Noob cleric question(s) about healing/buffing "undead" teammates (Pale Masters?)

[PNellesen]

I know very little about the various types of Wizards/Sorcerers, and their class-specific feats/enhancements, but from time to time I have one in my party for whom spells like Deathward and Spell Resistance aren't wanted, and to heal them I actually need to cast Harm or Inflict Wound spells. On top of that, apparently they can switch from living to dead (or undead) and back again in the middle of a fight? I did a Devils Assault Elite today with a wizard who wouldn't heal from my aura or bursts, then all of a sudden it was helping him again. When I asked him what was happening, he just said "Yeah, I'm dead" Fortunately, I had Harm memorized (it's one of my go-to spells anyway) so I was able to adjust.

My main question - is it only Drow Elves that have this ability (they seem to be the only ones I've noticed), or any arcane? And my second question is - is there any way to tell just by looking if I need to use a negative spell or a positive spell to "heal" them? Finally, is it only "Pale Masters" I need to worry about this for? That seems to be the case, but wanted to be sure. I've taken to asking before a quest starts if Deathward will be a problem, but it would be nice to just be able to look and know instantly "Oh, that guy probably doesn't want it"

Thanks for helping a noob

[Braegan]

Look for "glowy eyes" if they glow they undead (healed only from neg energy). Mainly (and this is my personal experience and is biased) Pale Masters are on there own for healing. It's one of the reasons they went that path. I disregard their red bar. Then again my only healer is a FvS and I'm not about to swap out a precious lvl 6 spell to accomodate.

[Habreno]

They are not just Drow Elves (though Drow are common for innate SR, plus cheap 32 point builds in a sense) but can be any arcane. Sorcerers might not do it but Wizards I know can; if you're a Cleric, pack Harm for them.

As far as telling who's going to be undead, I always ask beforehand if anyone is going to be casting as that. Generally, they will tell you. If you know they will be, always keep that in your mind, so when you click on their icon, you know to hit Harm instead of Heal.

I always keep it prepared; the SR/Death Ward doesn't bother me as much as those I have on mass format; they get it they get it, they don't want it, too bad. You get it anyway.

[Rodasch]

Sorcerors can't do it, only Wizards can go with the Pale master PrE, which are the only ones who turn undead.

The easiest way to find out who's a pale master is just to ask when a wizard is in your party if they're a pale master.

For the most part, you can ignore harm-healing them when they're undead. A good pale master can heal himself pretty well when in undead form via necrotic blast and death aura (unless they're death warded, which is why they DON'T want you to death ward them).

[PNellesen]

Sorcerors can't do it, only Wizards can go with the Pale master PrE, which are the only ones who turn undead.

The easiest way to find out who's a pale master is just to ask when a wizard is in your party if they're a pale master.

For the most part, you can ignore harm-healing them when they're undead. A good pale master can heal himself pretty well when in undead form via necrotic blast and death aura (unless they're death warded, which is why they DON'T want you to death ward them).

Perfect - exactly the answer I was hoping for. I did notice the guy was handling his own healing ok, but he got really low at one point, and was doing a great job so I didn't want him to die (although it was Devil's Assault Elite, it's not like I needed to worry about SP for the raise or anything )

[Noobian]

I just assume if they go undead their healing themselves. IMO your going above and beyond remembering to use harm on a pale master. One, if not THE main, reason they go pale master is self healing. Look for the big green glowing field around them, that's death aura, if it's up it's their responsibility to watch their own red bar...at least that's the way I look at it...*shrugs*

[stille_nacht]

yeah... a pale master (more hp, 1 less dc, self healing) who requires others to heal him often might as well have gone archmage (more sp, 1 more dc)... improved survivability and self healing is supposed to be their main thing...

[Sarisa]

If the PM is someone I know and like, and I don't need an emergency Symbol of Persuasion, I may swap in Harm. Otherwise, they're on their own. A well built and equipped PM can usually take care of themselves.

A well played PM knows when NOT to switch into form, where they will take a lot of huge spikey damage or a constant stream of damage that is beyond their ability to self heal through. Spartan DQ runs for instance.

Finally, if I know a PM is in group, I'll give a 3-5 second warning before using Deathward. Was the Spell Resistance bug fixed?

[Habreno]

If I recall, Death Ward as a spell does not trigger on friendly casters? I.E. If they are death warded, they still take the heal from Harm?

If not, I'm gonna need to test with a Pale Master Wizard on Argonessen, to confirm or deny.

[Kinerd]

If I recall, Death Ward as a spell does not trigger on friendly casters? I.E. If they are death warded, they still take the heal from Harm?

If not, I'm gonna need to test with a Pale Master Wizard on Argonessen, to confirm or deny.

If a Pale Master is in undead form and has Death Ward cast on them, they will not be healed by Harm or any other negative energy, including Death Aura. (They will, however, receive all the status effect cleansing from Harm.) If a Pale Master is in living form, has Death Ward cast on them, and THEN goes into undead form, the Death Ward will be overwritten by undead form, and they will be healed by Harm.