Sell me on Cure Light Wounds

[Rystil Arden]

One thing to note is that the utilities tend to be fairly weak to begin with... I personally wouldn't take CLW, but CSW or Mass CLW both look good. And CLW doesn't look bad as a multi-class power.

Mark

Well, you can only take Acolyte Power at level 8, and at that point, you're significantly better off grabbing Bastion of Health as your multiclass utility power, even if you don't have a spectacular Charisma (unless you are really really attached to your level 6 Utility vis-a-vis the 2nd).

 

[Cadfan]

So...I am trying to figure out exactly why CLW seems to suck like a dinner-plate sized hole on Skylab.

The only possible reason I can see for it is "your buddy is completely out of healing surges and is getting ready to die".

I don't anticipate adventuring anymore when I have used up my last healing surge, making this power seem incredibly underpowered compared to Healing Word.

Am I missing something or is this just a choice for I-want-to-heal-as-much-as-racially-possible?

DS

You really shouldn't compare it to healing word, since its something you get in addition to healing word, rather than instead of it. You should compare it to other utility powers of that level.

Basically, you've got its number when you say that its for situations where your buddy is absolutely out of healing surges. Its also for situations where you've used up your healing words, but you really, really need more healing. Or when you need more healing per round.

Some people will find it worthwhile, since its a great rescue in an emergency. Other people will go with more generally applicable level 2 utility powers like Shield of Faith. I'm in the latter group, but I can see how some people might disagree.

 

[Digital M@]

I am glad I read this thread. I too thought CLW was a bit weak, but now I realize, I was short sighted. I know those defenders go through HPs fast and often.

 

[Mirtek]

The only possible reason I can see for it is "your buddy is completely out of healing surges and is getting ready to die".

How about when everyone has used his second wind, you have used healing strike and both healing words and your enemies are still standing while your buddy is down to his last hp?

I don't anticipate adventuring anymore when I have used up my last healing surge,

Better than dying with 6 unspend healing surges because no one in the party has any means left to allow him to access them

Am I missing something or is this just a choice for I-want-to-heal-as-much-as-racially-possible?

No, it's for I-DESPERATELY-NEED-to-heal-as-much-as-racially-possible

 

[WalterKovacs]

You take CLW early, and swap it out when you get better versions at higher levels. Until you reach that point it's the "in case of emergency, break glass" option. Either:

(a) You run out of abilities to cure people other than that [and they either cannot trigger their own because they ran out of potions/second winds]

or

(b) It's the final fight, and the person with the least surges runs out before the fight is done. In that case it's the "last daily of the day" type

or possibly even

(c) Ultra paranoid cleric keeps it all day because the group rests when someone runs out of surges ... he keeps it in case of a mid-extended rest attack ... so he can help someone that hasn't gotten his surges back for the rest.

The power to retrain a single or feat at every level means that you can keep it until it's past it's usefulness, than pick a power that is better. You'll always have a 2nd level utility ... it doesn't get "replaced" like encounters and dailies do at high levels.

 

[Particle_Man]

(c) Ultra paranoid cleric keeps it all day because the group rests when someone runs out of surges ... he keeps it in case of a mid-extended rest attack ... so he can help someone that hasn't gotten his surges back for the rest.

Depending on the DM, that isn't so ultra paranoid.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

I have decided on a stealthy elf cleric as my first 4e character.

I am gonna have to go with the Shield of Faith for my Utility, because I think in-the-end it will save more bacon than the CLW.

However, I do appreciate everyone popping in and giving their two pence.

DS