Fast Healing at 1st level?

[trav_laney]

One of my players wants to build a Wolverine-esque character, a barbarian with the Fast Healing 1 ability at first level. His suggestion was that it could cost him his level one feat. To which I said, " "

But I'm trying to work with him on this...I can see how it would make for a very fun character to play, especially if I pair it with fire and/or acid vulnerability. I think that a character starting the game with fast healing (a very powerful ability) should merit some sort of Level Adjustment, and possibly have a high Constitution requirement as well.

What do you guys think? Does a +2 level adjustment with 18 Con sound fair? or should I make them higher? or should I scrap the idea altogether, and tell him to wait until he is Epic level and take the Fast Healing feat?

 

[Crothian]

You might want to make it regernation since that heals everything but certain types of damage. What if he can only fast heal when he rages? There is an Eberron Feat like that.

 

[Nifft]

There are feats that heal you double while you sleep, right?

At 1st level, his regeneration ability is weak, like everything is for a 1st level PC. But as he levels up, he gains abilities. So, have him take the "heal double while you sleep" feat at 1st level, and then more feats which get him more regenerative abilities as he levels up.

Let's see... ah, got 'em. (Note that despite being in the Psionics section of the SRD, they're not actually Psionic at all. They're open to everyone.)

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#rapidMetabolism
... and ...
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicFeats.htm#mindOverBody

Those boost your natural HP healing and your natural ability damage healing. Those will be the prerequisites for a new chain of feats:

Uncanny Recovery
Prereqs: Mind Over Body, Toughness, Endurance
Benefit: Given a good night's rest, you heal all ability damage, and one point of permanent ability drain from each drained ability.

Uncanny Healing
Prereqs: Mind Over Body, Rapid Metabolism, Toughness, Endurance, Diehard, Uncanny Recovery
Benefit: When you have less than half of your normal maximum hit points, you gain Fast Healing 1.

Improved Uncanny Healing
Prereqs: Mind Over Body, Rapid Metabolism, Toughness, Endurance, Diehard, Uncanny Recovery, Uncany Healing
Benefit: You gain Fast Healing 1. When you have less than half of your normal maximum hit points, you gain Fast Healing 2. (This replaces the benefit provided by Uncanny Recovery.)


How do those look? Remotely balanced?
Cheers, -- N

 

[Thanee]

Feral Template.

It's kinda overpowered for +1 LA, but for +2 LA it might be workable.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pyrex]

You might want to make it regernation since that heals everything but certain types of damage. What if he can only fast heal when he rages? There is an Eberron Feat like that.

Or do both and give him Regeneration when he rages.

Hmm. Regeneration 1 (or mabye even 0) when raging might not be too unbalanced for a feat. Simply converting a good bit of damage to Subdual lets you heal really fast between fights.

Something like:

Resilient Fury
Prereq: Toughness, Endurance, Rage 1/day
Benefit: While Raging, you gain Regeneration 1. Fire and Acid deal normal damage.

 

[szilard]

How do those look? Remotely balanced?

A little bit of fast healing is nice, but it isn't a game-breaker - particularly at high levels. Too many pre-reqs and it becomes worthless.

Building off Rapid Metabolism is a good idea. Is there a reason that your Uncanny Healing needs that much more than that? Maybe Endurance, Rapid Metabolism, and, say, Con 15 would be enough.



-Stuart

 

[Kisanji Arael]

Improved Uncanny Healing
Prereqs: Mind Over Body, Rapid Metabolism, Toughness, Endurance, Diehard, Uncanny Recovery, Uncany Healing
Benefit: You gain Fast Healing 1. When you have less than half of your normal maximum hit points, you gain Fast Healing 2. (This replaces the benefit provided by Uncanny Recovery.)


How do those look? Remotely balanced?
Cheers, -- N

Shoudn't that be (replaces the bonus gained by Uncanny Healing.)?

 

[Quartz]

How about a half-troll or troll-blood template? The feat chain provided by Nifft is a little long to be of general use.

Some other ideas: instead of high-level barbarians getting DR, they get Fast Healing (per 10 turns, not per turn - they recover from fights quickly). Or you could model it as the Paladin's Lay On Hands

 

[Jack Simth]

Well, if you permit Divine Metamagic(Persistant) touch spells....

Human Cleric with Planning and Undeath Domains, with a Charisma of at least 10 gets 7+ turning attempts and Extend Spell as a bonus feat. Take Persistant Spell with one feat, Divine Metamagic(Persistant Spell) with the other.

Every morning, cast a Divine Metamagic(Persistant) Vigor on yourself.

Fast Healing-1, at 1st, courtesy of broken feats and loose-but-still-RAW rules interpertations.

 

[Nifft]

How about having him take levels in Dragon Shaman (from PHB2)? One of his first auras could be Vigor (which grants Fast Healing 1 for all PCs in a 30 ft. radius who are at or below 1/2 full HP).

C, -- N