Creating a Non-Magical Healer in Dungeons Dragons 5e

Creating a non-magical healer in Dungeons Dragons 5th Edition (DD 5e) involves focusing on mechanics that allow for healing through skills, abilities, and items rather than spells or magic. Here’s a comprehensive approach to designing such a character.

1. Choose a Base Class

When selecting a class for a non-magical healer, the choice should align with your vision of a character who focuses on skills and abilities for healing rather than magic. Here are some class options:

Fighter: A martial class that can focus on survivability and skill-based healing. Rogue: Utilize skills like Medicine and focus on sneakiness to get to allies. Barbarian: Can be a tanky healer with a focus on survival and using natural remedies. Monk: While they have some magical elements, you can flavor their abilities as non-magical.

2. Background Selection

Select a background that complements the healer role:

Hermit: Provides proficiency in Medicine and access to herbalism. Folk Hero: Offers skills in Animal Handling and Survival which can be tied to healing animals or using natural remedies.

3. Skills and Proficiencies

Focus on skills that enhance your healing capability:

Medicine: Essential for stabilizing characters and treating wounds. Survival: Can be used to find herbs and remedies in the wild. Nature: Useful for identifying plants and crafting healing salves.

4. Feats

Consider taking feats that enhance your healing abilities:

Healer: Allows you to use a healer’s kit to stabilize characters and restore hit points. Tough: Increases your hit points making you more resilient while healing others. Inspiring Leader: Grants temporary hit points to allies through motivational speeches.

5. Equipment

Some essential equipment for a non-magical healer includes:

Healer’s Kit: Essential for stabilizing and healing allies. Herbalism Kit: Allows you to create potions or salves using natural ingredients.

6. Class Features and Homebrew Abilities

Consider homebrewing features that align with your non-magical healer concept:

Level 1: You gain proficiency in the Medicine skill and can add your proficiency bonus to any Medicine checks you make. Level 3: You can use your action to treat a creature’s wounds, restoring hit points equal to your level once per short rest. Level 5: You can use your reaction to stabilize a dying creature within 30 feet, allowing them to regain 1 hit point. Level 10: You can create a healing poultice using your herbalism kit that restores hit points equal to your proficiency bonus once per long rest.

7. Roleplay and Flavor

Emphasize the character's backstory and role in the party:

A former battlefield medic who learned to heal without magic. A wandering herbalist who uses knowledge of plants to create remedies. A warrior who fights to protect others and tends to their wounds after battle.

8. Party Synergy

Coordinate with your party:

Work with spellcasters who can provide magical healing when necessary. Focus on positioning and tactics to protect yourself while you heal others.

Conclusion

By focusing on skills, feats, and homebrew features, you can create a robust non-magical healer in DD 5e. This character can support the party effectively while maintaining a unique identity that sets them apart from traditional magic users.