Hospitalier VS Life oracle

[Renegadeshepherd]

Hi all. Would like the viewpoint of the community on the subject of healing and more specifically who is the best healbot AND who is the better healbot without sacrificing functionality. Before going further I define not losing functionality as you are hurting your party by your inefficiencies or design flaws.

Now the hospitalier out of battle will by the numbers heal slightly more damage at mid to late levels and with his mercies can fix a number of conditions that otherwise might have cost a spell. Assuming no emergencies in battle that require anything but a swift action self heal, he has plenty of advantage by numbers and is a good combatant. Having the superior saves without any further effort also increases baseline functionality.

The life oracle on the other hand is the undisputed king of healing in battle. With life link and dumping huge amounts of health in an action is great. The criticism of it is that life oracle is often viewed as a one trick pony, I disagree. Because spells and feats like summoning or secondary archetypes like dual cursed add to functionality.

So who if you were to recommend a healer is the "safer" choice and who is the "better" choice and why? I tend to favor hospitalier just because I can make him fit my style easier, not need spells, and is based in history. Life oracle is slightly race specific for me as well.

[Jeff Morse]

assimar OoL, with archtype of getting a wondering spirit. my 10th level one does 9-10d6 and 7-7d6 healing bursts a day. Add in quick and it dont get any better. Now she dont do any damage but can taunt the bad guys all day to try and kill her.

[DominusMegadeus]

Hospitaler/Life Oradin is the best, obviously.

If I have to choose, I guess Hospitaler is the "better". Paladins in general are just hardy frontliners with good defense/offense balance, and Hospitaler fills the healing/condition removal niche as well.

"Safer" goes to Life Oracle. Breathe of Life, life links all over the place, it can be a challenge to wipe with a sufficiently leveled Life Oracle.

[Seranov]

And DSP's Vitalist (especially a Mender Method one!) makes them both look like chumps. ;)

[mplindustries]

I've played both. The Hospitaler healed more HP and I was able to tank quite a bit. With smites and litany of righteousness, you can drop major damage with just a two-hander and power attack spent on offense.

However, the Life Oracle has far better buff and control options and much better utility. A Paladin needs to use extra mercies just to come close to the non-combat removal/divine utility options Oracles can get (like Restoration, Raise Dead, Remove Curse, Remove Disease, etc.). Paladins can do it all with LoH, it's just harder.

So, I would say neither one is better, just different. If you want to fight, you pick Hospitaler. If you want to control and buff more, you pick an Oracle.

[Melkiador]

Give a life oracle the blackened curse and he can be a passable blaster while doling out heals.

[Anzyr]

Spirit Guide Life Oracle who picks life spirit wins this hands down. All of the Channels. All of them.

[Jakonen]

The party i'm GMing for has a Hospitalier, who also has the Battlefield Surgeon (Heal Deadly Wounds twice per creature per day) trait and Signature Skill (Heal)[Buffs Heal deadly wounds as Heal Skill increases.] from Unchained.

Doing some serious work in combat and The heals are still awesome. he's also the party's only divine caster.

[Davor]

As someone upthread mentioned, why not both?