Is It Even Possible To Have A New Healer Job?

[FrogDog]

I haven't played the games and classes I'm going to mention for a long time so not sure what their current states are.

Rift's Chloro or Bard (more Chloro) pretty straightforward, healing through DPS.
EQ2's Cleric which heals through triggered procs, basically SCH's Excog ability
HoTs, though the HoT classes I've played were more defined by their burst healing or utility than the HoTs themselves. WoW Druid (haven't played one since TBC so old info) was defined by Lifebloom, battle rez, innervate, tranquility, and sometimes CC. SWTOR's operative was defined by it's resource system and building stacks and procs for burst heals.

Whatever form the healing takes, I think the main thing that has to define a new healer job, if there ever is one, is a resource system other than MP. SWTOR's operative was my favorite healer to play as in no small part due to being based on a rogue's energy bar.

[Maku]

The new healer will look very much like the other three in skills with just new effects. Mainly due to the fact that the community will shout and yell if they are not the same thing as the current three. Anything that might set them apart will have to be so diluted as to not make them in any way better than the current three.

So they will have some form of HoT, some form of shielding, some form of buff/WHM lvl DPS, and the ability to burst heal due to this games love of burst damage.

WHM has no shield, they screamed about SCH shields so they gave WHM a shield skill all be it slightly different. AST cards set them apart to much, so they nerfed them down into meaninglessness. Now all three healers are perfectly inter-changeable and no DPS or TANK really cares what symbol is in that green square so long as they have a green square.

[Kacho_Nacho]

The new healer will look very much like the other three in skills with just new effects. Mainly due to the fact that the community will shout and yell if they are not the same thing as the current three. Anything that might set them apart will have to be so diluted as to not make them in any way better than the current three.

So they will have some form of HoT, some form of shielding, some form of buff/WHM lvl DPS, and the ability to burst heal due to this games love of burst damage.

WHM has no shield, they screamed about SCH shields so they gave WHM a shield skill all be it slightly different. AST cards set them apart to much, so they nerfed them down into meaninglessness. Now all three healers are perfectly inter-changeable and no DPS or TANK really cares what symbol is in that green square so long as they have a green square.

I disagree, somewhat. While there are some vocal players who want what the other healers have, I feel the overall community doesn't mind different effects. They are more concerned about equality between the class mechanics. For example, they want to make sure a white mage's reactive heals are just as effective in the raid environment as a scholar's shields.

My chief concern is S.E. may have painted themselves into a corner making it impossible to introduce a new healer without stepping on another healer's niche. Many of the individuals in this thread have quite creatively shown that is not the case.

[Silver_Blade]

In 5.0 they can add channeling as a mechanic and make a healer based around channeling.
Only true way I can see to make a healer that will not feel redundant.

[NobleWinter]

Based on the Lore we meet a lot of people studying Aether and novel ways to employ it. The Anima and Zodiac Weapons Quest are prime examples. I feel like a new way to heal is in there somewhere.

[Alien_Gamer]

Based on the Lore we meet a lot of people studying Aether and novel ways to employ it. The Anima and Zodiac Weapons Quest are prime examples. I feel like a new way to heal is in there somewhere.

Hmm, through years of study you create a sentient simulacrum that aids you in channeling aether which you use to heal peoples injuries? Instead of the simulacrum healing directly, they replenish your MP or grant you healing buffs?

Or perhaps you mean imbuing allies with aether to strengthen them similar to how we imbued weapons with aether? Although, that sounds like regular healing with a different flavor text.

[Tussin]

Salt can heal

[OmegaSinX]

Looking at the three current healers, white mage, scholar, and astrologian, it seems like all the possible healing strategies have been covered. We have healing by raw power, we have healing and mitigation with the help of a minion, and we have healing, mitigation, and buffs with the help of cards.

What else is there? Every idea of a new healer expressed on this forum ends up stepping on another healer's toolkit or is simply unplayable.

So, has Square Enix painted themselves into a corner where no new healing classes can be developed?

Do we really need another healer ? IMO I think the 3 healers are fine as they each provide something else. I rather have them add more abilities to each healer that further strengthen their niche versus adding more healers. More classes that do the same thing means more balance issues down the world.

[Mimilu]

Salt can heal

...Did you just find that picture and want to spam it everywhere on the forums? >w>

[Mahrze]

...Did you just find that picture and want to spam it everywhere on the forums? >w>

No! Don't trigger him to post it for the 20th time! (I counted)