Healer design is still terrible and I'm tired of apologizing for it.

[Gemina]

First post, been a lurker here for years.

My initial experiences with Endwalker has of course been on the new shiny job, Sage, because healing and support is where (traditionally) most of my enjoyment in this game has come from. I was hoping for a shift in direction for the healing role or at least an expansion on the philosophy from Shb, since I profoundly hate the current paradigm of 1 button spam for healers. It seems like SE just doubled down on that paradigm and I'm so frustrated with it it's brought me out of the shadows to complain about it on the forums.

For the life of me, I can't fathom why SE would design the healing role around being completely unnecessary if the tank is pressing 1-2-3 correctly. It's like SE is so frightened about having any healers (or tanks for that matter) be required to play their role they balance group content around 75% of people being afk, all for what? Appease those who would rather stare at pretty particle effects instead of playing a videogame? It feels patronizing, quite honestly.

Needless to say I'm very disappointed and my enjoyment of the game has incredibly diminished because job design in general has seemed to have taken a big hit post-Shb with no meaningful plus side. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way and I wish SE would at least give the appearance they're listening like they have done so well in the past.

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

Next is I wish my response to your entry wasn't along the lines of telling you that you are preaching to the choir. A lot, and I do mean a lot of people here on the forums will agree with you. Unfortunately when that is the case, then it also becomes very difficult for you to provide a fresh perspective on the matter, and to interact with those who do oppose your views. In case you are not aware, there are many healers who support current healer design. Crazy, right?

The other thing I will mention is the devs do not create this false expectation that the players carry into every expansion. This is created by the players themselves, and I would even go as far to say the devs make sure to let the players know that encounter design isn't changing. Yet, they will still carry the expectation regardless.

Anyone who thought Sage would be this breakout healer that would "change the game" is the epitome of that false expectation. Most knew that despite all the fancy animations and a few more DPS options, SGE was still a healer at the end of the day. It is those players who are enjoying this job right now. It is also those players who have actually noticed that while the core concept of the job is the same, the manner which a SGE supports the party actually has them drawing upon their resources differently. In that sense, it has changed how a healer prioritizes their skills, which can make it feel quite different and take some getting used to. Just ask the many tanks who ate the floor with a SGE healer this past week (many of whom anticipated it).

I assure you, SE isn't frightened about anything. That's the echo chamber influencing your thoughts. They are however, conscious of how fallible human beings are, and that the very nature of the healer role is reactionary as a result of that. Healer is not the best role - nor should even be in contention, when it comes to optimization. There is another role in this game that is purely designed entirely around that concept and you know which one it is.