Wholeness of Body

[Cedwin]

The description for LoH is almost identical. Should that be a meditative ability?

The description doesn't imply an action, though it has been ruled as a standard action on several occasions. That is totally not the equivalent of what we have in DDO, which would be basically fast healing over a minute or so.

No, d20 states that LoH is a standard action, and that it can be used on Self or Party Members, which is why I think they went a different route with WoB.

Lay on Hands (Su)
Beginning at 2nd level, a paladin with a Charisma score of 12 or higher can heal wounds (her own or those of others) by touch. Each day she can heal a total number of hit points of damage equal to her paladin level × her Charisma bonus. A paladin may choose to divide her healing among multiple recipients, and she doesn’t have to use it all at once. Using lay on hands is a standard action.

But I agree, the description of WoB according to d20 makes it sound more like a clicky skill much like LoH, which can be used a set number of times per rest. Maybe a combination LoH and a Divine Healing type of buff? It should remain Self Only though.

[straytext]

We're talking about Monk Meditation. Not new-age awareness. (Haven't you ever watched a kung-fu movie? )

Traditional meditation involves going in to a trance like state.

Aside from that, that's the type of meditation that monks do in DDO according to the "house rules" as you put it.

Totally unrelated to DDO but you brought it up. You're wrong about meditation. It's not new age. It's old age, as in 3 to 4 thousand years old age. As for moving during meditiation? Also, very very old age.

Thich Nhat Hanh popularized walking meditation in the West 40 years ago but it's been part of everyday practice for Buddhists for far longer. There is also working meditation. Though, I don't consider beating the **** out of kobolds as being work but I suppose some might.

So, be careful what you call New Age. There are some that would consider a number of established religions as being "new age-y" based on relative age of practice. Meditation isn't one of those. Nor is it limited to eastern philosophy.

[KKDragonLord]

According to d20

"She can heal a number of hit points of damage equal to twice her current monk level each day, and she can spread this healing out among several uses."

To me that sounds like an active skill, not a passive one. If a monk can heal per day, and can spread the healing out, there needs to be some sort of action taken. I think the meditation suits it well.

It is an active skill. Emphasis on the active, its an ability that needs an action to be activated and can be used in combat. Precisely like LOHs.

Meditating was added to be a flavor theme thing for the monk, and to prevent them from being "crazybroken"(tm) because people would usually prefer to not use it most times when in a group.

The problem with changing from what it is now, is balancing its cost. Ki is a resource that DDO decided to modify from other classes and give to the monk to give them some special new abilities. Wholeness of body isn't one of those, so it should work as it actually does in PnP, which allowed for it to be used in combat.

From the SRD:
"Supernatural abilities are magical and go away in an antimagic field but are not subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or to being dispelled by dispel magic. Using a supernatural ability is a standard action unless noted otherwise... supernatural abilities do not provoke attacks of opportunity and never require Concentration checks" (meditating is very concentrational and opportunistic i would say. Note that beholders would prevent its use)

I have absolutely no problems with Wholeness of Body as it is now, simply because its much better than the PnP version, which is a nearly useless fluff ability, 40hp per day tops? Really? Druids have better class features in their pets.

LoHs on PnP is a much better ability. Its a major thing for the pally, it is Pally level multiplied by charisma, it can be used to attack undead, it can be used to save party members.

Wholeness is a lousy 40hp at Best. if it were to function as in PnP, even improved for DDO as LoHs is, it would be much worse than LoHs. As it is now, its a source of unlimited healing that will be useful on several occasions, and amazing when soloing.

It could change to work as a regeneration thing, healing double monk level multiplied by wisdom within 30secs, up to 4 times per day with all the enhancements? Sure, it would be cool too, it would be useful in combat and all that. But they aren't going to radically change the way they designed something when it is not really a priority.

IMO, this doesn't need fixing, and there are many other priprities out there. Fixing the stun bonus for weighted handwarps for example.

I do love the idea of it working while moving and stopping when attacked or attacking though. Just dont see it happening unfortunately.

[sephiroth1084]

No, d20 states that LoH is a standard action, and that it can be used on Self or Party Members, which is why I think they went a different route with WoB.


But I agree, the description of WoB according to d20 makes it sound more like a clicky skill much like LoH, which can be used a set number of times per rest. Maybe a combination LoH and a Divine Healing type of buff? It should remain Self Only though.

Like I said, the description leaves much to be desired, but it has been confirmed a few times by WotC and their writers that it should be a standard action, self-only. Personally, I think it and LoH should be swift actions (changes made in both 4E and Pathfinder), but that's irrelevant to this discussion.

The keys, are that there is nothing in the description that implies the kind of action it takes in DDO, WotC has stated that it is a standard action, and, most importantly, the ability as implemented just doesn't work exceptionally well in DDO.

Yes, some people enjoy it, and it can be pretty good when soloing or running a quest at a casual pace with a group, but doesn't jive well with grouping the rest of the time.

[manfredshw]

wb is not fit in the common playstyle nowadays.
It will be better to change to use the ability to give monks a self-buff at cost of some ki. Then to heal the wounds slowly during the dutation.

[Shima-ra]

I just dont like that I have to sit around to use it.
Nobody is gonna wait on me while I go pout in a corner, I wont even wait on me!

[Cedwin]

Totally unrelated to DDO but you brought it up. You're wrong about meditation. It's not new age. It's old age, as in 3 to 4 thousand years old age. As for moving during meditiation? Also, very very old age.

Uh. I didn't say meditation was new age. I was replying to another post, implying that running while meditating was new-age. Also keep in mind that we are talking in the context of Monks, not globally. The traditional meditation of a monk, as seen in many documentaries, is much like the lotus position that the monk in DDO assumes. Sure there are many other forms, but that is the traditional one.

Anyways, this is completely unrelated now. The skill doesn't mention meditation, just that an action is needed to promote self healing.