Occultist [healer], another job idea

[Kazrah]

It does put an interesting spin on healing, especially since I suspect that the next healer job SE comes up with will most likely be more oriented toward dealing damage. It's something I'd definitely go for, but there are three general questions I have with it.

1) You've mentioned how Void Trance will compensate for lacking Cleric Stance, but what is there to compensate for the lack of Protect? That core healer staple means less damage taken, leading to less healing overall required, so how will Occultist counter this dilemma?

2) Given the understanding that this is a healer with a heavier focus on dealing damage compared to other healers, how much damage would you expect this job to put out? Would the typical damage output be at about Machinist and Bard levels, or would it be closer in-line with current White Mage and Scholar DPS?

3) How would this Void Well manifest itself in the game in a way that is still something that allows the player to understand how big it is or whatever percentage it's at? Is it an actual effect separate from the caster? Is it an aura-type buff similar to Darkside? Or would it just be some super-generic buff with a stack number on it?

Story could definitely use some work, but this is overall an impressive approach. Well done!

[AlphaSonic]

snip

1-2) I will answer both questions at the same time. They should do more damage than Scholar but less than Bard and Machinist. If they have more DPS than SCH that would mean that they need less healing as they will burn the enemy faster. But in most cases what you want is to avoid pairing 2 Occultist. It would be more difficult without protect, 100% sure. It would be impossible, I doubt it. I know it's risky taking out protect. In 4 man dungeon I don't think it would be a big problem, as long as the Occultist heals properly and damages properly it should overcome the lack of Protect. In 8 man raid/trials, I would rather not have 2 Occultist at the same time. But if there are 2 occultist that means that the DPS will be higher. Remember that SCH has high DPS and can boost even more DPS with Selene, Occultist only has 1 ability that boosts DPS and it only increases 10% Crit chance.


3) Regarding 3 it could totally replace TP bar or add a new bar under MP. It would be empty, and when it starts filling it would show a number like 30% or something like that. It could even be an animation, like an aura in your feet. The more darker it is, the more Void it has. But it would need a bar that shows the exact number.

[Kazrah]

3) Regarding 3 it could totally replace TP bar or add a new bar under MP. It would be empty, and when it starts filling it would show a number like 30% or something like that. It could even be an animation, like an aura in your feet. The more darker it is, the more Void it has. But it would need a bar that shows the exact number.

Wouldn't it make more sense then just to make those void skills cost TP instead? Turn percent values into numbers, multiply them by 10 (since TP is 1000), and add about 100 more or so to those values to compensate for natural TP regeneration and to ensure those abilities aren't constantly spammable (or just put brief cooldowns on them). Could also make Void Well an on/off switch that shuts off natural TP regeneration while it's up.

Also a major thing to bear in mind is how well a healer like this works with another healer of its type in full party groups, which is something SE still has trouble with in the form of dual Scholars since ARR (galvanize bubbles still not stackable) and dual Astrologians in Heavensward (just not enough healing power).

Another question I had while making this post: Why Arcanist as a cross-class choice? The only possible tools for healers there are Eye for an Eye (still limited in positive application) and maybe the base version of Virus that only hits STR/DEX when more and more bosses will be more magic-focused, while Conjurer brings Protect and Stoneskin, hence why SE devs ensures all healers that class to draw abilities from. I know I'm gonna keep beating this "lack of Protect" idea to a pulp, but it's gonna be a big loss when that 11% boost to defense and magic defense isn't present in groups.

[AlphaSonic]

Wouldn't it make more sense then just to make those void skills cost TP instead? Turn percent values into numbers, multiply them by 10 (since TP is 1000), and add about 100 more or so to those values to compensate for natural TP regeneration and to ensure those abilities aren't constantly spammable (or just put brief cooldowns on them). Could also make Void Well an on/off switch that shuts off natural TP regeneration while it's up.

I think its easier to balance and to have a different bar for the Void Well and TP and it would conflict with Sprint (which is an ability that I really like to use as a mage).Moreover, the Void Well is supposed to be empty at the beggining of the battle, and while in battle performing action may replenish or empty the Void Well I think of it as a very dynamic bar. Compared to TP bar that starts filled when the battle starts and it decreases slowly except when you use invigorate or some TP regen ability. I think their dynamic is very different. (And it would give flavor to Occulist too, which is a plus.

Also a major thing to bear in mind is how well a healer like this works with another healer of its type in full party groups, which is something SE still has trouble with in the form of dual Scholars since ARR (galvanize bubbles still not stackable) and dual Astrologians in Heavensward (just not enough healing power).

Another question I had while making this post: Why Arcanist as a cross-class choice? The only possible tools for healers there are Eye for an Eye (still limited in positive application) and maybe the base version of Virus that only hits STR/DEX when more and more bosses will be more magic-focused, while Conjurer brings Protect and Stoneskin, hence why SE devs ensures all healers that class to draw abilities from. I know I'm gonna keep beating this "lack of Protect" idea to a pulp, but it's gonna be a big loss when that 11% boost to defense and magic defense isn't present in groups.

I'm hesitant to give conjurer cross class skills. First because Void Trance and Cleric Stance at the same time would be a noob trap, it would destroy your healing and damaging capabilities at the same time. Even though protect is an important ability, unless you run hardcore content like ex primals or coils I don't think it would be a problem if you are paired with double Occultist, it would be more difficult but not impossible, remember that it should be a fast run because double Occultist should be the highest DPS healer pair. In my opinion not having Protect would contribute more to the balance of this class, the fact that they would be the ones with highest healing DPS means that they would be the most desired healing class for DPS checks, but without protect people will think better if it is worth losing Protect for more DPS.

Occultist doesn't mean Necromancer.

Also in 1.0 (pre-class rework), Conjurers cast all the elemental spells including Fire and Blizzard while Thaumaturge could only cast Astral/Umbral aspected spells. Thaumaturge also had a heal that sacrificed a little bit of their own HP.

My question is, why not just rework AST to be this? Casting healing magic builds Nocturnal, giving an attack magic bonus, and casting attack magic builds Diurnal, giving a healing magic bonus.

Wow word reference trolled me if it doesn't have the same/similar meaning.

But why should it be a rework for Astrologian a Void themed healer?

[SuzakuCMX]

Wow word reference trolled me if it doesn't have the same/similar meaning.

Occultist is someone who studies something that is usually considered fringe or unsciencey (generally things that were thought to work as magic), such as tarot cards, astrology (as opposed to astronomy), witchcraft, necromancy, etc. It's still a fitting name for the job you're proposing.

But why should it be a rework for Astrologian a Void themed healer?

Because we're going to have to wait for 4.0 for a new job anyways and AST is currently underperforming and having it be SCH/WHM copy with meaningless cards is beige curtains.

I don't know about void THEMED but the mechanics would translate well to AST if they were heavily reworked.