I have a "Heal" skill rating of -1 currently, due to low wisdom. This is despite adding in skill points when I level up.

Am I done for? :(

no you just have to make sure you keep outting skill points in your heal skill. Eventually that will turn positive. Anyone can heal, the negative number just is subtracted from the roll you make to try and heal. Healing has a DC of 11 during non-combat and 21 during combat. SO right now, you are incapable of using a healing pouch during a fight since even if you rolled a 20, you'd still be 1 point shy of success.

Also how much you are healed is dependent on how large the differences is between your roll and the DC. So for you, I'd just buy lots of potions for now. (besides they're more reliable than herbs anyway at lower levels).

Also a OOC tip: wait 7 seconds until all battle has stopped to use the heal. I hate it when Im trying to heal someone and someone clicks on a new enemy. the 10 + DC means thats ten less hitpoints i can fix.

this goes right along with what Dr.Breen said, since trying to heal while combat mode is still activated..is a pain. I tend to not use my bags until the fight music fades out.

Addendum to the OOC tip! Some weapons have different animations for non-combat. For example, great-axes and great-swords get put on your shoulder once combat is "officially" done. If you (or a party member) have one of those, just wait for the weapon to go back to the resting position.

I stopped healing people altogether until someone says heal up and I verify nobody is gonna charge into battle, I used to burn through twenty or more herbs acting as healer for a group but it costs too much money to restock(even from Bunge, who charges 9 gold).

Once people get going on a roll with plenty of buffs to make them feel invincible they charge into combat too often to make it worth it to try and heal anyone except when you're sure they aren't going to run ahead and attack something.

It wouldnt be much of a problem except one character in combat makes the whole group in a combat situation even if they have a transition seperating them from the combat.

Thanks, good to know that I can still continue to invest in heal skill points.

The OOC tips are good too! :)