I just joined my first game and am planning to play a homebrew race called "living doll", a construct race like warforged. I'm thinking of changing her class from warlock ( to cleric so that she can be a better support and have access to the cantrip Mending which, to my knowledge, is the only spell that can heal constructs. She's desperate to keep her identity as a living doll a secret, so she'll need to fix any injuries she gets on her own before anyone else tries to help her. I've been trying to look up other spells she could possibly use to heal herself, and there don't seem to be any rules on how Mending could specifically heal construct races. Like it doesn't say how many hit points she gets back if she uses Mending to heal herself or anything like that. Mending CAN be used to heal constructs, it just never specifies on the hit points. Any suggestions?

My recommendation is to play a Warforged and roleplay the living doll aspect. That way - healing magic just works.

If you're very intent on the living doll homebrew race - and it is considered a construct that cannot be healed with regular magic - then it should have a racial trait specifying how it can get heals from elsewhere - otherwise you basically can't be healed. Talk to your DM and come up with something if that doesn't exist.

Okay

According to the DMG

When time is a factor, you can assign an Armor Class and hit points to a destructible object. You can also give it immunities, resistances, and vulnerabilities to specific types of damage.

Armor Class. An object’s Armor Class is a measure of how difficult it is to deal damage to the object when striking it (because the object has no chance of dodging out of the way). The Object Armor Class table provides suggested AC values for various substances.

Object Armor Class

Cloth, paper, rope: 11
Crystal, glass, ice: 13
Wood, bone: 15
Stone: 17
Iron, steel: 19
Mithral: 21
Adamantine: 23

Hit Points. An object’s hit points measure how much damage it can take before losing its structural integrity. Resilient objects have more hit points than fragile ones. Large objects also tend to have more hit points than small ones, unless breaking a small part of the object is just as effective as breaking the whole thing. The Object Hit Points table provides suggested hit points for fragile and resilient objects that are Large or smaller.

Object Hit Points

Tiny (bottle, lock) 2 (1d4) 5 (2d4)
Small (chest, lute) 3 (1d6) 10 (3d6)
Medium (barrel, chandelier) 4 (1d8) 18 (4d8)
Large (cart, 10-ft.-by-10-ft. window) 5 (1d10) 27 (5d10)

So what does that tell us?  A doll would presumably be made out of wood.  That would give the doll a base armor class of 15.  If they wear armor, they should get whatever the base armor class bonus is so light armor gives a bonus of 12 + Dex modifier, medium armor gives a bonus of 15 + Dex modifier (max 2), and heavy armor gives a maximum of 18.  The character should never lose out on the deal, so they should not go below 15.  At first level the doll would have 15 assuming maximum dex, so light armor would give them nothing useful, nor would medium, and in the unlikely event that a doll would risk their disguise to wear it, Plate armor would give them an 18.  If they want to keep their conception they aren't going to wear armor.

A doll would pretty much have to be small.  Currently that's as low as a player character may be, this might change in the future, so the example remains relevant.  It is the same thing with large.  A medium size doll would stretch credibility.  This would give the doll a base D6 per level, and their choice of class should override it.

They do not wish to be a human, but they do wish to be mistaken as one, and that really only leaves one option in the Player's Handbook.  Halfling.  Obviously any small race would do, but what ones could be mistaken for a small human?  Yuan-ti Purebloods, Kalashtar, and Shifters. are the only ones I see, and they are all from Eberron.

So your player's character is a Cleric, she may be a Halfling, Yuan-ti Pureblood, Kalashtar, or a Shifter, her hit points with be a D8 per level, she will have an armor class of 15 that will not go up unless you give her enchanted clothing.

• The top of the line single target healing spell is called "Heal".  It restores 70 hp.  That's your top of the line Mending Heal spell at 6th level.
• Next would be Prayer of Mending which gives 2D8 per level plus the Cleric's Wisdom modifier, and may be upcast for 1d8 for each slot level above 2nd level.
• Last would be Mending Word which gives 1d4 + your spellcasting ability modifier.  When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the healing increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st level.

I would second the suggestion of just playing a customized warforged with the racial abilities modified to match the living doll concept.

Golems are an example of constructs but they bind an elemental spirit into the form of the golem in order to animate it. On the other hand, a warforged is a living construct (which might fit well with the idea of a "living" doll), they are considered a humanoid creature type and can be healed by normal healing magic which would probably work best for a player character.

Either way, I'd chat to the DM to work out the details.

Let's clear some errors:

1. Warforged are not Constructs. They are humanoids. 

Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids.

2. There are no Construct races, officially. They tried a "dual type" for the UA version of Reborn but it remained problematic and so was removed in the official printing.

3. The Mending spell has no effect on any construct unless the specific statblock/feature says otherwise (presenting exceptions, not a rule). This is because the spell normally only works on objects and Constructs are creatures, not objects. There are very few exceptions, the only one to my memory is the Steel Defender for Artificers.

4. Constructs can be healed by healing spells in general. They are still living creatures. A healing spell will only fail to heal a Construct if that specific spell has wording to say so, such as Cure Wounds, Healing Word, Heal, Mass Cure Wounds, Mass Heal, Mass Healing Word, Power Word Heal, Prayer of Healing, 

Other spells do heal constructs as they do not have such a restriction: Aura of Life, Aura of Vitality, Enervation, Goodberry, Life Transference, Regenerate and Vampiric Touch can all be used to heal Constructs.

Also Constructs can also be healed through healing features that do not restrict creature types. For example: an Aasimar's 'Healing Hands', Grave Cleric's 'Keeper of Souls', Life Cleric's Blessed Healer (if you're a Construct), Peace Cleric's Balm of Peace, .. and so on. They can also be healed with healing potions.

===

If you're set on being construct instead of a warforged-like humanoid, consider dual type: you're both a humanoid and a construct, if something works on humanoids it works on you, even if it normally wouldn't work on constructs (like Cure Wounds) and if something works on constructs it works on you even if it normally wouldn't work on humanoids.

It can be a bit odd (there's a reason they didn't stick with this after the UA) but it's better than going full "Construct", which makes it a chore to balance due to the lesser healing (and no sane DM is going to let you heal yourself as a cantrip, even if setting it to 1 hp it would still be broken as ****). 

Quote from Cyb3rM1nd >>

Let's clear some errors:

1. Warforged are not Constructs. They are humanoids. 

Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids.

 

2. There are no Construct races, officially. They tried a "dual type" for the UA version of Reborn but it remained problematic and so was removed in the official printing.

3. The Mending spell has no effect on any construct unless the specific statblock/feature says otherwise (presenting exceptions, not a rule). This is because the spell normally only works on objects and Constructs are creatures, not objects. There are very few exceptions, the only one to my memory is the Steel Defender for Artificers.

4. Constructs can be healed by healing spells in general. They are still living creatures. A healing spell will only fail to heal a Construct if that specific spell has wording to say so, such as Cure Wounds, Healing Word, Heal, Mass Cure Wounds, Mass Heal, Mass Healing Word, Power Word Heal, Prayer of Healing, 

Other spells do heal constructs as they do not have such a restriction: Aura of Life, Aura of Vitality, Enervation, Goodberry, Life Transference, Regenerate and Vampiric Touch can all be used to heal Constructs.

Also Constructs can also be healed through healing features that do not restrict creature types. For example: an Aasimar's 'Healing Hands', Grave Cleric's 'Keeper of Souls', Life Cleric's Blessed Healer (if you're a Construct), Peace Cleric's Balm of Peace, .. and so on. They can also be healed with healing potions.

===

If you're set on being construct instead of a warforged-like humanoid, consider dual type: you're both a humanoid and a construct, if something works on humanoids it works on you, even if it normally wouldn't work on constructs (like Cure Wounds) and if something works on constructs it works on you even if it normally wouldn't work on humanoids.

It can be a bit odd (there's a reason they didn't stick with this after the UA) but it's better than going full "Construct", which makes it a chore to balance due to the lesser healing (and no sane DM is going to let you heal yourself as a cantrip, even if setting it to 1 hp it would still be broken as ****). 

 I’d be less reticent about allowing mending to heal, because it takes a minute to cast.  That pretty much eliminates its use in combat.  I’d probably allow it to heal the same as a 1st level healing word (1d4 plus spell mod).  The trade offs of free healing vs less flexible healing (limited combat use, no scaling) seem balanced to me for a construct PC

Quote from iconarising >>

Quote from Cyb3rM1nd >>

Let's clear some errors:

1. Warforged are not Constructs. They are humanoids. 

Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids.

 

2. There are no Construct races, officially. They tried a "dual type" for the UA version of Reborn but it remained problematic and so was removed in the official printing.

3. The Mending spell has no effect on any construct unless the specific statblock/feature says otherwise (presenting exceptions, not a rule). This is because the spell normally only works on objects and Constructs are creatures, not objects. There are very few exceptions, the only one to my memory is the Steel Defender for Artificers.

4. Constructs can be healed by healing spells in general. They are still living creatures. A healing spell will only fail to heal a Construct if that specific spell has wording to say so, such as Cure Wounds, Healing Word, Heal, Mass Cure Wounds, Mass Heal, Mass Healing Word, Power Word Heal, Prayer of Healing, 

Other spells do heal constructs as they do not have such a restriction: Aura of Life, Aura of Vitality, Enervation, Goodberry, Life Transference, Regenerate and Vampiric Touch can all be used to heal Constructs.

Also Constructs can also be healed through healing features that do not restrict creature types. For example: an Aasimar's 'Healing Hands', Grave Cleric's 'Keeper of Souls', Life Cleric's Blessed Healer (if you're a Construct), Peace Cleric's Balm of Peace, .. and so on. They can also be healed with healing potions.

===

If you're set on being construct instead of a warforged-like humanoid, consider dual type: you're both a humanoid and a construct, if something works on humanoids it works on you, even if it normally wouldn't work on constructs (like Cure Wounds) and if something works on constructs it works on you even if it normally wouldn't work on humanoids.

It can be a bit odd (there's a reason they didn't stick with this after the UA) but it's better than going full "Construct", which makes it a chore to balance due to the lesser healing (and no sane DM is going to let you heal yourself as a cantrip, even if setting it to 1 hp it would still be broken as ****). 

 I’d be less reticent about allowing mending to heal, because it takes a minute to cast.  That pretty much eliminates its use in combat.  I’d probably allow it to heal the same as a 1st level healing word (1d4 plus spell mod).  The trade offs of free healing vs less flexible healing (limited combat use, no scaling) seem balanced to me for a construct PC

 
I don't consider it balanced for everyone else to spend hit die and spell slots if taking a short rest to heal small amounts while the 'construct' player gets minimal 60 hp (and in your example max 540 hp) for free.

I did read up on the race I chose, and it did specifically describe the race as a "living construct". And the healing spells I do have access to now specifically say that they have no effect on constructs and undead (Cure Wounds, Healing Word and Spare the Dying (I believe we're starting off at Lv. 1)). These are the specific details of the spells and cantrip on DnDBeyond and the Player's Handbook. While my living doll is designed to resemble a human child, I'm not sure if she would be classified as "humanoid". I'll have to check with my DM on that. Maybe we could work out a system where I only get like half of what I roll when I cast a healing spell on myself (unless I roll a 1 or something). I'm not planning on my character being on the frontlines of the battles. She's built entirely to heal, buff, and protect the party. Her current only means of offense are the cantrip Sacred Flame and a crossbow, both being range attacks.

Here's the homebrew I'm using: https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/130857-living-doll

Maybe you'll notice something that I missed

It's a very poorly worded homebrew and not something I would allow, personally, due to the lack of foresight on the consequences of changing creature type for a PC. 

You're better off modifying warforged (which are humanoid). It'll be easier, and less of an issue for the DM. 

I don't know why you're set on nerfing your healing. This idea of going into a group and declaring "hey, I'm going to be a special case - I can't be healed properly, so I'm going to be a liability for you and drag you down, while making encounter-balancing harder for the DM". Just seems incredibly unfun for everyone else. 

But I'm not your DM. I saw misconceptions in your first post, I have corrected them, and said my piece. Beyond this, you do you.

Quote from Cyb3rM1nd >>

Quote from iconarising >>

Quote from Cyb3rM1nd >>

Let's clear some errors:

1. Warforged are not Constructs. They are humanoids. 

Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids.

 

2. There are no Construct races, officially. They tried a "dual type" for the UA version of Reborn but it remained problematic and so was removed in the official printing.

3. The Mending spell has no effect on any construct unless the specific statblock/feature says otherwise (presenting exceptions, not a rule). This is because the spell normally only works on objects and Constructs are creatures, not objects. There are very few exceptions, the only one to my memory is the Steel Defender for Artificers.

4. Constructs can be healed by healing spells in general. They are still living creatures. A healing spell will only fail to heal a Construct if that specific spell has wording to say so, such as Cure Wounds, Healing Word, Heal, Mass Cure Wounds, Mass Heal, Mass Healing Word, Power Word Heal, Prayer of Healing, 

Other spells do heal constructs as they do not have such a restriction: Aura of Life, Aura of Vitality, Enervation, Goodberry, Life Transference, Regenerate and Vampiric Touch can all be used to heal Constructs.

Also Constructs can also be healed through healing features that do not restrict creature types. For example: an Aasimar's 'Healing Hands', Grave Cleric's 'Keeper of Souls', Life Cleric's Blessed Healer (if you're a Construct), Peace Cleric's Balm of Peace, .. and so on. They can also be healed with healing potions.

===

If you're set on being construct instead of a warforged-like humanoid, consider dual type: you're both a humanoid and a construct, if something works on humanoids it works on you, even if it normally wouldn't work on constructs (like Cure Wounds) and if something works on constructs it works on you even if it normally wouldn't work on humanoids.

It can be a bit odd (there's a reason they didn't stick with this after the UA) but it's better than going full "Construct", which makes it a chore to balance due to the lesser healing (and no sane DM is going to let you heal yourself as a cantrip, even if setting it to 1 hp it would still be broken as ****). 

 I’d be less reticent about allowing mending to heal, because it takes a minute to cast.  That pretty much eliminates its use in combat.  I’d probably allow it to heal the same as a 1st level healing word (1d4 plus spell mod).  The trade offs of free healing vs less flexible healing (limited combat use, no scaling) seem balanced to me for a construct PC

 
I don't consider it balanced for everyone else to spend hit die and spell slots if taking a short rest to heal small amounts while the 'construct' player gets minimal 60 hp (and in your example max 540 hp) for free.

 Hitpoints are functionally useless outside of combat situations 90% of the time.  If a construct PC drops to 0, there is no way mending saves them before death saves resolve, and the other options for healing for them are much more limited than for humanoids.  The character would have to rely 1) on a limited class/spell combos that a party may not have, or 2, a lot of potions of healing.  Yes, it is "unfair" regarding short rest mechanics, but there are severe tradeoffs in combat that balance that in my view.  

Just play a warforged. OR have the GM change the custom race.

1 - it is easier on the party to keep you alive.

2 - it is easier than pretending you're human when you're not really one. There is more depth in role play than that lying fakery to people who are supposed to trust you.

I'm not planning to play her as some deceiver. My intention with her character is that she wishes to be a living person but feels like she isn't because she was originally a doll. She's worried that others will treat her like she's just a doll instead of a living creature if they ever find out the truth about her. Once she gains enough trust with the party, she'll reveal herself for what she truly is. Or, if she's forced into a situation where her secret is revealed before she's ready, it could create an impact on the others. I'll be dropping hints to what she really is throughout the game, so it doesn't come out of nowhere for the party and gives them a chance to figure it out on their own.

I personally enjoy characters who have secrets they prefer to keep hidden until they feel ready to reveal it to those who are closest to them or are forced to reveal the truth due to a situation. I feel it gives them more intrigue and can add to their character. For example: Oin Lightbringer from Welcome To The Show. He has secrets that really stunned the party and added more to his character. When those secrets were revealed, it brought the party a lot closer and created a new running gag within the party. I'm hoping to emulate that with my character.

I really hate to add to the "Just Play A Warforged" brigade.   Among other things, you have to *buy* the Warforged race to use it.  It only costs two bucks to buy it, but it's still a nuisance.  You obviously don't like the idea, so that's a consideration.

I had not considered the fact that a true Construct would be unable to deal with what happens after losing all hit points.  It's debatable that something that was never really alive to start with *could* die, rather than just lie there inanimate once again, which would be pretty horrifying if whatever it was that animated them and provided a mind could not move on.  Imagine being trapped in the body of a doll and helpless to do anything or act until the body was entirely destroyed.

There is no reason why a Construct could not have a Self Repair ability that only activates once all hit points are lost.  An amount of time equivalent to a Long Rest should do it.  All characters can recover their hit points fully with a Long Rest.  That's 8 hours, 6 hours of which must be spent sleeping.  A Warforged can get all the benefits of a Long Rest in 6 hours and remain conscious, but immobile.  Perhaps the doll can recover a single hit point in 6 hours, but remains unconscious, and must mend from there.

In any case, her secret if going to be out if she goes down.

On the other hand, you just said that she's actually alive, and was just a doll that was brought to life.  That would take nothing less than the True Polymorph spell, and it would be subject to being dispelled, but normal healing would work just fine up until that point.  You can deal with that however you would like.  If the party has become fond of her they might quest to bring her back, or use her for firewood if they aren't so nice.  Pinocchio was a doll brought to life with Faerie Dust from The Blue Faery, apparently some sort of Archfey.  The original animator might be keeping an eye on their cute little doll and step in if needed.

Yeah, that's some pretty deep thinking there. I'll have to discuss it with my DM about it and see how he wants to handle the situation. I just wanted some insight from others before I spoke with him about it. I am, after all, new to the game. This is actually going to be my very first D&D game! I have done research on the game, watched other campaigns, and listened to RPG stories about the game to prepare myself. So, I'm not going into this completely blind. I at least have a basic idea of how things work. But there is a lot I still have yet to learn. Even those who have been playing for years are still learning things from what I hear.

I am aware of the long rest thing and is something my character's race is capable of. Though, I doubt she'd have any self repair ability that wasn't Mending. The Mending cantrip was actually a big reason why I made the switch from warlock (what her class originally was) to cleric (warlocks don't have access to Mending, but clerics do). The classes are close enough in function for my race to still work, so it's no big deal. The Mending cantrip also wouldn't be just for me. From what the DM told me about the other party members so far, it sounds like Mending could be helpful to all of us just in case. I don't have a lot of confidence in my roleplaying skills as I've never really done it before, so I'm hoping that I can help still form a bond with the others by offering any kind of medical or repair services to my party members.

Oh, and as to avoid anyone realizing the truth about my character whenever she takes a long rest, I'd have her set herself up so that she looks like she's actually sleeping and not "powered down".

Actually, Pinocchio was one of my inspirations for the character. There was also the ballad Coppélia (which she is named after) and the indie horror game Mad Father. Luckily for her, she wouldn't make very good woodfire. After all, she's not exactly made out of wood. She's a composition ball-jointed kind of doll. And, from what I know of the party so far, it doesn't sound like any of them are gonna be the kind of jerks to burn my doll if she were to die or something.

That's one way of putting it.

Maybe I could have it set up so that she gains back HP with healing spells but she repairs her actual body with Mending without the HP coming back? That might. I'll bring it up with my DM and see what he thinks of this idea.