so i have joined this pathfinder and getting ready for it. Some of us already know what we wanna play and have startede with rolling the stats and making the char rdy. Others in the group are stil new to it and thus new a guiding hand in how make a charector.
One of the players wanted to make a healer. So i have been trying to look around and see what can be done.
What i need help with; how many builds is there? from simple builds, to more advancede. That way i might be able to find something that the player would find suitable.Of course i know that you wanna do more then just healing but primary role and concern is the job of a healer.
thank you in advance for your time and help.
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So a life oracle or a cleric are your typical "healing" builds. However, being a "healer" focused character is usually not that effective or helpful compared to other things the character could be doing.
In combat healing is generally not effective until you have access to the spell Heal, which isn't until 11th level. The only caveat being that healing a person who is almost unconscious or about to die (while unconscious) is valuable because reviving them from death or keeping the action economy on your side is probably more valuable than what you could otherwise do.
But the cure line of spells are otherwise not valuable in combat, as the amount of damage they heal is generally less than the amount of damage an enemy can deal. At best, you are spending an action to partially mitigate the enemy's action.
A cleric can loose a spell slot to spontaneously cast a heal spell while a oracle automatically knows all cure spells (assuming they are good or neutral and choose cure spells). The status removal spells are often best kept on scrolls for a cleric, allowing you to use your spell slots you prepare to do something more useful.
In general, Pathfinder does not need a dedicated healer in the party all the time. You occasionally need status removal and healing. Healing is often best done between combat with a wand (except to keep a party member up as noted above) and status removal is often best dealt with via scrolls. For an Oracle, sacrificing spells known on all the status removal spells...is a pretty huge sacrifice.
Take a look at these guides for oracle and cleric and you can accomplish healing and status removal as secondary abilities while focusing on something else.
Another point of advice for the PC: remind him that preventing damage and bad statuses can be much more effective than healing them after the fact. A Pathfinder cleric or oracle is not the same thing as an MMPORG healer.
I've played as a Healer focused, and it's true that having a main secondary purpose is a good idea. Having the capacity open is always good in case of emergency. I've never liked to rely on magic items like scrolls and the like, so my preference is Oracle, but your preferences may differ.
I like oracle also because it's easier to pick up a dramatically different capacity from typical Cleric-like types, such as elemental spells, or more unique ones.
One option is the Oradin (Paladin/Oracle) build, likely as a half elf.
Key traits:
Exalted of the Society - gets you an extra channel
Fey Foundling - extra self healing with every heal
Life channels from Life Oracle plus swift action lay on hands let you be effective healing in combat.
Favored class bonus Paladin let's you increase the effectiveness of Lay on Hands. FCB for Oracle increases your channels. Half Elf allows you to take two FCBs.
You become a heavy fighter with some limited spellcasting & lots of healing. There are some decent guides you can reference.
Only clerics can take the Exalted of the Society trait.