Healing Word: all my rage.

[underfoot007ct]

Well, not really, but I do not like this spell for two reasons. First of all, I despise ranged healing. To my knowledge, D&D has always had healing based on touch-ranged spells (except for higher-level spells). Introducing ranged healing feels very videogamey, especially at first level.

Second of all, it goes into the same 4e "healing is a non-action" mindset that I so dislike. I'm fine with a healing spell going off quickly, but that seems like it should be higher level, not something that a neophyte cleric can do.

Which video game that you play has ranged healing ?

 

[drothgery]

Well, not really, but I do not like this spell for two reasons. First of all, I despise ranged healing. To my knowledge, D&D has always had healing based on touch-ranged spells (except for higher-level spells). Introducing ranged healing feels very videogamey, especially at first level.

All touch-range spells in 3.x can be metamagiced to close range with Reach Spell.

 

[underfoot007ct]

Well, not really, but I do not like this spell for two reasons. First of all, I despise ranged healing. To my knowledge, D&D has always had healing based on touch-ranged spells (except for higher-level spells). Introducing ranged healing feels very videogamey, especially at first level.

Second of all, it goes into the same 4e "healing is a non-action" mindset that I so dislike. I'm fine with a healing spell going off quickly, but that seems like it should be higher level, not something that a neophyte cleric can do.

Since 4e had both touch & ranged healing, then D&D has NOT always had touched based healing.

 

[mach1.9pants]

Healing word is not the problem spell that I see, but searing light. Man o man CoDzilla rises again. [/hyperbole] That spell is awesome for a 1st level spell, especially considering the poor old wizard has burning hands -I'm squishy so I need to get within 15' to use my best damage spell. A bit like 1st to 3rd E, that is a spell none of my player's would touch with a 10' pole.

 

[thewok]

Which video game that you play has ranged healing ?

I'm not sure about him, but these games that I've played have healing that can be done at longer ranges than Touch:
World of Warcraft, Everquest, Everquest 2, Lord of the Rings Online, The Old Republic, The Secret War, Tera, Star Wars Galaxies, Champions Online, Star Trek Online, Asheron's Call.

I never grouped up in D&D Online, so I'm not sure of the healing spells there had range, though I suspect they did.

I don't necessarily agree with him, but ranged healing is a staple of video games. I don't think that makes it necessarily bad, though.

 

[tlantl]

It seems to me that this particular spell would be the means by which the warlord shouts his healing. Something akin to the turn undead spell that clerics use.

Maybe it will affect more allies when used in a higher slot later on.

Seems to be worded badly. I'm not sure how well someone can hear a whisper in combat fifty feet away. I'm not too sure how someone can see that someone needs healing from that distance either.

 

[darkdragoon]

Healing from 50+ feet is nothing new: Cure Light Wounds, Mass :: d20srd.org

 

[satori01]

I liked the fact the laser cleric had touch range healing spells...and thus had to move closer to the front ranks.

Whereas the Knight Cleric had a ranged heal and could stay engaged with the mobs.


Why again is the Paladin a " warrior for the Gods", when the cleric can fill that role admirably well?

 

[WheresMyD20]

To elaborate on that, one thing has always bothered me about clerics. Despite the fact that divine spells are supposed to represent the presence and power of a god, they function like wizard spells, with their power increasing as the cleric gains levels. Why should a cleric's miracle be any less powerful just because they are cast by an acolyte?

No, there should only be one level of clerical spells: "god level".

One way to look at it is this: The cleric is the vessel through which a deity projects his or her power into the world. A wise, experienced cleric is capable of handling more of the deity's power. An inexperienced cleric would be damaged or destroyed if a deity pushed too much of his or her power through the cleric.

A deity trying to push a high level spell through a low level cleric would be like trying to connect a garden hose to a fire hydrant. The hose would rupture.

 

[Tallifer]

Well, not really, but I do not like this spell for two reasons. First of all, I despise ranged healing.

And I equally despise healing by touch being the only option. Wizards can charm person from a distance, blast from a distance, make people fall asleep, disintegrate them, et cetera, but a cleric always has to run up into melee and get beat on to heal his comrades?

Even Pathfinder has ranged healing with its Channeled Positive Energy.