Does D&D require healing magic? And is that a good thing?

[Emirikol]

What % would you say do that? My guess is 95%.

jh

 

[shilsen]

Thoughts?

That you're really, really wrong.

 

[Crothian]

What % would you say do that? My guess is 95%.

jh

Unknown. I could make up a number but it wouldn't be based on anything but a very small sample of D&D players like any number anyone would throw out.

 

[WhatGravitas]

No, the adventures encourage combat. All the healing magic does is make it all happen in one day.

Very true.

1) Mechanically, yes, healing plays into the "Four appropriate CR'd encounters per day"-model.
2) Healing magic is a fantasy staple - that's the reason for inclusion waaaay back and the reason why it was worked into the design paradigm.
3) It increases the "comfort zone" of the players - if healing is easy and/or possible, they will push forward the plot, otherwise they'll rest far longer, dragging plots over several days/weeks, because they'll rest far more often - and they'll be more careful in a (IMO) less fun way, just like paranoid take-20-(search)-for-every-square-rogues.

 

[molonel]

*yawn*

Does this really count as provocative?

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Yes, D&D requires healing. Without it, you basically have 1-2 fights a week, tops, which completely hoses the traditional adventure structure around which the game is designed.

No, it's not a good thing. It's by no means a necessary design decision, it's radically contrary to the source material (as nuts as it is to say 'healing spells' were thrown about willy-nilly in LotR, it's even more out there for the works of Howard, Leiber, Vance, etc. who Gary Gygax considered his most important influences), and it creates an arbitrary need for a type of character that a majority of players seem to consider less fun to play.

 

[S'mon]

I think the game has suffered a lot from the overwhelming importance of healing when compared to earlier editions. More damage = more need for healing. In 1e a Fighter could often win a major battle without a scratch, or with say 60/72 hp left. Hardly ever now.

 

[S'mon]

and it creates an arbitrary need for a type of character that a majority of players seem to consider less fun to play.

Well you can solve that one just by letting wizards cast healing spells. Actually weakens wizards slightly I find; if they're casting clw they're not casting mm.

 

[Umbran]

Thoughts?

I think you will need to adjust your posting style if you actually want to hold a decent discussion on the topic. You cloud the matter with statements designed for shock or annoyance value, rather than to get people to think.

 

[Remathilis]

Does free healing inspire combat?

NO!

To whit: I've played a lot of d20 Star Wars, where healing is not common, quick or rare and we get into as many combats as in D&D. (which is a pain due to wound points, but I digress).