Yeah. If you consider 0 hp to be "unconscious" and not "dead", then a cure wounds (or healing word, whatever) spell is basically a stimulant with no side-effects. It gets them back up to make another attack, but it's not *really* doing much in the way of healing.
That is the core of the reason why it is more efficient to save heals until they are down. If they have 10 HP, and you heal 8, then they take 20 damage, you accomplished nothing. If they are at 0, you heal 8, then they get a turn before taking 20 damage, you effectively increased your team action economy, saved that PC from 1-2 failed death saves, and kept the rest of the party from taking that 20 damage instead.
Yes, I understand why it works in the tactics of the game mechanics. I just don't like how it plays out RP-wise. I am quite sure I have never read a book or seen a movie in which a character on purpose let another character go unconscious and THEN healed him, rather than healing him up to keep him conscious and in the fight. The fact that it's actually better to let someone go to 0 and heal rather than healing while still up is, IMO, a design flaw.
Not one I'm likely to go to the mat to fight about. But it's a flaw nonetheless, IMO.
I'd argue the opposite. I have never read in a book or saw a movie where someone yells "hit me with a cure light because I only have 15hp left and he's averaging 20 per hit!" You see a guy drop and then help him up, or take a big hit and someone heal. It's a mechanic, I wouldn't consider it flawed. Now higher levels there is more healing for sure as a disintegrate can wreck a character. Tier 1, you go down in 1 to 2 hits anyway so it doesn't really matter. It's tier 2 until you are into early T3 that the yoyo effect happens the most. Give it time, that too shall pass.
What I'm talking about is the scene in which someone is hurt, another person can heal the hurt guy, and the healer says, "Imma wait till you're unconscious -- it's more efficient that way."
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
What I'm talking about is the scene in which someone is hurt, another person can heal the hurt guy, and the healer says, "Imma wait till you're unconscious -- it's more efficient that way."
If you keep HP out of the conversation and get your players to simply use the term wounded (1/2 HP or less) or not wounded it helps with realism. Also not state thing like "Imma wait till you're unconscious", and instead says "Don't worry I got your back" it kind of turns the out of game mechanic into more roleplay. Just a few things I brainwashed my players into doing to keep me happy. :)
Ultimately the issue is that healing does not heal enough to make a difference unless someone is down, if you want to fix that increase the healing. Was in a campaign in early 5ed that allowed a character to use hit dice as a reaction when receiving the benefits of a healing spell, that might help. Also I currently have a Life Cleric in my group, and the extra healing from that actually allows him to use his spells to keep people up instead of waiting.
Just some ideas.
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Yeah. If you consider 0 hp to be "unconscious" and not "dead", then a cure wounds (or healing word, whatever) spell is basically a stimulant with no side-effects. It gets them back up to make another attack, but it's not *really* doing much in the way of healing.
I'd argue the opposite. I have never read in a book or saw a movie where someone yells "hit me with a cure light because I only have 15hp left and he's averaging 20 per hit!" You see a guy drop and then help him up, or take a big hit and someone heal. It's a mechanic, I wouldn't consider it flawed. Now higher levels there is more healing for sure as a disintegrate can wreck a character. Tier 1, you go down in 1 to 2 hits anyway so it doesn't really matter. It's tier 2 until you are into early T3 that the yoyo effect happens the most. Give it time, that too shall pass.
Um, nobody talks about hp in a movie.
What I'm talking about is the scene in which someone is hurt, another person can heal the hurt guy, and the healer says, "Imma wait till you're unconscious -- it's more efficient that way."
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
If you keep HP out of the conversation and get your players to simply use the term wounded (1/2 HP or less) or not wounded it helps with realism. Also not state thing like "Imma wait till you're unconscious", and instead says "Don't worry I got your back" it kind of turns the out of game mechanic into more roleplay. Just a few things I brainwashed my players into doing to keep me happy. :)
Ultimately the issue is that healing does not heal enough to make a difference unless someone is down, if you want to fix that increase the healing. Was in a campaign in early 5ed that allowed a character to use hit dice as a reaction when receiving the benefits of a healing spell, that might help. Also I currently have a Life Cleric in my group, and the extra healing from that actually allows him to use his spells to keep people up instead of waiting.
Just some ideas.