Okay... as DMs, I'm sure we've all described some pretty greusome injuries... from the scythe-crit that splattered gnome bits all over the wall to the necromantic spell that raised boils and pus all over the orc's body. My question is... what would healing look like after something like this? I mean... what with the intestines slithering back into place, the muscles and skin re-fabricating... it's entirely concievable that magical healing looks downright NARSTY!
what are your thoughts on the subject?
This is when I feel that the Wound/Vitality system works so much better for descriptive elements such as this. My game uses WP/VP, and in such a system healing spells heal vp with their dice, and wp with their numerical bonus. Point being that healing spells don't heal that much wounds, which is what a grueusome injury would be.
Ideally, healing should be speeding up the natural processes; after all, you can't grow someone's arm back with anything short of regenerate. So yeah, if someone's stomach was split open by a wound, it's safe to say that a cure spell would probably coax the intestines back in and seal up the skin.
An aura of white light flares up to obscure the fallen warrior's grievous injuries, and when it subsides, his broken flesh is once more intact, as though the injuries had never occured in the first place. Nothing of the wounds remains behind to indicate the exact means of their undoing, but for blood already shed, now rendered inert and unneeded by the work of the light.
Quote from: Epic MeepoAn aura of white light flares up to obscure the fallen warrior's grievous injuries, and when it subsides, his broken flesh is once more intact, as though the injuries had never occured in the first place. Nothing of the wounds remains behind to indicate the exact means of their undoing, but for blood already shed, now rendered inert and unneeded by the work of the light.
Bingo!
What makes magical healing so great is that you get to avoid the icky bits.
Hahaha, you assume that we use magical healing. ;)
Quote from: Xeviat TranionMy game uses WP/VP, and in such a system healing spells heal vp with their dice, and wp with their numerical bonus. Point being that healing spells don't heal that much wounds, which is what a grueusome injury would be.
I like this interpretation. I don't want to derail this thread, but one of these days I'd like to have a chat with you about these kinds of fine details of the WP/VP system. I'm still at a loss as to how to reconcile VP/WP with magic.
Quote from: RaelifinHahaha, you assume that we use magical healing. ;)
Better than doctors.
Doctors killed President Garfield.
Yeah... I use a modified VP/WP myself. never liked the stunning aspect. It's frustrrating when players can't do ANYTHING... then they're FLAT FOOTED... then they DROP THEIR WEAPONS. I mean... wtf? as if crits weren't bad enough? An easier way to go is to say they're nauseated. That way, they can still move.
Back to the original thing... visceral healing is still a fun descriptive element. Especially for a healing foe. White light is not characteristic of a healing blackguard, I should think.
QuoteWhite light is not characteristic of a healing blackguard, I should think.
Maybe a pulsing red light for fiendish foes.
Aahh.. red light... the easy way out. I dunno... glowy magic just seems so cliche.
Quote from: beejazzAahh.. red light... the easy way out. I dunno... glowy magic just seems so cliche.
You could use Dark Light. *cue appropriate thunder effects*
(as described in
The Truth by Terry Pratchett)
Personally, for evil heally things, I like to use black light (appropriately enough).
And I always let healers describe things in terms of flashy light effects. Anything less makes them significantly less cool (visually) than the mage who's hurling bolts of lightning and balls of fire.
Quote from: Epic MeepoPersonally, for evil heally things, I like to use black light (appropriately enough).
And I always let healers describe things in terms of flashy light effects. Anything less makes them significantly less cool (visually) than the mage who's hurling bolts of lightning and balls of fire.
Good idea. Gotta give healers their due. What they do is just as significant as the blaster casters.