Dear Healers who don't DPS

[Taika]

Sure, if the healer was DPSing the amount I would be in place of said tank. Thankfully, that hypothetical situation is impossible to accomplish in FFXIV with the exception of a PLD who only used flash . . . which has probably never happened ever. Conversely a healer not DPSing can still occur while they do their job and the three other members do their respective jobs. And the dungeon would not be significantly longer for it.

But let's say you'd have a PLD who'd only Flash to keep hate (I'm only leveling PLD right now, it's 65, but so far seems possible), and a healer who'd only heal. You would be missing out on at least the DPS of one extra DD in the party, and leaving all the DPS on the 2 DDs. Would you consider that acceptable? Would it be somehow more acceptable for the healer to not DPS than the PLD, and if so, why?

To me, being a healer main from 1.0 until early SB (AST was my first 70), it's always been self-evident to me that DPS is part of my job, just like it is when I'm tanking, and I've never understood people who see it wouldn't be. And it's not about "dungeon taking longer" or not, it's about being able to be useful to your party - so why would you choose not to be?

[Sebazy]

Sure, if the healer was DPSing the amount I would be in place of said tank. Thankfully, that hypothetical situation is impossible to accomplish in FFXIV with the exception of a PLD who only used flash . . . which has probably never happened ever.

I distinctly remember someone on here doing a Baelsar's Wall run as DRK (Perhaps with a healer that didn't DPS as well? I forget the specifics) and they tanked the entire thing end to end with flash. To say it was a slow run was an understatement. Hopefully someone has a link to the youtube replay of it.

Again, do not underestimate how much DPS a healer can put out on trash packs, ~20-30% of a groups DPS is both very realistic and significant in my book.

[Avatre]

To me, being a healer main from 1.0 until early SB (AST was my first 70), it's always been self-evident to me that DPS is part of my job, just like it is when I'm tanking, and I've never understood people who see it wouldn't be. And it's not about "dungeon taking longer" or not, it's about being able to be useful to your party - so why would you choose not to be?

For me in regards to healing, the cake is the healing aspect. The icing(which isn't needed for all cakes) is the DPS. Does it make the cake more enjoyable for the majority of people? Sure, but it isn't needed.
Though, I also find healing boring when I don't DPS at the same time(if the tank is doing small pulls).
It's really all up to 2 main things:
1. How new/comfortable is the healer with being able to DPS and heal at the same time?
2. How big of a pull with/without cool downs is the tank doing?

Saying that healer must DPS is just an opinion, and based on personal skill/experience. Newer healers I don't expect to see them DPS, and won't tell them to, since I want them to get comfortable with healing/knowing when to throw those large heals out.

[Shadowblind]

snip

You make a good point and one I ultimately agree with: if you CAN dps, do it. The difference between tank dps and healer DPS is that FFXIV has been designed in such a way that the tank generally does need to do damage to keep aggro. To do their job, they have to DPS. Even if a PLD only wanted to Flash, he'd have to use riot blade pretty consistently to maintain MP. For a healer to do their job, they don't need to do damage at all. And the party could still pass.

I'll maintain that a healer who can DPS will always be more appreciated that one who can't. And for speedrunner groups or high end players, that DPS may be mandatory. However, For me and others who play the game casually, I don't check to see if the healer is DPSing or not. I don't parse DPS. It's never made my experience more or less enjoyable, save for grinding Titan EX and Titan HM.


Whether a healer DPS or not is up to them should they run a party with me. I wouldn't get mad unless we consistently drop due to lack of healing. However if they DO dps then I'll probably commend them. It's an added bonus in my estimation. BTW if I came off standoffish, apologies! Never meant to since I both see your PoV and in many ways agree with it. TL;DR for me, if a healer does DPS, cool. If not, alright. Long as they keep healing, haha.

[Kuwagami]

PF = Healer DPS or boot.
Static = Healers do what they're comfortable with, along with a supportive group who understands they don't pay your subscription.

My point. Expect the flaming and salt in PF groups. It's where the hardcore turds hang out. If you don't want to deal with that, form a static group. You will likely learn more with a static as well.

Your backwards train of thoughts is disturbing. PFs are where idiots thinking they are pro try to impose the 1% playstyle to everyone else, while playing subpar at best themselves. If I see a healer dpsing in PF, it's christmas before the day

[Shadowblind]

I distinctly remember someone on here doing a Baelsar's Wall run as DRK (Perhaps with a healer that didn't DPS as well? I forget the specifics) and they tanked the entire thing end to end with flash. To say it was a slow run was an understatement. Hopefully someone has a link to the youtube replay of it.

Again, do not underestimate how much DPS a healer can put out on trash packs, ~20-30% of a groups DPS is both very realistic and significant in my book.

But . . . how? Don't they need MP? And more importantly, why??? That couldn't possibly be fun o_o

[Sebazy]

For me in regards to healing, the cake is the healing aspect. The icing(which isn't needed for all cakes) is the DPS. Does it make the cake more enjoyable for the majority of people? Sure, but it isn't needed.

That's not an argument I'm especially keen on TBH. By all rights you could clear an instance with everyone mashing 1 ability. It might well take 90 minutes to do so but you'll get there eventually right? Anything more than that isn't needed.

The whole 'I'm a healer and that's the end of that' mentality is woefully outdated and frankly a hinderance. We are supports and IMHO we are there to make the run better in whatever way we can. If that involves mashing cure 2 on a tank that's taking an absolute pasting then so be it. If it involves spending time DPSing rather than twiddling our thumbs then game on. Adapt to the situation at hand and get on with it.

It doesn't matter if a non DPSing healer is being lazy, one dimensional, simply lacking in talent or would just rather watch Netflix. Much better that they stop making excuses and try to expand their horizons a little bit at a time <3

But . . . how? Don't they need MP? And more importantly, why??? That couldn't possibly be fun o_o

Blood price for days (and days and days). It was in response to a thread not too dissimilar to this one

[Shadowblind]

Blood price for days (and days and days). It was in response to a thread not too dissimilar to this one

Oh wow. That's awful. Sounds like one of the only good things to come from the Blood Price nerf. XD

[Thunda_Cat_SMASH]

Again, do not underestimate how much DPS a healer can put out on trash packs, ~20-30% of a groups DPS is both very realistic and significant in my book.

Also indicative of DPS that don't have even the most basic understanding of their job or class.

[Maeka]

-snip-

I remember doing many early level dungeons where the PLD had nothing but RoH combo and healers very rarely DPS'd way back before Heavensward. We got through the dungeons just fine. The mobs are designed with 2 DPS in mind.