Why do so many statics seem to be missing healers? What can be done to solve this?

[Taika]

But this is a thread complaining about how hard it is to find healers for statics in XIV.

I realize that healers and tanks will naturally be harder to come by in MMOs, but XIV seems to have a harder time with healers period and I feel like that's because of how "healers" can expect to spend the majority of their time not even doing what they thought they were leveling the class to do.

The experiences vary, though. I've never had trouble finding healers for statics or PF groups, although of course I've mained one myself for a long time. But right now, when I've been trying to get some content done on healer, I've found groups lacking room for me in that role and had to go as a tank or DD instead. If anything, most PF groups seem to be waiting for tanks.

[RopeDrink]

Back in my day, we had to get 40 people together for Vanilla WoW raids, which alone could take an hour (or several), just to enter content that would take equally (usually more) hours to see any kind of progression, AND would have to train guildies up because it was the only way to fill said raids the next time. A whole day could sometimes be drained just to end up killing 1/3rd of a raid (if training), or equally as long with core-groups to complete it for a chance to try and win an item through filthy DKP systems. Now it's "What, you don't know the fight? Well screw you, we'll wait for someone who does (for an hour, or however long it takes)".

If it's not population then it's typically community. I'm a DPS healer, yet I typically avoid savage et al as my FC is a graveyard and party-search tends to throw you into groups who automatically assume anyone who signs up knows what they're doing (to a tee) purely because they meet an ilev requirement and had the balls to join. I don't know any of the savage/higher content as I have no group, friends or active guild-mates, and I see no real reason to sign up and walk into a waiting stranger-flame-fest who won't allow any time to learn the hard way. After all, it's usually the only way to get first-hand experience, and why a lot of the so-called 'bad healers' will tend to wait until such content enters the practice/roulette phase before they get to see it (unless they can do so with understanding FC members). You can watch as many 'guide' videos or read about the fight as much as you like (older ones went on as long as 10-15+minutes of explanations), it just won't beat seeing the fights for yourself and getting into a rhythm/groove.

Meanwhile, I can continue being my awesome DPS-self in casual rouls/Rabanastre and feel good about myself. Given I enjoy it (and can get my classes some half-decent gear through it), that's fine by me. Yet... I was a raider in WoW and I do hate being unable to see content. I typically play 1-2 days and, due to being capped at everything, log out for a week. I could be exploring the higher content with that spare time, yet I just cannot be bothered 'enduring' a sign-up process that will invariably lead to gear checks, pickiness, flames, and no time to learn/improve if those boxes add up to inexperience-wipes because nobody seems to have the time for that any more (outside of FC groups, probably).

[Ilyrian]

Back in my day, we had to get 40 people together for Vanilla WoW raids, which alone could take an hour (or several), just to enter content that would take equally (usually more) hours to see any kind of progression, AND would have to train guildies up because it was the only way to fill said raids the next time. A whole day could sometimes be drained just to end up killing 1/3rd of a raid (if training)

To be fair a 1/3rd of the raid could be carried through MC if you had around 15ish good dps/tanks/healers doing their jobs properly (and geared to a certain point, true). I distinctly remember my priest and another mage being the sole dispeller/decurser being fed Innervates whilst the rest of the healers ran into walls or exploded. Good times. Would I do it again now? Hell no. Like you I'm quite happy doing chill things in FFXIV without that kind of stress.

[RopeDrink]

That was MC. Try carrying that same group through, say, Patchwerk. MC wasn't TOO bad but the likes of Nefa or Naxx were a nightmare depending on route.

Would I do it again now? Hell no.

That's the blessing and the curse. I may have been a raider, yet I never liked it as much as the heroic TBC dungeons (pre-nerf, back when mere trash had the power to obliterate tanks in a second unless everyone, DPS/Tank/Healer, were co-ordinating CC and mindful of the party setups before they even went in there, and even then it was going to HURT like hell).

Then I remember the game sliding down the 'casual' path and being a bit upset. First it was the heroic nerfs, then everything else started to become easy. Yes, the above description of vanilla raids was excessive and needed a bit of toning for sure, so it was understandable to a degree, and it's good for the majority seeing as not every gamer is a basement dwelling hardcore grinder with whole days of free time to burn in the raiding toilet -- yet when the easier route become the norm, expectations shift and now people want content to be quicker and less painful in more ways than just time-requirement, because it's somewhat the standard.

Knowing that someone like me, who is sticking to casual content for everyone's benefit (my own included), I see no point walking into a situation where people will think me a timewaster for not having had the luxury to get any kind of first-hand experience in X or Y fight/content. This simply means said groups just have to find another Healer. Sounds small, but this problem adds up in a game where there are actually (supposedly) less Healers than Tanks in general.

[RopeDrink]

Man... It's been 12 years already...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwlwhax3IM4

EDIT: Vid is actually relevant to earlier point. I made a joke-vid out of it for a laugh, but the wipe was to train/show people the fight (back when it was a thing). You can be sure many Healers (like myself) may not be in a position to get a hand-hold from FC members or groups willing to take the chance.

[Tridus]

To be fair a 1/3rd of the raid could be carried through MC if you had around 15ish good dps/tanks/healers doing their jobs properly (and geared to a certain point, true). I distinctly remember my priest and another mage being the sole dispeller/decurser being fed Innervates whilst the rest of the healers ran into walls or exploded. Good times. Would I do it again now? Hell no. Like you I'm quite happy doing chill things in FFXIV without that kind of stress.

Hunters turning on auto shot and going AFK for the entire fight on stuff like Geddon. The struggle was real as a Holy Priest.

[Ilyrian]

the heroic TBC dungeons (pre-nerf, back when mere trash had the power to obliterate tanks in a second unless everyone, DPS/Tank/Healer, were co-ordinating CC and mindful of the party setups before they even went in there, and even then it was going to HURT like hell).

Yes totally agree; Shattered Halls, Shadow Labs - even Black Morass was tightly tuned and a challenge in their first incarnations. That's what FFXIV (and WoW) now lacks; challenging content that is easily accessible outside of 'raiding' - baseline content that is challenging and requires people to perform their specific roles to a set standard.

Knowing that someone like me, who is sticking to casual content for everyone's benefit (my own included), I see no point walking into a situation where people will think me a timewaster for not having had the luxury to get any kind of first-hand experience in X or Y fight/content. This simply means said groups just have to find another Healer. Sounds small, but this problem adds up in a game where there are actually (supposedly) less Healers than Tanks in general.

Yes, I'm in the same position. I'd consider myself a seasoned raider but I've got that issue where I'm looking for a group to learn the fights with without being a burden to the group. Also even after a few months, I'm still not 100% sure I like the twitchy (and often laggy) 'dance' that is raiding in FFXIV. But hopefully It'll click at some point.

[Ilyrian]

The struggle was real as a Holy Priest.

Holy Priest tears are only rivaled by Mage tears

[Deceptus]

The big problem with static is usually the times. Quite a few of the ones I see expect people to static the same thing 4 nights a week. For 3-4 hours a night..

I think that's where a lot of the difficulty finding people comes in. Cos group's set there demands so high.

I'd probably be more inclined if group's did 1 or 2 nights a week. For a couple of hours. But more than that nah..

This is the exact reason I don't do savage content (I heal and tank). I play to relax, not have a second job.

[Cyrocco]

The big problem with static is usually the times. Quite a few of the ones I see expect people to static the same thing 4 nights a week. For 3-4 hours a night..

I think that's where a lot of the difficulty finding people comes in. Cos group's set there demands so high.

I'd probably be more inclined if group's did 1 or 2 nights a week. For a couple of hours. But more than that nah..

I'd actually like to give my two cents on this too. I heal and tank, but I can't participate in endgame because people need players at the most impossible of times. I figured that in a game where you pay a subscription, most would be working the kind of hours where people need late-nighters for raiding, but for some reason, most of them are looking for players that can raid in the middle of the afternoon or somewhat late shift. And I'm just working.