If you could make a custom item of CLW a few times per day using Craft Wondrous Item, it would be better, as you can take that at 3rd level.
Maybe some sort of belt.
Yeah. What a good idea.
It could even be a Belt of Healing...maybe with a few charges, I dunno, maybe a +2 to Heal checks might make sense...
Thanks, but I'll just quote myself here:
-No Magic Item Compendium gear (so no Healing Belt)
-Probably no Wand of Lesser Vigor or even Cure Light Wounds (or maybe just one at character gen and no guarantee of ever getting another one. Gear is restricted and I won't be taking any item crafting feats.)
Although Renewal domain caught my eye after the suggestion, at the levels we'll be playing, I'm not sure it's as useful as I'd hoped. There's more overlap with Druid spells than I had imagined. We might get to the point where Greater Restoration would come into play, but it's doubtful and would be short lived. The rest, other than Charm Person, in my level range, are already Druid spells other than Atonement which I don't think would come up. I did kind of like the Domain ability, however.
Also, I love, Love, LOVE that Cityscape webpage info. I will totally trade Handle Animal and Survival for Gather Information and Sense Motive. I'll need to hang on to Knowledge: Nature, however, because I want to take Dragon Wildshape at 12th and it requires a ton of ranks in Nature. Also Urban Sense is a nice free +2 to at least one skill I will probably use. Voice of the City could be pretty interesting too. If I think I'll still need some animal control abilities, I could always take the Initiate of Nature feat (although from past experience I know I won't be able to keep any sizable amount of extra creatures with our group.)
Currently, I think I'm looking at 3 ideas: 1.) Ghostwise Halfling with Companion Spellbond, Natural Bond, Natural Spell, and something (gained via a flaw, leaning towards Initiate of Nature.) I really like the telepathy because I know it will come up with this DM. 2.) Desert Half Orc with pretty much the same feats and the same question mark on the 4th one (leaning towards Extra Wildshape.) 3.) Illumian with Sun domain for 1 Turn Undead attempt per day then Extend, Persist, Natural Spell, and either Natural Bond or Companion Spellbond. Not as keen here since that's a lot of work to get one persisted spell since I'll never ever have access to Nightsticks or Reliquary Holy Symbols.
I don't know if I'm totally sold on the Half Orc substitution levels benefit vs telepathy. Toughness for animal companion is nothing, bully animal is nothing, it's mainly just the free Augment Summoning for animals I get from Summon Nature's Ally. Also, due to lingering 2nd edition attitudes, I think the Half Orc will face more social prejudice than the Halfling (a cute little face versus a preconceived ugly, tusked face.)
I wish the Halfling druid sub levels were better for me. I'd love to get that expanded skill list, but the downsides are too great, imo. The early level spontaneous spell substitution list is lousy, and I can't give up Fleshraker form during this time period. So I'm still possibly looking for ways to get Hide and Move Silently as class skills relatively easily. Not critical, but would be nice with my stealthy Ranger partner.
Thanks again for everyone's help.