Feature Rundown - Differences Between DoN and SoH

[Tildryn]

The days of soloing aren't gone, there are just group-oriented dungeons in addition to solo-oriented (hard vs normal/easy) ones, with extra rewards for the hard ones.

[Distorted Shadow]

The days of soloing aren't gone, there are just group-oriented dungeons in addition to solo-oriented (hard vs normal/easy) ones, with extra rewards for the hard ones.

Let me rephrase then. The days of soloing dungeons intended for groups gone.

[Jopetzki]

Seeing as active healing is receiving a buff (let's face it, the MMO style of healing is superior) and becoming ranged, is there any benefit to playing a dedicated healer? Maybe buffs to the spell itself if it's being cast on someone other than yourself? Less limitations on the amount of spells you can cast? (2 cure moderate wounds and 4 cure light wounds would sure last about.. 3 minutes.)

If this is the route you're going, it'll make epic level encounters a lot more interesting. Gone are the days of soloing and here are the days you need to actually bring someone to buff/dedicatedly watch your HP? We need some love for the jadana-types that don't swing sticks and prefer to heal.

You can grab Empowered healing (healing domain) and/or Augment healing. I plan on taking the latter for my kobold shaman even if healing will only be his secondary role.
I can see damihran clerics and healer adepts and shamen being pretty valuable in parties. Druids have harder time healing due to having less slots. (Clerics have 1 "domain" slot per spell level)

Also Touch of Healing might also be included considering we will have reserve magic feats like Stormbolt. Not sure if it will be included since I'm not staff but I don't see why not.
It's not that powerful anyways. Good for out of combat healing mostly. If empower healing and Augment healing affect it, it's way more useful.  Using a 9th level spell with this reserve feat you can heal 27 + 18 (augment) = 45  x 1.5 (empower)  = 67hp heal when rounded down. Personally I doubt we will see healing domain affect Touch of Healing if it makes it in game, but the 45hp from Augment healing would be mighty on it's own. I'm pretty sure Kaedrin deviced the scripts to make Augment healing affect Touch of Healing.

Touch of Healing
Type of Feat: Reserve
You can channel divine energy into healing with a touch.
Prerequisite: Ability to cast 2nd-level spells.
Benefit: As long as you have a conjuration(healing) spell of 2nd level or higher available to cast, you can spend a standard action to touch a target creature and heal 3 points of damage per level of the highest-level conjuration(healing) spell you have available to cast. This ability has no effect on creatures that can't be healed by cure spells. Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Wizards should NOT take this feat unless they have another casting class that has access to the listed trigger spells.

Trigger Spells: Cure Critical Wounds, Mass Cure Critical Wounds, Mass Cure Light Wounds, Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Cure Serious Wounds, Mass Cure Serious Wounds, Heal , Mass Heal, Heal Animal Companion, Neutralize Poison, Raise Dead, Regenerate, Rejuvenation Cocoon, Remove Blindness/Deafness, Remove Disease, Remove Paralysis, Restoration, Greater Restoration, Lesser Restoration, Resurrection, Vigor, Mass Lesser Vigor, Vigorous Circle

[SilverNights]

  Well aside from out of all the classes that handle the dungeon crawling, it makes me wonder.  How do theses changes affect the Commoner Class? I'm curious, is that class affected the same way or differently?

[Dinean]

The days of soloing aren't gone, there are just group-oriented dungeons in addition to solo-oriented (hard vs normal/easy) ones, with extra rewards for the hard ones.

Indeed; soloing is one of those necesities to give warrior type players something to do when waiting for other players to log in and rp ^.^

[Reiss01]

  Well aside from out of all the classes that handle the dungeon crawling, it makes me wonder.  How do theses changes affect the Commoner Class? I'm curious, is that class affected the same way or differently?

Commoner have very low hp (d2 hit dices), very low BAB (like wizards) and no saves (zero). They do not gain xp from killing things so there is very little incentive for them to venture into a dungeon. They gain xp from crafting items, and they have salaries. (one assumes that these are productive members of society and are not beggars) So to answer your question these mechanics are strictly concern for the adventuring classes.

[thewanderingmystic]

The days of soloing aren't gone, there are just group-oriented dungeons in addition to solo-oriented (hard vs normal/easy) ones, with extra rewards for the hard ones.

Indeed; soloing is one of those necesities to give warrior type players something to do when waiting for other players to log in and rp ^.^

also, every now and then some of us just like a break from the (excellent) drama of RP and enjoy going off on our own for some good ol' monster slaying

[Dre2Dee2]

Cool, sounds like some nice changes.

I'm super excited to see what you did to blackguard...

I can haz hellballs?