Stancedancing Techniques

[Cynfael]

My question though, is what kind of limits do you set on yourself to be able to maximize the amount of time you can DPS, while not endangering the party?

The addition of WHM DPS in a party helps a lot. And if you have good DPS already the mobs just absolutely melt when you add Holy on top of it.

1) I balance my DPS time with how quickly I expect the tank's (or the party's) HP to drop based on what I know of the encounter. If the mobs frequently stop actions to charge up big, telegraphed AoEs, then I know that the tank shouldn't be eating frequent, large hits. If, like with most encounters, the party takes damage almost entirely from infrequent, unavoidable AoE, I don't worry much about them unless someone messes up. On SCH you can camp DPS mode more safely, but done well on WHM it's both an enjoyable mini-game and quite rewarding for trash pulls.

2) Yes, WHM DPS is quite helpful, especially where trash is concerned. Don't listen to people who try to pooh-pooh healer DPS, because the numbers don't lie.

[spelley]

2) Yes, WHM DPS is quite helpful, especially where trash is concerned. Don't listen to people who try to pooh-pooh healer DPS, because the numbers don't lie.

People never seem to remember that Holy is damage mitigation, not just damage as well. Stuns + Damage == less time the mobs spend hitting the tank. It'll be interesting to see how "Holy II" (Deals damage + Heals) will fit in. In super-speed runs I can imagine Swiftcast Holy + Holy + Holy + (Shroud) + Holy II + Holy II until they are out of MP being a "thing"

[Leigaon]

You pretty much have it down just need to get use to the feel of it. You're going to have people die due to some things you can't prevent but most of the time these things aren't your fault.

I've had DPS stand in everything, tanks who don't use any cool downs.

I do use Medica II, the argument can come by how it's a waste but I've had it cure the odd ball DPS who gets hit so I don't have to jump out of stance and cure them individually. It lets me keep up a damage dealer who is taking damage, without having to focus on them. I'm not saying it keeps them at 100% health, I just know what I can handle cure wise with the time I'm given..it helps me better manage that. It's allowed me to perform an additional holy on a lot of occasions.

Sometimes the run doesn't need the medica II and I just use regen, all thanks to the wonderful tanks.