Immersion issue...

So I have an odd mental problem I'm struggling with. I'm normally a tank at the start of an xpac and during the MSQ. It feels pretty cool being the heavily armored brute on the front lines and it feels cool during cut scenes but this time around I kind of want to play through as a healer. I find it hard to get into the mind set of the WoL being a healer for whatever reason. For those of you who play as caster/healer WoL how do you immerse yourselves as the WoL? My brain is too small to comprehend being a squishy support as a main character. I made this thread on my server forum but felt like I might get more traffic here. :p

The WoL dedicates themselves to the protection and care of those around them, and this sometimes can manifest as healing wounds instead of preventing them. That said I don't really feeli like I need to immerse myself in a role when I headcanon for the WoL, their job is less important to me than their actions. I tried at one point but after realizing the WoL can be dumber than a bag of bricks it's hard to immerse myself in being, say, an Arcanist who is noted as a very intense and tactical sort of role. xD Now I just play what /I/ want to play.

My WoL dabbles in any trade, any method or style of combat, and makes an effort to learn all she can about every culture she encounters to better understand them and to expand her own toolkit.

Bit of an RP answer, but that's how I see it. :P

Besides, who says a healer can't be a hero? Someone's gotta keep the fighters fighting, and we aren't exactly fighting alone. For the most part, at least.

It's funny you mention arcanist, Enla, because that's kinda what I was aiming for. I like the thought of a SCH assisting in the background calling the shots but it still pulls me out of it when I see it in cut scenes...which makes me sad. Every single class in this game is awesome and plays their roles in an interesting way that makes sense in my head and yet I can't see my character in those roles when "in character." I love playing every class in content it's just the MSQ that gets me. :confused:

The WOL as a healer would be the immortal who also creates an impenetrable shield around their teammates. Y'shtola but crazy powerful. Imagine a tactical genius with pawns who never stay dead and who also casts spells to lay open enemy defenses and make them more vulnerable while increasing the strength and vitality of all those around them. ... in my head.

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Originally Posted by Krotoan

The WOL as a healer would be the immortal who also creates an impenetrable shield around their teammates. Y'shtola but crazy powerful. Imagine a tactical genius with pawns who never stay dead and who also casts spells to lay open enemy defenses and make them more vulnerable while increasing the strength and vitality of all those around them. ... in my head.

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You make healers sound pretty metal. I like that.

I've played the MSQ twice, once as a WHM and once as a MCH. To me, it almost felt like both my characters had different motivations for doing what they do.

WHMs are... sort of caretakers of the balance of nature. Conjurers more specifically are but as a WHM you came from Conjurers so that doesn't go away. So... my characters motivation was the wish to save the people she cared for and to preserve the delicate balance of the world that foes like Lahabrea would disrupt, and the Blessing of Light and the Elements both were empowering me to give me the strength to do what must be done. Even if what must be done is currently hurl rocks at something until it dies.

It should be noted that the elements don't really care about most things mortals do, so long as it doesn't disrupt the elements, so my character is free to use the strength they give me so long as I don't abuse it, and I continue to protect the balance. Thus I can do the random tasks people give me like hunting beasts for sport as its not something the elements care about.

As for MCH, well that one was pretty easy. A tech savvy gunner looking for adventure wherever she could find it, with a moral compass that lets her do the right thing when its needed most even if it means letting that wonderful looking adventure slip through her fingers.


What Enla said is also true. Its not so much the job that matters but what you do as the WoL. Outside of a few small scenarios like a couple of lines from Yugiri, or the aftermath of Rhalgrs Reach, no one makes any sort of mention of what your job is. And even in those situations, it doesn't even really matter what job you currently are, just so long as you at least once were that job, they'll bring it up.

I guess in the end one way you could look at it is that the WoL is someone who is willing to train in whatever they feel will best help them accomplish their goals. As ShB has the Trust system, you could see your character as deciding that the best way to work alongside your friends is to support them through healing, temporarily setting aside your weapons to help them.

On a side note, when I became a Dancer and went to Costa del Sol, I loved Gegereju's reaction to Titan's Bane moonlighting as a dancer. Things like that supports the notion of the WoL seeing potential in different styles and choosing to train in whatever he or she feels is the best, uhh, job for the job.

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Originally Posted by Agrios

So I have an odd mental problem I'm struggling with. I'm normally a tank at the start of an xpac and during the MSQ. It feels pretty cool being the heavily armored brute on the front lines and it feels cool during cut scenes but this time around I kind of want to play through as a healer. I find it hard to get into the mind set of the WoL being a healer for whatever reason. For those of you who play as caster/healer WoL how do you immerse yourselves as the WoL? My brain is too small to comprehend being a squishy support as a main character. I made this thread on my server forum but felt like I might get more traffic here. :p

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you are like me then =D i always put setting and atmosphere on top priority. so when HW came out i play as DRG, when SB out i play as SAM, there is just this "great" feeling when you play your act with appropriate get up.

when SHB going to come out obviously i was thinking going DRK, but after 2 level iam not feeling anything because it turn out the WOD thingy is not what i expected. change to MNK now and its feels better i guess.

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Originally Posted by Agrios

It's funny you mention arcanist, Enla, because that's kinda what I was aiming for. I like the thought of a SCH assisting in the background calling the shots but it still pulls me out of it when I see it in cut scenes...which makes me sad. Every single class in this game is awesome and plays their roles in an interesting way that makes sense in my head and yet I can't see my character in those roles when "in character." I love playing every class in content it's just the MSQ that gets me. :confused:

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As a summoner main, I've never seen a problem with the spellbook in cutscenes except that time we attempted to recreate the Stormblood opening video at melee range. I'm a super-powered mage and I'm all set to unleash my magicks on you.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

As a summoner main, I've never seen a problem with the spellbook in cutscenes except that time we attempted to recreate the Stormblood opening video at melee range. I'm a super-powered mage and I'm all set to unleash my magicks on you.

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I've seen that cutscene as a WHM, which was weird but ok because i could just be using my staff as a weapon...... and a MCH, which was just weird.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

As a summoner main, I've never seen a problem with the spellbook in cutscenes except that time we attempted to recreate the Stormblood opening video at melee range. I'm a super-powered mage and I'm all set to unleash my magicks on you.

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lol wow I forgot about that scene. That would have bugged the hell out of me...

I am the Shining Light that Guides and Mends the Souls under my Radiance
Im a Front-Line White Mage Healer. Im there right next to the tank. I feel the WoL would do such a thing, to brave the challenge next to our Champion: the Tank that risks their life taking all the damage to make sure I cast down the darkness with my Holy Light!
Of course I dont take Busters to the face, thats just insanity.
And dont think Ive forgotten how hard the DPS works.

I like the idea of a Warrior of Light as a White Mage. We fight, we heal, and Protect with Light. Plus we are bathed under Hydalyn, so it all comes together for me. And the few times it happens, I feel like a true hero when my Avatar goes out and actually tries to Heal People. That right there gets me Immersed.
Like the cutscene in Rhalger's Reach, and in Eulmore if you are a Healer (Spoilers)

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Originally Posted by Zanarkand-Ronso

I am the Shining Light that Guides and Mends the Souls under my Radiance
Im a Front-Line White Mage Healer. Im there right next to the tank. I feel the WoL would do such a thing, to brave the challenge next to our Champion: the Tank that risks their life taking all the damage to make sure I cast down the darkness with my Holy Light!
Of course I dont take Busters to the face, thats just insanity.
And dont think Ive forgotten how hard the DPS works.

I like the idea of a Warrior of Light as a White Mage. We fight, we heal, and Protect with Light. Plus we are bathed under Hydalyn, so it all comes together for me. And the few times it happens, I feel like a true hero when my Avatar goes out and actually tries to Heal People. That right there gets me Immersed.
Like the cutscene in Rhalger's Reach, and in Eulmore if you are a Healer (Spoilers)

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Do healers finally get to heal people in cut scenes? I thought that they just stood off to the side and watched as no help showed up.

The idea of the WoL being a healer isn't so crazy when you can identify the parallels between the various Healer jobs and combat medicine. For instance, US Navy Hospital Corpsmen can end up on the frontlines with the Marines and are every bit as capable as they are when it comes to gettin' some.

After all, one of the rules of combat medicine is that return fire is the best kind of preventative medicine. If you can neutralize the threat, there's no need to expend resources trying to treat wounds.

Am I the only one who don't RP their character as a WOL, like hes an adventurer but not the savior of Eozea. I see the game storyline different to his personal storyline.

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Originally Posted by Kobalos

Am I the only one who don't RP their character as a WOL, like hes an adventurer but not the savior of Eozea. I see the game storyline different to his personal storyline.

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It's a bit odd but my RP character and the WoL are like "AU" versions of themselves, if that makes sense. Whatever happens in the MSQ has nothing to do with the IC persona.

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Originally Posted by Agrios

Do healers finally get to heal people in cut scenes? I thought that they just stood off to the side and watched as no help showed up.

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Only in a small handful of cutscenes. There is even a dialogue option where you mention you can heal.

You know, I am happy you posted this thread.

Sometimes I wonder so hard if I am the only one who does not change the race (actually species), haircolour and profession every week but stick to a certain rule. And this can often get in conflict what the writers of a game have planned for our characters.

I do not have many characters in video games (actually, there exist 3 Zedeks: A Lalafell and 2 Asura twins in Guild Wars), but all of them have a certain concept behind.
My Lalafell's lore is basically written in my Lodestone profile, and as you can see, I kinda try to justify my actions and choices in the game within a certain limit of the backstory.

From a fired store clerk to the "Warrior of Light", oh well...

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No, I did not plan to have an "adventure". I am a mere 92cm in size, and in my late 30s. What would I do? Probably dying from the next bear or being trampled by a wild Chocobo. Never settled for family or relationships and being a maverick. That was also the reason why ultimatively lost my job - and thus my home - as my employer, a grumpy old fart, fired me on the spot when I came too late to work in his little, murky general store. As I threw my uniform into his face and, ahem, flipped him off, I felt the urge to break out of my life, breathing fresh air so to speak. I left basically all - or nothing as I had no own possessions- and headed to Gridania.

Thanks to the nice people and a slip from the Quiver's Hold, I had access to a surprisingly nifty inn room - for free. But now my planless moves became clear: I am not a killer! It was just a hobby to fire some arrows into trees and such, I never killed someone, or something, before. Aiming at a living, sentient creature made me shake; I never released the arrow.. I trusted myself to Athelyna, who directed me over to Luciane Corne. First real contact an Elezen but she didn't mind so much as she kneeled down to instruct me the use of the bow. Over and over. Her patience is baffling, and eventually, I can even hit the mark. In order to gain money, she took me to some smaller jobs and it was that day where I killed my first enemy. It felt..rather thrilling, and my skills developed over the next years...

Something inside me changed though. The gain in self-confidence kindled a blood lust. Downing foes became my hobby, but arrows have a physical limit of damage - especially the small arrows I shoot. What is not bound to body size? The power of mind. MAGIC!

The first steps of becoming a Thaumaturge were tough, but swinging a wand was easier for me than wielding bow and arrow. Manipulating the Aether to roast, freeze and shock enemies is an exhilarating feel, but to a cost. My soul changed, my once blonde hair turned black and a tribal mark appeared the more I got sucked into the art of Black Magic. But still, for some reason, it felt incomplete, despite me being a Scholar healer at the same time.

One fateful morning, I woke up with a ridiculous idea. A view in the mirror: Me, a middle-aged male Lalafell in his 40s, growing some white hair already. I have not unlimited time...

"Now or never!" I said to myself as I stepped up to this tall, old Miqo'te who sat in this filthy drinking hole. He was easy to identify: A noble Red Mage.. With me having a mage background and asking too much questions, he accepted me as his student. Oof!

As I put on my apprentice Red Mage attire and wielding magic in form of a crystal in one, and a sharp, silver blade in the other hand, finally combining not only black and white magic, but also ranged magic and melee physical fighting abilities I knew:

I found my real, final professions: Red Mage and Scholar

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This way, I do rule out several things at once: I never tank, White Mage is not a thing, and I am too old for brawls!

So with this in mind, I see myself as a sort of "mercenary". I do not walk around the place and be the shiny hero. Actually, I am here to get myself skilled in the arts of Red Magic - and this "skill" (cough..cough-cough) is then asked by people or groups in distress. And then I might show up - or not.

https://abload.de/img/uffiff85jow.png

I mean, there were many "urgent" calls for me, e.g. breaking into the Cathedral in Ishgard to rescue someone. What did I do? I went to my Gridania inn room and went to bed. As in: "Not now. Maybe later!" And not always happy with what I should do...

https://abload.de/img/tzh2k83.png

There are obviously many other Warrior of Light walking around. The "Adventurers". And many are ready for duties, and all of them have a certain profession to help each other. The "WoL" is, in my eyes, not supposed to be a hero that does everything alone. If I am tasked with [insert task] in MSQ, I always feel like I've been selected at random. I talk to [Quest giver] and I accept. He could've given the task to someone else, too. And not as if they wait especially for me.

So the WoL can be a buff tank, but also the Viera that heals you. Or me:

I will stand by your side with my crystal and my sword, and I will use them to fight, to kill side by side with my fellow WoL -- and to heal and resurrect my allies (as seen in my signature) so we can keep on fighting.

https://abload.de/img/dsfdsfdsffkjn1.png

And if not, well, I will find myself another person in need that I can help while my collegues - you, the other players - save the world...


Sincerely,

https://imgur.com/kXOfaq9.png
Freelance Warrior of Light

So I came across this thread I posted before taking a decently long break and I have to say that the issues with immersion that I was having turned out to be more of a race thing than a class issue. I made an Elezen alt White Mage/Scholar and have enjoyed playing the annoyed looking bastard most of the way through. I really enjoyed going through everyone's thoughts on this odd issue of mine and reading about how people see their WoL is fascinating to me. Sorry for the necro but I had to revisit this now that I'm back.

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Originally Posted by Agrios

Do healers finally get to heal people in cut scenes? I thought that they just stood off to the side and watched as no help showed up.

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you can't heal mortally wounded or revive the dead.

I mean, the healer is arguably the backbone of a group.
Seems like a pretty natural role for a hero.

I mean...if you think about. The dps are just as squishy.
If you can, you should separate game mechanics , with the actual WoL abilities and feats because the WoL can technically change to jobs mid fight and they're basically god like in strength and speed.

My problem is We have the gladiator for immersion in Ul'dah theme along with merchants, we got the white mage for the forest immersion.... But we do not have a real thief or real pirate(corsair) even though Corsair guild Exist physically in Limsa...

RP wise its pretty easy to insert the WoL into any role. Writing and scene direction wise however, its often weird for the WoL to be anything ranged or robe wearing. We're often displayed front and center in battles, and depicted in protective stances defending others.

Having healing and ranged capabilities also breaks some scenes logic-wise.

im kinda disappointed that posterboy derplander is only ever tank or melee. but i guess that comes with only(?) tanks and melees being posterjobs/flavour jobs for xpacks so far. but he could be whatever, right?
consider: if derplander was healer for, say, the next xpack, SE would totes go out their way to design truly cool healer AF sets so the marketing material would look pretty!
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i just love casters, healer and otherwise, and what them to be showered with love too.
with <3
PLD main

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Originally Posted by Burmecia

im kinda disappointed that posterboy derplander is only ever tank or melee. but i guess that comes with only(?) tanks and melees being posterjobs/flavour jobs for xpacks so far. but he could be whatever, right?
consider: if derplander was healer for, say, the next xpack, SE would totes go out their way to design truly cool healer AF sets so the marketing material would look pretty!
...
i just love casters, healer and otherwise, and what them to be showered with love too.
with <3
PLD main

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I think the Derplander thing mostly comes down to them wanting to appeal to what may be seen as the larger sections of the player base. Healers aren't very common. Tanks aren't all that common either, but they've got a bit more of an appeal by being more "in your face" jobs sort of like dps jobs are, and dps jobs are obviously the largest part of any player base in an MMO so it makes perfect sense to want to appeal to them as much as possible when trying to promote or sell a product.

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Originally Posted by LolitaBansheeMeru

My problem is We have the gladiator for immersion in Ul'dah theme along with merchants, we got the white mage for the forest immersion.... But we do not have a real thief or real pirate(corsair) even though Corsair guild Exist physically in Limsa...

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Ahem. I know there is the weird ghost of guild in Limsa. Maybe SE could use that for MCH, somehow?
--- Butbutbut when you put it like this... Sadness fills my heart. I did not know I need this in my life. NIN and WAR stories take those both jobs kinda far from the pirate fantasy.
PotC, Treasure Island and Claw were such a huge part of my childhood and teenage years it is kinda wonder WHY I am not indeed grey tailed green eyed miqo'te guy in blue in FFXIV????????

KLICK for the High Seas!!

...Now I gotta just wonder is there any community activity on Talk like a Pirate day on any server anywhere?

I main WHM and know what you mean. I just pretend I'm not the only WoL. I usually play the MSQ together with my partner and he mains WAR. So we're kind of both the WoL and always fight together. Even if that doesn't really make any sense sometimes.