D&D 4E Healing from Negatives - is it really that good in 4e ?

[Istar]

Just want to check we are doing it right with healing.

If a character goes down to say -10, and then say the Cleric does healing word and gives him back 15hp and the character uses a surge.

The character is on 15hp and not 5hp.

So the trick is not to heal the character close to going negative but heal a character on higher Health, for when you do heal the negative health character you comparatively get bonus healing ?

 

[Flipguarder]

sure if you don't like that person taking actions.

It can be very beneficial at times, but its not that ridiculous. The only alternative (that i can see) is that at some point you can heal someone and they don't stop dying.

 

[N0Man]

Meanwhile, that character who is down won't get any actions at all if his turn if his is before yours, has a chance of failing a Dying Saving Throw (which accumulate up until you rest, and at 3 you die), and even after he's healed he's still on the ground prone and has to spend a Move to get up and grants combat advantage until he does.

Also, you better hope nobody does a coup de grace.

 

[Blackbrrd]

In previous editions you might ignore a downed character because it would take your own action and since he was at negative hp he would easily be put down again. If you didn't use the heal spell that is.

Counting the healing from 0 makes it a very good idea to heal a downed character ASAP, making the fight less of a drag for the downed character.

 

[DracoSuave]

Just want to check we are doing it right with healing.

If a character goes down to say -10, and then say the Cleric does healing word and gives him back 15hp and the character uses a surge.

The character is on 15hp and not 5hp.

So the trick is not to heal the character close to going negative but heal a character on higher Health, for when you do heal the negative health character you comparatively get bonus healing ?

The trick is to heal him when he's at X hp above 0 hp, because 15+x is greater than 15.

Also, he doesn't lose actions.

In fact, a good idea is (unless they're a dragonborn or something silly like that) not to let them get too far below bloodied otherwise some monsters will take advantage.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

The trick is to heal him when he's at X hp above 0 hp, because 15+x is greater than 15.

Also, he doesn't lose actions.

In fact, a good idea is (unless they're a dragonborn or something silly like that) not to let them get too far below bloodied otherwise some monsters will take advantage.

In general, I've found it best to heal people once they hit Bloodied, even if the dragonborn objects that he gets extra damage while bloodied. Downed strikers/defenders don't do their jobs, after all.

Brad

 

[Istar]

Of course but when your getting low on healing, giving some help to someone who is on 5 hp, or someone who is at -10 and turn comes up soon,

Makes sense to go for the -10 guy as you in fact give the party 10 free HP of healing, and then wait till the other goes down into negative then heal him.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

Of course but when your getting low on healing, giving some help to someone who is on 5 hp, or someone who is at -10 and turn comes up soon,

Makes sense to go for the -10 guy as you in fact give the party 10 free HP of healing, and then wait till the other goes down into negative then heal him.

So you are describing a fight where one guy is dying, another is down to 5 hp and the leader still has both his healing words? This party doesn't needs more help than 10 extra hp can provide...

 

[DracoSuave]

Of course but when your getting low on healing, giving some help to someone who is on 5 hp, or someone who is at -10 and turn comes up soon,

Makes sense to go for the -10 guy as you in fact give the party 10 free HP of healing, and then wait till the other goes down into negative then heal him.

No, because if you're down on your last bit of healing, then your options are:

Defeat the monster

or

Die.

The correct move in this situation is to use your Word on the guy who is still standing (because you cannot afford to lose a single action from your offense in this situation) and to use a Heal check on the dying guy so he can second wind, or stabilize him

 

[Squizzle]

The leader Words are minor actions. The correct course in this scenario is to heal both of the other guys, and then use your standard action to attack.