Random DM nagging 2: Endless nagging

[Iron Dragoon]

Corwin's are main spell caster, I'm our fighter/combat Mage, Ebris is our cat-rogue-psion, and Nephrite's our Bard. I wonder what Dragoon's playing.

I'll be playing a Rogue-ish type.

[Anastasia]

It should be a good and balanced party. For some value of balanced. Y'all may be a bit short on healing, but can't win them all.

[Rukatin]

I'm trying to find a good image of a party panicking 'case they don't have a cleric, but I'm coming up short.
I have this instead:

[Iron Dragoon]

I'm playing a doppelganger. All I have to do is hide long enough to change into one of the enemies and use detect thoughts on them, and I'm good.

Plus, as a Rogue, I get UMD. I'll pick up a healing wand at some point.

[Anastasia]

So long as you still have 1 HP, at least. Besides, y'all probably won't run into too much trouble at the start, right?

Right?

[Iron Dragoon]

HP comes from Butchery.

[Merc]

Neph is a bard so he can heal as well and doesnt need UMD when using wands. I dunno if Healing Hymn works on wands or if he counts as an ally (does an ally have to be a different person?) though.

Iddy should algo get a bit of minor healing ability once he reaches factotum 5 (if he gets that far).

[Nephrite]

I do not think Healing Hymn works on Wands or other things. I would also be kind of surprised if Healing Hymn didn't work on me, since... well, like, most other music does.

[Anastasia]

I do not think Healing Hymn works on Wands or other things. I would also be kind of surprised if Healing Hymn didn't work on me, since... well, like, most other music does.

Doesn't work with magic items, says so in particular.

It also doesn't look to work RAW on spells you cast yourself, since it keeps saying allies. This is an odd twist and I'd probably rule otherwise anyway.

[Ebiris]

The only ally you can truly count on is yourself!

[Merc]

I assume it's probably intended to be because you'd have to concentrate on the spell and singing at the same time, and if you're using an instrument, then your hands are too busy to do somatic component.

[Nephrite]

Well, sure, but then why does Inspire Courage work on me, or some of the other bard songs?

You silly Mercenary.

[Anastasia]

Just 'cause they're the same type of ability doesn't mean the abilities are consistent.

It's one of those little things of D&D. Blame being written by dozens of hands over nearly a decade.

[Nephrite]

I'm looking at you, 9 different type of bonuses that don't stack with each other.

[Anastasia]

Sheet audits will be this week, likely sometime from Tuesday to Thursday. Just a heads up so you can keep an eye on the board.