If you are a WHM without Swiftcast, you are holding back your team at endgame

[Felis]

So you want me to level a Thurmaturge to level 26 just to get one spell?

This is the game design.
Level up other classes to complete your main job with usefull cross-class skills.
Without swiftcast you are always not so good like someone with swiftcast.

At least we can now learn all the cross-class skills of a class with only level it to 30-36. Not to 42 like it was in 1.0. (Yes. I mean you, skill named Sentinel)

[Jinko]

Here's the funny thing, you can have swiftcast and cast raise super quick, but the process of raising is painfully slow, in most cases killing you as soon as you raise because of the stupid animation lock.

So I feel its a moot point, cause you know 9/10 in a boss fight if you raise someone they will just die instantly again.

[Jynxii]

I have seen maybe a total of 6 bards actually use songs. There have been times when I have been completely out of mp for one reason or another, and the bard does nothing. I know about the damage reduction while singing. But you are a bard. Not a ranger, or hunter.

This comes down to a 'bad' player, someone that is rolling for the wrong reason, or simply doesn't understand their class. You'll either have a bard that completely ignores songs, or you'll have healers that expect bard to have it on permanently so they don't have to manage their mana (I had a friend who did this all the time). The fact is, you don't need Mage's Ballad on 24/7, and a healer can generally maintain their mana pretty well, but as a bard you need to divert your attention to the party pane once in awhile and check on the mana pools, and flick it on for 10 or so seconds.

So I feel its a moot point, cause you know 9/10 in a boss fight if you raise someone they will just die instantly again.

I've had to make a macro that specifically tells players to wait until they are sure it is safe. Even without Swiftcast you can get a raise off mid HM Ifrit during several phases (there are plenty of non-ifrit based examples), but accepting instantly generally leaves you dead. It is another awareness thing that players should be developing as they do these encounters, but generally derp instead. Incidentally, it is hilarious when you raise in AK and someone dies to the Succubus 3 times in a row. :P

[TallSummit]

I've seen a whm solo heal titan hard from heart phase start to end without a bard.

You know how they kept the party up during the 6 stomps? Quickcast medica 2.

[Noschel]

While I do see the benefit of getting Swiftcast, (I am in the process of doing so myself) and would certainly make a healer's job easier I doubt it is absolutely required. And seeing as the OPs example was to use it for Raise just sounds like whining. Sure, Swiftcast Raise is nice for emergencies but to not even take a healer because they don't have it just makes you look bad and expected to be carried by the healer. And especially not something healers want to hear from some random player who can't even win without it.

[Wulfgang]

Swiftcast is a critical ability. I main WHM and BRD; I wouldn't kick someone out for not having Swiftcast if they're otherwise competent, but leveling THM should be your primary goal in the near-term. It's not just raise, Swiftcast + Medica II is a lifesaver sometimes.

[Sziadan]

You don't need to do that to solo heal it.
You can start casting medica 2 before he even do the stops and then use Presence of Mind and cast Medica 1 during the stops.

[Gucci_Charms]

I agree that Swiftcast is critical no doubt, but...

If you are a jerk to your healers, then you will not be healed.

I've seen this scenario quite a bit since Early Access already. Tanks and DPS' being dbags to their healers in the party then the healer ends up leaving or screwing the entire party over by not healing them lol.

[Shadowedge]

I love when damage dealers come on here and demand more from their healers. You know, you could just... avoid the attacks? We don't tell you how to punch and kick. Don't tell us how to keep a group healed, especially when you haven't really done it yourself.

[Junpei]

If I'm casting raise YOU are doing it wrong. you show me a fight with a guaranteed 1 shot to someone (every time) and I'll agree with you though.

Binding Coil of Bahamut : Turn 5 - Boss hits PLD's regularly for over 5k damage (with shield oath) so around 6k+ to everyone else.