Level a healer or wait for astrologist?

I currently play a Lvl 50 paladin and have been thinking about leveling up a new job. I was thinking either leveling up a healer now or leveling a ninja and waiting to level the astrologist healer. If I do level a healer now what would be better whm or sch?

Cross class skills are your primary reason to level casting classes especially when it comes to a new healing class with a lot unknown variables. At least get Thaumaturgy to 26, Conjurer to 34 and Arcanist to 34 so you'll have some when you level Astrologian.

As for Scholar vs. White Mage, it's honestly a preference in how you like to heal. There is are plenty amount of threads that discuss the pros and cons between the two. But a quick glimpse, Scholars shield (think of it as extra HP in the form of a shield) and heal moderate amounts (meets HPS thresholds) whereas White Mages sustain through raw health points and a slow-casting shield (Stoneskin).

Anywho for thread links (so you don't have to dig'em out of the abyss)...

White Mage vs. Scholar Debate
White Mage Efficiency Guide (Not a law. Just a perspective into things with number crunching)*
Scholar Fairy Guide and whatnots.

*I have not this thread entirely (and the attatched documents with it).

I'd say level CNJ, THM, and ACN up for cross class skills first. Remember AST is going to be added with an expansion. In the MMO world, expansions are a time of sweeping changes to combat and class semantics. The current WHM and SCH may not be quite the same come 3.0. You may like them more, you may hate them more. Point being is that everything in 3.0 isn't set in stone. That's why I suggest any least working on the base classes in case they keep cross-class a thing. That way you are kinda prepared for the future. After that I'd recommend playing SCH. It's a bit more fun and more rewarding than WHM due to it being a jack-of-all-trades job and not just a healer.

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Originally Posted by TAxSkittlez

....If I do level a healer now what would be better whm or sch?

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Ofcoz SCH as you will get SMN simultaneously! ^^;

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Originally Posted by Velox

I'd say level CNJ, THM, and ACN up for cross class skills first. Remember AST is going to be added with an expansion.

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Everyone leveling a caster class needs the cross-class skills, regardless. I leveled my WHM to 50 in less than a month, including the relic weapon parts, but I only really noticed the need for swiftcast because of the need to revive newbie DPS's in Hard dungeons/Mainstream Scenario/Trials who can't take a single AOE hit. The rest of the time Swiftcast + StoneSkin II if you have tanks that like to run off to do a speedpull.

Hi, if you are PLD 50 stoneskin is an important cross-class skill, so Conjurer to 34 is nearly required (maybe not urgent for a fresh level 50 PLD, but you have to get it eventually.) Once you are WHM 34 then reaching level 50 is not far away. Playing a healer makes you see things from another point of view and you will become a better tank too.

Once you are WHM level 50 you'll need swiftcast more sooner than later so THM to level 26 would be another step. Swiftcast+Raise is really good to have. Playing a DPS is also a new point of view and may help to get better in all classes. Eye for an eye is good also for the WHM but not as useful as siwftcast (ACN level 34.)

What you learn playing a healer will serve you for the future helaer roles too, and probably the cross-class skills too. It is quite probable that Stoneskin will be able to be cross-classed to the Astrologist. Stoneskin is also useful for the SCH, although it is weaker so if there is a WHM in the group the WHM is best for Stoneskin, but you might have no WHM or be in a 4 player group.

Once ACN level 34 you can level the SCH (and SMN) to 50 and later choose what you like best.

Somewhat aligned with what others are saying...

At least clear the cross class skill requirements from all three classes (assuming you're serious about being a healer).

Then you can just sit back and wait for more info on Astrologian... which I think we'll be getting in 2 or 3 days? And of course the release itself. If it looks like the healer you would want to main once we know more, then you're all set. If AST doesn't look appealing to you then... you're still all set, for whichever healer you would like to play most.

What cross class skills will be used for Astrologian?

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Originally Posted by Alex_Lenderson

What cross class skills will be used for Astrologian?

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If I were to take a guess, either CNJ/ACN or CNJ/THM. I'm leaning more towards the latter due to the importance of Swiftcast as a healer.

...or S-E could totally shock us and give every job three classes they can derive skills from when they increase the level cap. @.@ Then I would say CNJ/ACN/THM, lol

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Originally Posted by Ghishlain

If I were to take a guess, either CNJ/ACN or CNJ/THM. I'm leaning more towards the latter due to the importance of Swiftcast as a healer.

...or S-E could totally shock us and give every job three classes they can derive skills from when they increase the level cap. @.@ Then I would say CNJ/ACN/THM, lol

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They've been designing progression content (that is, Coil) around the expectation that players will use Virus, E4E, and so on, so I would get those just in case (but it's possible AST will have its own abilities in their place). I think Swiftcast is almost certain, and yes, Protect and Stoneskin are stuff you'll probably want too.

But in the end... yep, we know nothing. Maybe they won't cross class anything and they'll have their own internal abilities to cover all those necessities. Still, ACN & CNJ to 34 and THM to 26 are how I would prepare. Then, no matter what, you can go all out on AST when it's released without needing to stop and pick up cross class skills, whatever those may be.

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 ^^

Im going to say, pick up a healer now to learn the basics. Don't go into a new content where everyone will be training new jobs with good enough experience. People will get mad and impatient with you

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Originally Posted by TAxSkittlez

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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I know you have experience but treat it like it's your first time. I once had a stuck up tank thinking he because he had 10 year experience in tanking, he don't need any advice from me when i offer him some not knowing that i too had almost 10 years of experience in tanking, difference is, I've been tanking in this game for a year. He ended up destroying the dungeon experience for everyone

If you don't level all 3 to understand how all the abilities and time flow work, you'll be behind (even if slightly) in understanding the fullest of your groups capacity. Although the same could be said for playing the tank jobs to fully comprehend agro/cooldown mechanics.

Level the other healers, at least conjurer to protect, and arcanist for Eye for Eye/Virus. If you haven't done so a strong recommendation to level up THM to 26 for Instant Cast. WHM for Stoneskin eventually @ 34.

I think these will be the *cross class* list.

xclass skills, level up whm and sch to 34 at least, then get astrologist, astrologist will have 2 stances, whm stance and sch stance xD

Considering Astro is going to have a barrier stance I doubt it will have access to stoneskin.

I just returned when the expansion was announced and bought a new copy of the game.

Like you I also wants to play a healer. Right now all I'm doing is just leveling the classes so I can get the potential cross skills and maybe get some achivements from the current endgame just to have them.

You got like 3 months to level classes so there is plenty of time, even for a casual to get ready.

Even if we don't get cross skills with it, at least it looks good on your lode stone :p