I am playing an evil inquisitor of Asmodeus. No one else in the party really knows how to heal, so I was thinking of taking Cure light wounds as a spell next level. But I'm kind of confused about how positive energy works. Cure wounds spells channel positive energy. The cleric's class description says that good clerics channel positive energy, which heals, and evil clerics channel negative energy, which harms. Inquisitors don't have that "channel energy" class feature, but am I still barred from learning the spell, because I'm evil?
Nope. Neither the Cure or the Inflict spells have the [good] or [evil] descriptors.
Even Evil clerics have the chance to prepare the Cure spells. And even Good clerics can prepare Inflict spells.
The only thing that matters to the cleric with regards to alignment and healing is that evil clerics channel negative energy with their Channel Energy class feature, and Good clerics channel positive energy with their Channel Energy class feature.
Cure (or inflict) wound spells do not "channel energy". Channeling energy refers to a mechanic which has nothing to do with spellcasting.
As a cleric of an evil god though, it means that you can't spontaneously convert spells into cure spells, you have to specifically prepare them. You can however use wands and scrolls of such, without any issues.
Okay, thanks everyone! I will be dishing out some Hell-approved healing to my party once I level up.
I do have to say though:
Cure (or inflict) wound spells do not "channel energy". Channeling energy refers to a mechanic which has nothing to do with spellcasting.
This is not what I'm seeing in the spell description.
When laying your hand upon a living creature, you channel positive energy that cures 1d8 points of damage + 1 point per caster level (maximum +5). Since undead are powered by negative energy, this spell deals damage to them instead of curing their wounds. An undead creature can apply spell resistance, and can attempt a Will save to take half damage.
So, I presume it would be more accurate to say that a cleric of any alignment can channel positive energy through casting a spell which does that, but only a good-aligned cleric can channel positive energy spontaneously as part of their capital-C-E Channel Energy class feature?
Okay, thanks everyone! I will be dishing out some Hell-approved healing to my party once I level up.
I do have to say though:
Cure (or inflict) wound spells do not "channel energy". Channeling energy refers to a mechanic which has nothing to do with spellcasting.This is not what I'm seeing in the spell description.
When laying your hand upon a living creature, you channel positive energy that cures 1d8 points of damage + 1 point per caster level (maximum +5). Since undead are powered by negative energy, this spell deals damage to them instead of curing their wounds. An undead creature can apply spell resistance, and can attempt a Will save to take half damage.So, I presume it would be more accurate to say that a cleric of any alignment can channel positive energy through casting a spell which does that, but only a good-aligned cleric can channel positive energy spontaneously as part of their capital-C-E Channel Energy class feature?
It's bad use of language because it leads to the same confusion that prompted your question. It's more accurate to simply say that any cleric can cast cure/inflict spells, but their channeling ability, as well as which spells they can spontaneously convert to, will depend upon the alignment of their divine sponsor.
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So, I presume it would be more accurate to say that a cleric of any alignment can channel positive energy through casting a spell which does that, but only a good-aligned cleric can channel positive energy spontaneously as part of their capital-C-E Channel Energy class feature?
Yes, with the exception that neutral clerics choose either positive or negative energy for their Channel Energy class feature... so SOME of them can also spontaneously channel positive energy like a good cleric.