 who receives healing is stabilized. Stabilized characters who receive healing start at 0, and then heal the amount received.Version 3: A character below 0 who recieves healing gets an immediate death saving throw with a +10 bonus.Comments: Option 3 is the scalpel of this house rule, it has a big impact on a small section of combat. Version 1 says that once a player is in danger, he may stay in danger even with healing. Healing can bring a character back into the fight but it won't make him healthy.Version 2 utilizes the most teamwork. Characters can use multiple heals, or combine a heal with a heal check to get the normal healing benefit. It takes more work to bring a person back, but you get the normal benefit.Version 3 works with the death saving throw mechanic and brings more randomness to healing. If a character rolls a 10 or better on the save then he gets to spend a healing surge and gets back in the fight. If he doesn't, well you just wasted healing. Either way, the person only gets a surge back, not the full heal.</blockquote>

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