Discussion: Healer Identities & Implementation of Healing Roles in FFXIV

[lordcruxis]

The problem is that each healer cannot rely on only one form of healing because of the way damage happens in FFXIV.

Being HoT based is not sufficient for healing intensive phases on certain fights (Heartless Angel of O8S, Pantokrator II on O11S, Akh Morns...), while it's handy in downtimes.
Direct heals are the easy route, and all healers have them. But they kinda hinder DPSing, buffing, whatever you should do when you don't heal (and FFXIV doe snot require that much heal overall).
Shields are most of the time too mana consuming to be efficient compared to partywide mitigation (Shake it off, Retorsion, Dismantle, Addle etc.), unless a mechanic forces you to do so.
Pet healing is fine, but pet AI in FFXIV can be stubborn sometimes, although it had been addressed it still needs some refinements.

I'm not into healers being "specialized" in forms of healing. I'd give them all minimal shields, regens and direct heals. Then I'd focus on identity, gameplay for each one. Be a bit more extensive on Scholar pet and damage prevention. More card things for the astro. And then White mage needs to find a spot between those two.

This post unintentionally points out the exact problem with SCH, in that it gets multiple identities, while the other healers are expected to have 1

[Mansion]

This post unintentionally points out the exact problem with SCH, in that it gets multiple identities, while the other healers are expected to have 1

Well AST regardless of the Sect will have "minimal" function of the other one through Collective Uncounscious, that both shields and regens, with a longer CD though. But AST's strength currently is Earthly Star, Essential Dignity and cards (with Time Dilatation, Opposition included), and Regens because Noct Ast is not too interesting. Anyway, its identity is covering several aspects.
SCH also has several identities because being specialized in one would make it a bit too boring I guess. I don't think that's a problem for SCH, it's even a strength.

And as Bobsmiaw says, WHM just throws rocks. And it's not even it's power because both SCH and AST outDPS WHM in a raid context.