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

[HoodRat]

Then you shouldn't be DPSing, the SCH should. That is the pro DPS argument in raid, one person handles healing, one person DPSes and heals when they need to...Having two healers means that optimal play has one healer primarily healing...

That is incorrect. Both healers are able to dps. Optimal play with two healers is basically the same as optimal play with two tanks. For tanks, you utilize tank swaps and CDs as necessary so that both tanks can spend as much time as possible in dps stance. For healers, both healers should use the heals they have which are more appropriate for the situation so that both can stay in cleric stance as much as possible.One thing I've learned recently is that the whole mt/ot and mh/oh thing isn't the best way to go in this game. "Shared responsibilities" provides better results. However, I've noticed that many people are just incapable of doing this. From personal experience, it seems that it's not a lack of skill, it's just a lot of people refuse to accept the fact that the "mt" and the "mh" can contribute to dps as well.

We are talking about savage raid content, not dungeons. The argument isn't black and white.

In any content, if you know what you're doing you'll have time to dps. If you don't know what you're doing you probably won't be dpsing, or if you are people are dying. Just like in dungeons, you have to learn when you need to heal and when you can dps in raids. Sounds pretty black and white to me.

[Lambdafish]

That is incorrect. Both healers are able to dps. Optimal play with two healers is basically the same as optimal play with two tanks. For tanks, you utilize tank swaps and CDs as necessary so that both tanks can spend as much time as possible in dps stance. For healers, both healers should use the heals they have which are more appropriate for the situation so that both can stay in cleric stance as much as possible.One thing I've learned recently is that the whole mt/ot and mh/oh thing isn't the best way to go in this game. "Shared responsibilities" provides better results. However, I've noticed that many people are just incapable of doing this. From personal experience, it seems that it's not a lack of skill, it's just a lot of people refuse to accept the fact that the "mt" and the "mh" can contribute to dps as well.

You are correct, however that doesn't make me incorrect, as I already mentioned this. You are still acting like the argument is black and white, and it is far from it.

What you are describing is pro level optimal play (the difficulty of achieving which is subjective, but we can at least concede that this is how expert healers play), and it is not essential that healers at all levels conform to this to be a valid member of the party. My idea of MH/OH wasn't intended to represent the best way to heal, but rather to give inexperienced raid healers like Feyona an idea of how raid DPS can be co-ordinated easily between the two healers. The type of healing you are describing comes with experience, muscle memory, and knowledge of fights and there is no way that it can be achieved as an ameteur healer who doesn't know the fight.

As an example, I would compare this level of play to WARs and DRKs who can MT in DPS stance, something which is not essential, but will mark you as a good tank. On the flipside, a tank who OTs in tank stance, and doesn't utilise their full toolkit (WAR not using storms eye/path, a DRK not using darkside/dark arts, and a PLD not using goring blade) is the equivilent of a healer who idles when they should be doing something. There is a middle ground, in fact there is a whole spectrum of middle grounds that label you as anything from an average healer to an amazing healer.

In any content, if you know what you're doing you'll have time to dps. If you don't know what you're doing you probably won't be dpsing, or if you are people are dying. Just like in dungeons, you have to learn when you need to heal and when you can dps in raids. Sounds pretty black and white to me.

You'll notice I already said this:

but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't DPS when they can, only that they won't get many opportunities too.

to which I should add "and the more someone knows the fight, the more opportunities you will find", however this should not be forced on a healer by another member of the party, and even less someone on the forums, as these moments are found through practice and an in depth knowledge of their role.