The intended use of Channel Positive Energy

[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!

[KnightErrantJR]

Way back when this ability was first introduced in the Alpha 1 document, several Paizo folk posted and implicitly stated that the point of it was to grant more healing ability to the cleric, and it was stated that the ability works even if there is a lack of undead or other creatures vulnerable to turning in the area.

However I can't find the original thread where this was discussed.

[Quandary]

I guess it doesn't matter either way,
if your Cleric is paranoid enough that he thinks invisible undead are constantly lurking around him ;-)

[RickSummon]

I think that channel energy should be a 60 foot cone instead of a 30 foot burst. (A cone is a quarter-circle, so doubling the radius keeps the area the same as the full circle.) The reason I say this is because it doesn't make sense to me that you should be able to turn undead standing behind you.

I always imagined the cleric boldly presenting his holy symbol and dramatically shouting "In the name of Pelor, begone!" It seems kind of silly for this to work if you're aiming it the wrong way. Besides, how many times do you have to worry about undead sneaking up behind you?

[Cyber Sorcerer]

KnightErrantJR wrote:

Way back when this ability was first introduced in the Alpha 1 document, several Paizo folk posted and implicitly stated that the point of it was to grant more healing ability to the cleric, and it was stated that the ability works even if there is a lack of undead or other creatures vulnerable to turning in the area.

However I can't find the original thread where this was discussed.

Can anyone find that thread? I'd like to read it and present it before the group I'm in for clarification. Or, if any designers are lurking, can you real quick confirm/deny that statement?

Cheers!

[Brutesquad07]

RickSummon wrote:

I think that channel energy should be a 60 foot cone instead of a 30 foot burst. (A cone is a quarter-circle, so doubling the radius keeps the area the same as the full circle.) The reason I say this is because it doesn't make sense to me that you should be able to turn undead standing behind you.

I always imagined the cleric boldly presenting his holy symbol and dramatically shouting "In the name of Pelor, begone!" It seems kind of silly for this to work if you're aiming it the wrong way. Besides, how many times do you have to worry about undead sneaking up behind you?

I have 2 points to make about this interpretation:

1) D&D assumes no facing issues. While your mini looks to be aimed in a direction the rules allow that he/she is aware of, reacts, and can "see" what goes on within line of sight (and are only limited by your visual distance)Thus how your mini is facing may not be how your character is facing.

2) A round is 6 seconds, Holding forth a holy symbol and spinning or turning back and forth (so that all within a 30' burst) could see said object would not take even the full 6 seconds.

[Montalve]

players solution and no grid-soltion

the power of the cleric's god is not limited to what you see.. the god/godess infuses the cleric with raw power, so is that power emanating from him the one that is acting

its not a phisical response to what is in front... lok it as a "grenade"... it hits... it explodes in every direction... i see channeling like that

ASIDE ofthat... i do believe the ability is one modified to enhance healing... that is why they took away the name "turn undead"

but hey... my cleric uses it to "bless" those who help her and her friends... the positive channeling reinvigorating people, closing small wounds, making them feel better... (this interpretation wasused by my GM, but i would use the same in my games)

so... yes... she uses it socially to earn the people's love and respect in a town who doesn't know Iomedae (her goddess)

[Dennis da Ogre]

DragonWalsh wrote:

Can anyone find that thread? I'd like to read it and present it before the group I'm in for clarification. Or, if any designers are lurking, can you real quick confirm/deny that statement?

I suggest you start digging around the Alpha 1 board, I think that's when it was introduced. I recall the conversation but I'm not going to do your dirty work for you. Did you report this in the errata thread as 'confusing wording'? It might be a good idea.