As a healer, is it my job to DPS? A new perspective.

[Judge_Xero]

Oh, agree 100%. It's totally a perspective issue. Some people have just gotten the idea from the "healing" name attached to the roles that it's limited to healing only. Which is why we discuss it on the forums, to hopefully clear up the misconception in the most respectful way possible.

I also prefer to think of myself as a combat healer/support type role.

Well in defense of the meta regardless of people's perspectives, the early healer story quests give a good idea of what is "expected" of the Healer Roles.

[gehrtalert]

Well in defense of the meta regardless of people's perspectives, the early healer story quests give a good idea of what is "expected" of the Healer Roles.

I started playing on a new server to play with some real-life friends and been leveling Conjurer. I'm at 20 something and I haven't healed at all yet. One time actually outside of DF dungeons and it was a quest where you have to cure some random npc.

[mp-please]

I started playing on a new server to play with some real-life friends and been leveling Conjurer. I'm at 20 something and I haven't healed at all yet. One time actually outside of DF dungeons and it was a quest where you have to cure some random npc.

iirc the only questline that actually have you heal is AST storyline, and its nothing combat related, it's just a "heal this dude".

[Granyala]

"As a healer, is it my job to DPS?"
If the alternative is standing around and doing nothing: Of course it is. (Provided you have the mana to spare)

Though, when I tank I'd rather have a healer that doesn't DPS over one that constantly derps on cleric and lets people die. If you can't do the dance, admit to it and focus on your main objective.

[Judge_Xero]

Though, when I tank I'd rather have a healer that doesn't DPS over one that constantly derps on cleric and lets people die. If you can't do the dance, admit to it and focus on your main objective.

Practice makes perfect. I won't lie and say I've never goofed and let people die. Or that I overestimated the tankiness of a tank and let them drop due to their gear etc.

The best part of DF IMO is that it allows you to adapt to all kinds of different situations. Now if a healer constantly let's the party die over and over while sitting in Clerics that is a whole other issue in itself.

[KaitlanKela]

Again, this thread isn't meant to address those that are not capable of using cleric stance with stability. It's about those that could and don't.

[Critical-Limit]

"As a healer, is it my job to DPS?"
If the alternative is standing around and doing nothing: Of course it is. (Provided you have the mana to spare)

Though, when I tank I'd rather have a healer that doesn't DPS over one that constantly derps on cleric and lets people die. If you can't do the dance, admit to it and focus on your main objective.

This is the reason people are anxious and don't try to DPS. I'm pro healer DPS. I think you're wasting time if standing around. But WHEN are they going to learn if they aren't allowed to make a derp stance dance mistake at some point? This comment alone is probably why healers just heal. Afraid to make even a single mistake to learn.

[FunkyBunch]

"As a healer, is it my job to DPS?"
If the alternative is standing around and doing nothing: Of course it is. (Provided you have the mana to spare)

Though, when I tank I'd rather have a healer that doesn't DPS over one that constantly derps on cleric and lets people die. If you can't do the dance, admit to it and focus on your main objective.

I posted this in the other thread but it's relevant here too:
"What happens if I DPS and someone dies?"
I was reviewing some fflogs for some fight research, and came to the realization that if a Healer DPSs AND someone DIES it's STILL a net GAIN in DPS and duty clear than a zero DPS Healer.

For example if a Healer is doing 400 DPS for the whole dungeon, and a DPS is doing 800 DPS and the DPS dies, causing him to lose some DPS (50-100 DPS seems to be the operative amount over a fight per death) you're still up by 250-350 DPS. So seriously don't sweat letting people die in the beginning of learning. Unless you let a bunch of people die a bunch over a fight, it's still better.

So most of the time, it's still better if they derp and someone dies than just standing around. So please let them derp while learning.

[KaitlanKela]

I've derped in CS before.

Once I let the tank get really low and then I switched out of cleric and popped lustrate. What I didn't realize is that I had dropped target before the lustrate went off. Ouch. Caused a wipe. Everyone was SUPER chill and understanding though. Mistakes happen no matter what role you play!

Of course, the tank I got in Gubal chewed me the f out when my CS didn't queue properly and I let him die. Also caused a wipe. You know what I did? I dropped and took the penalty. I don't have to deal with jerks at any time. Found something affirming to do for thirty minutes. I have no idea if they got an in-progress healer, but I hope they had to not progress until they did.

All this to say, even pro DPS healers who have tried to learn to do it since they started the game still screw up and people can be either chill or buttheads about it. Whatever, everyone screws up from time to time, should that stop you from learning and trying something new? Just forget them

[RopeDrink]

I have yet to derp in CS, but it's still only pre-50 days for me. Came close a few times, though, and thanks to very sticky ICD of dancing, I've caught myself stuck healing in CS a few times, but usually notice and remedy this pretty quickly. If asking whether to/not-to DPS:

- Can the tank hold aggro?
- Can the tank sustain damage, or does he get sliced in half by a trash mob AA?
- How high is the overall DPS?
- How confident am I in my MP?

These can be sussed comfortably after the first few pulls usually. If the DPS is decent, things are dying quicker (less healing). If the tank isn't getting obliterated anytime trash fart in his direction, less MP & healing needed. If he can also hold aggro, less healing. Result? Enter that Cleric stance and go nuts. Since reading these threads almost every low level Healer I've encountered has been of the 'stand and stare / wait to heal' persuasion and it's driving me mad, ESPECIALLY when I'm tanking (ironic).