Hamlet Help for whitemage?

[Katella_Avenlea]

So I've kind of been told over and over that whitemage is the easiest thing to do in Hamlet.
I have in total, participated in about 3 short Hamlet sessions (1-3 attempts per session) (all in Aleport), so by all means I'm still very new at it.

First session (2 attempts I think) - crazy - as I would expect honestly when learning new content.

Second session - (2 or 3 runs) Awesome! Had a Hamlet Guru who lead our party well, seemingly being able to correctly identify underlying causes as to why people were having issues and help us overcome them in a very non-critical, non-demeaning manor. No finger pointing, just analysis as to why people were having issues and suggestions on how to correct it. (My first and win! - /bow to Sir Dean the Hamlet Guru of Masamune)

Third session (2 or 3 runs) - Frustrating beyond belief. Seriously made me think about swearing off Hamlet altogether. Made the mistake of mentioning at the beginning that I've only really done it a couple of Hamlet sessions, which in retrospect may have been a mistake because I think it just gave permission to automatically believe that any and all difficulties were because I wasn't doing a good enough job... least that's they way I began to feel.

Crazy thing is I was doing the same things for 2nd session as the 3rd but the experience was totally different. I am humble and have no over exaggerated view of my own skills, but I do know I was really trying to do everything that I was told.

Maybe someone kind can point out for me (and maybe explain to me) reasonable things (taking into consideration things like stoneskin and protect cooldown) that I can do better.

So here is what I did (most cures were either a cure or cura depending on what was available to me)
* We enter Hamlet
* Skip event (even though I did this it always seems like everyone else is on the field way before me)
* Run past the Fire pit to the First line archers
* Target center First line archer - Protect / Stoneskin & Regen
* Target left side First line archer Regen
* Target right side First line archer - Regen & then wait for cool down and Protect and stoneskin when I can

By now enemies have entered and have started attacking

* Try and get stoneskin & Protect on the left side First line Archer once cool down allows

In the second session the archer NPC's they were barely touched which let me be able to turn around and get a round of protect & everything on the second line archers as well. It was very manageable.

In first and third sessions though, the archers were getting hit pretty hard, so I couldn't really leave. I would regen and spam cure to just keep them over 50%. I get told I'm not regen-ing enough even though the NPC's that I've been able to touch show regen when I target them. (a glitch maybe? I don't know.. the other player says they aren't regened, but I'm looking at the NPC bar with the icon beside it.. idk)

Then I get told to run to the back of camp to cure an almost dead NPC at a cart, which I do, I get regen and start spam curing this NPC trying to get them out of the yellow, but the mobs are hitting them so hard.

Meanwhile the archer at the frontline dies.... ><

Question? Is this normal so far? Is there something blatantly wrong? What should I be doing, and please only answer this if you actually are a whitemage with experience in Hamlet as a whitemage. No offense intended.. I just want realistic over perceived advice.

I truly would like to get better at it but I need a bit more guidance I guess then "Just buff the NPC's and keep regen up"

Is anyone truly able to get all the NPC's in the area buffed at the beginning? How do you manage cool downs that fast?

**Edit: Just to clarify, In all sessions we actually did have two whitemages, the third session they would periodically come cast a few things with me in the front line, but then I didn't see them again for awhile, they may have went to attend to other things, possibly helping some of the DoL or DoH, and/or nuking things but I really can't say for sure. I was mostly just trying to do what everyone was telling me to.

[Sephrick]

WHM is only "easy" if you're in a group keeping attack down and defense up.

I do WHM in Hamlet exclusively. In my time doing it, I've noticed the center frontline archer is something of a de facto target. That one should always be getting Protect/Stoneskin/Esuna/Regen.

My best advice is to make as effective use of Regen as you can. The second line should only ever need regen as the mobs focus on the front line or special NPCs and only deviate if an archer pulls hate with enough damage.

It sounds like you're the only WHM? If so, there should be at least two. Especially if you're DoL/Hs aren't good at keeping the needed effects up.

[HiirNoivl]

*likes Sephick's post*

Sounds like Crafter/Gather buffs were dropping.

WHM works like a train to keep cures going. Without buffs you're going to run out of MP and the archers will run out of HP.

[REDace0]

Your DoHs or DoLs dropped the ball on the third session. Either the DoHs weren't keeping Defense + Evasion up or the DoLs weren't keeping Attack Down up, or both.

Glad to hear Dean is helping out new Hamlet players. I've done runs with him and they've all gone really smoothly.

EDIT: While you're interested in WHM tips, one of my LS mates started doing something interesting at the start of Hamlet. Use Presence of Mind to cast an extra Stoneskin or Protect at the start of battle. It's not a huge deal, but I thought it was cool.

[Gerrr]

I agree that the hamlet success relies on DoL and DoH doing their buffs very quickly and not dying when they get hate. As WHM I never Stoneskin the NPCs. The return doesn't seem to be high enough to justify it at all.

I focus only on regen, protect, esuna, and cure/cura. It goes without saying that as WHM you need to use all mp refresh tools you have at your disposal every single time they are available.

And yea, I have never had success with only one WHM.

[Estellios]

As was mentioned, that middle archer is going to die really quickly unless defense boost or attack down gets put up ASAP. Aside from that, in most cases all you need to do is toss out Regen to any archer that needs it and it should be sufficient to keep them alive in most cases, although if you see any that are fairly low on health (around half) you can throw them some cures as well.

Something I've been doing lately, although I don't recommend it until your group is used to Hamlet Defense, is to gear up for Magic Attack, use Cleric stance, and pull a few enemies with a Stonera and/or Aerora to the rear lines which are usually standing around not doing anything when enemy waves first arrive. Not only does it take the heat off the first middle archer, it makes the enemies die a lot quicker as with them spread out more archers are attacking them. I'd take off Cleric Stance once the boss arrives though as sometimes you will need to spam heal whatever facility he orders them to attack.

I'd say gear up for Magic Attack in general in Hamlet Fights when you are a bit more used to it. You can help finish off weakened enemies which is many times more beneficial to NPC survival than simply healing. Just be very careful not to defeat any of the special-weapon enemies.

[HiirNoivl]

This ^

I use Aero. It's a mild dot that helps kill enemies faster.

[Shosasosa]

PLD/WAR is the easiest job in my opinion just kill initial non-beastmen, pull 2nd one, then kite NM and claim zombie.

[Sephrick]

PLD/WAR is the easiest job in my opinion just kill initial non-beastmen, pull 2nd one, then kite NM and claim zombie.

My LS usually has the WHMs claim and kill the zombie lol

[Shosasosa]

My LS usually has the WHMs claim and kill the zombie lol

we usually have the PLD kite the NM right next to where the zombie pops so all he does is wait for it and flash then the whms come to kill it