Hamlet Help for whitemage?

So I've kind of been told over and over that whitemage is the easiest thing to do in Hamlet.
I have in total, participated in about 3 short Hamlet sessions (1-3 attempts per session) (all in Aleport), so by all means I'm still very new at it.

First session (2 attempts I think) - crazy - as I would expect honestly when learning new content.

Second session - (2 or 3 runs) Awesome! Had a Hamlet Guru who lead our party well, seemingly being able to correctly identify underlying causes as to why people were having issues and help us overcome them in a very non-critical, non-demeaning manor. No finger pointing, just analysis as to why people were having issues and suggestions on how to correct it. (My first and win! - /bow to Sir Dean the Hamlet Guru of Masamune)

Third session (2 or 3 runs) - Frustrating beyond belief. Seriously made me think about swearing off Hamlet altogether. Made the mistake of mentioning at the beginning that I've only really done it a couple of Hamlet sessions, which in retrospect may have been a mistake because I think it just gave permission to automatically believe that any and all difficulties were because I wasn't doing a good enough job... least that's they way I began to feel.

Crazy thing is I was doing the same things for 2nd session as the 3rd but the experience was totally different. I am humble and have no over exaggerated view of my own skills, but I do know I was really trying to do everything that I was told.

Maybe someone kind can point out for me (and maybe explain to me) reasonable things (taking into consideration things like stoneskin and protect cooldown) that I can do better.

So here is what I did (most cures were either a cure or cura depending on what was available to me)
* We enter Hamlet
* Skip event (even though I did this it always seems like everyone else is on the field way before me)
* Run past the Fire pit to the First line archers
* Target center First line archer - Protect / Stoneskin & Regen
* Target left side First line archer Regen
* Target right side First line archer - Regen & then wait for cool down and Protect and stoneskin when I can

By now enemies have entered and have started attacking

* Try and get stoneskin & Protect on the left side First line Archer once cool down allows

In the second session the archer NPC's they were barely touched which let me be able to turn around and get a round of protect & everything on the second line archers as well. It was very manageable.

In first and third sessions though, the archers were getting hit pretty hard, so I couldn't really leave. I would regen and spam cure to just keep them over 50%. I get told I'm not regen-ing enough even though the NPC's that I've been able to touch show regen when I target them. (a glitch maybe? I don't know.. the other player says they aren't regened, but I'm looking at the NPC bar with the icon beside it.. idk)

Then I get told to run to the back of camp to cure an almost dead NPC at a cart, which I do, I get regen and start spam curing this NPC trying to get them out of the yellow, but the mobs are hitting them so hard.

Meanwhile the archer at the frontline dies.... ><

Question? Is this normal so far? Is there something blatantly wrong? What should I be doing, and please only answer this if you actually are a whitemage with experience in Hamlet as a whitemage. No offense intended.. I just want realistic over perceived advice.

I truly would like to get better at it but I need a bit more guidance I guess then "Just buff the NPC's and keep regen up"

Is anyone truly able to get all the NPC's in the area buffed at the beginning? How do you manage cool downs that fast?

**Edit: Just to clarify, In all sessions we actually did have two whitemages, the third session they would periodically come cast a few things with me in the front line, but then I didn't see them again for awhile, they may have went to attend to other things, possibly helping some of the DoL or DoH, and/or nuking things but I really can't say for sure. I was mostly just trying to do what everyone was telling me to.

WHM is only "easy" if you're in a group keeping attack down and defense up.

I do WHM in Hamlet exclusively. In my time doing it, I've noticed the center frontline archer is something of a de facto target. That one should always be getting Protect/Stoneskin/Esuna/Regen.

My best advice is to make as effective use of Regen as you can. The second line should only ever need regen as the mobs focus on the front line or special NPCs and only deviate if an archer pulls hate with enough damage.

It sounds like you're the only WHM? If so, there should be at least two. Especially if you're DoL/Hs aren't good at keeping the needed effects up.

*likes Sephick's post*

Sounds like Crafter/Gather buffs were dropping.

WHM works like a train to keep cures going. Without buffs you're going to run out of MP and the archers will run out of HP.

Your DoHs or DoLs dropped the ball on the third session. Either the DoHs weren't keeping Defense + Evasion up or the DoLs weren't keeping Attack Down up, or both.

Glad to hear Dean is helping out new Hamlet players. I've done runs with him and they've all gone really smoothly.

EDIT: While you're interested in WHM tips, one of my LS mates started doing something interesting at the start of Hamlet. Use Presence of Mind to cast an extra Stoneskin or Protect at the start of battle. It's not a huge deal, but I thought it was cool.

I agree that the hamlet success relies on DoL and DoH doing their buffs very quickly and not dying when they get hate. As WHM I never Stoneskin the NPCs. The return doesn't seem to be high enough to justify it at all.

I focus only on regen, protect, esuna, and cure/cura. It goes without saying that as WHM you need to use all mp refresh tools you have at your disposal every single time they are available.

And yea, I have never had success with only one WHM.

As was mentioned, that middle archer is going to die really quickly unless defense boost or attack down gets put up ASAP. Aside from that, in most cases all you need to do is toss out Regen to any archer that needs it and it should be sufficient to keep them alive in most cases, although if you see any that are fairly low on health (around half) you can throw them some cures as well.

Something I've been doing lately, although I don't recommend it until your group is used to Hamlet Defense, is to gear up for Magic Attack, use Cleric stance, and pull a few enemies with a Stonera and/or Aerora to the rear lines which are usually standing around not doing anything when enemy waves first arrive. Not only does it take the heat off the first middle archer, it makes the enemies die a lot quicker as with them spread out more archers are attacking them. I'd take off Cleric Stance once the boss arrives though as sometimes you will need to spam heal whatever facility he orders them to attack.

I'd say gear up for Magic Attack in general in Hamlet Fights when you are a bit more used to it. You can help finish off weakened enemies which is many times more beneficial to NPC survival than simply healing. Just be very careful not to defeat any of the special-weapon enemies.

This ^

I use Aero. It's a mild dot that helps kill enemies faster.

PLD/WAR is the easiest job in my opinion just kill initial non-beastmen, pull 2nd one, then kite NM and claim zombie.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shosasosa

PLD/WAR is the easiest job in my opinion just kill initial non-beastmen, pull 2nd one, then kite NM and claim zombie.

---

My LS usually has the WHMs claim and kill the zombie lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sephrick

My LS usually has the WHMs claim and kill the zombie lol

---

we usually have the PLD kite the NM right next to where the zombie pops so all he does is wait for it and flash then the whms come to kill it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sephrick

My LS usually has the WHMs claim and kill the zombie lol

---

Everything's dead by then. Why not?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HiirNoivl

Everything's dead by then. Why not?

---

Exactly. Doesn't hurt to pull him to the archers though.

archers ignore the non-beastmen so that doesnt help

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shosasosa

archers ignore the non-beastmen so that doesnt help

---

They'll attack if an AoE hits them.

didnt know that, but good to know for the future.

I've only played White Mage during Hamlet defense and it's one of the busiest battles thus far. Compared to most other fights where you are standing still for MP regen and only curing or buffing as necessary, in Hamlet you are constantly casting spells, moving to get within range of your targets, and keeping an eye on multiple scattered NPC and party members HP bars. I don't know if White Mage is one of the easier Hamlet jobs, but it is one of the most difficult battles for a White Mage IMO.

That said, I've also been in parties that didn't go well despite the same two White Mages doing the same thing as in much more successful fights.

As others have said, if DoH and DoL are not experienced enough, it puts tremendous pressure on the White Mages and you will quickly run out of MP in trying to make up for it.

Otherwise, it sounds to me like you got solid advice and aren't doing anything wrong. Regen is great for the 2nd and 3rd row, but it can't keep up when the front line archers are getting pounded.


And...

Thanks for the tip on Presence of Mind at the start of the fight. I hadn't thought of that. ^^;

Plus drawing hate at the beginning and pulling some monsters to the back may also help take pressure off the center Front Line archer. I'll have to talk to my LS and possibly try that as well.

Sounds like DOL/DOH were dropping the ball. Also, assuming you have at least 2 whm's in the party, if your front line archer gets to 30-40% (depends on how hard he's getting hit), tell the other WHM/party 'archer getting low help' If the 'red' pots are down, (DOL job) the archers get hit HARD...it doesn't take much in this case if a lot of mobs are nailing an archer/cart for them to get in trouble.

Also minor thing, if a cart is going down hard, don't regen at first.(regen just isn't gonna save them if they are going down fast, they need a hp buffer first for regen to help) Cura/Cure Spam AS FAST as possible and try to get other whm to help (most of the mobs are on the cart so you should both be able to help). When you get cart stable and/or at least
35%hp's then regen...cura then if okay protect. That should smooth things out.

It does sound like you got 'scapegoated' a bit. However, White Mage is always the scape goat. People make mistakes/pull more mobs than they can handle and when you can't save them=your fault. (In part because good whm's save people from a lot of their 'idiot' moves). So throw your gamer Stoneskin up and be prepared that when things go south, Tanks and WHM's typically bear the brunt of the blame...whether fair or not. Just do your best, and improve each time. Which is sounds like you are doing. Fails happen.

Something else that hasn't been mentioned is the DoH/DoL responsibility to do emnity resets whenever the NM issues new orders. This is what disperses the crowd from wailing on a single target and is most critical when they all start dashing to a specific cart.

I'll normally play DoL and take on this job with one other DoL. During the first 10 minutes we'll do attack down and a bit of poison where permissable (no unique-weapon mobs up or about to pop). During the 2nd ten minutes, it's still attack down interspersed with emnity resets, since the new orders come around about every two debuffs - you can get the next one ready the moment you've handed in your 3rd red pot. You probably want to make sure your DoL are doing this.

Something I don't think anyone has mentioned so far, but the WHM can play a key role in helping the DoL do their job (which in turn helps the WHMs do theirs). Whenever you get a chance, try to toss a stoneskin on the DoL, and esuna them if they're inflicted with a DoT. The reason for this is that they can't do anything if they're inflicted with a DoT, unless they have stoneskin on so they're taking 0 damage. The same applies to DoH as well, but as they're not running around so much they are less vulnerable.

^^^ I haven't had any issue with gathering with a DoT while on a gathering class, you are right about crafting classes being unable to do anything with a DoT on them. Stoneskin on Gatherers is useful because it seems like as long as Stoneskin doesn't break, they won't drop what they are carrying.

1 whm can do hamlet if DOH/DOL know what 2 do, i have done in but yea needs some attention regen almost all npc on the map an check what npcs are getting more damage so u can pro an stoneskin them

ty for the compliment. if i can help any more just give a /t sir dean

Sir Dean is the man.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ide-White-Mage

Doing WHM wasn't actually complicated, but sometimes WHM need to lead other players including DoL/DoH.
Tank will obviously busy kiting boss on 2nd round.

And if there's no extra player doing AoE (usually Bard), u might need to step up a bit especially on 2nd phase where some mobs will be hitting one of the suppliers by helping AoE on mobs using Aeroga and kite them to nearest militia archer. Risky move too since u might die from all hate, which also cost points taken from overall performance.

And maybe also taking care of those 3 special mobs, depending on situation. (But tank can usually handle 1st & 2nd special)

Use Shroud of Saints alot for mp regen and have Bard ballads u as often as he can.

So I guess WHM jobs on hamlet not easy depending on situation. Either they can take a breather a little bit, or work harder if some of players are not experienced yet. ;D
But DoL & DoH definitely have to constantly buff/debuffing if u wanna achieve 60k+.

Oh... and using vent/mumble/skype would help alot directing each other. ;D