New spells

[Lodi]

Dude, ogcds are a huge part of the problem that healers currently have. Like the OP pointed out, nearly all of the new abilities we've gained since pretty much ARR are all ogcd, and even if they are on the gcd like with Misery, it is still an instant cast. Healer is still supposed to be a casting role, and we don't do a whole lot of casting outside of spamming our one ST and AoE option.

Devs are so intent on mechanics that make healers dance around AoEs instead of actually heal, which is why the mobility is needed. It is a result of encounter design that focuses so much on throwing off a player's DPS.

I think back to when the devs would state that healer DPS isn't accounted for when designing raids and DPS checks. I'm starting to wonder if they are accounted for at all.

I don't have anything against the Afflatus heals being instant cast, I have something against them being Cure II_B and Medica I_B.

I'd much rather something like the PvP versions where Afflatus heals are about 40% direct heals and 60% regens.
That way we'd put a bit more thought on hardcasting vs Afflatus, because they have different effects and potencies.

[Gemina]

I don't have anything against the Afflatus heals being instant cast, I have something against them being Cure II_B and Medica I_B.

I'd much rather something like the PvP versions where Afflatus heals are about 40% direct heals and 60% regens.
That way we'd put a bit more thought on hardcasting vs Afflatus, because they have different effects and potencies.

That is hardly my issue with the Afllatus skills, and find this common complaint about them to be misplaced. My issue with GCD skills being instant is they take away the feeling of being a caster. What's more satisfying for you to use: Holy, or Art of War? Let's take away that stun effect and compare Gravity to AoW instead. Why does using AoW suck to use despite being more powerful than either Holy or Gravity? It can't be having to be in melee range, WHM has to do that too. Anywho, I think you get the point.

Even that is not my true issue with Afflatus skills. My issue is there is no dump, and in a lot of content, I can't play the job optimally if I want to make use of Misery because the amount of healing requirements cannot break the threshold past my regens, Benison, Tetra, and Bene. What this translates to is that a big WHM problem from SB still exists in ShB: Taking advantage of the job's new mechanic literally makes you play the job incorrectly. That's a BIG problem.

[Lodi]

That is hardly my issue with the Afllatus skills, and find this common complaint about them to be misplaced. My issue with GCD skills being instant is they take away the feeling of being a caster. What's more satisfying for you to use: Holy, or Art of War? Let's take away that stun effect and compare Gravity to AoW instead. Why does using AoW suck to use despite being more powerful than either Holy or Gravity? It can't be having to be in melee range, WHM has to do that too. Anywho, I think you get the point.

Even that is not my true issue with Afflatus skills. My issue is there is no dump, and in a lot of content, I can't play the job optimally if I want to make use of Misery because the amount of healing requirements cannot break the threshold past my regens, Benison, Tetra, and Bene. What this translates to is that a big WHM problem from SB still exists in ShB: Taking advantage of the job's new mechanic literally makes you play the job incorrectly. That's a BIG problem.

This I cannot disagree with, hardcasting something feels more impactful than instant casts. But at the same time, WHM badly needs weaving tools now that our dot has a longer duration.

I think a good compromise would be a 1 or 1.5s cast for Afflatus spells. It doesn't remove the impact and tension from the cast, and allows a bit of weaving on top of it.

But I still think that Solace and Rapture shouldn't be carbon copies of Cure II and Medica, I wish they had slightly different effects.