Ok, so I make a lot of homebrew subclasses for my games and not too long ago I finished up a Paladin subclass that was based around tracking and hunting down demons, pretty standard Paladin stuff with some features reminiscent of ranger with a divine twist. Anyway, while making it I realized I had never seen the Paladin's healing pool used for anything but exactly that. I understand it is a core feature of the class, but I was always confuse at why subclasses like Oathbreaker or even Vengeance still had it as plain healing when it really doesn't fit. So for the subclass I designed, I added a feature where the character could expend certain amounts from their healing pool to create different effects and such.
I'm just curious what others think of the concept and if anyone has any other ideas for how this mechanic could work. thoughts for balancing and even maybe some ideas for custom features using this idea that could be given to already made Paladin subclasses that don't really fit the healing build.
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Forever Dungeon Master and world builder at heart.
Oh how I long for the sweet release of playing a character I've made.
Because lay hands IS healing. The feature only exists because healing with a touch is a core of the paladin identity. If it doesn't do that, it's not a paladin. Period.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I'm just curious what others think of the concept and if anyone has any other ideas for how this mechanic could work. thoughts for balancing and even maybe some ideas for custom features using this idea that could be given to already made Paladin subclasses that don't really fit the healing build.
Interesting. That's how I view the idea. Letting it serve as a pool of power that all are capable of using to heal/cure... and some have learned to manipulate towards different ends is neat. I don't see an obvious problem because you are giving up healing, which is a similar argument to spell slots in my eyes.
Because lay hands IS healing. The feature only exists because healing with a touch is a core of the paladin identity. If it doesn't do that, it's not a paladin. Period.
Good thing then that they never said the paladin couldn't still use the health pool to heal.
What I am saying is that the point of the mechanic is to heal. Not to do something that makes no sense.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I didnt say they couldn't I said it doesn't make sense and shouldnt work the way he wants it to.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
it's not called gate keeping. It's call balancing and class fantasy.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
In 3e, there was the option to play as alternative alignment paladins instead of just LG - Freedom (CG), Slaughter (CE) and Tyranny (LE). The Paladin of Slaughter had the following ability:
Deadly Touch (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a paladin of slaughter can cause wounds with a successful touch attack. Each day she can deal a total number of hit points of damage equal to her paladin level × her Charisma bonus. An opponent subjected to this attack can make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 paladin level + paladin's Cha modifier) to halve the damage dealt.
This one says slaughter, but there's an identical one for tyranny with the words swapped. Neither the 3e nor the 4e Blackguard had the option to Lay on Hands- the 3e version got sneak attacks and poison use in its place, while the 4e Blackguard got life-draining attacks.
Its also notable that the cleric has a healing touch spell... and an inflict wounds by touch spell as well.
it's not called gate keeping. It's call balancing and class fantasy.
When you attempt to prevent someone from doing something you disagree with solely because you disagree with it is gatekeeping. You haven't made another argument beyond just pointing out that it doesn't fit into how you feel about the class.
I and the OP have established that we have different views. Mephista has also pointed out that there were other versions in the past with a similar goal.
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Ok, so I make a lot of homebrew subclasses for my games and not too long ago I finished up a Paladin subclass that was based around tracking and hunting down demons, pretty standard Paladin stuff with some features reminiscent of ranger with a divine twist. Anyway, while making it I realized I had never seen the Paladin's healing pool used for anything but exactly that. I understand it is a core feature of the class, but I was always confuse at why subclasses like Oathbreaker or even Vengeance still had it as plain healing when it really doesn't fit. So for the subclass I designed, I added a feature where the character could expend certain amounts from their healing pool to create different effects and such.
I'm just curious what others think of the concept and if anyone has any other ideas for how this mechanic could work. thoughts for balancing and even maybe some ideas for custom features using this idea that could be given to already made Paladin subclasses that don't really fit the healing build.
Forever Dungeon Master and world builder at heart.
Oh how I long for the sweet release of playing a character I've made.
Because lay hands IS healing. The feature only exists because healing with a touch is a core of the paladin identity. If it doesn't do that, it's not a paladin. Period.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Interesting. That's how I view the idea. Letting it serve as a pool of power that all are capable of using to heal/cure... and some have learned to manipulate towards different ends is neat. I don't see an obvious problem because you are giving up healing, which is a similar argument to spell slots in my eyes.
Good thing then that they never said the paladin couldn't still use the health pool to heal.
What I am saying is that the point of the mechanic is to heal. Not to do something that makes no sense.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Like telling people they can't play a different flavor of a class?
I didnt say they couldn't I said it doesn't make sense and shouldnt work the way he wants it to.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Yeah, that's called gatekeeping.
What other people play in their games won't affect you.
You can play your healing only paladin. They can play their paladin.
I could see Oathbreaker or Vengance being able to use lay on hands to "harm" rather than heal.
it's not called gate keeping. It's call balancing and class fantasy.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
In 3e, there was the option to play as alternative alignment paladins instead of just LG - Freedom (CG), Slaughter (CE) and Tyranny (LE). The Paladin of Slaughter had the following ability:
This one says slaughter, but there's an identical one for tyranny with the words swapped. Neither the 3e nor the 4e Blackguard had the option to Lay on Hands- the 3e version got sneak attacks and poison use in its place, while the 4e Blackguard got life-draining attacks.
Its also notable that the cleric has a healing touch spell... and an inflict wounds by touch spell as well.
When you attempt to prevent someone from doing something you disagree with solely because you disagree with it is gatekeeping. You haven't made another argument beyond just pointing out that it doesn't fit into how you feel about the class.
I and the OP have established that we have different views. Mephista has also pointed out that there were other versions in the past with a similar goal.