If we go by the Astro quest line (really isn't spoilery since you know... you are a healer class) a lot of the quests involve you healing folks... rather instantly, and I mean instantly. The characters are astonished how their wounds disappear before their eyes. Now, if we take it with a grain of investigation, most of the injuries are not life threatening, but if not treated quickly some could result in debilitation of the NPC if left to heal naturally.Â
A lot of NPCs we see around in different cities are not actually injured physically as often as we see NPCs who are sick. Physical injury seems to be a far less common affair (mutilation and dismemberment aside). NPCs in the story that are 'physically' defeated seem to be fine the next time we meet them, implying that the physical wounds are easy to tend to by healers. However, when NPC is sick... they remain sick for some time. Often diseases and other illnesses are when a more alchemical or medicinal method is applied more reminiscent of modern day/historical medical practices. This could infer that aetheric healing is really good at restoring the physical back norm, but on a physiological and pathological plane it is not as effective. Â Better at putting things back together rather than taking things out.
Now, full disclosure, I am of the mind set that physical injury does not necessarily make character development or the lack of it being a sign of an overpowered character. Bruises and bumps can be just as effective of a tool as getting skewered because it is not the injury that defines the development but the way the character deals with the aftermath. It could be limping around for a while or just the character reacting differently the next time they encounter the source of their bruise. (Aka guarding that side more, or having some hesitation toward a beast that gave them the bruise).
As for healing a player character, I have healed Grindstone and other characters... many many times. I agree there has to be communication 100% of the time between the characters (in the case of Grindstone... don't be a stubborn bastard with your injury /cough/). If the wounded character wants to play the injury they need to make it clear otherwise they are not really giving credit to the skill of the healer. The character may have just gotten slashed across the chest by dragon they slew, but the healer character also may be slaying their dragons of injuries. Basically, it is a give and take... if your take too much your rob credence from the other character's ability or gravity of the situation.Â
That being said. A good middle ground might be the non-physical (muscles skin bone) being the problem rather than lingering physical injuries. Play up the physiological and pathological. The wound might be gone but the character lost a lot of blood and the body is recovering from shock of the injury. Blasted by a fireball? Burns healed but you own personal aether is disrupted by the aether of the fireball. Infection from the dirty claws of dragon that tore your flesh. Since Aether is in every living thing, if the healing is intense enough, it means a lot of aether got used to fix your body, which could leave you weak and drained. All of those sorts of things could require longer healing times or far more than... "WHOOSH YOU BE HEALED!"
In closing... uh just talk to your healer and discuss how you want to use the injury and how they would like to treat it within their character's ability. I am sure if you talk about it... you can come to a good solution that respects both players and characters, because there is nothing more annoying when playing a healer when your character is treated almost like a medkit from Left for Dead (aka heals you some but not all the way) every time. Everything above this paragraph can be ignored if you like!
A lot of NPCs we see around in different cities are not actually injured physically as often as we see NPCs who are sick. Physical injury seems to be a far less common affair (mutilation and dismemberment aside). NPCs in the story that are 'physically' defeated seem to be fine the next time we meet them, implying that the physical wounds are easy to tend to by healers. However, when NPC is sick... they remain sick for some time. Often diseases and other illnesses are when a more alchemical or medicinal method is applied more reminiscent of modern day/historical medical practices. This could infer that aetheric healing is really good at restoring the physical back norm, but on a physiological and pathological plane it is not as effective. Â Better at putting things back together rather than taking things out.
Now, full disclosure, I am of the mind set that physical injury does not necessarily make character development or the lack of it being a sign of an overpowered character. Bruises and bumps can be just as effective of a tool as getting skewered because it is not the injury that defines the development but the way the character deals with the aftermath. It could be limping around for a while or just the character reacting differently the next time they encounter the source of their bruise. (Aka guarding that side more, or having some hesitation toward a beast that gave them the bruise).
As for healing a player character, I have healed Grindstone and other characters... many many times. I agree there has to be communication 100% of the time between the characters (in the case of Grindstone... don't be a stubborn bastard with your injury /cough/). If the wounded character wants to play the injury they need to make it clear otherwise they are not really giving credit to the skill of the healer. The character may have just gotten slashed across the chest by dragon they slew, but the healer character also may be slaying their dragons of injuries. Basically, it is a give and take... if your take too much your rob credence from the other character's ability or gravity of the situation.Â
That being said. A good middle ground might be the non-physical (muscles skin bone) being the problem rather than lingering physical injuries. Play up the physiological and pathological. The wound might be gone but the character lost a lot of blood and the body is recovering from shock of the injury. Blasted by a fireball? Burns healed but you own personal aether is disrupted by the aether of the fireball. Infection from the dirty claws of dragon that tore your flesh. Since Aether is in every living thing, if the healing is intense enough, it means a lot of aether got used to fix your body, which could leave you weak and drained. All of those sorts of things could require longer healing times or far more than... "WHOOSH YOU BE HEALED!"
In closing... uh just talk to your healer and discuss how you want to use the injury and how they would like to treat it within their character's ability. I am sure if you talk about it... you can come to a good solution that respects both players and characters, because there is nothing more annoying when playing a healer when your character is treated almost like a medkit from Left for Dead (aka heals you some but not all the way) every time. Everything above this paragraph can be ignored if you like!
