Request: Any video or written guides on Tanking/Healing END GAME using only Gamepad?

[Zell]

I've recently started playing on a new character using only the gamepad. My primary character is Tank/Healer (Sch). I'm slowly getting a hang of the controls and will be be doing my first dungeon runs this weekend.

My main has Relic+1 Bravura (War) and i'm getting up there on my Scholar, currently 41.


I have read in many places there are countless people doing Garuda+ (especially Titan and Coil) using a control pad.

I would love to see a tutorial video or even a nice write up on how you approach the control pad. What target settings you use, any macros? How do you switch between cross hotbars and still be as efficient as mouse and keyboard.

Any suggestions on targetting easily in a dungeon/raid situation. Do you have an action bar dedicated to cooldowns on your second cross bar? Especially, how do you manage your pet as a Scholar using a control pad... Do you use Mixed, hold, or toggle mode when activating abilities.

I find myself having an easier time with toggle when tanking because I don't need to ever target party members or pets. I just press L1 and R1 to cycle through targets. Super easy and efficient. HOWEVER, that gets me in trouble with scholar because if cross bar is activated, I can't switch to party targets or pets to heal, buff, debuff. I have to use hold mode to make targetting enemies and party members, and constantly switching between the two easier.

I am LOVING the game on a controller though and I can go for longer gaming sessions without getting tired or burned out because i'm either chilling on my couch and laying back on my computer chair. I've also noticed i'm not spamming as much as I was (needlessly) using mouse and keyboard.

I want to cultivate good habits now so that the learning curve is not as steep when using the control pad for end game content. If you can link some posts by others on how to approach end game using a game pad/controller (especially healing/tanking).... i'd appreciate it.

Edit: Fixed Typo.

[Soukyuu]

My approach as SCH is quite simple; I have set for each "mode", for example healing:


I currently have a total of 4 sets, idle (stuff like quick summon macros), healing, dpsing and fairy skills+buffs.
I keep the left side fairly static across sets, with buttons being fairy commands, and dpad skills i don't need while moving. Some of skills positioning don't follow the scheme because that shortcut has already ingrained itself so much I end up messing up stuff if I change them.

I also try to keep "oh shit" skills at the same position, in SCH's case, Lustrate. This way even if you're in DD mode, you can quickly heal tank if things suddenly go messy without having to fumble through your bars in panic. Not that it will happen often once you learned your setup.

I'm using the hold mode with filters set to "custom" (minions, pets off) in idle mode, "enemy" in battle mode. The set automatically changes idle <-> healing when going to battle stance. This way holding R2 and pressing L1 switches between enemies (or hold L2, press R1), up/down cycles through party members. According to a recent dev post they will be adding L1+up/down to go up/down the enemy list, which will make targeting even easier

You can rearrange member order via the party members menu for easier healing, I tend to group things like this: <me><tank><offtank><healer><dds>
This way you can reach both tanks easily and support your other healer.

As far as macros go, I'm using Swiftcast+Resurrection (Quick Raise), as well as Swiftcast+Summon (II) macros.
I also have an "apply DoTs"/"apply DoTs <tt>", which is slightly slower than casting them manually, but saves space on the bar. Btw, the virus on my healing bar is a <tt> version as well. Comes in handy throwing that in before a strong boss attack. (<tt> = target's target)

That's about all I can think of at the moment. For Tanks, you'll have to ask someone else, I'm not actively playing them. In general, you'll want to reduce having to switch bars as much as possible. Find what's best for you and give yourself enough time to memorize the layout. It's not really different from the keyboard, and I find the finger acrobatics are much more of a hassle on the kb than gamepad. But to each their own.

[Zell]

Soukyuu... thank you for detailed response and picture to boot!

[NinjaDante]

War +1 who uses controller + keyboard+mouse combo
i generally use everything except defensive cooldowns on my crossbars the rest i click. I keep my left hand on the gamepad so i can still move while clicking the mouse.

heres my setup

[Evangela]

Healers shouldn't play with a gamepad... no matter how good you can use it.

[Reinheart]

Healers shouldn't play with a gamepad... no matter how good you can use it.

Can you go into details why you came to that conclusion?

[Darkhaund]

Healers shouldn't play with a gamepad... no matter how good you can use it.

I strongly disagree. In fact, i find healing with a gamepad very easy

[Zell1226]

Healers shouldn't play with a gamepad... no matter how good you can use it.

And why not? I solo heal Titan on SCH with a gamepad. People always diss gamepads for no good reason.

[dbrewer225]

Healers shouldn't play with a gamepad... no matter how good you can use it.

please I would also like to know why controllers are less effective at healing than mouse and keyboard. cause I use a controller on healing and never once have I had a complaint about my healing lol. getting sick of people that say controller is less effective than mouse and keyboard. it would be different if the GCD was 1.5 secs the yes but the game was built with controller in mind. so saying that makes you sound a sorry to say a prick about this subject. so please stop spilling this crap.

[Ran1880]

seperate your cd & skills which takes long to recover & skills you use most the time.
Take also into consideration to set skills where you are comfortable with.
It might be useful to organize cross skills,dmg/buff skills each to its own slot.You can always adapt them in dungeons (e.g tank) for mobs or boss.