WHM: Healing and DPSing?

[Shanks89]

Hallu!

So I recently hit 60 (about three days ago) and I'm now about to start doing Alex S. I've heard a lot about how healers have to DPS as hard as possible to help with the DPS race and this has got me somewhat worried. From the content I've run so far, I usually only DPS when a) the tank and myself are geared to a point where hots and the occasional Cure I or Cure II are enough to keep the tank alive while I DPS or b) it's a fight where nobody takes a lot of damage and I know I can dps safely and won't need giant amounts of heal suddenly or c) when the tank pulls giant groups and my fingers get itchy for that holy spam.

Now, my issue isn't the stance dance, I'm mainly worried about MP. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if I'm just generally a bad healer when it comes to MP management, but from some of the parses I've done in Alex I'm usually a few hundred hps above the other healer if it's a SCH or pretty much on par if it's another WHM or AST and my overheal % is usually at around 25% - 40% (the more aoe heals a fight requires, the more overheal % usually). I have no clue if that is good or if I'm spamming too much. However, despite using Assize and Shroud as soon as they're up, I normally run out of MP eventually in long fights, even when I don't dps. (When I DO dps, I apply dots and use Stone III for single targets)

What can I do to avoid this? Should I be using something else to dps? Am I missing some skill or consumable that can be used to regain further MP? (I do have Hi-Elixir for real emergencies, but that barely covers the cost of one heal)

Thanks in advance for any help or guidance.

Pria

Edit: I normally use HQ Pineapple Juice for most content except leveling dungeons.

[Nekotee]

Well first thing first...
You might want to try a stronger food

Second is... Is your gear fine ? I mean if you got 60 just yet, you will need a good gear to start Alex S which is far more difficultés than the normal one.

Then... I will say that you will have to DPS depending of your healing partner
If sch then you will heal
Ast you will DPS
Whm... One of the above XD

...

Otherwise try to work on your mp management, with HW the whm have new tool to preserve his mana pool

...

Last thing... Your character name tell me that you have a great taste...
And I won't say why *blush*

[Laurima]

check your gear, better gear = more heal potency = less mp used for more heals essentially, Hit Divine seal as often as it's available, it's free and increases healing potency again.

you hit 60 3 days ago and are already trying savage? either kudos, or you're biting off more than you can chew, If you're burning through MP in a normal Alex or a Lvl60 dungeon, you won't manage Savage.

What gear is on your WHM just out of interest?

HQ Pinapple juice isn't that great tbh, for Savage I use HQ Frozen Spirits or HQ Ishgardian tea if funds are tighter.

[Jonnycbad]

Healers only *need* to DPS on bleeding edge new content. When AS came out, most people were ilvl190, but now? There's esoteric/prototype gear so most people are 200+ now. When it FIRST came out, healers HAD to DPS to make up for the DPS being undergeared. A party of i210ish gear likely do not need healers to DPS (as much, if at all) as when it first came out. This will be even more obviated when Void Ark gear comes out. At any rate, healer dps is not that stressful as most make it seem, clicking clerics on, dropping your Aero and a few Stone III's, popping Clerics off drop some cures, when Aero falls off, Clerics again and reapply Aero and drop a few more Aeros and Assize, etc...

[Eisenhower]

When you're doing progression raiding a healer will usually need to DPS, but it depends on when you start doing that kind of raiding. If you're hitting the content on release there's no way around it. The party gear level just won't be high enough to compensate for the lack of experience in dealing with mechanics, leading to weak performance against DPS checks. If you start during a catch-up patch or later, the party might be geared enough for healers to be lazy.

It might be differing mentalities, but I say don't worry about mana. Go in hard on healing and on dealing damage if it means seeing more of the fight and experiencing more of the mechanics. It only becomes a problem if you're wiping because of an empty mana pool. Besides, as a WHM you have plenty of ways to conserve and replenish mana - and in a critical situation you can wail on the bard or machinist.

[Vlady]

When you're doing progression raiding a healer will usually need to DPS, but it depends on when you start doing that kind of raiding. If you're hitting the content on release there's no way around it. The party gear level just won't be high enough to compensate for the lack of experience in dealing with mechanics, leading to weak performance against DPS checks. If you start during a catch-up patch or later, the party might be geared enough for healers to be lazy.

It might be differing mentalities, but I say don't worry about mana. Go in hard on healing and on dealing damage if it means seeing more of the fight and experiencing more of the mechanics. It only becomes a problem if you're wiping because of an empty mana pool. Besides, as a WHM you have plenty of ways to conserve and replenish mana - and in a critical situation you can wail on the bard or machinist.

That is a design flaw that should be fixed by next major raid tier. Bahamut coils were designed around healers having to deal with healing situations more then dps which almost every thread about alexander has stated BC raids were more successful and fun.

A better way to look at dps checks would be in the mechanics like add phases were adds need to be off tanked by dps and bursted down by knowing their rotation and jobs. Seems having healers dps is a semi lazy way to deal with people who do not want to learn their job.

[Risvertasashi]

MP management is kind of one of those things that comes with experience. As you practice, you get more efficient at correctly anticipating damage and not expending more MP than you need to.

Also, if you just hit 60 you might only be in i190 gear. It gets a lot easier as both you and your group gear up (at i190 and being new I almost ran out of MP between jumps, at i205 (and most of my group around the same) I don't even have to pay attention to my MP now).

[Shanks89]

Thank you for all the answers, awesome!

So, I had no idea there were better foods. I'll take a look at the ones mentioned.

As for my gear: After my dailies today I will be around iLevel 180. I could get some esoterics pieces, but I was saving those for a weapon next Tues. I'm currently capped with 900 Esoterics saved up. (I barely managed to cap the 450 because I hit 60 late night on Mon). I was told that to start practicing AS1, 180 should be ok now that most people are overgeared for the content. And seeing as I can't get any better gear this week because of the weekly limitations, I was hoping I could at least start practicing to get a hang of the mechanics. Or will I be dragging my team down too much?

Nekotee: Kekekek

[Nekotee]

Well I wish that you could grab a lots of 190 piece with Alex NM
it will make it far more easier !

even with all Law stuff it will be hard to keep up the heal (not impossible just more stressful)

First of all, your Eso weapon then torso X3

@Shanks
I'm almost surprised that you didn't go for a Hyur Highlander :P

[Shanks89]

@Shanks
I'm almost surprised that you didn't go for a Hyur Highlander :P

I couldn't resist the plushie tail <3