Enough with the Healing Surges Already!

[Sitara]

Someone on rpg.net claimed that kord and ravenqueen domain powers (aka channel divinity feats) are that they basically grant healing surges! I mean, do paladins and clerics, the only people who can use the CV feats, actually need MORE surges?

Is it just me or does nearly everything grant healing surges? FIrst its powers, then feats, and now (from what I hear) channel divinity feats also grant healing surges!

WTH??? Seriously, I knew the old wand of clw needed an upgrade into something less ridiculous, but...

Really, I was hoping that the raven queen would grant something cool. Like maybe a flock of ravens would come down and attack your foes or something.

Edit: Also, I hear Tiamat does not get any domain feats/channel divinity feats. Can someone confirm this? Because it will be a HUGE mechanical blow for my Tiefling Paladin of Tiamat which I have been looking forward to playing for a long time now. I guess I could always use the Armor of Bahamut (as written for the KoTS pre-gen cleric) as a guideline and make my own channel div feat (say when you get hit by a successful crit you can immediately counterattack with an auto crit of your own with a basic attack + cause 1d6 fire damage!)





Thoughts?

 

[Grazzt]

Someone on rpg.net claimed that kord and ravenqueen domain powers (aka channel divinity feats) are that they basically grant healing surges!

Thoughts?

Not accurate...unless by "grant" you mean "lets you spend a healing surge".

 

[Sitara]

Yes that!

 

[theredrobedwizard]

... Tiefling Paladin of Tiamat ...

There aren't any rules in the PHB for Evil gods, as such there aren't any Channel Divinity feats for them listed in the PHB. You'll have to get with your DM to work out a compromise for what kind of granted power Tiamat might have.

I'd suggest something like...

Armor of Tiamat
Encounter ✦ Divine
Immediate Interrupt Ranged 5
Trigger: An enemy scores a critical hit on you or an ally.
Effect: The enemy which dealt the critical hit takes 1d6+(Wis Mod) Fire damage.
Special: You must take the Armor of Tiamat feat to use this
power.

An auto-critical with a basic attack AND 1d6 fire damage is far too much. Something like the above is much more inline with the rest of the Channel Divinity feats.

-TRRW

 

[FourthBear]

Allowing characters to use healing surges is the basic method of healing in 4e, so I don't think we should be surprised that it pops up pretty often in powers, class abilities and magic items. Healing being a central and important power in D&D. It's like having a 3e turn ability that lets you heal, as well has having spells that let you heal, lay hands-like class abilities that let you heal and magic items that let you heal.

In 4e, none of these increase the overall number of surges, just allowing characters to spend them in critical situations. Since they are new, I'd imagine they will be the center of many house ruled abilities, even when they might not be the most appropriate. I would suggest that you stat up what you think is a good Storm of Crows power for the Raven Queen and see if it works well with her clerics.

 

[neceros]

Also, some Magic Item Daily Powers use healing surges as a source of use.

 

[Destil]

Healing ain't free (by which I mean a drain on only the cleric) anymore. It comes from surges or daily powers, almost always. Surges can be the single most important resource for a party, and the group that doesn't rest when their out is in trouble . . .

 

[malraux]

There aren't any rules in the PHB for Evil gods, as such there aren't any Channel Divinity feats for them listed in the PHB. You'll have to get with your DM to work out a compromise for what kind of granted power Tiamat might have.

I'd suggest something like...

Armor of Tiamat
Encounter ✦ Divine
Immediate Interrupt Ranged 5
Trigger: An enemy scores a critical hit on you or an ally.
Effect: The enemy which dealt the critical hit takes 1d6+(Wis Mod) Fire damage.
Special: You must take the Armor of Tiamat feat to use this
power.

An auto-critical with a basic attack AND 1d6 fire damage is far too much. Something like the above is much more inline with the rest of the Channel Divinity feats.

-TRRW

Given the many headed nature of tiamat, I'd give the user the ability to select the energy type.

 

[Cadfan]

If by "everything grants healing surges" you mean "everything clerics do grants healing surges," then... yeah... clerics heal in 4th edition. Its one of the big breaks from 3e, when clerics didn't heal.

 

[Silverblade The Ench]

Healing surges should be thought of as "part of your combat routine and strategy" NOT "something the poor old cleric is burdened to do"

They are vital parts of 4th ed combat. I'ts more like the:
"The officer rouses his men's spirits, giving them confidence, they ignore their tiredness and fight!"

"The wizard's destructive blow ignites fires of hope and renewed fury in his kinsfolk's hearts, they strike against the invader with renewed hope!"

etc.
4th ed is a team game. No more "I'm the wizard/cleric, just shield me, gimps, I'll do it all!"