Dps As Healer

[Bourne_Endeavor]

I'm surprised, but also not so surprised that this subject made it here. Anywho, I believe that video was made to showcase how little healing is needed in that dungeon. I don't believe this person was doing it to deliberately be a jerk. But in either case, the point was established that there are instances where a healer literally has nothing to do but contribute to the damage pool. While that video proved a strong case of healer downtime, there is something else to take into consideration: The group still got the clear, and did so under 20 minutes.

Oh, no. I didn't intend to insinuate otherwise. Her jumping around was meant to showcase how little healing was required.

To counter, I posted a video of my own to show how unpredictable damage can be, and casting two holys instead of just one literally made the difference between a wipe and successful trash clear. Granted, the tank did not use any cooldowns, or anything really to save his own ass, but the point was we would not have wiped if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. Everyone was doing the elementary basics of their role. The tank held agro, the DPS were pushing it, but the healer (me) was too focused on DPS and the result was a wipe.

Those pushing their arguments, no matter what side you're on, seem to see healing as a one-given scenario when it is nowhere near that black and white. There are situations where the tank is literally taking no damage, and the healer is left with nothing to do. There are situations where the tank is taking so much damage that not one gcd can be spared to contribute to DPS. There are also situations where incoming damage is so erratic and unpredictable that a GCD used towards damage is a risk.

In short, there are as many valid reasons for a healer to contribute to DPS as there are for them to stay out of Cleric. A truly good healer assesses the situation they are given and responds accordingly. And that is it. Sometimes you get good healers, and sometimes you don't. Same with tanks and DPS. We are actually fortunate that a healer can be subpar and still get clears. Would you or anyone else prefer the opposite?

Actually, I wished your video. The tank didn't rotate cooldowns and you didn't have Regen on them. That being said, mistakes happen and I would happily accept a wipe from a healing attempting to balance Cleric than one standing around. No one has suggested healing is a dichotomy. You will always have to adjust based on groups you're running with. The criticism derives from healers who won't DPS on principle. The "I'm a healer, not a DPS. You should just do more damage," nonsense. The idea is to always be casting. If the tank does happen to take higher damage wherein they need some babying, then by all means, focus on healing. I have those groups were I make a mental note I won't be doing much (or any) DPS this run. On the flipside, if they aren't, then you should be throwing out DoTs and spamming aoes.

Ultimately, we more or less agree.