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Hello,
I'm building a new character (oracle/paladin) that will be healing via Lay on Hands / Positive Channeling / Cure spells. Can anyone advise what Feats or Traits, that are legal for PFS, are available to increase the amount that I'm able to heal?
I'm aware of the following -
Fey Foundling - Feat
Blessed Touch - Faith Trait
Celestial Obedience: Lymnieris - Feat
Are there any others that are available that adds additional healing?
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The trait Exalted of the Society is for clerics, but it allows one more channel per day.
The feats Extra Channel and Extra Lay On Hands will work pretty well for you.
Greater Mercy is a feat that many times will increase the amount of hit points you heal.
I'm remembering another that makes your channels do a minimum of 2 hit points per die, but I can't locate it.
I know Tiefling paladins can lay on hands for extra for themselves only (alternative racial trait). I *think* at least one other race can add to healing for others for lay on hands too.
Halflings get +1/2 to it for lay on hands, but for everyone, not just for them.
I don't see it done all that often but metamagic can be applied to cure spells. A lesser rod of maximize is kind of expensive, but a maximized Cure Serious is a pretty significant chunk of hit points in a pinch.
Requests for advice like this tend to attract more attention over in the advice forum, so I've flagged it to be moved.
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Oath of Charity boosts your healing by 50% towards others, but cuts how much you heal yourself by 50%.
There are also the feats Reward of Life and Reward of Grace. Reward of life heals you your charisma mod in hitpoints when you heal others with lay on hands. Reward of Grace gives you a +1 sacred bonus to attack rolls after using lay on hands (not directly healing, but something you can use often!)
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Well here's the deal. I'm building an Oracle/Paladin so I'll be Life Linking myself to allies, and maybe using a wand of Shield Other. I plan on siphoning the damage away from my allies to myself and during my turn use a swift action 'Lay on Hands' to myself, standard action Positive Channel to heal all my allies and myself, and/or Quick Channel if needed.
I'm going Cha>Str>Con>Dex=Int>Wis in stats as I want to also get into the middle of things and fight, which the 16 or so STR and the 14 CON will help along with being in platemail and having a shield.
I don't think it's PFS legal to be a half-elf and choose favored bonus from Elf or Human, I think that only consists of traits/feats and I bet I'd get a few GM's that would be hesitant to allow me to use favored bonuses that way.
I don't think I have many options for race as Aasimar is the only race that allows me to use my favored bonus in Oracle to boost my channeling d6's. Only other option I could see is Elves (the stat boosts are horrid though) and Ifrits (I don't have a boon for one).
For my personal build I'm looking for ways to boost Lay on Hands for healing myself and boosting healing to anyone for Cure X spells and Channeling.
As a Hospitalar Paladin / Life Oracle I'd have roughly the following.
* Oracle Channel pool [6 times a day] - roughly 6d6, 8d6 with phylanctary.
* Paladin Channel pool [8 times a day] - (1d6 normal, 3d6 with phylanctary of positive channeling)
* Lay on Hands [7 times a day] - 2d6+4 (maybe more?)
The feat Extra Channel should give me 2 additional uses of Channeling for the Oracle's channel pool and 2 additional uses of Channeling for the Hospitalar's channel pool.
I'm not sure if going Holy Vindicator would be a big boost either. I know 4 levels of Paladin is necessary, 3 levels of Oracle is necessary at least but that only puts me at 3d6 positive channeling...
5 levels of Holy Vindicator would put me at 5d6 for Oracle channel and 5d6 for Paladin channel at lvl 12, if my math is correct....or 7d6 each with phylanctary.
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I don't think it's PFS legal to be a half-elf and choose favored bonus from Elf or Human, I think that only consists of traits/feats and I bet I'd get a few GM's that would be hesitant to allow me to use favored bonuses that way.
Favored Class Bonus for Half-Elves and Half-Orcs
For the purpose of qualifying for favored class bonuses, half-elves are also treated as both elves and humans, and half-orcs are also treated as humans (but not orcs)—a byproduct of their respective elf blood and orc blood racial traits. Only characters that have the elf blood or orc blood racial trait count as a member of another race for this purpose.
5 levels of Holy Vindicator would put me at 5d6 for Oracle channel and 5d6 for Paladin channel at lvl 12, if my math is correct....or 7d6 each with phylactery
You may get more pushback on this one. There's several threads discussing this. The majority opinion (which I happen to agree with) seems to be that the Vindicator feature isn't intended to work with multiple classes. However, there's no clear RAW that it doesn't, so I would allow it in Society Play. Just a warning that this may be the more contentious issue with some GMs.
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Seems a bit OP that Half-Elf can choose between Elf, Half-Elf, and Human favored class bonuses at any given level but if it's allowed then great.
Not sure if the Holy Vindicator is a better option in general or not as I'm missing out on some benefits if I would have rather went Paladin or Oracle further. Any suggestions?
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From looking at your suggested build I fear you are trying to do too much and will find yourself unable to excel at anything. If you are using Life Link and shield other you are going to be soaking up a LOT of damage. Channel is an additional nice thing to have but I think you will find with those two active your allies won't need much healing. Lay on Hands is definitely your bread and butter. With Bracers of the Merciful Knight you can really do a lot as a swift action. Especially with Fey Foundling.
I personally would focus on Paladin levels. Getting as many LoH (and as many dice as possible) will be a great use of your swift action. If your character loves to get in melee, go for it. Just be aware that you will be somewhat feat starved. and you will need your actions for healing a lot of the time.
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I believe you're correct on a good amount of that.
I'm aiming to Channel to provide my team with temporary hit points via Life Oracle and to transfer some of the damage they receive to myself since it will spread the damage a bit. I can then swift Lay on Hands myself or Channel to heal multiple people. With platemail and a weapon I should be able to do some damage and not be limited to the back of the party. Stat wise I'm looking around str16, con14, dex12, int10, wis7, cha17.
I'm not looking to be the primary healer but I feel I should be able to transfer some of the damage my allies receive to myself and swift action Lay on Hands and outside of combat I can channel (or inside combat if needed).
Hopefully this makes sense as I'd just go pure Life Oracle if I wanted to be the best healer possible.
I think it sounds like an awesome concept that any group would welcome!
One thing: You mention temporary hit points via channeling as a life oracle. I don't believe that is possible, ff this is the ability you are thinking of:
"Spirit Boost (Su): Whenever your healing spells heal a target up to its maximum hit points, any excess points persist for 1 round per level as temporary hit points (up to a maximum number of temporary hit points equal to your oracle level)."
It says "healing spells" - so channeling will not work.
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The feat Extra Channel should give me 2 additional uses of Channeling for the Oracle's channel pool and 2 additional uses of Channeling for the Hospitalar's channel pool.
You get 2 extra uses total per day, not per pool.
Suggestion, if you plan on being a HP battery, your stat array needs to be: Cha>Con>Str>Dex>Int=Wis
CHA & CON should be pumped early and often. STR and DEX are second tier. INT & WIS can be dumped.
I would strongly caution against frontlining as damage spikes from Shield Other or Life Link will leave you extremely vulnerable to being dropped by smart opponents. If you want to frontline, give yourself some room by using a reach weapon.
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Well the more I try to build towards a Paladin damage dealer the less I'm satisfied with my overall build. I'm really wanting to be that Life Link of the party that keeps everyone from dropping and has the ability to pump out healing. The other end of the spectrum though is I don't want to be completely vulnerable and not able to defend myself.
I'm able to wear heavy armor so my AC shouldn't be horrible. I don't want to go the Burnt Hands curse as I already have a lvl 5 Fire domain Theologian and I don't want to have this character be practically the same thing. So I'm looking to keep Melee viable for when I want to get into the middle of fights, which I can drop Life Line on some allies if need be and can still channel if I must.
Here's what I have so far:
Race: Angelkin Aasimar (+2str, +2cha)
Racial Traits Replaced:
• Heavenborn (+1cl to good & light spells, +2 knowledge planes)
• Deathless Spirit (5resist negative energy, +2 to saves vs death effects, energy drain, negative energy, and spells or spell-like abilities of the necromancy school)
Character Alignment: Lawful Good
Deity: Undecided
Traits:
• Magical Knack (+2cl to Oracle)
• Undecided
Stats:
Str: 14 + 2racial = 16
Dex: 12
Con: 14
Int: 11
Wis: 10
Cha: 15 + 2racial = 17
28 points / 28 points
Oracle Curse: Undecided
1) Life Oracle 1: Bab +0, Fey Foundling (lvl 1), Channel (revelation)
2) Hospitaler Paladin 1: Bab +1,
3) Hospitaler Paladin 2: Bab +2, Selective Channel (lvl 3)
4) Life Oracle 2: Bab +3, +1 Cha
5) Life Oracle 3: Bab +4, Quick Channel (lvl 5), Life Link (revelation)
6) Hospitaler Paladin 3: Bab +5,
7) Hospitaler Paladin 4: Bab +6/+1, Power Attack (lvl 7)
8) Life Oracle 4: Bab +7/+2, +1 Cha
9) Life Oracle 5: Bab +7/+2, Undecided (lvl 9)
10) Life Oracle 6: Bab +8/+3,
11) Life Oracle 7: Bab +9/+4, Undecided (lvl 11), Energy Body (revelation)
12) Life Oracle 8: Bab +10/+5, +1 Cha
At 12th lvl I'm able to channel 8d6+(16 to myself) including Favored Bonus and Positive Phylactery.
How are my stats and any ideas on some feats that I should fit in? I didn't want to really dump anything as Will saves are important, I had an extra point so I threw it in Int also, which doesn't matter since I'm adding all stat boosts to Cha.
Any suggestions to improve this while keeping it PFS legal are much appreciated.
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Some strictly mechanical (and opinionated) advice:
I'm not a fan of your class level split. Four hospitaler paladin levels is either too much or not enough. Those channels aren't going to be doing much at 12th level, even with a phylactery (3d6 is an average of 10.5 healing). I would personally do one of three things.
1) Go with the base paladin - not archetyped. Basically you're trading that 3d6 channel for an extra smite.
2) Go down to one oracle level (for life link) and go paladin the rest of the way. LoH is your primary healing and by level 11 the 7d6+14 as a swift action will more than make up for the damage from life link. Your channel would be for 6d6 with the phylactery. I would recommend this option if you really want to be a damage-dealer.
3) Go down to two paladin levels and the rest oracle. You will give up a large number of abilities but they are not (in my opinion) that powerful. Two level 1 paladin spells, immunity to disease, and a low-level mercy in addition to the channels. In return you get (at level 12) an additional 2d6 channel and 5th level spells (including breath of life). This is your better choice for healing.
Featwise, Improved Initiative and Weapon Focus are always good. If you go with option 2 you may want Channeled Revival and/or Ultimate Mercy.
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Option 1 I'm not really alleviating damage off of my teammates though. If I didn't want to divide dmg off my allies onto myself I'd just make a Silver Knight Paladin and charge through enemies on a boar.
The only issue I have with option 2 is that Life Link will only work with 1 ally, since it's based off of Oracle level on how many allies you can link. Maybe 3 levels of Oracle and I pick up Energy Body and Life Link then rest Paladin? Ignoring Channel Since I'd only be looking at 3d6 (5d6 with Phylactery) 6/day.
Option 3 I'm also losing 1 BAB, one more use of Lay on Hands, and immunity to fear.
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Option 1 I'm not really alleviating damage off of my teammates though. If I didn't want to divide dmg off my allies onto myself I'd just make a Silver Knight Paladin and charge through enemies on a boar.
Internet error there. I meant keep your existing level plan but don't bother with the hospitaler archetype.
The only issue I have with option 2 is that Life Link will only work with 1 ally, since it's based off of Oracle level on how many allies you can link. Maybe 3 levels of Oracle and I pick up Energy Body and Life Link then rest Paladin? Ignoring Channel Since I'd only be looking at 3d6 (5d6 with Phylactery) 6/day.
Derp. Missed that. 4 levels would let you life link up to 6 allies (with favored class bonus). I'm personally really not impressed by energy body. It takes a standard action to activate and heals less than a channel. The only real benefit is the immunity to criticals and sneak attack.
Option 3 I'm also losing 1 BAB, one more use of Lay on Hands, and immunity to fear.
Yeah. The LoH is trivial (you'll only be healing 2d6 at level 4, 4d6 if you spring for the bracers). Again, this is the route to be the better healer, less melee.
My personal choice - and I am NOT saying "this is the way it should be done" - would be to play pure hospitaler paladin. Go all-out on LoH and throw a reach shield other or two on the allies most likely to take damage. Channels can usually keep the rest up. I will say that with that build or my "option 2" you need at least a secondary healer. Someone who can cast a cure spell when necessary. (Even an inquisitor or a druid would probably be fine.)
For ppure healing power you should only go level 2 pally rest into oracle using the asimar or half elf bonus on your channel from the life Oracle. At level 10 your effective channel level is 12 want to make it swift use quicken channel. You can always use spells to augment yourcombat capabilities.