What does "healing" mean in the Cosmere RPG?

[+Tekiny he/him]

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a few questions about how hit points and healing are supposed to work in the Cosmere RPG, especially from a story/narrative perspective.

I’m playing an Alethi Field Medic (not a Kaladin copy, shut up), and from what I understand, HP in this system is pretty abstract — more like stamina, balance, or overall combat effectiveness rather than actual injuries. After a fight – and even during combat – my teammates can just heal themselves with the Recovery action. That kind of makes me feel a little useless as a medic.

So I’m wondering about two things:

1.  Mechanical side:
   If everyone can just heal themselves with Recovery, what is the Field Medic’s actual niche?
   What am I supposed to be doing that others can’t already do on their own (aside of healing a little bit better and having to spend focus)
2. Narrative side:
   When I use Field Medicine, what does that look like in the story?
   If HP is mostly stamina, morale, and positioning, what does “healing” someone actually mean?

Right now it feels a bit odd narratively that everyone can “heal themselves” during combat, while my character’s whole job is being a medic. I’d really like to understand what the intended fiction is here, and how the Medicine and Field Medicine is supposed to stand out compared to simple Recovery.

How do you all handle or interpret this in your games?

Thanks!

[Erremin]

For 1. Recover can only happen once per scene, a field medic could do it much more often. Additionally, the surgeon path does get access to healing injuries at some point, which is rather strong. Injuries can rack up quick, and being able to take time off them is good. 

2. I think I'd see it as treating minor wounds, sprains etc. Not "injuries" (as the mechanical term) but nicks and scratches. Disinfecting them, all that sort of stuff.