Free Maximized Healing

[Aazenius]

Clerics are special. They are agents of their god. Why is it, that clerics receive the same healing power that a non-worshiper receives. For instance lets assume you have a level 5 cleric and a level 5 fighter, who does not worship his deity. The level 5 cleric cast cure light wounds, on both of them. (1d8+5 hp for each) Lets say that the cleric heals himself for 6 hp (he rolled a d8 and got 1 +5 for his level). He then heals the fighter for 13 hp (rolled a d8 and got 8 +5 for his level). Does it make sense that the fighter who does not worship the clerics deity received more healing then the cleric who places his life on the line everyday for the deity?

I don't think so. In my worlds, being a cleric, and worshiping a deity are important. I have added the following abilities to clerics.

For Good Clerics

Starting at level 5, a cleric can cast cure light wounds as a maximized spell when used to heal himself, or a follower of his deity.

At level 8, a cleric can cast cure moderate wounds as a maximized spell when used to heal himself, or a follower of his deity.

At level 11, a cleric can cast cure serious wounds as a maximized spell when used to heal himself or a follower of his deity.

At level 14, a cleric can cast cure critical wounds as a maximized spell when used to heal himselfor a follower of his deity.

For Evil Clerics

Starting at level 5, a cleric can cast inflic light wounds as a maximized spell when used to cure undead created by this cleric.

At level 8, a cleric can cast inflict moderate wounds as a maximized spell when used to cure undead created by this cleric.

At level 11, a cleric can cast inflict serious wounds as a maximized spell when used to cure undead created by this cleric.

At level 14, a cleric can cast inflict critical wounds as a maximized spell when used to cure undead created by this cleric.

Neutral clerics must decide which side of the coin the fall on before gaining these abilities.

These abilities can only be used to aid the cleric and his followers. A cleric may not freely use the Maximize Spell ability to harm undead (if good) or harm the living (if evil). This unique abilitiy is only used to heal, not harm.

Although... would allowing this 'free ability' to harm undead or living creatures be unbalanced? What if casting the Free Maximized spell took a full round action to cast?

Are these rules balance? unbalanced? Would you change anything?

 

[Geoff Watson]

Have a look at the Faith Healing spell in Magic of Faerun.

Geoff.

 

[Aazenius]

I took the idea from Faith Healing. I've basically gotten rid of that spell, in place of this ability.

 

[The Proconsul]

I don't think this is a godd idea.

The cleric, when casting beneficial spells on somebody other, basically aknowledges that the individual in question supports his cause. Otherwise, doing so would be nothing short of blasphemous, and would have severe consequences for the cleric.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

I don't think this is a godd idea.

The cleric, when casting beneficial spells on somebody other, basically aknowledges that the individual in question supports his cause. Otherwise, doing so would be nothing short of blasphemous, and would have severe consequences for the cleric.

Depends on your god. My cleric heals people because he's a genuinely nice guy, and he wants to share the love of his god with the less fortunate.

 

[Aazenius]

I've changed this yet again...

In my world, once a cleric hits 5th level when he cast a cure spell on himself it is maximized, when cast on others, it is as the book. However, he can take the faith healing spell for free when curing patrons of his deity, but it only applies to cure light wound spells.

 

[The Proconsul]

You misuderstood me.

A properly roleplayed cleric only casts spells on those deserving it (in the view of his god). There's no reason why spells should be more powerful when affecting the cleric directly. A cleric of a selfless god will cast lots of spells on other people. A cleric of an egoistic god will cast lots of spells on himself. There's no need of a class ability which improves it: who benefits of a cleric's spells depends on the god's ethos.

And it is only appropiate for deities which have healing as a domain. So it's not even flavorful...

 

[Aazenius]

alrighty then.....

 

[clark411]

Allowing only cure light to be auto maximized for the cleric is fine at 5th level... but if all cures are maximized automatically for the cleric at that point, you'll see your clerics healing themselves from 1/3rd hp to full hp in one round repeatedly. That's far too powerful.

Average 5th level cleric with 12 con has 36 hp and can cast cure serious wounds. Maximized that's 29 hp. So this average cleric can move from 19.5% of his hp to 100% hp in one standard action. Balanced? no.
Average 7th level cleric with 12 con has 42 hp and casts cure critical on himself. Maximized that's 39 hp. If this cleric is at 3 hp or better.. in one standard action he's full again.

With their armor, their average bab and average hp, they can take a good amount of a pounding in combat if they choose to already- and are already quite fearsome with the various touch spells and self-buffs they have at their disposal. This ability would leave Lay On Hands in the dust, and make clerics a new melee tank class superior perhaps to fighters in their ability to take damage.

I'd never use this House Rule as a DM, nor would I endorse it as a Player... and I play a cleric.

 

[Aazenius]

I can see why you might worry about this not being balanced. But, what if that same cleric rolled all 8's on their cure roll? Same result... just a lot less often.

I suppose you don't allow Heal in your games either? Same effect on a grander scale.

So what if cure light wounds heals a max of 13 hp (at 5th level) and cure moderate heals 26 (at 10th level), and cure serious heals 39 (at 15th level), and cure critical heals 52 (at level 20)

Heal cures 10 hp per level. By level 15 its healing 150 hp.

I don't believe its really that unballanced.

What if Cure light wounds was changed to cure 5hp +1 hp per level max 10 hp at lvl 5. Cure Moderate healed 10 hp +1 per level max 20 hp, Cure serious healed 20 hp +1 per level max hp 35, and cure serious healed 35 +1 hit point per level max 55.

nearly the same effect but its weaker at lower levels and stronger at higher levels. Would that be more acceptable?