What is the point of the skill "Breath of LIfe"

[tiamats4esgares]

Don't ask me to google it, cuz I can't read reddit. :-\

So what's the point of this skill? Seems useless, if it doesn't bring back "actually dead" people with their life less than negative CON. Anyone less than 0 but not as much as their CON but be brought back to life with ANY heal...?

[Terra]

It's a lower spell level than Raise Dead, and doesn't cost Diamonds. The only drawback is that it can only be used on people who have died within 2 turns. So you have to be on top of it for it to be useful.

It's the Pathfinder equivalent of Revivify, if you've played 5E. For when you're gone, but not TOO far gone.

[Chronocide]

Terra has it.

Though beware, if you are negative energy powered, it will just further damage your guys.

[AlexMBrennan]

The only drawback is that it can only be used on people who have died within 2 turns.

Not quite - the other drawback is that it can only bring back slightly dead people (HP above -25 - CON).

[Roknar]

also works in tandem with a few select spells/ability that bring back people temporarily, re-deadening them to within "recently deceased" status.

[Yannir]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

The only drawback is that it can only be used on people who have died within 2 turns.

Not quite - the other drawback is that it can only bring back slightly dead people (HP above -25 - CON).

That's not quite enough explanation. It's -25 per caster. If you cast BoL with more than 1 character, a main healer + Aivu for example, or a ranger you couldn't figure out a better lvl 4 spell to use your slots on, it can bring back people that are lower HP. But since it's a full-round action, you have to time it pretty well.

You can also use Boundless Healing to get rid of the +25 Max limitation of the spell but that adds a certain deal of rng to it since you're still only guaranteed a minimum of 25 since that's the minimum roll at max level. Unless you're playing a merged spellbook Angel MP.

Originally posted by Terra:

It's a lower spell level than Raise Dead, and doesn't cost Diamonds. The only drawback is that it can only be used on people who have died within 2 turns. So you have to be on top of it for it to be useful.

It's the Pathfinder equivalent of Revivify, if you've played 5E. For when you're gone, but not TOO far gone.

It's the same spell level as Raise Dead actually.

As a final point, you can just use it as a normal healing spell since spell level 5 doesn't have any better options for single-target healing. But it's definitely a last option with the full-round action requirement.

[Stink Bug]

It’s very usable in turn-based mode, I was thankful for it several times during my last Core run. I can imagine it being too awkward for RTWP though.

[Chronocide]

Raise Dead gives the target two permanent negative levels and has a full round of casting time.

Breath of life gives the target only 1 temporary negative level and has only a standard action of casting time.

Though the big difference is in the Pen and Paper version of Raise Dead, since the pen & paper version has a casting time of 1 minute (as in 10 rounds), so the big distinction is that breath of life can be used in combat and raise dead can't (I mean you could try...but 10 rounds is a long time...).

[A]

Originally posted by Chronocide:

Raise Dead gives the target two permanent negative levels and has a full round of casting time.

Woah, I didn't know this. I assume this only works for the spell and not the scroll?