Unhappy that bards can't access the heal spell

[Arrow17]

I was very disappointed that heal is not on the occult list and therefore bards cannot heal. I feel that is terrible. Bards were a good substitute for clerics on the healing front in PF1 and certain modules such as King Maker subbed a bard for a cleric. I really miss that aspect greatly. You can heal people through music or inspire them with great oratory and poetry. Please correct this oversight Paizo!

[rooneg]

They already get the Soothe spell, which is a reasonable substitute for Heal. It's not exactly the same, but it feels plenty good for a party healer.

[John Lynch 106]

rooneg wrote:

They already get the Soothe spell, which is a reasonable substitute for Heal.

I disagree. It isn't a good substitution for Heal. BUT it is a good substitution for the Cure Wounds spell line. I don't mean to be pedantic but I could see people calling out Soothe as inadequate.

IMO it is completely acceptable for bards to not get Heal. Heal is PF2e's version of channel energy with a hefty spike when you narrow it down to a single target. Bards never got channel energy in PF1e, so I see no reason to expect them to have it for PF2e. Soothe is a perfectly adequate replacement for Cure Wounds.

A hasted inspire couraging bard could take the following actions when using Soothe.

1st Action: Inspire Courage
2nd and 3rd Action: Soothe (target)
4th Action: Attack (full BAB attack)

FYI: I made the exact same as OP as I didn't think to see what Soothe did as a spell.