White Mage is falling behind while Astro keeps getting buffs

[Seredeelfer]

WHM *can't* compete with SCH for that spot (since WHM isn't a mitigative healer), so we don't waste our time making a deal out of it.

Until mitigation is massively devalued in favour of raw healing, this will continue to be the case.

Preventing damage is (almost) always going to be preferred to healing it up afterwards, at least in every game I've played. I think the devs tried to address this with Primordial Crust, an interesting approach.

[Risvertasashi]

Preventing damage is (almost) always going to be preferred to healing it up afterwards, at least in every game I've played. I think the devs tried to address this with Primordial Crust, an interesting approach.

In FFXIV, HoTs are vastly more efficient and powerful than shields. The use case for shields is when the party or tank cannot survive a big hit without them, or if there's a White Hole-esque mechanic following up on such a hit. Otherwise, in optimal play, shields are typically not worth the cost and time (exceptions: benison, the blackest night, and other oGCD shields that are free or low cost).

Saying SCH's strength is in shields is a misassessment, otherwise Nocturnal AST wouldn't be so bad (even during that patch where they were buffed upwards so much). SCH's strength is in having a pet that can dispense a variety of heals at no MP cost and no GCD cost. Including the most powerful single-target HoT in the game by several times, and a very powerful party HoT.

Of course the shields aren't bad, especially something like a critlo deploy. But they're on the GCD and costly - both in terms of MP and DPS. Good scholars avoid shielding as much as possible. And they do have the powerful HoTs to do so.

This is also why even in a WHM+AST composition, Diurnal AST is preferred unless someone absolutely cannot survive without the shields. The HoTs are just so much more powerful and efficient.

[technole]

AST/SCH was the meta healing combo at the end of HW, and it's the same in SB, and both were world first savage clears. WHM was okay this entire expansion, after the ill-fated illy debacle. But it's still the "selfish" healer with no party utility. No one can say "WHM is the progression healer" that's false, and has been for awhile now.

It's not really going to change unless another healer gets into the equation to change that. Plus as long as an Astro is a buff-healer with practically the same raw healing potencies as WHM. "Instant" skill buffs had also made CO more powerful. SCH is always invited to the party because of the best oGCD in the game with Indom and having Chain.

AST/SCH became instantly viable after the first set of AST buffs in HW, but was always the real meta. It just became more realized in Alexander: Midas which was world 3rd combo.

[Fiorinol]

I'm definitely feeling it with the O12S first phase fight. The DPS check is rather tight, and not running AST is pretty much taking away DPS from your party which at this point (which can be applied to both targets in the encounter), is essential to even be able to see phase 2 of the encounter.

I got the flask and the tomestone to upgrade my weapon after the reset, and I'm wondering whether I should upgrade my WHM weapon or just upgrade my AST weapon.

[Risvertasashi]

I got the flask and the tomestone to upgrade my weapon after the reset, and I'm wondering whether I should upgrade my WHM weapon or just upgrade my AST weapon.

If you feel truly neutral about the healers from a personal preference standpoint, AST is a no brainer. If nothing else, you won't get complaints about ruining people's parses, and they'll ask you to run AST anyways.

[technole]

I'm definitely feeling it with the O12S first phase fight. The DPS check is rather tight, and not running AST is pretty much taking away DPS from your party which at this point (which can be applied to both targets in the encounter), is essential to even be able to see phase 2 of the encounter.

I got the flask and the tomestone to upgrade my weapon after the reset, and I'm wondering whether I should upgrade my WHM weapon or just upgrade my AST weapon.

If your team cares about pushing damage a lot, you'll get that nudge about Astro all the time.

You also know if they were gasping when muted when the Cane is out.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

I'm definitely feeling it with the O12S first phase fight. The DPS check is rather tight, and not running AST is pretty much taking away DPS from your party which at this point (which can be applied to both targets in the encounter), is essential to even be able to see phase 2 of the encounter.

I got the flask and the tomestone to upgrade my weapon after the reset, and I'm wondering whether I should upgrade my WHM weapon or just upgrade my AST weapon.

It's so damn bad that we have to even think like this really. We shouldn't feel like we're a hard detriment to our raid group for not playing AST, seriously.

[Tint]

I think when they want to keep the pure healer idea for WHM at least WHM should be a real powerhouse in that regard.

Give him an aoe Benediction, aoe dispell (seriously, why got SCH it?), give him a Raise 2 (raise without weakness, helloo raid utility) and maybe buff his potencys, so he actually heals more than the other healers, even if it's useless. And can we have back the weak off-gcd heal on a 15 second cooldown we had only for a few weeks in early SB? Make it single target and don't tie it to these stupid stacks, yes? And what's with re-raise?

[Numenor1379]

I want Stoneskin and Stoneskin II back. *grumpy WHM*

[HyperiusUltima]

4.4 Stormblood, meet 3.4 Heavensward.

One thing I've been thinking about is how they could possibly rework the gauge(let's be honest, IT'S COMPLETE DOG CRAP).

I think I might've said something a while back along the lines of maybe being able to use an Elemental Gauge? I mean, WHM ties into the elementals rather closely and I'd like to see more of that explored as Lore in the next expansion.

For instance, here's something:

Upon use of Water Element Spells(Healing Magic, Fluid Aura, etc.) it'll increase the gauge by a set amount. I'd bet there'd also be a gauge spender involved which might be in terms of a big heal to help through mechanics or a large AoE Spell like Water III or something like that for large damage.

Upon use of Earth Element Spells(Stone IV, Divine Benison) it'd increase the gauge by a set amount. On top of that they could cast Stoneskin II as an oGCD once enough Gauge is built, or use Quake(AoE, 300 Potency Earth Spell; 10y radius).

Heck, for Aero II and Aero III, they could potentially cast Tornado(AoE, 100 Potency Wind Spell, applies 70 pot DoT for 24s) or use Haste on a target to increase their Attack Speed and reduce recast by a set amount for about 20s.

Those are just some ideas I'm throwing around, but I think maybe once they finally give WHM the utility it's overdue for(outside of having everyone steal its own capabilities and not giving back...kinda the theme for Stormblood isn't it?). Still...are there really any better ideas to make WHM stand out and not lose its identity a SECOND TIME to AST's broken balance issues?