Quote Originally Posted by Renathras View Post
They were.

For some reason, when ShB hit, the Devs decided Support was bad, so stripped BRD and MCH of their support. Then they promptly introduced DNC as a Support. Then BRDs were mad so they gave them some of theirs back, but it's all basically the same type of thing. And then nerfed AST cards into being just another form of the same thing. It's all "+X% damage" just through different proxies.
The devs decided Support was bad because they don't want to deal with the balancing nightmare. I understand the work load, but they lost any and all sympathy the moment they thought "removing it all" was the best course of action. It wasn't for anyone BUT them. Doubly so because they gave nothing as an alternative.

1. No its not. See 6.
2 + 5. I don't see it happening because SE doesn't know how to design encounters that promote proper healing checks or unscripted damage or are afraid of scaring away healer mains as if the vast majority of us who have this issue aren't prepared for them.
3. Good luck convincing WAR.
6. And the reason why your 4 healers model doesn't work is because you do nothing to address WHM Veterans other than "go play another job". That's not fair. SMN had that happen to them, and so did AST. TWICE. No. WHM mains deserve to be given something too.

Now I'll agree that all 4 healers should be different from one another. And WHM should remain an ease of access healer in comparison to the other 3. That does not mean, however it shouldn't get something for WHM mains and veteran healers something extra other than boring game play.

Damage buffing might be considered support more if, as Askellington said, it wasn't something that so many Jobs do to the point it's more a combat mechanic than support (and is done on a rote timer, not in reaction or preaction to any encounter abilities themselves).
@Post said that, not me.