Level a healer or wait for astrologist?

Others have already said it, but as someone who's level 50 all classes myself, I too must recommend at least getting the cross-over skills of THM, ACN, and CNJ. Swiftcast in particular is really good, allowing you to ignore any cast times behind any spell you cast (assuming it has a cast time) and just use it instantly. Most healers I've seen never leave home without swiftcast in their skill set. Allowing the healer to ignore the cast time of the rez spells and just get it off instantly is neat.

We don't know how AST will work, (Sounds like we'll finally have more info on that soon) but it wouldn't hurt to pre-prep yourself by leveling the other spellcaster classes.

Rather than leveling it for the sake of having cross class abilities ready, you should level at least one healer class to 50 to understand how healing works in this game. Of course you could just level Astrologian and learn while playing that class. It's still recommended to know how other healing classes work when you're paired up with a White Mage or Scholar and how the popular healing pair-up meta/synergy works.

I'm going to go for Astrologian but it's definitely a good idea to get a feel for healing aka levelling up a healer now.
I'd probably say go with SCH if you're uncomfortable with the idea of reactive healing or WHM if preventative healing isn't your forte. Depends on your playstyle really.

I've healed endgame in WoW before as a resto Druid for years mainly and some as a holy paladin. I've just been trying to figure out which healer to go first. I'll probably eventually level both, but for the time being not sure.

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Originally Posted by RxRai

I'd probably say go with SCH if you're uncomfortable with the idea of reactive healing or WHM if preventative healing isn't your forte. Depends on your playstyle really.

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It's a slightly nitpicky point, but I'd suggest that all healers be trained to think in terms of being "preventative" or proactive. Too many WHMs seem to think that reactive means literally waiting for HP to plummet before starting to do anything, and it makes them slow and scary healers. Also contributes to this common mindset of "omg I can't DPS, because someone's gonna die!" :P

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Originally Posted by Cynfael

It's a slightly nitpicky point, but I'd suggest that all healers be trained to think in terms of being "preventative" or proactive. Too many WHMs seem to think that reactive means literally waiting for HP to plummet before starting to do anything, and it makes them slow and scary healers. Also contributes to this common mindset of "omg I can't DPS, because someone's gonna die!" :P

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According to one of my FC members yesterday, he sadly got paired with a WHM who was like that. Insisted on Cleric Stance Holy over keeping the Tank alive (him), even though there was enough AoE death pouring in from the 2 BLM's. The role of a Healer is keeping everyone healthy first. DPS only if there's a wide enough opening to get some Holy in. (A Divine Seal Regen on the Tank is a good way to give yourself an opening, assuming there aren't too many enemies pummeling the Tank. But that's just me and my opinion)

I haven't gotten all the details from him yet, but that's what it sounded like he went through. And for me personally, I just can't help but think that the only type of role anyone cares about in the game is DPS based on what he told me there.

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Originally Posted by TruebladeNuke

According to one of my FC members yesterday, he sadly got paired with a WHM who was like that. Insisted on Cleric Stance Holy over keeping the Tank alive (him), even though there was enough AoE death pouring in from the 2 BLM's. The role of a Healer is keeping everyone healthy first. DPS only if there's a wide enough opening to get some Holy in. (A Divine Seal Regen on the Tank is a good way to give yourself an opening, assuming there aren't too many enemies pummeling the Tank. But that's just me and my opinion)

I haven't gotten all the details from him yet, but that's what it sounded like he went through. And for me personally, I just can't help but think that the only type of role anyone cares about in the game is DPS based on what he told me there.

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Healers who attempt to DPS at inappropriate times are operating at the other extreme and are just as bad as healers who refuse to assist in DPS.

WHM first. SCH second as you can /nap through dungeons on SCH for the most part while leveling. Of course end game is different.

I'd say get ACN for virus and E4AE, get swift and surecast from THM, Stone and protect from CNJ and I would you should be good to go.

Other than leveling them to get a feel for healing, and there may be more cross skills 50-60. I wouldnt bother unless you really wanted to.

You have enough Time to level both+Blackmage to 50.
Release Date for Astrologian is 23.06.2015 ^^