Post by Shen on Feb 16, 2013 8:12:24 GMT -5
Let me start by stating one very important thing. It is an entirely common misconception that in a setting where Healing magic exists, a Medicine talent seems entirely useless. Impractical. Pointless. A waste of Acclaim and effort and worth little more than some rather geeky role playing at no benefit to the player, or team.
And why would that be wrong? Healing magic can be done in as little as one round, can even affect more than one target and requires no materials. At it's very best it can raise the dead. so what purpose does Medicine serve? No one wants to splint a leg and wait months for it to heal when one trip to the local clergyman can see you fixed up and on your way.
At they very least, it would seem only reasonable, no; entirely obvious that Medicine is just playing second fiddle to Healing Magic.
And you'd be right.
If you were an ass.
Let me explain this without the fluff and philosophy and in the simplest, most practical means with the following statement:
Healing magic heals wounds. Medicine cures ailments.
Now, you may be wondering just how often it is a an enemy monster is going to hit your for 'ten points of severe head cold', but in a fantasy setting, there is far more to be concerned about than just the illnesses we suffer in the real world.
Please though, I don't want to spend the greater part of this article belittling Healing magic in some way in order to make Medicine somehow more relevant. If you look at my character sheet you will find I am adequately skilled in both of these fields. So, let's look at just what both talents can do.
Healing magic does just about that and little else. Now, it's no small deal considering this is easily the most common concern as an adventurer and if there is ever a consequence to your actions in game, it is getting hurt. This happens more frequently than getting LOST, which in all likelihood, isn't the most likely thing at all. At any rate, when you get a really nasty paper cut; someone with hands that are a bit too warm can make your finger glow like you're trying to phone home and presto-changeo, your finger is as good as new.
Healing magic can deal with the most grievous of wounds of course, the actually potency of the magic depending on a mixture of variables you're likely familiar with ie: the level of the mage and their current fatigue level vs the severity of the wound. If this were an equation, it would look like this:
What else can healing magic do?
Well, beyond being able to heal say, your entire party in the middle of a battle; it can actually raise the dead. Which I stated already. It must be said though, it takes a lot of time and a great deal of effort on the part of the mage to do so. As a rule, it also takes a great deal of Acclaim. That's correct, just as Acclaim is a measure of your experience and can be the deciding factor in a fight, it is also the measure of your ability as a mage beyond your talent level. Having the knowledge and training is one thing. But Acclaim is, as you know; a measure of your experience. You will need an experienced mage to perform something this potent.
What else can it do?
Nothing. It can be used to harm some undead as healing something that is dead well, hurts it. But beyond that, Healing magic is as terribly useful as it is terribly limited in it's scope. The reason for this is simple though.
Healing magic works like knitting. It mends things. It has flesh regrow back together as it is already designed to do and it can mend bone, having a break fix in no time, as bones will do naturally. It accelerates a natural process. This is a miracle of course which is why Healing magic is quite a big deal, but it also limits what it can do.
For example, you cannot set a broken bone with healing magic. If someone's arm is shattered in three places and you don't set those bones correctly before you use healing magic, you're going to make one hell of a mess. This is why Medicine is an important skill, it understands anatomy whereas that has nothing to do with Healing magic. It cannot replace or regrow things that are altogether missing either ie: an organ. If your liver is on the floor, your body will not grow another. Therefore, healing magic cannot accelerate a process and regrow an organ. The same goes for limbs.
When it comes to resurrection, Healing magic is quite limited in it's power due to the very same reason. The body had best be whole, with all the important parts in the right places, or you're going to have something an engine that might kick over, but isn't running on all cylinders. A body too far gone, or too damaged to be revived to it's normal function... well. Necromancy is illegal for a reason.
What can it do? Well, I hope you have a very long attention span. Not only can Medicine be applied in the same manner it can in the real world, it can be applied in that very same fashion to all manner of conundrum's in our fantasy setting. It will not heal you instantly (though some magical herb known to a Medicine practitioner just might) and it has nothing to do at all with removing magical effects upon your poor party; but it is incredibly diverse and largely limited only by the imagination.
It is also very important to mention that Medicine is as much about knowledge as it is the application of the art - so whilst an ailment on someone may be magical in nature, a perfectly mundane (or fantastic) medicine may be the only known cure.
Consider the every popular status effect. Some of these should sound very familiar to you and I can tell you that Medicine is the means to remedy them:
Charm, hypnosis, fear, poisoned, envenomed, paralyzed, nauseated, fatigued...
... and the list goes on. Elsewhere, I haven't the time. But I hope this has illustrated the very practical application and value of this talent. Quite frankly, Medicine is a much deeper talent than Healing Magic and just might require more of the player to convey the useful application of this talent. Glowing hands are easy, actually addressing a condition and concocting a solution? That's a whole other league.
Again, I don't wish to tell you that one talent is better than the other. Of course, they're both quite complimentary and to someone like myself - the well meaning, charitable and pleasantly mannered healing type; they're an absolute must.
Just don't forget to pick up your white robes and holy amulet at the door, ninny boy.
If you have any feedback or questions and can post them in a concise and clear manner without cluttering up this thread, I will answer. Or at least consider it.
Truly, thank you for your input and for being interested in an often neglected element of our system.
And why would that be wrong? Healing magic can be done in as little as one round, can even affect more than one target and requires no materials. At it's very best it can raise the dead. so what purpose does Medicine serve? No one wants to splint a leg and wait months for it to heal when one trip to the local clergyman can see you fixed up and on your way.
At they very least, it would seem only reasonable, no; entirely obvious that Medicine is just playing second fiddle to Healing Magic.
And you'd be right.
If you were an ass.
Let me explain this without the fluff and philosophy and in the simplest, most practical means with the following statement:
Healing magic heals wounds. Medicine cures ailments.
Now, you may be wondering just how often it is a an enemy monster is going to hit your for 'ten points of severe head cold', but in a fantasy setting, there is far more to be concerned about than just the illnesses we suffer in the real world.
Please though, I don't want to spend the greater part of this article belittling Healing magic in some way in order to make Medicine somehow more relevant. If you look at my character sheet you will find I am adequately skilled in both of these fields. So, let's look at just what both talents can do.
HEALING MAGIC.
Healing magic does just about that and little else. Now, it's no small deal considering this is easily the most common concern as an adventurer and if there is ever a consequence to your actions in game, it is getting hurt. This happens more frequently than getting LOST, which in all likelihood, isn't the most likely thing at all. At any rate, when you get a really nasty paper cut; someone with hands that are a bit too warm can make your finger glow like you're trying to phone home and presto-changeo, your finger is as good as new.
Healing magic can deal with the most grievous of wounds of course, the actually potency of the magic depending on a mixture of variables you're likely familiar with ie: the level of the mage and their current fatigue level vs the severity of the wound. If this were an equation, it would look like this:
What else can healing magic do?
Well, beyond being able to heal say, your entire party in the middle of a battle; it can actually raise the dead. Which I stated already. It must be said though, it takes a lot of time and a great deal of effort on the part of the mage to do so. As a rule, it also takes a great deal of Acclaim. That's correct, just as Acclaim is a measure of your experience and can be the deciding factor in a fight, it is also the measure of your ability as a mage beyond your talent level. Having the knowledge and training is one thing. But Acclaim is, as you know; a measure of your experience. You will need an experienced mage to perform something this potent.
What else can it do?
Nothing. It can be used to harm some undead as healing something that is dead well, hurts it. But beyond that, Healing magic is as terribly useful as it is terribly limited in it's scope. The reason for this is simple though.
Healing magic works like knitting. It mends things. It has flesh regrow back together as it is already designed to do and it can mend bone, having a break fix in no time, as bones will do naturally. It accelerates a natural process. This is a miracle of course which is why Healing magic is quite a big deal, but it also limits what it can do.
For example, you cannot set a broken bone with healing magic. If someone's arm is shattered in three places and you don't set those bones correctly before you use healing magic, you're going to make one hell of a mess. This is why Medicine is an important skill, it understands anatomy whereas that has nothing to do with Healing magic. It cannot replace or regrow things that are altogether missing either ie: an organ. If your liver is on the floor, your body will not grow another. Therefore, healing magic cannot accelerate a process and regrow an organ. The same goes for limbs.
When it comes to resurrection, Healing magic is quite limited in it's power due to the very same reason. The body had best be whole, with all the important parts in the right places, or you're going to have something an engine that might kick over, but isn't running on all cylinders. A body too far gone, or too damaged to be revived to it's normal function... well. Necromancy is illegal for a reason.
MEDICINE.
What can it do? Well, I hope you have a very long attention span. Not only can Medicine be applied in the same manner it can in the real world, it can be applied in that very same fashion to all manner of conundrum's in our fantasy setting. It will not heal you instantly (though some magical herb known to a Medicine practitioner just might) and it has nothing to do at all with removing magical effects upon your poor party; but it is incredibly diverse and largely limited only by the imagination.
It is also very important to mention that Medicine is as much about knowledge as it is the application of the art - so whilst an ailment on someone may be magical in nature, a perfectly mundane (or fantastic) medicine may be the only known cure.
Consider the every popular status effect. Some of these should sound very familiar to you and I can tell you that Medicine is the means to remedy them:
Charm, hypnosis, fear, poisoned, envenomed, paralyzed, nauseated, fatigued...
... and the list goes on. Elsewhere, I haven't the time. But I hope this has illustrated the very practical application and value of this talent. Quite frankly, Medicine is a much deeper talent than Healing Magic and just might require more of the player to convey the useful application of this talent. Glowing hands are easy, actually addressing a condition and concocting a solution? That's a whole other league.
Again, I don't wish to tell you that one talent is better than the other. Of course, they're both quite complimentary and to someone like myself - the well meaning, charitable and pleasantly mannered healing type; they're an absolute must.
Just don't forget to pick up your white robes and holy amulet at the door, ninny boy.
If you have any feedback or questions and can post them in a concise and clear manner without cluttering up this thread, I will answer. Or at least consider it.
Truly, thank you for your input and for being interested in an often neglected element of our system.
