How much use do you get out of the Inflict Wounds spells?

[sunbeam]

I'm thinking about rolling up an oracle.

This character is going to select the positive energy option, so as to get the cure wounds rather than the inflict.

But is there another angle on it? I can't really see ever committing to a touch attack with a save for that amount of damage.

The Mass Inflicts seem like they may be a little more useful though.

If you pick the inflict option it seems like a horrible way to nerf your character, since you aren't going to get much use out of the touch spells, and they are going to pretty much have to take some healing spells anyway (it's a rule).

But what has been the actual experience with playing an oracle and these spells?

Is it as bad as I think if you choose to inflict rather than cure? How useful are the inflict spells? Is there any reason to take a single inflict spell that isn't mass? I think I might take one or two of the mass ones eventually.

[mplindustries]

If I wasn't a multi-classed Magus or a necromancer who used the Inflict spells to heal my undead, I can't imagine I would ever cast them ever.

Now, Harm, on the other hand, is super badass. That used to count as an "inflict" for these sorts of purposes in 3.5, but I don't think that's the case in Pathfinder, so, yeah.

But honestly, does anyone really cast the Cure spells either? Isn't the normal protocol picking up a Wand of CLW and dealing with healing between battles so the Cleric can take advantage of their overpowered spell list in combat rather than being relegated to useless healbot?

[Kydeem de'Morcaine]

mplindustries wrote:

...But honestly, does anyone really cast the Cure spells either? Isn't the normal protocol picking up a Wand of CLW and dealing with healing between battles so the Cleric can take advantage of their overpowered spell list in combat rather than being relegated to useless healbot?

Our group uses cure quite a bit. Don't try to keep everyone topped up in combat. But we consider it essential to try and keep anyone from dying in the fight. Ressurection is expensive.

[Interzone]

My Dhampir Oracle loves him some inflict spells >D
Lets him heal himself, OR hurt others.
Very much worth it. Any Oracle of Bones can be the same way.
If I couldn't use it for healing I would always take Cure myself though.

[Haldrick]

As to the OPs question. I have never seen much use out of inflict spells. Clerics and Oracles generally have better options.

As to cure spells. I find that board chatter about relying on wands of CLW is more common the in real play. The use of cure spells in combat has to be carefully judged. Other options are often better, but after combat cure spells are frequently very effective. Why spend money on wands when the spells come back every morning? As you go up in levels CLW just does not get you very far.

Most players I know prefer to spend their money on more interesting things.

Not to say that a wand is not useful as aback up. Especially with someone using UMD.

[The White]

Inflict Wounds + Craft (alchemy) + Brew Potion feat is easily one of the best low to mid level ingested 'poisons' available

[FuelDrop]

mass inflict, really?
i could be missing something of course, but isn't it effectively xd8+level, 30 foot radius, close range, no risk of friendly fire? at that level i'm certain there are better uses for your actions, especially considering the targets get a will save for half damage.

as far as i can see you're right, inflict is useless unless you can heal from it... (if the party is undead, and you're fighting the living, then mass inflicts may be worthwhile. short of that i've always found them very underwhelming).

[Valcrim Flinthammer]

Got a dwarf cleric that is gonna craft arms & armors. Might make a spellstoring one to deliver such spells.

[Kalyth]

Prior to 3.0 the inflict spells allowed no saving throw. This made them actually useful.

With the fact that they allow a saving throw for half damage they are basically a waste of spell slots. The only time they might be useful is if all other options where out the window. Heck even basic melee attack would be a better option. Use those spell slots on things like Divine Favor, Divine Power, etc...

Flamestrike does way more damage than any of the inflict spells. Firestorm as well. The only thing the Mass inflict spells has going for it is the selective targeting.

The inflict spells should not allow a saving throw for half and then I would consider them useful.

[mdt]

My Dhampir Oracle/Bard loves inflict (to heal himself), he is an Oracle of Metal though, so he usually let's his sword do his talking for damaging.

Note that Harm is still Negative Energy, so it heals undead (or Dhampir!), a fact that blew the anti-paladin we fought in last week's game's mind, because I was a wounded Dhampir who rolled a reflex save to step into the way of his spell that he cast at our Dwarf Ranger. After the harm spell splashed off me (and healed me up to full to boot), I smiled at him and thanked him. Then combat started (he surprise attacked us by casting harm). Rest of the fight, he was too nervous to cast that or any other spell (the fact we had him threatened 3 ways was probably adding to that).

[Beckett]

Kalyth wrote:

Prior to 3.0 . . .

You just made me remeber when Harm was useful too, . . . <tear, tear>

[Black_Lantern]

Inflict spells aren't all that great. I suggest looking for other ways to hamper your opponents.

[WRoy]

Interzone wrote:

My Dhampir Oracle loves him some inflict spells >D

Lets him heal himself, OR hurt others.
Very much worth it. Any Oracle of Bones can be the same way.
If I couldn't use it for healing I would always take Cure myself though.

I would add any oracle taking the Necromantic Affinity feat from ISWG to this list. Con 15+ prereq, but it could be useful for oracles with combat-oriented mysteries if they don't care about healing anyone but themselves.