Summed up my ct and st experience from a healer's pov. Then im like wait is my tank MT now or r they OT trying to become MT lol.
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I also use Fluid Aura in T9. I tank the red golem and use it to interupt the first 3part aoe or force feed far away meteors.
I met one of these the other day, only their issue was that they wanted to place the Alliance Markers and leave them there, and then got upset when they kept being removed in Syrcus Tower. After that, they refused to do anything and wanted everyone to kick them so they wouldn't receive the penalty.
Prior to that they complained because they were on Alliance A. =/
If for whatever reason the add isn't dead yet and the PLD has already used their 3 stuns, or a DPS stunned by accident and shortened the stun lock, pushing it to interrupt can save the party. Pushing it *before* that though... Yeah, it'll alarm me more than help. :)
Yep, happened to me in Sastasha for roulette today. As soon as I get in, the other 3 party members are all in the opening cutscene. At least one of them was new, and explained it was his first group instance ever. Okay, so before we get started, I did a Ready Check. The two DPS said they were not ready. Naturally, the Healer takes this as permission to rush ahead and start pulling the first group of mobs himself. We're really off to a great start...
All through the dungeon, this healer is running ahead of the group, hopping up and down as if to say "WTF are you doing, I am here for a speed run!" If I don't keep up the pace he'd like, he runs ahead and grabs the next group of mobs.
Edit: I forgot to mention, while I was checking the note that said which color coral to click on in order to trigger the first boss, he was keeping up his impatient jumping routine on the path ahead. When we actually got to the first boss's room, just before I get the chance to click on the correct coral, he hits the wrong one and proceeds to get poisoned.
When we get to the big chamber that branches off into multiple rooms, I figure since I need the experience (both level-wise and tanking-wise), and we have new people, we could explore the optional rooms, maybe do a full clear. But when I turn towards one of those rooms, the healer has already run off by himself, straight into another group of mobs on the direct route. Thanks, guy.
He has Cleric Stance on the entire time, without exception. There are numerous occasions where I am close to death, and CS never comes off.
Just before the last boss, I take a moment to explain what to do. I begin: "Okay, so for this boss..." -- he interjects immediately -- "idk". IDK? As in, "I don't know?" The speed with which he says this makes it feel more like "I don't care," but whatever. But how does he not know how to handle this boss? He has been charging through this place the whole time, and he knew exactly where to go whenever there was a branch. He's even wearing a robe that I recognize from my healer, which I'm pretty sure only drops from a dungeon. It is clearly not the healer's first time here. Anyway, I explain to click the bubbles when they start to act up or else it spawns adds, and in we go.
Do they click the bubbles? No, of course not, so I reel them in as they come. Do I get healed at all? Ha ha ha ha, no. Does the healer have the good sense to break out of Cleric Stance, even for a second? No. So, I die. The other DPS die. I watch him try to drag the fight out as long as he can, just standing there healing himself, still in Cleric Stance. I tell him he is in Cleric Stance. He doesn't respond, other than to say "Sorry I got distracted." Lovely.
We respawn back at the start, and I watch him re-apply Cleric Stance as soon as he possibly can. We did manage to beat the boss on the second attempt, but... jeez. I probably could/should have said something to this guy earlier, but I just got a vibe from him that he would not even care. The thought of just letting him die whenever he pulled had occurred to me, but I didn't want the rest of the group paying for it so I ended up swallowing my pride and just getting it done. Whoever you are, though, healer... you are a real jackass.
In the last days I did Crystal/Syrcus Tower several times and generally I saw the other healer with cleric stance. Well, as I am restless and always healing and doing stoneskin in someone (even when belongs to two other party), perhaps the other healer feels confident about stay dpsing. Not sure.
Happens to me in ST alot, and especially main scenario roulette. Ticks me off, hon. It's the other healer thinks I'm gonna do all the work while they play at dps because I'm more geared than they are. I get pretty vocal about my opinion, especially in Main Scenario. If anyone should be rocking Cleric Stance for damage it should be me because of my gear. I'd do more damage. The fresh little Whm or Sch, they need to get their feet wet in 8 man healing. I'm not about to bust my ass so they can sit on theirs. And neither should you. We all learned by trial and fire, they should too.
I really hate when people precast regen and medica II (especially the latter). It's so pointless, it's not succor and aldo. Precasting Stoneskin is an entirely different matter though.
I stoneskin the DPS, I really don't see why you wouldn't other than laziness. Sure, it's 5 seconds longer you have to wait if I cast it at the start of a duty, but it saves me MP in the long run since they can essentially absorb one or two relatively large hits, it saves me from needing to heal them if they somehow manage to get hit by an AoE. It's essentially free mitigation when cast outside or near the very end of battle before everyone runs to the next set of mobs (because you know, you can estimate when the last mob will die and pop SS before it does). There's no reason not to use it on the DPS.
Popping stoneskin during in the middle of battle can be a large waste of MP though. I've seen several WHMs in duties popping SS on people when they really should be focused on healing.
As the healer if i feel it needed, i'll use the method. Its utility to reduce damage for x amount of time. which can be used in any dungeon . Aoe adds more dps but we are strictly talking healer to tank. Any effort to reduce th load on the tank (sleeping a mob takes a mob out of the fight an the tank doesn't have to worry about it which should be welcomed). The problem is no communication in party. There is a difference between trolling an being helpful, Remember youre working with other people, who play differently an may have ways to do their job, in some ways may have better ways of doing things. Granted If so happends a whm sleeps a mob, no matter how aggravting it may be for you, attacking it is far more aggravating to the whm or blm which you've just made their act of trying to be helpful pointless, wasteing their mp (whm) an with demising returns yeah. Remember healing can be done two ways, Preventive action (Stoneskin, sleep, CS dps) or reactive action (cure, regen etc).
I play BLM, and no decent BLM is running around trying to Sleep mobs because they are busy AoEing. Like pretty much everyone else. Besides, if your BLM isn't focused on AoEing during trash pulls, you have to wonder what they're doing there in the first place.
AoEing trash pulls is how you do dungeon runs; this is why Sleep is far less useful in practice than it appears. Also, no one (tank and healer included) wants to take more time to do dungeons than they really need to. The object of the game is not "let's see how little damage we can take." You don't win by mitigation or healing alone.
Using a knockback ability to position a mob away from the action in order to guarantee that your Sleep isn't accidentally broken isn't better. The only circumstance under which your party will appreciate this behavior is if they are truly struggling to the point where they can't handle more than one mob at a time, which isn't really a thing except at very low levels where AoE damage isn't great across the board and tanks can be even worse.
To a point I agree , its still a tactic that can be used an itsn't useless, i pointed out blm just because of their aoe sleep vs whms situational single target sleep. If im healing a Squishy tank or a tank pulling more damage than im prepaird for or geared for, i'll use any options i have to help. For what reason it may be, Stragger , tank losing aggro on one mob, If i have to use FA to get it away from me i will but i will also swiftcast sleep on it aswell , Sleep lasting longer than the bind does, what the tank does from there is up to the tank. What i am saying is Sleeping FA or any other spell is very useful , its only a matter of how an when it is used an who is using it. Only a healer can make the call at that time, just as with CS dance between dps an heal. I hardly use Sleep , an never use it in CT or ST But i could see how it can be used (on some mobs) as another interupt besides silence, stun.
I generally gauge whether or not to DPS as WHM based on how the party is doing. If they are doing fine and the DPS are dodging mechanics, tank is holding aggro, then sure I'll fling some damage then stance dance where appropriate. It's second nature to me now. I almost never use repose, when I do, it's in the absence of AoE parties in low level runs. I used to use FA+Repose, but again, previous statement. FA alone I almost never use; the only time I use FA is when something makes a beeline right for me. That is usually never, even with under-experienced tanks. I just watch the hate table.
Speed runners rejoice! I can deal with you doing crazy stuff. Tanks ask me all the time, SR? I reply, "you can do whatever you want. I'll keep up with ya." I do warn them though at lower levels that my toolkit is quite sparse, so just be careful. Waaaay easier to handle speedrunning with a full toolkit at 50.
Granted I'm not quite 50 yet, but stoneskin on the tank seems pointless so far. It goes down instantly as soon as he pulls anyway. I usually use it on myself and the DPS so that nobody dies before I can do anything about it if they get agro.
For any newbie DPS or healers who might be reading this, always run toward the tank, not away. That goes for tanks too. I had a wipe today because the tank ran around a corner right before a Cure 2 went off.
Stoneskin: If it's down I put it up on everyone between pulls. There's no good reason to go into a fresh fight without it. During fights I'll recast it on myself and DPS time and mp permitting, but I don't recast it on the tank unless the boss is about to do something big. I just don't think it's that efficient generally, because the amount blocked per MP is a good bit less than the amount healed per MP by Cure (assuming your gear is of an appropriate level). The only time Stoneskin is more efficient is if the tank's gear completely outstrips your own, to the point that 18% of their HP is more than 3 times what your Cure heals. Even at 12000 HP, it's break-even MP cost vs. HP if you can non-crit a Cure for 720. (18% of 12000 is 2160 Stoneskin for 399 MP, vs. 3 Cures at 133 MP each). Granted, the 3 Cures take a couple extra seconds to cast, but on the other hand, the only way your Cure is going to be that low is if you run with broken gear.
For the record, to crack 12k HP, it would take a Warrior ilevel around 130, with Defiance and Bacon Bread. A WHM in full i110 should be casting Cure for over 1000, at which point 2 Cures is healing more than 1 Stoneskin prevents.
edit for word count.
^ This. Started a nub tank not too long ago (from maining WHM). Went in a simple hest ('Under the Armor' - so it was like a boss + spawning adds) conjurer pulled ADD hate immediately after they spawned on the sides - and I had no shield lob at that sync level. They ran away from the ADDs and started getting munched on really badly, so I had to literally chase after them (and their heals were trumping any flashes I got off).
Healer was chased by the ADDs being chased by me, whom was chased by the boss - of which was chased by the DPS.
It ended badly for the healer.
Dreadwash/Dreadstorm cannot be stunned once they start casting. Only Fluid Aura/Holmgang's pull can stop them and allow your PLD the chance to actually get to it/your party to safely kill it.
I also use Fluid Aura a lot in T9. Once right when golems spawn (on blue) to push it away from the others (so they can not worry about hitting it) and help me keep hate, then again when its red to stop Earthen Heart.
Some SCOB farm with partial PUGs yesterday reminded me that underhealing is right up there as a common WHM mistake. I really wanted to remind these players that Cures do not cast from gil and that there is no achievement for never dipping below 90% MP.
While I am venting, I think there is a constructive point to be made: if you or a loved one know or are a chronic underhealer, regardless of Job, please seek help now.
You sound like such a whiner.
If the mage keeps you alive, you have nothing to say. Tanks in the DF, in general, are the worst people on planet Earth.
Had a tank try and run stone vigil today in lvl 17 armor, some of his jewelry was below level 10. He couldn't take a single hit from a dragon without falling over dead. Tried to explain to him that he needed to gear up... "Well, I just did this dungeon five times so idk..."
Then he says he's better at bosses than he is at trash mobs.
Huh?
What?
honestly, unless you are in coil you've got no business complaining about playstyles, especially in the DF. If the person is getting it done and you finish the instance on your feet without wiping, leave it at that. Fluid Aura is awesome. If you can't handle 1 enemy being pushed... Uhm, control freak.
Medica II is never bad, just never. The only time it could possibly be bad is if a whm is casting it before pulls. And if they are doing that then they are wrong. But medica II is awesome, let's you have a lot more leeway to dip in and out of CS without fear that the tank will... Well, tank. (I am not talking about coil here, or EX primals where mana conservation is a real concern)
The list of things to complain about on either side of the DF healer / tank aisle is long... And pointless.
You sound like you have a very particular way you want to see healer played when you are tanking, that's fine. But get a static, don't expect me to care about your invisible rules of healing. No tank I ever met ever cared about even waiting for me to cast a stoneskin on them. Every time I ever tried to they simply ran off before the cast could complete. I still try to cast SS on them, but every day 90% of the time the tank ignores absolutely everything I am doing, ignores my mana gauge, pretty much acts like they are the only person in the instance.
Do I complain?
No, I just get it done, make sure everyone makes it through and we finish.
In a DF, that's all there usually is.
There are just so many things you could be doing rather than spamming Cure 1. Pop a Cure 2, switch to Cleric Stance, DPS for a little bit, then pop Cleric off to pop Cure 2 again. Cure 1 spammers are just trying to look busy while not actually contributing to the fight much imo. I only Cure 1 spam when the mob is going to die before I can switch to Cleric and cast something, so I top the Tank up (or cast Stoneskin).
My whm is level 35 and I am COMPLETELY GUILTY of fluid aura shenanigans and having a tank die while in cleric stance. To my defense though, that tank went from taking like no damage at all to "wtf is that a flying spleen and liver- whysomuchbloodohgod". I am not graceful with cleric stance swap yet, so I'd spam the button and accidentally turn it off and back on really fast, and my cure 2 spam was not enough for that big pull, and i said I was sorry. xDD BUT IT's NOT A REGULAR THING. I love healing the easier low level dungeons. <.<b In the end I don't get obnoxious about it, and adjust my level of tom foolery based on the skill of the group/ease of the dungeon so far. It's fun to have people's lives in your hands though. D: If my party feels secure in my healing then I'm doing it too well. So watch out if you're in DF server group with Cactuar world and doing lower lvl dungeons. I'm out there. o_o
Leveling my tanks in low level dungeons, there was nothing more irritating than whm's who want to fluid aura every single enemy as soon as the cd on the skill was up so I could chase after every enemy to be able to maintain hate, with whatever melee I had with me in tow. I still get in high level dungeons with my ninja some whm's who think it's perfectly fine knocking a melee's target away so they can chase after it and continue their dps, just so they can get in a single small potency single target dps move on an enemy. Unless you want to sit there and spam holy in cs you are wasting our time making me chase enemies down to be able to hit them.
Also, whm's who apply medica 2 before a tank pulls >.<
SCH isn't exempt from stupidity either. Many runs in tam tara nm with sch's who chose cs as one of their 2 cross class abilities and therefore were able to sit in cs the whole dung, but not able to put up protect o.O
Actually, a SCH who uses CS instead of Protect in a very low-level dungeon is doing their party a service. The amount of DPS the SCH can contribute thanks to the fairy shouldering 99-100% of the healing workload is considerable and more than makes up for the unnoticeable lack of Protect.
The only reason I don't do this is because most players are conditioned to expect Protect and are likely to whine for it if it isn't provided, even at low levels where you can't really tell the difference. I'd rather run with the suboptimal setup than have to waste time explaining why CS>Protect or having to twiddle my thumbs when all my GCDs get reset from swapping Protect back to CS after buffing.
To be fair, sometimes you need Fluid Aura. Especially in lower level...although it's beautiful in ST too. The trick is to not be stupid in how/when/why you use it.
Low level. If you have a nooblet tank/slow as crap DD's it's nice because it can effectively knock one mob out of range for a couple seconds saving the healer a cure or two. Or even better, it can sometimes save the day if additional adds accidentally link and are too much for the tank to hold/take damage from. If your dd's are good enough, they can typically kill at least one mob before the 'bind' wears on the link (or have it close to dead). Making life easier on all. More specifically, once you have repose, you can (if your party isn't AoEing), knock back the #3 mob/sleep it so it's not accidentally hit and awoken. Also, it is nice low level if you get hate because, you can use it to ping pong the mob back into the tank's range without needing to move...but to do this, you need to be standing in a direct line with the tank.
In ST, it's sexy because in the 'add fights' between bosses it's very likely that as a healer you'll pull hate on an add here or there and these adds hit kinda hard+ tend not to be picked up right away by the OT's (like they should be). But one Fluid Aura+Repose can get the mob out of strike range+closer to the Tanks/DD's that need to kill it when they are ready and the Repose buys you time. I've just gotten into the habit of sleeping all the adds I can in these fights (with or without Fluid Aura) to keep all the squishy mages safe until the Alliance decides to kill them. Saves lives.
Obviously, however Fluid Aura should NOT be part of your normal 'rotation' lol. It's just a good utility spell that you can use to help a group out as/if needed. But party composition and skill also greatly factor into whether or not you should use this skill. It's an annoying and/or waste of time skill if you are in a decently skilled/geared group that can handle hate/mitagate damage well and kills at a reasonable speed. Sometimes I think one of the reasons seeing Fluid Aura cast annoys tanks is because they know if a WHM has to rely on it, they likely aren't holding hate well.
Other times, WHM's get blamed for fluid aura ping ponging and it's NOT them....it's the smn and their darn carby/garuda. So you know, it is worth checking before assuming.
It's more about MP conservation, really, since Cure I is basically free to cast. One mistake can end up with a WHM burning all their MP very, very quickly and I don't know about you, but I'd rather save what I can until that happens, especially with a party I don't know.
you want a WTFWHM ? here is a perfect one :
TiTan HM, 6 mins before daily roulette reset. Runs on Titan as soon as the Duty starts, without protect nor SS nor anything, pulls with Aero and then spam Medica2 and cure3 to stay alive and somehow "assure his healer duties"
1 min after, he drops dead, mana starved, and insult the whole party for letting him die (Ain't nobody got time for buffs.. And why the fuck can't the tank take hate back from my awesome wtf mass heal ?)
Fun fact, we DID manage to down titan in time for the reset with a solo heal in i60 dpsing as much as possible ;D
In those donjons, even the new expert, I can heal with cure2 and regen, and DPS the rest of the fight without stopping and without getting out of mana.
I can even spam 6-8 holys if needed if it's a fight with adds, I'll still have enough mana.
Actually, I checked, and I even dps more then some DPS players (those players are really bad) while healing.
But in some fight, I'll prefer keeping stoneskin up on everyone (if I dont have anything els to do), instead of DPSing, to be safer (actually, I do this only on first boss of sastasha)
I dont understand why most of healers I see when I play dps or tank just stay there, doing some cure1 and regen, or nothing when there is no heal needed, when they can do something if they want (they dont even stoneskin, they just do nothing), maybe they're lazy, the mana thing as excuses is not a good excuse, if you're experienced WHM? you know how much mana you can use for DPS and how much mana you need to keep for healing or when you need to stop dpsing and focus on healing.
Must or brainless, or trolling, have no other explainations.
I dont rez if I am in a situation where my mana is at risk or if I require swiftcast to rez because the single moment that my attention is dedicated to rez would see tank dead. I dont care who is dead and why, if I can rez I will do but if I cant for whatever the reason the guy will wait, the mass is more important then the single.
As for medica, cure, the like, well really it is all circumstancial and depends where why and when. Tanks arent all white they have their downfall too. Some dont use their skills to reduce damabes because they think they are above the rest and is just the job of the healer, some consider that healers arent a priority and let them die and then chastize them becasue they were not able to keep the tank alive...
We all hjave our downfall, you hate this and that but for all the hate you have for one that one has also the hate for you ....be perfect and only then you can ask for perfection..and since we know it doesnt exist..therefore....do your best and make sure you have nothign that be said against you
Mei