Starting a Spirit Healer Warden, need a little advice/opinions

[Rithm Fluffderg]

It's been awhile since I played. Awhile enough that I've actually changed computers. So I'm redownloading it as I type this.

I've pretty much been in a healer mood like mad lately. I can't even explain it, just something about "white magic" that intrigues me now where it didn't use to intrigue me before.

So basically, my mage is going to be one of those mages that aspires to using his wondrous powers for healing, eventually taking to Spirit Healing once he can buy the tome necessary to learn it. I'm not sure what specialization to take after that, though. Not Arcane Warrior, because I want to keep my fatigue costs low, and having to keep a thousand mana potions around doesn't sound entertaining. Not Blood mage because that doesn't fit in with his character after all. And obviously not Shapeshifter.

Maybe Keeper or even Battlemage, even if it's only in Awakening.

There's also the matter of needing SOME offensive power, even as a healer. There are times when I won't have a party around me, and I'll need something to do to my enemies to make them die. I know I have a multitude of options, but... I'm wondering what would be the best *thematically* for a spirit healer. I realize this is very subjective, but I just want to know your opinions on the matter.

I do plan to go for a very melee heavy party. Maybe even Morrigan in shapeshifter form so that I have someone who can switch between magic and melee fairly quickly. I've seen plenty of people who insist that Shapeshifter is a fine form in and of itself, and I've seen plenty of people who insist that it sucks without being modded, so in all honesty, I don't know.

Speaking of mods... are there any must-have mods that aren't graphical in nature?

[ÄmJii]

Originally posted by Magus Silveresti:

So basically, my mage is going to be one of those mages that aspires to using his wondrous powers for healing, eventually taking to Spirit Healing once he can buy the tome necessary to learn it. I'm not sure what specialization to take after that, though. Not Arcane Warrior, because I want to keep my fatigue costs low, and having to keep a thousand mana potions around doesn't sound entertaining. Not Blood mage because that doesn't fit in with his character after all. And obviously not Shapeshifter.

Maybe Keeper or even Battlemage, even if it's only in Awakening.

If you're not gonna pick AW, Blood Mage or Shapeshifter then you're stuck with Battlemage and Keeper...
And if you're playing Awakening it doesn't matter what you go for, Awakening is so easy you can play it through on Nightmare while blindfolded.

There's also the matter of needing SOME offensive power, even as a healer. There are times when I won't have a party around me, and I'll need something to do to my enemies to make them die. I know I have a multitude of options, but... I'm wondering what would be the best *thematically* for a spirit healer. I realize this is very subjective, but I just want to know your opinions on the matter.

I guess Glyphs, Telekinesis and Enthropy spells are the way to go.
But even then you'll probably end up maxing few more spell trees anyway.

[Jon]

Arcane Warrior is by far the best specialization for a Healer. It gives you access to so many more choices in armour, weapons and adds a ton of survivability without sacrificing much. Fatigue running this setup is around ~70% but I gain quite a lot of Mana and Mana Regen to compensate.

To run the Arcane Warrior you will want to run some sustainables such as Arcane Shield(Which becomes OP in Awakening) and Rock Armor to boost your defense.

I use:
Eamon's Shield. Fade Wall is a better option.
Reaper's Vestments. Best robes in the game, no fatigue.
Duncan's Sword. Stamina Regen and Darkspawn Damage
Cailan's Greaves. 20% Dodge is huge.
Lifegiver Ring. Might want to give Lifegiver to your tank.
Wade's Superior Heavy Dragonscale Gloves.

All my gear is subject to change as I progress in Awakening, as I've barely started it so far. With this setup I'm almost un-killable.

I'd suggest take Heal, Group Heal, Heroic Defense/Offense, Lifeward. Only ones you will need for an Easy/Normal difficulty. For anything higher I would suggest taking Glyph of Warding and Glyph of Paralysis and focus on some more CC.

If you don't plan on taking a lot of damage and want to micromanage your tank I would go Blood Magic. You extend your mana pool extensively with the help of Blood Magic spell, allowing you to heal your allies draining your life. You can just switch to Mana to heal yourself or use Blood Sacrifice along with Life Drain.

You're dismissing these two specializations way to fast. Especially since they're the best two specialization to go with the Spirit Healer specialization.

In the end, it's your decision. You're just making a huge mistake if you ignore any of these because of their in-game tool tip.

[Simple Man]

Spirit Healer is kind of broken, well mages are kind of broken overall. And yea, id say do spirit healer, with Arcane warrior.

Arcane Warrior mainly just suits the healer (this is the main role you want yes?) for the massive armor, fatigue won't even matter since you can pump enough willpower into the char to keep you in battle for 2 or 3 minutes even, and i never used potions, healing or mana, non. So give her/him like a juggernaut set, and you now have 20% resists to all elements, a massive armor on, and healing power on top of it, as if the other 2 weren't enough. Or you can grab cailans armor, that regenerates 5 HP/s in combat AKA broken as heck (and removes -25% of fatigue, giving you a total of like, 10% to deal with).

From there just spec a heavy damage tree you like with some big aoes, like fire or ice. Stuff like blizzard are huge aoe crowd control while also doing damage, making everyone fall on the ground or even get frozen, while you dish out more damage with the rest of the chain.

Just cast regeneration on yourself as you take damage and you're pretty much alive the entire time, even if High Dragon decides to focus you, you're still not mad, cuz you still got the actual Heal to cast and fireball isn't going kill you. Once you got the spirit healer tree too, it becomes officially broken. You can tank/kite/fight whoever you want.

You're a full blown healer, while still packing a punch.

So in the end:

- Arcane Warrior with only Combat Magic. Weapon remains a staff, no melee.
- Maxed Spirit Healer (full tree)
- Maxed Arcane for the 33% auto attack damage boost (saves you craptopns of mana while you dish out damage thru AA), Spellpower boost and bolt.
- Ice/fire for all the CC and damage (just careful with aoe and FF).
- Summoning just for spell wisp for more Spellpower.
- Stats like 80% magic / 20% willpower to outlast fights, no matter how long. No points in other stats.

And i think thats the basics, and fits your "heavy healer with damage dealing incase my party decides to die", should be skill points left there, put in whatever feels right at the time. Its an option, and very doable build, way too doable in my eyes lol, good luck.

P.S.: Nightmare diff, don't bother with others.

[Rithm Fluffderg]

...Okay, you've convinced me. Arcane Warrior for the defensive power.

Also, that's the first time I've ever seen anyone suggest putting points into Willpower. I like it.

As far as Blood Mage goes, it's not that I'm dismissing its power. I know that a Blood Mage would make for a very powerful healer who can disable vast groups of enemies with blood wound (not to mention that I could simply heal back any damage I do to allies)

My problem is that, thematically, it doesn't fit my character. He's supposed to be sort of an empathic (personality, not power-wise) individual with a gentle soul... but he has a no nonsense tendency while doing it. However, I can see him taking Arcane Warrior simply because unlocking it fits his character.

I gotta say, though, I'm up to Lothering and I'm already feeling the power of being a healer. Especially now that I've got Regeneration.

Not sure what I'm gonna do with Wynne, though. I suppose I can turn her talents towards other purposes, when I'm forced to use her.