RIP WHM

[Teraluna]

Yall need to spend less time crying about white mage being replaced by diurnal and start preparing to learn how to heal without being carried by embrace :^)
Winter is coming.

It's the usual reaction whenever a class gets some changes. All of a sudden it's the prefect class, and all other comparable role classes are resigned to the bin. Never correct in either of those.
WHM has great skills which aren't headline now, simply because they've been used effectively for so long.
Best to ignore the knee jerk reactions and carry on playing the classes you enjoy.

[Astraxus]

For me at least, Benediction, Tetragammaton and Cure III are probably the three main reasons why WHM is still more than viable for raid content. What I would love to see is having Stoneskin II as an insta-cast ability with a suitably long cool down that can be used in battle, which I think would plug a very noticeable gap in the WHM skill set.

[Teraluna]

For me at least, Benediction, Tetragammaton and Cure III are probably the three main reasons why WHM is still more than viable for raid content. What I would love to see is having Stoneskin II as an insta-cast ability with a suitably long cool down that can be used in battle, which I think would plug a very noticeable gap in the WHM skill set.

That I like!

[FeliAiko]

RIP WHM because of buffs to a Sect designed to encourage WHM-AST pairings instead of XXX-SCH ones?

Makes sense.

[Kabzy]

RIP WHM because of buffs to a Sect designed to encourage WHM-AST pairings instead of XXX-SCH ones?

Makes sense.

Diurnal is currently competitive with WHM, and it's also being buffed significantly via cards / CO. As there are already a lot of d.ASTs out there, this gives them even more of an edge over WHM. So while it's not quite RIP, I can see some cause for concern.

[Rawrz]

Diurnal is currently competitive with WHM, and it's also being buffed significantly via cards / CO. As there are already a lot of d.ASTs out there, this gives them even more of an edge over WHM. So while it's not quite RIP, I can see some cause for concern.

Exactly. Pre-3.4, as of now I feel AST and WHM shared a balance. The buffs to Nocturnal were a bit much with the cards. The shielding I understand because you're making up for the lack of a fairy, raw Ben II makes up for the other half. I say making up because everyone and their mother compares to SCH as off heal/shield slot. The duration of Celestial Opposition and Crit proc on Ben II were great, even though I feel that ben II crit should have been a nocturnal effect only. Nocturnal should have changed Celestial Opposition and Time Dilation to better enhance shields, instead of leaving their synergy with Luminious/Cards alone.

Instead, the same qualities that are helping to "balance" SCH and Noct AST are there to "balance" WHM and Diurnal AST. Since they were close before, it stands to reason that the distance closer AST gets to SCH, from changes that affect both stances, the farther away from WHM, AST will become.

Why take WHM -xxx, when you can take the "perfect" off healing SCH and the super buffing AST, who main heals just dandy.


^ Thats the concern I see.

[Elspeth]

hi.

I dont understand how WHM is dead because of the AST changes. All of the changes that are relevant to healing, have been from Noct Sect. Not Diurnal. A quick look at the numbers shows that in Diurnal sect, an ASTs shields are stronger than SCHs. Using aspected Benefic and Adloquuim as an example here.

Adloquium = 300 potency, + 100% shield. (so a 300 potency shield) So youve output 600 potency.

Aspected Benefic in Noct Sect = 250 Potency, + 170% shield. 170% of 250 = 425. so 250 potency heal, + 425 potency shield is an output of 675. 75 potency more than the sch has put out. factor in the 10% healing magic potency granted by nocturnal sect, and couple that with Aspected Benefic being instant cast. and we can see that Aspected benefic is a better skill here.

So, I think, with that in mind, AST + WHM is probably the best healer combination. WHM has 10 more potency on its regen and medica effects. So with this setup you get bigger shields, bigger HOTs. WHM is a healing powerhouse. Assize is a great aoe heal and MP managment tool. Asylum is a wonderful addition to its HoT effects. and tetragrammaton. Giving WHM an instant cast heal thats a bit stronger than cure II. Cure III is also a great aoe tool. WHM excells at AoE and Single target healing. No cards, no faeries, just plain and simple, keep the party alive.

So with these changes to AST, i ask again, how is WHM dead? I dont see any SCHs crying because AST has better shields than them now. If it wasnt dead before 3.4, it isnt dead after

[Kabzy]

-Snip-

You're making a slight mistake here by giving potencies that much importance.

WHM will by no means be dead, but it's also not optimum as the final Alex raid is to be lower in difficulty. The identity of the WHM is to provide the highest healing output via its vast healing toolkit. This can act as a safety net for many groups, however such high potencies have not actually been a requirement for any raid so far.

As such d.AST, which isn't even far behind potency wise, has been a strong competitor for the main healer role. People have argued that WHMs superior burst DPS can account for AST bringing party buffs. But with such a significant buff to the AST cards, and the ability to extend them even further, WHM is cetainly behind at this point.

My own prediction is that any healing comp will be viable in 3.4, however I would say WHM/AST is still least likely to be the most desired. Potencies will certainly help n.AST, but it wasn't really the issue. And with d.AST being even better, I can only predict AST/SCH as being the most optimal pairing.

[KDSilver]

I dont see any SCHs crying because AST has better shields than them now. If it wasnt dead before 3.4, it isnt dead after

Why would we? Scholar is not just about adlo and succor.
He have a fairy and her buff, we have Aetherflow stack and strong instant heal (indom,lustrate), eye for an eye, deploiement tactic, a lot of dot, energy drain to get some more mana...
It's a different gameplay. We don't have the same skills. And it's the same for WHM.

The problem now is not the class themself. They're all great, and none of them is "dead".
The problem is and will be player who think that a healer must be on the top of the other, and that we must have a 'indentity' and such.

Honestly.
Every pair will now be great. AST/WHM WHM/SCH SCH/AST.
That's how it should have been from the beginning.

Play the gameplay you want and stop wondering if you still are useful. You'll always will. Just play your class now at your highest level to make it shine.

[Fyce]

Every pair will now be great. AST/WHM WHM/SCH SCH/AST, and AST/AST.

Fixed.
Hello fflogs.