[mtfeeney = Baron]

So what's the RAW system for first aid?  Use it, then if you're injured again you can use it again?  Use it once per major conflict, meaning if you used it midcombat, you couldn't use it again until after another fight?  Once per day?

[Kiirnodel]

RAW says that First Aid may be used once per "set of wounds", what this means is probably the source of debate.

Personally, I rule that each time First Aid (or the Heal spell) is applied, it sets the currently sustained damage as a "set of wounds". First Aid cannot be applied again to any of the damage that is not healed by that particular batch of First Aid. If additional damage is taken, then that additional damage is considered part of a new "set of wounds" and First Aid can be applied, but still cannot heal any of the damage that remained from the previous set (no taking a single box of damage and suddenly being able to heal more of the previous damage). The Heal spell functions the same way, locking current damage as a set of wounds for both First Aid and magical healing, since First Aid cannot be applied to someone after magical healing is applied, but the skill only locks against the skill.

Since First Aid is actually quite difficult to use in Combat (it takes Combat Turns, not passes), this method actually awards people who use it mid-combat. If you manage to heal in the middle of combat and then take more damage, you can potentially heal more than with the single attempt after the combat. But like I said, using First Aid mid-combat is very time consuming, and likewise the Heal spell requires time to become permanent, so the risks seem to support the benefits.

[Van Gogh]

So say a set of wounds comprises all wounds taken in an entire combat encounter. Does first aid have to heal the stun damage before it can go on to heal the physical damage?

[Michael Chandra]

It says or, so basically you need to pick. That does imply that you can't do both, so you wouldn't be able to heal 1S, 1P at the same time.

Usually you'd do the P damage, since S can be recovered by resting, but if you got faith the Heal spell can fix that all up, you'll want to target the S.

A note here: You can only magically heal a woundset once per set of injuries. It doesn't state what happens if you stop sustaining the spell before it becomes permanent. Would it be possible to stop sustaining the Heal spell, take a five-minute breather, then try again without a failure penalty because you rolled horribly the first time 'round? Or does the second you start casting it mean you either finish it or waste the chance?

[Mithlas]

If you stop sustaining the spell before the effects become permanent, then the spell fails to take effect. You'd have to try casting again - granted, you'd have to check with your GM as to whether your character would realize "the roll went badly, so instead of trying what I know I can do now, I'll stop and try to re-roll it in a minute". There's a reason you can use Edge to negate a glitch.

[JoeNapalm]

You get to use Magic to heal a set of wounds once.

If you screw it up, you screw it up.

Any GM worth their pizza is going to see purposely sabotaging your own spell as an obvious exploit, and require you to roll vs Drain for the second attempt with no hope of actual healing.


-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

[Michael Chandra]

So if the mage gets shot while trying to Heal you and loses concentration, or the medic gets shot and has to duck for cover while treating you, the moment's gone.

[Jareth Valar]

YMMV. It's worked for my games and groups for 20+ years.  Just presenting another option.

And I'm just pointing out that its a houserule, not an actual rule, and that it will significantly impact the effectiveness of First Aid.

Your post sated that it makes a single 8 box hit harder to heal than several minor wounds. It actually has no effect on the difficulty of healing a single major wound, but makes healing multiple lesser wounds pretty much automatic. In a system where minor wounds are, by far, the most common, the net result is a massive power boost to First Aid.

I've got no problems with houserules, but if you post one, it is open to analysis and critique. Doubly so, if the stated mechanic doesn't function as advertised.


-Jn-
Ifriti Sophist

LOL, you misunderstand. I fully expect that if it is posted, it will be up for analysis and critique, house rule or not. I wouldn't have posted if that were a problem.  I was merely stating it as an option to show I wasn't trying to state that's how it "is".

As for it making First Aid more potent, for smaller wounds yes it can. In my 4th ed games it balances rather well when using the slower heal times (bod only, not bodx2) and wound mods to healing tests. Healing as-is works too well on an individual basis. Images of solitary sammies crashing on a couch and waking up in 24-48 fully healed. No real need for First Aid really, but does help. Add a mage and they're back on the run that night.

What this has done for my games is add a little more emphasis to having a medic. With battlefield dressings and stitches, the minor wounds do keep the party together and running longer but has added a bit more seriousness to a heavy wound.

As for the 8 box wound vs 2 - 4 box wounds, what I mentioned was healing wise. Meaning in general to heal from, not necessarily First Aid.  I see how I made that vague and not entirely on point, poor wording on my part.

Now add a mage with magical healing and all bets are off in either option.  Then again, I also add a descriptive (non mechanic) option to my magical healing. Descriptions of the bones knitting, skin growing back ( a very itchy sensation to be sure) as well as serious hunger for the healed once the spell ends. ( on the assumption the spell super amps the body's natural healing process to the nth degree, blah, blah, blah).  This has had a side effect of the party getting MVP cards to the local Stuffer they frequent.