Healer/Medic Class Combo?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

What do you think of a Healer (Miniatures Handbook) / Medic (Heroes of Battle) multi-classed character? Something like Healer 5 / Medic 3. Does it make sense? Does it work? Thoughts or observations? I'm tending to think that a straight Healer may be better than the Medic...

 

[Nightfall]

Honestly,

Neither seems THAT good at healing. Why? Because with a cleric, especially with Healing domain, you can SWAP out spells for cures at a press of a button. Healer can't and I'm reasonable sure Medic can't either.

But both? Eh. I still feel you'll be hard pressed to do better healing than a cleric.

 

[Felon]

I agree with Nighty. The healer's not that hot at healing. She can do a lot of it, but if you can't heal at a distance, you got no business specializing in it IMO. Same goes for CM I suppose.

Then there's the damn unicorn....

 

[Nightfall]

Uhm not following about the unicorn but...okay.

And yes there are PLENTY of ways to heal at a distance that Healer can't do but cleric can.

 

[dvvega]

I recently played a Healer, and the party desperately needed one. The following feats I found helped a lot:

Spontaneous Healing (??) allows the dropping and casting of spells (limited number of times but enough). I think it was in Book of Exalted deeds (??)

Augment Healing in Complete Divine. With the Charisma bonus the healer had this (although small) modification added up.

The Healers Revivify spell was worth its weight in gold. A Raise Dead with no penalties except for -1 HP.

The other Healer spell that heals as you are struck (via Swift Action) saved a couple of PCs beause of the healer's high average healing.

I had toyed with the idea of adding the Feat that heals all targets of a spell found in Races of the Wild I think. This would increase the healing even more.

I had a surge of munchkin desire when I tried out Sudden Maximise. I might not make that choice again, however it was pretty good especially with a Mass Cure Light Wounds.

The fact the healer doesn't draw AOO while healing allows her to stand right next to warriors/fighters and heal, using the Swift Action spell on herself to stay alive.

The unicorn was a pain in the rear, and as a DM I would allow it to be changed based on player desire to something of equivalent nature. Every time I summoned it I had to "hide" the fact I was doing it because everyone would think it was out of the ordinary and then I'd be targetted etc.

As for healing at a distance there used to be a feat that allowed this in Tome and Blood or Defenders of the Faith I believe, giving a range of 30' for a touch spell, however I don't know if it has been reprinted. Now that would be fantastic.

I know the Hierophant can do this as a Special Ability choice.

I'm curious as to how a Cleric can do it at range as implied by previous statements.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Neither seems THAT good at healing. Why? Because with a cleric, especially with Healing domain, you can SWAP out spells for cures at a press of a button. Healer can't and I'm reasonable sure Medic can't either.

Er, that's all the Healer has on their spell list, though.

 

[Nightfall]

Right...but trust me when you NEED more healing spells, or when you don't, cleric covers you.

The Reach Spell is the feat I was talking about. Reasonable sure complete divine has it.

Another reason Clerics work, Divine feats that require Turn Undead, can empower healing.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Uhm not following about the unicorn but...okay.

Check the Healer class description in Miniatures Handbook. They gain a companion.

And yes there are PLENTY of ways to heal at a distance that Healer can't do but cleric can.

Other than the feat (which, if it's not available to Healers should probably be errated to be so), what are some others? I'm honestly drawing a blank.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Right...but trust me when you NEED more healing spells, or when you don't, cleric covers you.

I don't understand this sentence.

Another reason Clerics work, Divine feats that require Turn Undead, can empower healing.

That's hardly a universal feat choice for clerics, though.

 

[Nightfall]

Alright since you double posted here goes:

Right...and that makes them what? More druids?

Other spells NOT on the healing list, like Miracle. I don't believe they get that. Spells and classes that can increase the spellcaster level that are specifically tuned to clerics (ie Hierophant, Pearl of Wisdom, Book of Exalted Deeds)


Let me clarify my sentence: Healers MIGHT be able to heal but they can't cover all the bases like clerics can with other spells to suppliment a party's power BESIDES healing. (Buffing spells, protections spells, turning undead)

It might not be a universal choice but it's certainly something Healer's DON'T have access to since they can't turn undead.