Quote Originally Posted by Shurrikhan View Post
Honestly, 90% chance it was just because they needed the third and final "Reply of <Element>" and didn't want it to add damage directly or add what would more thematically belong to Wind or Fire, leaving virtually no other way to add value than to provide sustain. Since a mere Second Wind II would have been complained about, and healer complaints are inherently muted, AoE heal it was.
I think an AoE mitigation effect would've been more thematically appropriate, given the nature of Riddle of Earth being little more than MNK Rampart. but it does begs the question, what will become of BRD? As I recall, part of the justification for Mantra's original nerf was because BRD was underperforming and SE went the route of improving its supportive toolkits rather than a straight damage buff, so they changed Nature's Minne to be an AoE heal buff like Mantra but with a slightly higher % buff. Now that MNK has Earth's Reply, does that mean that BRD will be getting an even stronger AoE heal to follow the selfsame logic of last expansion or will it be left to the wayside?