Editing Healer (section)

===Making Healers Work===
This class is not really optimal for a player character, since it is so entirely focused on the intended task, considering it came from the miniatures handbook, it is obvious that the class was designed for implementation in pitched battles where they are attached to units.

The class also works nicely as a Cohort character for PCs with the '''Leadership''' feat, since it does not require too much development on the part of an NPC. They could even be used as DMPC if nobody wants to play a healer and thus enable the players to do combat part of the adventure without needing to chug health potions like a frat party.

Players wanting to be a Healer should first be steered towards Clerics with the Healing Domain instead, and allowed to play this class only if they are really trying to make a point. In which case the only real way to make it work is to use material that improves their spell list. 

One of the more obvious ways to do this is using the rules from the [[Book of Exalted Deeds]], which fits how this character functions. Most important are the "Sanctified spells," which are able to be cast by any class that prepares spells, which include the healer. A highlight of the Sanctified spells is "Valiant Steed" which summons a unicorn to help you for one year, meaning you can run around with two of the things. Sacred Vow '''Exalted''' Feats work well with most of the deficiencies of the class. Such as the ''Vow of Poverty'' granting bonuses to you in the absence of any decent armour or weaponry, as does the ''Vow of Peace'' which overcomes your complete lack of any offensive options. In fact, a good [[Prestige Class]] option is the '''Apostle of Peace''', which requires the above exalted feats as pre-requisites. While it does hamper your overall Healer spell progression, you do get access to a separate 9th level spell progression which has less spells per day, but a considerably broader range of versatility spells.

The "Dynamic Priest" Feat from '''Dragonlance: Legends of the Twins''' allows you to cast spells using your Charisma, reducing MAD.

Other less passive prestige options include the '''Contemplative''' from '''Complete Divine''', which aside from a roleplaying requirement involving your GM is quite easy to quality for. It expands the variety of spells available to a healer by adding up to two more domains, as well as granting a number of persistent bonuses like poison/disease immunity, spell resistance and eventually culminating in changing the character into an ''Outsider''.

'''Divine Oracle''' from the same book is also easy to qualify for, requiring only the ''Skill Focus (Religion)'' feat, since you already know enough divination spells at level one. This class adds some more useful divination spells (through the Oracle domain) and also gives you a measure of protection through mystical ''Evasion'', ''Trap Sense'' and ''Uncanny Dodge'' to counter your utter lack of defenses from being a healer.

Yet another viable option for ''Dragonblood'' characters is the '''Singer of Concordance''' prestige class from '''Races of the Dragon''', which makes a Healer even more useful in a group as a support character. It adds a good choice of Domain, expands your Healing ability to even more ridiculous heights by adding d8 to all cure attempts, as well as giving you a supernatural sphere of influence that makes you much harder to attack or interfere with.

While it's [[Raptoran]] exclusive and requires you somehow cast Summon Monster IV or Summon Nature's Ally IV (see down), '''Skypledged''' from ''Races of the Wild'' is potent. It allows you to spontaneously cast any Cleric or Druid spell, albeit at higher cost.

'''Faiths of Eberron''' introduces the Domain Icon magic item. These cheapish (10,000 GP) let you sacrifice a prepared divine spell slot to cast a associated domain's spell of the same level or lower. While one must follow a deity with the symbol's domain, this is [[Eberron]] material and the [[Sovereign Host]] can be worshiped as a pantheon to count as having any domain of a member. An Animal Domain attuned one is the easiest way to get into Skypledged, and its own class features will eventually ensure you stay qualified without always needing to have one. The Rainment of the Four from '''Magic Item Compendium''' also lets you sac your spell slots to cast spells not on your list.

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