How does SE plan to restore White Mage's identity as a healer?

[Exiled_Tonberry]

I think this is something every healer main can agree on. White Mage is currently seriously lacking in an identity as a healer.

It's identity at first was plain and clear, it was a high burst healer with high Regen capabilities. Come 3.0 though, there are now other jobs that offer the exact same type of healing.
AST, diurnal in particular, is the essence of WHM.

The only saving grace for WHM is that they do heal slightly better, but their identity as a unique healer is lost.

I feel that 4.0 should not focus on making WHM a stronger healer in numbers, but attempt to give them a style that only WHM has, that only WHM can do.
I'm not sure if it was ever asked anywhere, but is SE working on giving WHM more of an identity for 4.0? Or will it remain the simple healer that only can heal...

[Rennies]

I want them to focus on White Mage's AoE damage capabilities and offer more situations in raiding where such a strength would be incredibly valuable.

They could give us a Flood spell (since we kinda only have... one? water ability) which does not decrease in potency per enemy hit, but doesn't stun either. It'd be the go to spell for AoE rotations after Aero3/Holystun are applied.

[Erudito]

How? Simple, make each healer have a focus.

All healers heal, but how do they heal? AST focuses on basic yet instant heals + potent HoTs when in Diurnal or potent shields while in Nocturnal. Scholar has medium heals + barriers and tactical heal bursts that depend on Aetherflow stacks and the fairy. These 2 have something in common, they take very unique stances on their healing capabilities which adds a more dependable feel to their healing.

Currently, the white mage has a mix of just about everything but shielding: Emergency heals, tactical burst heals and healing over time. This effectively makes it a very good healer on all regards, but phases out its identity, its just a healer. No, the white mage needs a focus, and a few tweaks to its abilities to reflect this focus. What focuses can the white mage have? That is up for the dev. team to figure out but I can suggest one. How about a potent healer that has stronger heals than the other healers by increasing potency of just about all healing spells? Make Medica 2 a huge number AoE heal and get rid of its HoT effect? How about increase range of Cure 3 but have its potency affected by range from healer? I don't know, just throwing ideas.

On a side note, can we please have a weak TP regen integrated into Asylum? Would that be a bad idea?

[dejiko_san]

Make Medica 2 a huge number AoE heal and get rid of its HoT effect? How about increase range of Cure 3 but have its potency affected by range from healer? I don't know, just throwing ideas.

I was with ya until that part, medica 2 HoT is needed for attacks that constantly tick your hp down...

[Exiled_Tonberry]

I feel that WHM has a ton of dps potential that it can't utilize because of it's jarring MP issues and the nature of it's job.

Maybe they should develop more skills like Assize, but don't make it effected by Cleric Stance.

Or make it so that when under shroud of saints, divine Seal or presence of mind, you get a stack, let's just call it Priest Stance, that lowers the mp cost of all DPS spells and allows you to dps outside of Cleric Stance without penalty.

Let's say this Priest Stance stack increased by 10 seconds with each of these abilities you use. You can effectively stack up to 30 seconds of being able to fully dps, outside of Cleric Stance and at a lower MP cost.

I just really don't want them to slap utility and shields on them just because the others have it.
WHM deserves it's own identity just like the other two have.

[Gemina]

I want them to focus on White Mage's AoE damage capabilities and offer more situations in raiding where such a strength would be incredibly valuable.

They could give us a Flood spell (since we kinda only have... one? water ability) which does not decrease in potency per enemy hit, but doesn't stun either. It'd be the go to spell for AoE rotations after Aero3/Holystun are applied.

Sorry, first read after OP's post and can't help but respond.

You do understand that OP is looking to re-establish WHM as a healer, and not a AoE burst damage bitch? Because your suggestion suggests an increase of the latter.

[Gemina]

I feel that WHM has a ton of dps potential that it can't utilize because of it's jarring MP issues and the nature of it's job.

Maybe they should develop more skills like Assize, but don't make it effected by Cleric Stance.

You are 100% correct, and that potential is limited by those very same MP issues. If WHM had an infinite MP pool to draw from like SCH, is can just spam holy until the fight is done. The MP issue is not an issue, it's what prevents a WHM from being stupidly OP. Be HAPPY they gave us SoS, because they honestly didn't have to.

For the life of me I cannot figure out why healers want to cause more damage. Y'all like a wolf(dps) in sheep's(healer's) clothing.

[Fluffernuff]

now, I'm no healer. and I certainly don't know the first thing about WHM specifically... but... don't WHM already have the most CC out of the healers? i know it doesnt exactly mean all that much when bosses cant be stunned or pushed... and heavy or bind means jack all...

but couldn't that be kind of expanded on? I thought WHM's pure unadulterated healing made them the desired solo-healer not to long ago, so the type of healing I don't think was the issue? What's wrong with a healer that works to prevent the damage as well as can burst heal through whatever gets through?


....I cant be the only Tank that falls in love with every WHM that uses Holy as more than just a DPS dump

[Exiled_Tonberry]

WHM does have a lot of CC yes, but more than half of it means nothing after level 50.

Repose doesn't work in anything anymore, not that you'd actually want to out things to sleep at lv 50 with all the aoe damage. Fluid Aura is more just damage than actual useful crowd control (in fact the pushback is often undesired). The only good CC is Holy's aoe stun.

Above all, this only comes into play in dungeons because raids bosses are never effected by these CC abilities. I'd rather not have WHM be stuck as a dungeon runner only healer.

Also it really is starting to bother me that people list WHMs healing as "pure" and straightforward. What's not straightforward about an AST using the same exact spells with the same exact potencies to heal minus Cure III?

[Docteur_Fluttershy]

its in the mind of people that WHM is the "pure healer with most OP heals" since it was the case back before 3.0, where there was only SCH and WHM, and sch didnt have emergency tactic and indom, making the WHM the only healer with 150+ potency AoE and 400+ solo target heal.

That isnt the case anymore since 3.0, but the mindset of the players havent changed a bit, so we're stuck labelled as the "pure healer".