Healing Wizard?

[Yuki Akuma]

Re: Q 396

Any question that uses the phrase "What's the best way ..." is asking for an opinion, not an answer to a simple question. You'll be better served by posting a new thread for the purpose.

Fine then.

Does anybody know the best way to give a Wizard the ability to cast healing spells? Preferably something that's compatible with a Gnome Illusionist, but that's not really a must.

[Eldan]

Arcane Disciple: Healing, though you'd need a decent wisdom.

[Greenish]

We could all be warforged. :smallwink:

(Scout for you. :smalltongue:)

[HalfDragonCube]

There is also a spell called synstodweomer or something like that which lets you convert spell slots into small healing power.

It's around 7th-level. It also in not particularly good.

[Shadowknight12]

* Archivist and then head for Mystic Theurge.

* A subpar option is the Arcane Disciple (Healing) feat, but it's rather bad.

* Get yourself a template or race with healing SLAs and buy off the LA.

* Tomb-Tainted Soul and then negative energy spells (Or just keep an undead that deals negative damage creature under your control and have it attack you for healing).

* Get yourself a template or race that lets you heal yourself by draining others. This thread has many (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=9557.0).

* Leadership feat and a divine caster cohort.

* Dominate/Charm Person and a divine caster. Renew periodically.

* Gold and a hireling.

* Put ranks in UMD and buy healing scrolls/wands.

[Scorpions__]

You can also look into the Dragon-Pact rules presented in Dragon Magic, if you strike a deal with gold dragon, it will give you the ability to cast healing spells.






DM[F]R

[Elric VIII]

You can pseudo-heal yourself with preventive measures like False Life and Vampiric Touch or Minor Shapeshift's temp hp mode..

You can summon Bralani with SM VI to heal for you.



A subpar option is the Arcane Disciple (Healing) feat, but it's rather bad.

I honestly think this is the best way since the majority of healing is done by wands of CLW or Lesser Vigor. This puts the spells on your spell list so you can use Cure wands without worrying about UMD.

[Shadowknight12]

I honestly think this is the best way since the majority of healing is done by wands of CLW or Lesser Vigor. This puts the spells on your spell list so you can UMD cure spells without failure.

You still need to spend a feat and have the necessary Wisdom to cast the spell from the scroll or wand. It might sound petty, but I dislike investing on something I'm only going to get a minimal return on. If we were talking about a druid/wizard/mystic theurge/arcane hierophant, then sure, take Arcane Disciple, it works well. But that's because you're already getting a return from a high wisdom in other areas.

[Elric VIII]

You still need to spend a feat and have the necessary Wisdom to cast the spell from the scroll or wand. It might sound petty, but I dislike investing on something I'm only going to get a minimal return on. If we were talking about a druid/wizard/mystic theurge/arcane hierophant, then sure, take Arcane Disciple, it works well. But that's because you're already getting a return from a high wisdom in other areas.

Well, my point is that you're really only interested in CLW since that is the most efficient out of combat healing, so you only need 11 Wis.

[Yuki Akuma]

You can also look into the Dragon-Pact rules presented in Dragon Magic, if you strike a deal with gold dragon, it will give you the ability to cast healing spells.

That's Sorcerer-only.

[Shadowknight12]

Well, my point is that you're really only interested in CLW since that is the most efficient out of combat healing, so you only need 11 Wis.

Yeah, which is why I said that it might sound petty. Why have 11 when you can have 8? You're not using wisdom for anything else (and a +1 on Will saves isn't going to matter in the long run).

[Eric Tolle]

How about summoning something that has healing? I think a Solar might be overkill, but I'm sure that even Pathfinder has some lower level creatures with healing abilities.

[Elric VIII]

Yeah, which is why I said that it might sound petty. Why have 11 when you can have 8? You're not using wisdom for anything else (and a +1 on Will saves isn't going to matter in the long run).

That's actually a good point to ask, over what levels is the healing required?

If it's at level 1, you're wasting ability score points/rolls on a high wisdom. If it's level 7-8, a +3 Wis item is not out of the question. If it's at level 20, just Astral Project or gate in a Solar to do it for you.

Another option is the Healing Belt (MIC 110) which cost 750, heals up to 6d8/day and doesn't require UMD.


How about summoning something that has healing? I think a Solar might be overkill, but I'm sure that even Pathfinder has some lower level creatures with healing abilities.

Bralani (SM VI) is the lowest level summon with healing in core. I'm not sure about splats, though.

[HalfDragonCube]

How about summoning something that has healing? I think a Solar might be overkill, but I'm sure that even Pathfinder has some lower level creatures with healing abilities.

Unicorns are good for that, IIRC, although they might be nature's ally, not summon monster.

[Yuki Akuma]

This isn't for healing myself, by the way. I want to be able to heal other people, for roleplaying reasons.

I might just take Arcane Disciple (Healing) and Touch of Healing.

Also, unicorns are Nature's Ally.

[Zaq]

Well, there's Healing Touch, which is basically a reverse Empathic Transfer. It's a level 3 spell in SpC. Also in SpC is Light of Venya, which will only heal for two shots of 1d6 apiece (more for a divine caster, which you're not), but which works at range.

Healing Touch is probably your best bet, though. It damages you as well, so use False Life or something first.

[gorfnab]

Arcane Disciple: Healing + Combat Medic (HoB) Prestige Class

[Cog]

A dip into prestige Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigeBard) will get up through Mass Cure Moderate on your list. Here are ways to get Perform (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=6832.0) if you need one.

[Kylarra]

Could always go Wyrm Wizard out of Dragon Magic. 2 levels in the PrC, costing you one caster level, will get you Spell Research, which adds any spell (of a level you can cast) to your spell list. Prereqs are 9 ranks in Know(arcana), spellcraft, 1 metamagic feat, speak draconic and preparing 1st level arcane spells.

[Jack_Simth]

Let's see...

If you've got a Vampiric weapon (Magic Item Compendium; +2 Equivalent) and the Summon Elemental Reserve Feat (Complete Mage), and you know an elemental language, then you've got an uncapped healing... although it's a tad evil. If you're crazy, you can swap Summon Elemental for Minor Shapeshift, and do it the same way, with you as the target.

Arcane Disciple has been mentioned (gets wands on your spell list), as has the Touch of Healing Reserve Feat.

Draconic Aura (Dragon Magic) lets you get one aura of your choice - and there's one aura that grants fast healing to all allies within range (including yourself) that are below 50% health - much more effective than Touch of Healing, usually.

[ShneekeyTheLost]

A dip into prestige Bard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/prestigiousCharacterClasses.htm#prestigeBard) will get up through Mass Cure Moderate on your list. Here are ways to get Perform (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=6832.0) if you need one.

Actually, this fits a Gnomish Illusionist rather well. You still get all the tomfoolery that Illusionists get into, all the tomfoolery that Bards get into, bonus on DC's for Illusionist spells, and nets you healing as well as some other useful abilities.

[Thurbane]

Prestige Bard advances an existing arcane casting class, it does not add the Bard spell list...

[Zonugal]

Prestige Bard advances an existing arcane casting class, it does not add the Bard spell list...

Unless you go by the Unique Spells ruling.


The bard, paladin, and ranger spell lists contain a number of spells that don't appear on other classes' spell lists. In general, any character who enters one of these prestige classes should gain access to spells unique to that class's spell list, at the same levels indicated for the standard class. At the game master's discretion, spells unique to that class's spell list found in other books may also be available, but on a case by case basis. The game master may require such spells to be researched or learned specifically by the character, rather than simply making them freely available.

[Thurbane]

Unless you go by the Unique Spells ruling.
Hmm, hadn't noticed that section before - good to know.

I wonder how that interracts with classes that don't have a spells known mechanic i.e. Beguiler, Dread Necro & Warmage. Giving them full, spontaneous access to all Bard spells (core + splats) seems a little overpowered to me. They'd end up with a spell list that would rival even a rainbow Warsnake...

[dextercorvia]

Instead of Arcane Disciple: Healing, I'd probably go Apprentice: Spellcaster. That would get UMD as a class skill, and that way you could use Wands of Lesser Vigor, instead of CLW. Plus, UMD has more benefits. Eg. you could cover Restoration etc. with wands/scrolls.

[Eldariel]

Combat Medic [HoB] would work though though that's 5 levels. The mentioned Wyrm Wizard, and of course Recaster [RoE] also get few completely open new spells at the cost of a couple of class levels (EDIT: Changeling-only; oops).

I assume you want more than just Polymorph; that spell is capable of healing (yeah, it bakes your cakes too). There's also Light of Venya [SC/CDiv] as an arcane curiosity that heals.

[MeeposFire]

Be a halfling and pick up dragonmark feats.

[Maho-Tsukai]

Yeah, but Wyrm Wizard makes you lose 3 caster levels, last time I checked. If it where not for that it would be perfect and I would have used it for a "draconic Necromancer" though sadly 3 CLs is a whole lot to lose and unlike a Mystic theurge who gets TONS of spells as a trade off for losing 3 CLs, you don't get all that much in return. 1 lost CL? That's fine. But three is really pushing it, at least for me.

[MeeposFire]

Anima mage and use buer or tenebrous with a divine healing feat.

[Blisstake]

I know you aren't a fan of pathfinder, but they've got a life-specialist wizard. They aren't particularly good at healing, but they can.

[Starsinger]

Technically with DM permission, you can simply research healing spells... If the DM insists you do this convoluted hoop jumping routine to do it that's one thing, but I would ask that first.

[TurtleKing]

If you have a Deathless party member then Disrupt Undead and its Greater big brother can heal.