Healing on PS3

Hey all,

I have been leveling a melee DPS and am almost 50. However I am wanting to level a healer soon because that's what I have done in my past mmo's. I thought I would try to melee dps thing, just don't know how long I want to stick with it. My goal is to eventually be playing this on a PS4. So my question is how is healing on the PS3 currently? Will you be able to heal well enough to raid some? I'm guessing PC will always be better but how much? Also, would it be easier on a whm vs sch? I appreciate any insight on this.

Well I do not play on a PS3 but a PC with a controller and I been able to heal in a full party with no issues (8 people). I play as a WHM and haven't had much of a chance to mess around with a SCH so no idea about that one :(

As a SCH I don't have much issues at the moment, I keep on the skills I feel like I need in fight on my main bar
my action out of fight are on another one
I am still 45 though, have not done end-game content
but so far I had some issue but are not related to the controller I think
Just need to find a set-up that suits you

It's not very difficult. Just cycle through the party by hitting up and down on the dpad. Or use macros, but I don't know anything about macros to help with that.

And from I hear whm is a reactive healer which I kinda agree with since that's what I am and it does seem that way. And sch is a proactive healer in that they try to prevent damage. I'm not sure if that is true cuz I haven't played it. But I will say that I personally don't like the pet control or the pet hot bar on the ps3. Also I'm not sure how good the fairies ai is. If its anything like my chocobo it's not good lol.

I have been healing all the way up to Hard Mode titan on a gamepad just fine. I know there are some people doing Bahamut's Coil on gamepad.

So whm would be easier?

They both control pretty much the same. You would just want to put some pet actions on your action bar since the default one is annoying to use IMO.

I played through level 1-50 including Titan Hardmode on PS3 and it works perfectly fine. I honestly even find it easier to move with a controller since you actually can run backwards much easier without having to turn the camera. The targeting is really easy too.. You just use the up and down buttons on the D pad while you are casting to select someone else that way you constantly have someone to heal.

got used to the pad after a few hours, havnt caused any deaths due to not having a mouse, and its comfier laying back in my chair ;p

Only thing that would prevent you using the gamepad is speed, but you must remember that there is gcd between every heal. So you have plenty of time to cycle to your next target while you are locked out. Sch does have the off gcd lazer heal, but I still don't feel like I'm too slow. Also if it really comes to it, you can use keyboard F-key targeting. I've also heard about people getting the little micro keyboard addon for the ps3 controller and binding it to use for instant targeting.

Experience reference: Was able to solo heal Titan HM after heart phase as whm on PS3.

It takes a bit of time to get used to the controller, but it's efficient enough. I healed HM Titan just fine on a controller.

Ha! pathetic lesser races with their inferior stone age tools... let me see you try to heal in 24 man raids successfully, then maybe...MAYBE I'll acknowledge your existence!


but seriously, I'm surprised SE implemented something that actually worked very good and didn't horribly went wrong...

There is also the mouse function, though atm is very slow. I imagien by the time CT hits it'll be improved for <mo> macros.

I'm thinking of switching to using a gamepad (I'm a PC user). I'm currently L21 Conjurer but plan on going WHM. Any tips/tricks you folks would like to share on being efficient or how best to use the gamepad?

Had a thread a week or so ago about this: PS3 Healers Question, good stuff in there.

As I said in that thread, if you setup your filters and/or get used to up and down to quickly heal comrades you'll be fine. I love it personally but you might want to plug a usb keyboard in and use the number pad to target change for larger 8 might runs as cycling up and down through eight people is a huge difference from cycling through 4 in terms of time to heal.

Personally what has made it easier for me was adding /chotbar commands for abilities I don't use often and have on other crossbars.

/micon protect
/ac protect
/wait 1
/chotbar change 1

The wait command is only there to make the button spammable. That way it can be mashed before gcd is up and each press will reset the wait command. Without the wait if you press this macro before gcd is ready the bar will change immediately on first key press and protect will never be cast.

I wouldn't call me the best, but I can say I defend myself sort of well, and I'm on PS3.

I'm a ps3 healer that had some anxiety too.. Thanks for relieving me of it! I'm excited for end game content from the comfort of my sofa, and my flat screen tv.

For me... It's rather hard selecting targets/people when it comes to using controller. And my hotbar is totally a mess. I hate it. But I can't complain because hey, I'm playing this game. (I would PC if my PC is free from my siblings.)
I like using buttons for certain things. I tried having all healing stuff one side and then DPS/Attack stuff on the other but it just didn't work out for me. I'm right handed so everything on the hotbar to my right, I react faster to it. So its rather frustrating trying to get your mind and fingers to memorize which action button is for what. It takes a lot of time to get used to for me, I don't know about you. Everyone is different. You could possibly be better.

I'm a PS3 healer, and I have to say that Macros on the Crossbar are a huge help in what I do. There's a thread in this forum on healing macros, and I especially suggest using the set from the very first post in there... put 'em on the four first buttons of the crossbar, the easiest ones for you to get to, whichever those are for you, and your healing speed and proficiency will get much better, much faster. I went from limping along, barely able to keep up with the action, to getting compliments from people when I manage to keep a whole party up after the agro situation goes to hell.

As for WHM v. Scholar, CNJ will have you healing in the early dungeons, which is a natural switchover to WHM; contrariwise, if you level ACN to SCH, you go from DPS to heals, which I don't feel is as natural a progression. As always, YMMV, so try 'em both... you're not in any hurry, right?

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Originally Posted by JeniLinsky

...There's a thread in this forum on healing macros, and I especially suggest using the set from the very first post in there... put 'em on the four first buttons of the crossbar, the easiest ones for you to get to, whichever those are for you, and your healing speed and proficiency will get much better, much faster.

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My concern with this is how many buttons it takes up (on an already crowded hotbar). And if you add Cure 2 on to it, that's 8 of the 16 buttons on my main hotbar taken just for two spells. Does this leave enough room for buffs, specials (Shroud, Benediction, etc.), and Stone/Aero for occasional DPS? Sounds great in theory though. I may need to give it a shot. I'm also worried about the interaction habits it builds that don't scale to full 8-man parties in end-game.

Right now im just healing the only way I know, no macros set up or anything, and im not having any trouble. Players need to understand they are as much responsible for their own health as much as the healer is. Move out of aoes etc etc.

I play on PC with my PS3 controller and I think it's great healing with it. I have no trouble at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Praqzis

My concern with this is how many buttons it takes up (on an already crowded hotbar).

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Get used to R1-shifting which hotbar you're using. Once you practice it, it actually goes quickly, easily, and you can have a great many more than 8 hotkeys up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kupo_Nut

Ha! pathetic lesser races with their inferior stone age tools... let me see you try to heal in 24 man raids successfully, then maybe...MAYBE I'll acknowledge your existence!


but seriously, I'm surprised SE implemented something that actually worked very good and didn't horribly went wrong...

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I work on a PC, and don' like playing on one - so I've shifted my gaming back to consoles. Currently, I'm really hoping SE continues to deliver a usable product... and fosters a new era of console friendly MMOs. I actually REALLY like the long GCD... it makes the game less of a latency test and spammfest.

Here's hoping they can continue to deliver a FUN low APM game.