Healing with Controller Vs. Mouse/Keyboard

[GramkarSilverpaw]

I use a razer naga, so I have all my abilities on the thumb buttons there and some modifiers in shift and ctrl. So my left hand is always ready at a moments notice when I need to move out of something.

[Rivienne]

If you are talking just keyboard, then it works fine. I can't get myself to do mouse and keyboard usually so I just keyboard for me when I play on PC, but I still prefer the ps3 with controller any day. Then again I am on WHM so I don't have to worry about fairy positioning.

That said, keyboard takes some getting used to over controller at first, but just run the lower dungeons a few times to get the basics down. As a best approach to practice I would say easy test maybe do Haltali to get the general mechanics down since even if you screw up it is no big deal, then Toto Rak, since it is easy, but does have a little bit of movement in the last boss. Then if you think you have the basics down, try for Qarn. A lot more movement and positioning, and sudden burts of damage to heal, so a good test for your ability to keep up moving and healing at the same time.

I haven't touched Titan on keyboard, the very idea freaks me out. Controller any day there.

[Maku]

Keyboard would present the same main issue I have with controller and that is moving the camera to place AoE Field Spells like Soil and Shadow Flare, so just using keyboard isn't an option for me.

There are a lot of opinions here now. I also heal just fine with a controller so who ever says I won't do as good as a mouse user is simply silly wrong. The only reason I asked and wanted mainly feedback from controller players or mouse players who have done both is to see just how much easier it was or maybe less annoying with Field Placements. Wednesday is aside from weekends my best day to play for an extended period of time so I will be setting up my keyboard/mouse hotbars tonight and seeing what I can do. ^^

[Kinseykinz]

Wednesday is aside from weekends my best day to play for an extended period of time so I will be setting up my keyboard/mouse hotbars tonight and seeing what I can do. ^^

Another suggestion,this is just for learning:

But re-roll a new character (healer) and set yourself up from the get-go as a KB+M player on that character. That way, you get the tutorial and only a handful of skills you have to use. Nerf around on that character until you feel comfy (you can always delete it later). Then, switch to your 'main'.

[Shyluv]

I want to switch to keyboard, for the faster targeting with f keys, but... the 3 attempts I made were terrible. I couldn't move out of ae stuff fast enough, and even when I somehow managed, the camera is so different that I would get turned around and run right back into it. No idea how I used keyboard for all the years I played xi. I know the controller isn't the same in arr as xi, but still.

[Calyanare]

The difference between Healing on a Keyboard/Mouse and Healing on a Controller is pretty huge. Tanking on a controller, DPSing on a controller is fine, but when you introducing the targeting for the healing, you'll never be as good as a Keyboard/Mouse user.

I've found the opposite to be true for me. I can't target the mob I want (as DPS; haven't tried tanking yet) using the controller to save my life, but targeting the right party member to heal is quick and easy. The trick is to pick your next target while casting. There's absolutely no targeting downtime this way (no movement downtime either, since I can hit D-pad keys with the tip of my thumb while using my knuckle to move the stick), plus you have the advantage that your target snaps back to the tank (or whoever) as soon as you cast something on a different target. Healing as a WHM is a breeze with the controller.

However, as I start leveling up SCH, it seems to need way more abilities (plus those targeted AoEs/pet placement that works 1000x better using an actual mouse) so I'll probably switch over for those cases (and switch back to controller for WHM). However, I use a Logitech G13 as my keyboard device, so I'm still using a thumbstick to move, so I have no advice for the OP in this regard.

[MizoreRainy]

I used to play on mouse/keyboard but it's really hard for me when I have to press skill slot from '7' to '='.
I have to use many skill slot such as Macro "/ac "Physick" <1>" to healing my party member which will take 4 of my skill slot.
And here's the advantage of the controller user, I've 16*4 skill slot that extremely easy to reach (It's maximum 16*8 but I use only half of it for my skill, item and the other half I use it for Emote).

I can't say that controller is the best way because it's have their own pros and cons so it's up to each people to decide what's the best for them.

[Dmer]

I prefer controller as well for healing. I wish they made it so that if you use the mouse to click on a skill on regular hotbars it would let you use mouse for placing the fairy and only use camera stick when activating from controller.

[Maku]

Ok have my keyboard/mouse hot bars all set up. my issue is though that with controller i could tell my fairy to heal someone without having to autolock target them so i could still have the mob targeted. but without pet macros I cant figure out how to do it with mouse. ><

[KomoChameleon]

If anyone has any issues moving on a keyboard there is some bigger problems to address. Moving on a keyboard is not hard....at.....all.