5e healing cantrip

[Yavathol]

Hey, I've created a spell that I would greatly appreciate some feedback on, before I submit it to my DM

The aim of this spell is to provide a means where by a cleric can heal a fellow PC without having to expend any of their spell slots (ie it is a cantrip) and without having to use his/her precious action for the round. The obvious issue with having at will healing is that a cleric could use it out of combat to fully heal the whole party!

However, if the spell is a reaction triggered when an ally is damaged, then that would both prevent it from being used out of combat and save the cleric from using his/her action. That still seems very powerful - although the cleric only gets one reaction per round, there is little reason not to use it every round. So, taking a leaf out of the haste spell, I suggest the ally should give an action, bonus action or reaction up too. Which of those do you think would be appropriate, and is there anything else that should be done to balance the spell?

Invigorate
Evocation cantrip
Casting time: 1 reaction, which you take in response to seeing an ally within 60 feet being damaged
Range: 60 feet
Components: V
Duration: instantaneous

The creature that was damaged regains hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. This spell has no effect on undead or constructs. When the spell ends, the target cannot take actions? bonus actions? reactions? until after its next turn, as a wave of lethargy sweeps over it.

 

[Xeviat]

I'm not sure what your goal for this is. We already have "spare the dying" as a cantrip. This is going to be better than that, as it's going to be best used to stop someone from going down.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Comparing it to the Healing Word spell, it looks pretty similar power level.

Is it possible to resist? In many situations the target is going to want to ignore the effect so they don't lose out on their action (of whatever type).

 

[Xeviat]

Worse still, since the healing is based on proficiency bonus, you could have your 8 Str wizard friend hit you with an improvised weapon and then your cleric heal you out of combat.

 

[Yavathol]

I'm not sure what your goal for this is. We already have "spare the dying" as a cantrip. This is going to be better than that, as it's going to be best used to stop someone from going down.

The goal is to stop someone going down, yes. Although better than spare the dying in terms of amount healed, it should cost the injured pc more. I was initially thinking that cost should come from the action economy, maybe a level of exhaustion would be more balanced?

The 8str wizard seems an obvious exploit, either the gm can step in or the wording could be heals proficiency bonus or amount of damage inflicted, whichever is smaller! Is the extra wording worth the added complexity?

 

[Yavathol]

Double post

 

[Yavathol]

Comparing it to the Healing Word spell, it looks pretty similar power level.

Is it possible to resist? In many situations the target is going to want to ignore the effect so they don't lose out on their action (of whatever type).

I didn't explicitly say, but I would think players would discuss whether help was desired before casting the spell. Yes, the spell stipulates an ally, so the player can choose to ignore the effect.

My initial thoughts are to go with the bonus action, so that a player can still choose to Disengage.

 

[CapnZapp]

I sincerely think you should cut the reaction hoopla. You want limited but free healing, right?

Then give the caster his level number of Invigorating slots, or something, and simply let each one be a Healing Word or Cure Wounds.

All that reaction malarky is only there because the rules work against you. But don't work against rules! Much better to make the rules work with you...

 

[Yavathol]

Hmm, I hear what you are saying, if I was the dm I'd put in such a house rule but as a player, is it not preferable to submit a new spell to the dm than to submit a house rule?

I thought the reaction was an elegant solution!

 

[Garresh]

The way I see it, there are two factors at play here. First, you're creating a means to bypass the existing resource economy on healing (which you bypassed by having it be a reaction). Secondly, you're attempting to make it as a way to prevent someone going down, or be used as a bonus spell slot. Your original posted example is basically a healing word variation. If I may propose an alternative which I believe is more elegant, make the cantrip have the exact stats of healing word except for two key differences: All healing done is not treated as healing, and does not benefit or synergize with healing based bonuses. And you take damage equal to the amount healed, which cannot be mitigated, reduced, or blocked by any means. Once the damage is done, it may be healed normally, but it can't be blocked. This is the only way to really balance a healing cantrip imho.