Best non-cleric healer?

[Hexprone]

I'm planning to save Shadowheart for my second playthrough, so I'm hoping for my Tav in the first playthrough to act as the party's main support and healer.

The idea right now is that he'll be a Paladin multi-classed into Bard. Is that adequate for a primary healer, or is there a better non-cleric path for him to take?

And how should I split up his levels between Paladin and Bard, given that his main role will be support?

[Yojo0o]

You don't need a dedicated healer. The primary goal of healing is to pick somebody up from 0 HP, and anybody with Healing Word and a free level 1 slot can do that. Bards are great for this.

Paladins don't really offer too much "support" in 5e. They have buffs, but other people will buff better. Are you intending to go front-line with this guy?

[[Heretic]Rivga]

Druid, assuming the put in Healing Spirit, this and goodberry make them solid early game.

[Hexprone]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Are you intending to go front-line with this guy?

Honestly, I don't really know! I haven't played early access, so I don't have a clear picture of combat plays out in practice.

He can support my damage dealers either from the back with control and buff spells, or from the front as a tank soaking up the damage. Is either of those styles equally good? Are tanks even a thing in this game?

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Hexprone:

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Are you intending to go front-line with this guy?

Honestly, I don't really know! I haven't played early access, so I don't have a clear picture of combat plays out in practice.

He can support my damage dealers either from the back with control and buff spells, or from the front as a tank soaking up the damage. Is either of those styles equally good? Are tanks even a thing in this game?

Tanks aren't as much of a thing as they are in an MMO, but having a front line is still important.

It kinda just sounds like you want to play a Valor Bard, who will have good armor, martial weapon proficiency, an extra attack, and a full bard's ability to buff and support the team from whatever position he finds himself in. Maybe you can tack a couple levels of paladin onto that in order to get Divine Smite, but you'd mostly play as a bard.

[fulf]

I'd say stick with one class or the other instead of trying to do both. Maybe 1 or 2 Paladin levels for smite and proficiencies, if you really want the class fantasy.
Bard is a plenty good healer, Valor and Swords both get you extra attacks at level 6 with Valor being a little more support-oriented but generally regarded as worse overall afaik.