Is pre-buffing neccessary?

[Saseal]

....I don't see why you shouldn't. I always pre-buff.
On WHM - I automatically cast Protect once all the members are commenced (or if it's taking any length of time via someone watching a cutscene or if it seems like the tank/people are chomping at the bit and going to run off, I'll cast it before the person is done watching) - then Swiftcast SSII.
I'll Swiftcast SSII between pulls (assume SR), before a boss and after a boss. Then refresh Protect if someone is raised or if it's about 10 mins or less time left and everyone's together.

On my low level SCH - I cast protect at start of the dungeon, then Adliq the tank before pulls (and hope they don't just faceplant into a mob before the cast complete, or I'll end up wearing said mob... but I usually cast cancel if the mob is too close) or right when/before a pull ends to ready for next pull.
Unfort, I don't have SS cross-skilled on my SCH yet (not enough spaces) in favor of swiftcast (for ressurrection/re-summoning dead faeries), protect and Cleric.... so I use Adliq often as my SS+heal, for now. Once I get one more cross-skill slot, that's the next thing to go in.
Sure, it's not going to do a massive damage block, but it gives me time to apply DoTs + Bane on a mob before having to worry too hard about healing the tank.

I also adliq if I notice a DPS or such getting whacked a lot to mitigate the next attack until the stray monster is brought under control. Survive another shot till the tank gets it back.

I don't understand why you wouldn't buff - every little bit helps.

If the OP is referring to just pre-buffing just at the start of a dungeon (protect/SS/Adlo).....
............
I still don't understand why you wouldn't buff.

[Altanas]

I think it goes against the ethos of SCH not to prebuff. Afterall, the class is more about shields than heals...

[Toranja]

No. It is not necessary. It is not a must. It is a bonus. Just do whatever. At the end of the day, it will all be exactly the same.

[point09micron]

I typically put Stoneskin up at the start and before each boss, but not Succor, since it only lasts 30 seconds. Adloquium I aim for full uptime on the tank, especially with the heavy emphasis most people put on big pulls in dungeons.

[Zedd702]

I typically put Stoneskin up at the start and before each boss, but not Succor, since it only lasts 30 seconds. Adloquium I aim for full uptime on the tank, especially with the heavy emphasis most people put on big pulls in dungeons.

^This.

As scholar I very rarely pre-buff with Adloquium/succor, but I keep up stoneskin on the whole party throughout the instance. I usually use Adloquium/Succor when I know a big hit/cast is coming for damage mitigation or Adloquium on tank when he is taking a bit too much damage and I need a bit of mitigation so that mine and pet heals can recover him/her more quickly.

[melflomil]

I make sure the dps has stoneskin before next pull. I make sure the tank has an aldo and stoneskin before pulls. Tanks who just run and never stop piss me off. I wanna buff everyone damnit

[Charisma]

Can people actually bring up any other argument except "Why wouldnt you?"?
Heres my argument for not buffing before a boss fight: It doesnt do anything.

Jesus, healers...just toss up the buffs and drive on, or roll another class. You're a Whm and/or Sch to HEAL yes? Then do it, or play another class that doesn't even have to worry about it.

Hi.

We healers have one job.. only ONE: Keep the group alive. Its none of your business HOW we do it.

[Divine_Intervention]

Do i tell a tank when to Hallowed Ground? No. I don't. I just expect them to do it when it's needed/right. I expect nothing more when i'm on my WHM.

[Zedd702]

Can people actually bring up any other argument except "Why wouldnt you?"?
Heres my argument for not buffing before a boss fight: It doesnt do anything.



Hi.

We healers have one job.. only ONE: Keep the group alive. Its none of your business HOW we do it.

Hi.

I liked your post for the last part (the one pertaining to "one job"), however as a fellow healer, I disagree that pre-buffs before a boss doesn't do anything...

I don't understand the misconception about that speech with most healers. I've ran into some that complain that stoneskin only lasts 2-3 seconds, which is why they don't use it. However if you look more in depth of how the skill actually works, you'll see that instead of the boss punching at the tank/party's direct life, they'll have to pass a barrier equal to a portion of their HP, which is actually a pretty good spell and mitigation tool.

With a tank with 10k HP against shiva's bow would allow him to take the actual attack and survive by 1k, if stoneskin was applied before she fired the bow and if she does not proc a crit.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not telling you that you have to use the skill, I'm just stating that in certain anticipated instances/mechanics in this game can be thwarted by prebuffing prior to a boss fight or next group encounter, which is why I usually keep stoneskin on my party throughout the instance.

[Eye_Gore]

Pre-buff if something has a long timer on it like Protect its up for 30 minutes. But for something that only has a 30, 20, 10 second timer on it, why wouldn't you just use it when needed? I don't start a fight with rampart, bulwark, or hallowed ground up etc, its a waste. I use it when needed not before, save it for when you know the hammer is coming down.