Is the WHM still a viable class?

I'm planning on levelling a healer to 60 to unlock mentor and the WHM seems the most appealing to me. I don't have a great reason for this other than I like healers that carry staffs, and whilst useful I'm not particularly keen on having a fairy or book for my main weapon.

I only ask this question as the consensus seems to be that SCH's are considered the main healer and that WHM is more of a supportive role in 8-24 player raids.

I appreciate any advice and suggestions.

Seth

Wait what ?!
SCH as main healer ?
When ? How ?

In 24man there is no main healer, both go into DPS and provide healing when needed...
In 8man whm is still the main healer but got the best single target burst so they may start a fight as subhealer (like Faust)

But overall i would say that for me whm is the last healer XD
Ast superpower first then SCH and finally whm

Anyway I'd suggest you to start as CNJ because it's a healer class from the beginning. Also it has some cross class skills that might be important if you choose another healer. Go for it!

...And if you don't like it, switch to another class :)

Yes it is viable, but the question is which one is more viable, all 3 healers can do the job. Which one is the harder worker? the one you play best and have researched/learned how to play optimally.

Schs need tons of macros, macroing the fairys heal into your own heals, macroing this, macroing that, but once you do all that sch turns into a healing mad house. I think I have 7-8 macros.

My whm is 45 or something but from what I have observed in parties (and raid), is if the whm feels that the sch prefer to heal only, then the whm is happy to spam stone 3 and off heal with medica 2 spam.

Sch is in a big place, whm is supporting the sch, but whm can main heal if sch want's to do dmg all the time (im a sch who only likes to heal).

LOL I had to laugh quite a bit at the OPs statement that scholars are the main healer while white mage is support.

Thanks guys

I may have misunderstood the healing hierarchy, for that I apologise hehe

I'm fortunate in that I already have the conjurer at 17, arcanist at 15 and the thaumaturge at 16.

I'm under the impression SCH is more of a preventive healer where as WHM is more reactive. I think reactive healing would land itself better to my playing style.

WHM, no matter which healer its paired with, is usually the go to main healer. SCH definitely sits in the support healer slot.

And to answer the main part of your post, WHM is a very very very very viable healer, and the best one to start off with to learn healing in this game. Its style relies on straightforward healing throughput, with cooldown management to boost it.

Some People love it for its simplicity, other hate it for its simplicity.

Play whichever you find the most fun to play. All of the healing jobs are viable to play at a high level. WHM is a straightforward and powerful healing job that you may have a lot of fun playing.

Each healer has a niche and can be a "main healer" and if you play any of them reactively in raids people will die.

It would seem I have some learning to do... lol

I've only ever really healed once before in an MMO which was Neverwinter, I'm usually a tank or with FFXIV DPS has been the focus.

That being said I went in as a healer on Sastasha last night, despite it being ridiculously easy i actually really enjoyed healing!

What's happening to me? I should be thinking about my 4th tier rotation, blood of the dragon, wam! bam!

lol