Healing spells for anything that's not a Life domain cleric are horribly undertuned. Life domain cleric is pretty much mandatory to make healing spells not trash and worthwhile over throwing health potions.
For reference, a Mass Cure Wounds, for a whopping lv5 spell slot, cures for a measly 17-25 health. Channel Divinity from Life cleric, 2 charges per short rest, heals aoe for 40. Healing spells are absolutely worthless outside life domain cleric passives propping them up, just throw potions at people instead for far superior healing. It's not like potions are hard to come by.
If Larian wanted Bard or Druid to be alternatives to cleric, they failed miserably. Between Channel Divinity, Bless, Sanctuary, and Life Domain sub perks, cleric cannot be supplanted as a class in a party by either of those. They could easily make druid and bard possible alternatives to cleric if they gave them the life domain cleric passive to boost healing done and minimum heals, and gave Bless to both Druid and Bard spellbooks. The other problem is Bard and Druid, but especially druid, are strangled by 95% of the spellbook being concentration spells. Clerics only have to worry about Bless or Guardian spirits, and have plenty of powerful nonconcentration utility, heal, and nuke spells.
This has also bad gameplay impacts. You will feel compelled to run Shadowheart in your party every single playthrough instead of having alternative companion party comps unles you're willing to break RP and respec your companions.
Last edited by Zenith; 12/09/23 11:40 PM.
