DPS is the job of DPS.

[Shurrikhan]

To kill things when playing solo and when you're not tanking.

I had a dream, once... where people understood that a tool is useful as broadly or as narrowly as... it is useful; no more, and no less.

Then I woke up.

[Squintina]

They weren't told "this is your box; squat in it," by the design or the community, so even in progression raids there was just one rule -- do whatever's most effective, given the current and upcoming condition of the group.

Well yeah but wasn't that my point? That there's something wrong with this community to be so focused on such things (to the point that it even occasionally shows up in lower-level dungeons)?

[HoodRat]

Well yeah but wasn't that my point? That there's something wrong with this community to be so focused on such things (to the point that it even occasionally shows up in lower-level dungeons)?

Considering how little it takes to just tank or just heal, I would say no. Just the other day I ran leveling roulette on brd and got brayflox with 3 people who had never been there before. Despite the tank and healer both being new, the healer stood around doing nothing for most of the dungeon because of how little healing is actually required, and that's with the tank constantly losing aggro on trash because they only wanted to hold one mob at a time.

[Tzain]

Considering how little it takes to just tank or just heal, I would say no. Just the other day I ran leveling roulette on brd and got brayflox with 3 people who had never been there before. Despite the tank and healer both being new, the healer stood around doing nothing for most of the dungeon because of how little healing is actually required, and that's with the tank constantly losing aggro on trash because they only wanted to hold one mob at a time.

That's also a function of 'power creep'. I can tell you doing 2.0 content during 2.0 did not allow for people to stand around doing nothing and you were actively avoiding pulling the wandering enemies to avoid being overwhelmed.

[akaneakki]

To kill things when playing solo and when you're not tanking.
.

When you tank, do you use sentinel and rampart at the same time?

[winsock]

it is not the healers job. it is not the tanks job.

Please don't throw these two roles into the same group.

The problem with healers not dpsing is that if they aren't dpsing, they're idling. It is a participation issue and DPS is the solution. The community at large understands that as healing requirements increase, healer dps may go down.

Tanks and DPS are in a different boat. Their controversies have nothing to do with participation.

[Aster_E]

That’s just poor play; has nothing to do with a DPS-only mentality. And people that are pro-tanks dropping stance will still say that tanks that refuse to use their defensive cooldowns are as dumb as a box of rocks when they say:

“Why did I die?”
“Did you use a cooldown?”
“No.”
“Then that’s why.”

Or, my personal favorite that I've seen a lot of...

"Why did I die? You're a bad healer!"
"You didn't use cooldowns."
"Yes I did!"
"No, no you literally did not."

[Xerek]

Posted this on another thread, but it applies here, too...

If a healer prefers to primarily heal...let me phrase this carefully...it's alright for them to feel that way. The problem is, FF XIV's current build simply isn't built that way. The current idea is to actually require very little tanking/healing out of tanks/healers so that players of all skill levels can accomplish their primary goal in casual content. However, that means that tanks and healers who are really good at their jobs are really *not* going to be tanks or healers. They are DPS with tank/heal support skills.

Some people don't like it. I liked the idea of wedging some damage into my healing in the past, and using the dreaded Cleric Stance dance. Back then, I still felt primarily like a healer. If I had, say, 75% time spend on heals/buffs and 25% on DPS, I'd be happy. I'd feel like a healer optimizing my playstyle by sneaking some DPS in. That's...not what I feel now. I feel like a sub-par DPS (I play AST and so literally have a DoT, a single-target and an AoE) that also heals a little here or there. I fully understand and empathize with healers that feel the same. At the start we were asked if we wanted to tank, heal or DPS. In reality, the choice now is do you want to DPS...and tank a little, DPS...and heal a little or just plain DPS 100%? And if you don't want to primarily DPS? Well, currently there is nothing for you in FF XIV.

Problem is, what can you do about it? Obvious solution would be for things to hit harder, prompting tanks and healers to work harder as tanks and healers...leaving less time for DPS. However, that comes with problems. First, there are fewer tanks and healers in the game. Ramp up the difficulty significantly, and you might lose some. Then there will be the outcry against tanks and healers when implemented and all of a sudden the run is rougher, along with complaints from people who would still expect a ton of DPS out of tanks and healers despite the change. There would be harassment and shaming, and eventually cries to nerf the content. Essentially, the damage is already done, and that makes it a lot harder to right things. As such, I don't see SE doing a thing about it. They're happy with things the way they are now, where everyone is primarily a DPS, because it allows players of a wider range of skills to play and clear. If you're looking for a role where DPS isn't you're primary focus...well...you won't find one. Not in FF XIV.

To those complaining about people not wanting to DPS. Please take a deep breath and try to be understanding. Things have gotten nasty in here. Keep in mind it comes down to playstyle. Some people would rather tank or heal. Some people might not want or like to DPS. That is playstyle preference, *not* laziness. They have every right to be frustrated by the game the way it is now and the expectations that is placing on people. Try and put yourself in their shoes before blasting them. Try to understand their motivations. No, I don't think a majority of them are advocating healing for 15% of the time and doing nothing else is ideal. They'd love to have things to do the other 85% of the time. Just...not DPS. And that is where this entire thing stems from.

[TouchandFeel]

Or, my personal favorite that I've seen a lot of...

"Why did I die? You're a bad healer!"
"You didn't use cooldowns."
"Yes I did!"
"No, no you literally did not."

I've been on the opposite side of that coin as a tank.

Healer: Lol, you died, why didn't you use any cooldowns!
Me: I did, I used every single one. Why did you not cast a single heal, you just stood there.
Healer: I shouldn't need to, you're too squishy.
Me: What? How so?
Healer: OMG! No wonder you are so squishy, you slotted STR in your accessories instead of VIT! Noob!
Me: *facepalm*

This was in a recent Expert Roulette.

[Enla]

I always find it interesting how SCH is supposed to fit in with these threads, because for all intents and purposes half the reason why the class is even viable to many is because it deliberately strikes the right balance between mitigation, healing, AND DPS. All three of which it isn't the best at individually, but when considered together they offer a rather potent combination. Take away the DPS angle and you're honestly better rolling any other healer because the class loses a key part of it's very identity without the capability to weaving in damage.

That isn't to say you /have/ to abandon the class or go beyond your comfort zone, I'm very much a proponent of the mentality that so long as the party is alive I don't care how much DPS the healer happens to be putting out. Yet the idea that it's 'not the healer's job' runs contrary to how SCH itself is built and contrary to the lull times in each fight where the healer honestly has nothing else to do but twiddle their thumbs if they don't have a penchant for over-healing. This game is pretty much built around everyone chipping in when able, even if it just means throwing out a dot or two. Which, quite honestly, I do think everyone should do regardless of what class they're playing. You don't need to Stone/Broil/Malefic spam in order to contribute to the team and keeping track of a dot is hardly a consideration at all when most happen to have a long timer.

Whether or not you're comfortable enough to do that however is entirely up to you, and unless you're pushing content I don't much see a reason to be upset either way in the end. The game might be built a certain way but most casual and even hardcore content is forgiving enough that you can get away with playing the game more in your personal comfort zone. However don't be surprised when things go slower or people get antsy. That's the trade off you need to accept.