| Cyber Sorcerer |
To the Pathfinder RPG Designers:
There is some debate within a campaign I participate in as to the intended behavior of Channel Positive Energy. In an attempt to avoid being flamed, I'll refrain from stating my personal opinion. Instead, I'll just post the two alternative interpretations we've stumbled upon, and allow the designers in their infinite wisdom to reveal which (if either) is the correct interpretation.
Anyone who is not a designer but has used Channel Positive Energy within their adventures in either of the following ways is encouraged to post and say so.
Note: this thread is meant to act as a survey of CPE's current use, or for the designers to answer the original question. Please don't turn this into another "CPE is overpowered" or "I think X class need more healing" discussion. The question is not whether CPE is overpowered, or whether or not it unbalances the game, the question is simply to clarify how it can/should be used.
Interpretation 1:
Channel Positive Energy is introduced or discussed in many places throughout the PRPG guide including the class description for Cleric and Paladin, as well as the Special Attacks section of chapter 9 on "Combat". In all instances it mentions that it is an offensive supernatural ability which harms and immobilizes undead, and only mentions its healing effect on the living as a secondary effect on page 149 when it says that: "living creatures within the area are healed a like amount..."
From this, one interpretation is that it is an offensive ability that requires the presence of undead in order to be used. While it does heal any living creatures within the area, either the heal is ineffective, or the supernatural ability cannot be used in the absence of undead. In other words, If no undead are hurt, there is no "like amount" in which to heal the living.
Interpretation 2:
Although the supernatural ability is described within the chapter on Combat, nothing prevents a Cleric or Paladin from casting it in the absence of Undead. This would allow them to cast it while out of combat in the absence of any enemies as a way to "heal up" the party in between encounters, or while in combat and combined with Selective Channeling to enable an overall party heal (allowing them to use their existing spells for things other than healing).
Arguments in favor of interpretation 2 include the Designer Notes on page 149 which state that the new mechanic for Channeling Energy "...means that the clerics of the world can actually cast their spells instead of just converting them to healing. We are also hoping that this eliminates the need for low-level parties to rest after only a handful of encounters."
If there are any designers following this forum, please clarify. Thank you for your time!