#FFXIVHEALERSTRIKE

[Lyth]

Players tend to seek out support roles based on the perceived value that they bring to their teammates. FFXIV has systematically devalued support gameplay over the past few expansions. Healers have been hit hardest by this due to the combined effect of role encroachment from both of the other roles, in addition to the rotational simplifications and mitigation bloat that have impacted both support types.

I think the biggest impact that this discussion has had is in raising the question: 'Do we, as a community, value healers?' That's the real point underlying the healerless clear VODs that we've seen across this expansion. The common ground that we can see from observing both sides of the conversation is that this playerbase really doesn't value healers. As that perception becomes more widespread, you'll find fewer people who would have traditionally opted for the role actually picking it up.

What tends to stabilize support populations somewhat is the identity that support players develop over many years as 'career tanks' and 'career healers'. That gets reinforced partially by the perception of being the 'go to person' for that role in your circle of friends, and partially by pure habit. When you see so many longstanding healers openly state that they're switching to other roles, it makes you re-examine what your own goals are around playing the role. Change is often difficult, but once you overcome that initial inertia you might find yourself asking why you didn't do this sooner yourself.

Once players make the switch over to greener pastures, then it becomes twice as difficult to bring them back. It no longer becomes enough to offer up a 'healer role' that self-identified 'healer mains' can unquestioningly fall into. You then actually have to incentivize people to play it over DPS or tank.

That's the reason why I see this as a confluence of individuals voluntarily making a change for themselves, rather than unionized action against the game direction. You can't force a change. It's about more giving yourself the value that you actually deserve. And as more healers make personal decisions do this by swapping roles, it stimulates others to reflect on why they're still stuck on a role that nobody else values.

Dawntrail is the vacation expansion, after all. Sometimes you just need to pack up and take some time away from an unfulfilling role.

[WaxSw]

I mean regardless of the queues the strike has already accomplished its goal. It has brought light to the healer problems.

Just look at the reactions of the SE white knights or the media coverage it has received, this is a first for healers and hopefully it brings changes to the role in the future

[RulerOfPotaoes]

I'll still play healer during launch. DPS queues will be miserable with or without a healer "strike"

Seems incredibly petty and selfish to make the enjoyment of other players playing other roles be affected during the launch of an Expansion.

You're doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. And I applaud everyone who isn't going to take part on this petty immature strike.

[GartredZW]

I'll still play healer during launch. DPS queues will be miserable with or without a healer "strike"

Seems incredibly petty and selfish to make the enjoyment of other players playing other roles be affected during the launch of an Expansion.

You're doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. And I applaud everyone who isn't going to take part on this petty immature strike.

"Play the boring role, or you're selfish"
How about Square fix their game to make us want to play healer again.

[EusisLandale]

The healer's job is not to make sure other people are allowed to enjoy the game. If a healer no longer enjoys healing, then they absolutely can change their role without being petty, selfish, and wrong.
Or are all the current DPS and tanks all petty, selfish, and wrong for not playing healer too?

[Supersnow845]

No no no no you see IM not selfish for playing DPS because WOTJSMGLAJGHXNEMwgkdkgmb but YOU are selfish because you won’t fill my queues

Glad we could clear this up

[PercibelTheren]

No no no no you see IM not selfish for playing DPS because WOTJSMGLAJGHXNEMwgkdkgmb but YOU are selfish because you won’t fill my queues

Glad we could clear this up

I thought Arthars was just being Arthars calling casual healers NPCs but, as it turns out, apparently quite a large chunk of the community sees healers that way, which is really sad.

[Nyome]

Came across this which sums up the current state of healing...

[rawker]

I thought Arthars was just being Arthars calling casual healers NPCs but, as it turns out, apparently quite a large chunk of the community sees healers that way, which is really sad.

Healers are always seen as doormats.. Even in most games, a healer is mostly a slave account.

[Keldion]

As someone who has played all jobs I think these complaints are incredibly stupid

It's more helpful to explain why you think that way.

(Theun) A Rant on Healing in The War Within

I'd HEAVILY caution healers to be wary of asking for significant increases to difficulty. WoW has the opposite problem of FF14; there's too much healing to be done.