WHM vs. SCH -- What is the basic difference.

[Quinaeats]

I understand that they are two different jobs and I understand that there are many minor mechanics that we could drill down tooth and nail on what one does and the other doesn't, but what is the main purpose of both and what roles should they be playing in Full Parties/ Raids? What are their responsibilities?

[Taika]

SCH is a great main tank / single person healer and WHM has stronger AoE heals. I think that's the biggest difference. Playstyle wise WHM is more straight forward and will usually focus on either healing or nuking depending on the phase whereas SCH will shield the group and tank(s) while keeping Shadowflare and DoTs up and is usually also responsible for raises and leeches.

[NintenPyjak64]

A good way to look at it is that WHM is a reactive healer meaning you see people take damage you cure it all up. SCH is a proactive healer which means if people are about to take damage, you mitigate the damage.

[Taika]

A good way to look at it is that WHM is a reactive healer meaning you see people take damage you cure it all up.

WHM also has to play proactively, though, as they should be casting the heal before the actual damage is taken.

[Cynfael]

WHM also has to play proactively, though, as they should be casting the heal before the actual damage is taken.

Definitely this. While it's true that quickly recovering the party from AoE damage spikes is a WHM strength, they also need to anticipate incoming damage to be successful. A slow, inattentive healer makes life unnecessarily difficult for their fellow healer in full party content since they can't be trusted to heal when they should.

[Quinaeats]

Awesome! Thanks for the clarification, I didn't want to step on a Scholar's toes in a Full Party or raid situation in the future..!

[givemeraptors]

In addition to the single target vs. AoE heal there's also a massive difference in terms of MP and aggro management. WHM have to be fairly conservative with their heals and really maximize their usage of Shroud of Saints whereas a SCH who knows how to manage their Aetherflow stacks can avoid ever dropping below 75% MP and their fairy splits aggro to make it a moot issue most of the time.

[DarkLordCthulhu]

Its usually the SCH responsibility to keep up stoneskin on most fights. I know WHM get the trait that enhances the % of hp , however, we (SCHs) have MANA for days and it can drain your mp if youre not careful. The only fight ive done were the WHM is keeping up ss is levi ex. OT needs that extra 8% granite skin provides. SCH will usually embrace spam the ot to avoid the debuff.
But its all pretty much summed up with the previous post. WHM is better AoE healing and SCH single target healing. In some parties ive been asked to keep up both tanks while WHM heals DPS and chips in on tank healing when necessary.

[Okashii]

Its usually the SCH responsibility to keep up stoneskin on most fights. I know WHM get the trait that enhances the % of hp , however, we (SCHs) have MANA for days and it can drain your mp if youre not careful.

In my group, sch never uses stoneskin. Why wouldn't the whm just use it for the big incoming attacks like Ravensbeak? Other than that and some other situations (like adds incoming etc and you need to keep aggro down), you don't need a stoneskin. Plus whm ss is greater by 8pp. The sch shouldn't waste mp on a ss; save it for an adlo reapply if anything. And WHM mp isn't too big of a deal most of the time. It's about timing your heals, knowing when NOT to heal, using SoS properly, spec'ing some PIE if you need it, using procs (freecure is awesome), making use of buffs, and choosing the right spell for the right time. Oh, and trusting your fellow healer. When you get that synchronization down with the other healer and you both have an understanding of what the other will do, it's a world of difference.

One thing I've noticed is that in raid-wide damage situations, I usually take a bit more of a minimalist approach which saves some MP. Some whm's like to use a cure3 on a stacked group after heavy aoe damage. However, unless there is more damage expected shortly afterwards, a med1 or med2 may be the better approach.

[DarkLordCthulhu]

In my group, sch never uses stoneskin. Why wouldn't the whm just use it for the big incoming attacks like Ravensbeak? Other than that and some other situations (like adds incoming etc and you need to keep aggro down), you don't need a stoneskin. Plus whm ss is greater by 8pp. The sch shouldn't waste mp on a ss; save it for an adlo reapply if anything.

Thats why I said in most fights. I agree with you that WHM should be using SS to mitigate those big attacks like Death Sentence and what now. You also stated that in your group the WHM is responsible for SS so Im assuming you run with a static. I pug alot and outside of the pre fights buffs i rarely see WHM use stone skin during the fight. Not even when they know mountain buster is coming.

The only fight ive seen WHM keeping up stone skin is Levi ex cause of the debuff received when healing the ot. I'll keep using that trial as an example since ive been farming so much, and have yet to see a mirror T.T
Both healers know that we will be getting hit my whirlpool soon. WHM wont take the time/mana cost to SS. However I (SCH) can SS both healers while still healing with Eos. I also SS healers/MT and that Derp DPS thats cant dodge while Levi is doing dives. If need be can energy drain + aetherflow and boom, back to full MP.

So yea SS should be WHM for those hard hitting boss moves cause of that extra 8% mitigation. I was just saying SCH can be more liberal with our SS use. Cause of personal experience i guess i feel it should be the SCH responsibility since i dont see WHM doing it.