DPS spell scaling and traits

[Eisenhower]

There's currently among the healer jobs six spells that seem somewhat poorly put together when compared internally and against other actions in the game, mainly when it comes to level scaling.

Stone II/Stone III, Ruin/Broil, and Malefic/Malefic II are spells where the stronger spell in each pair is simply more powerful (MP per potency per GCD) but mechanically identical, invalidating the weaker spell when available. To the best of my knowledge, this invalidation of one action by another action is something that only exists among the healing jobs. It's a unique point, but perhaps not in a good way.

Would it not be better for the spells in question to scale with the help of traits, rather than having them as separate spells?

Scaling with the help of traits would mean that when playing level-synced, a player would neither have the need to move around spells or replace them, nor resort to macros currently created for this convenience. For console players, this may alleviate skill bar bloat.

A possible downside would be not having access to the weaker action when wanting to skirt close to a specific health level, as we're sometimes required to do in levequests. Though I cannot personally remember being in a situation with such dire need.

Currently the system does not appear to support traits to be added to a job, only classes. But since we keep class traits when having a soul crystal equipped, the implementation isn't impossible. Although it would require some shuffling around of spells and quest rewards, as well as changes to trait loadout and possibly new actions to replace the Lv 54 slot currently used by the offending spells listed above. The sheer amount of work renders this alternative unfeasible in the near future, but perhaps 4.X will be able to bring some bigger changes.

The question remains however, disregarding workload, would this implementation be better for us players? My impression is "yes", but I'm curious what other healers think.

[TatoRazzino]

I totally agree with you. If they don't want to add more traits, at least create a combo system to make the spells meaningful.

[VanilleFang]

I totally agree with you. If they don't want to add more traits, at least create a combo system to make the spells meaningful.

This.

I would love if I could do something other than Aero II + Aero > Stone III until healing is needed when I'm spamming DPS spells. It would be more interesting if I had to use Stone > Stone II > Stone III for bonus potency, or effects, or something.

[Aurelinaus]

Hmm let's see possible changes

Stone III - Additional effect: 20% chance that next Stone II will cost no mp and will be instantly cast.
Malefic II - Additional effect: 15% chance that 100% of damage dealt by next malefic will be converted to MP.
None ruin has better efficiency enough to warrant it's place.

[Immut]

Hmm let's see possible changes

Stone III - Additional effect: 20% chance that next Stone II will cost no mp and will be instantly cast.
Malefic II - Additional effect: 15% chance that 100% of damage dealt by next malefic will be converted to MP.

I like what you're thinking but it kinda rips off BLM a bit much for my taste, and I'd rather not encourage less than maximum dps. Then you end up in a situation like Benefic II where nobody uses the benefic proc because you're either using benefic II for its potency or benefic for its mana efficiency regardless of the proc. Where with freecure, if you get a freecure, it's a free cure so of course you're going to use it.

I don't have anything better though.

[FoxyAreku]

Stone III is especially funny, as it's so powerful that it actually replaces Stone II AND Aero.

Aero is purely a scholar and astrologian spell now, lol.

[TatoRazzino]

Stone III is especially funny, as it's so powerful that it actually replaces Stone II AND Aero.

Aero is purely a scholar and astrologian spell now, lol.

I like to use Aero as a WHM when casting Fluid Aura, Assize or dodging; it's better to use that than to delay the GCD imo. It's only 10 potency higher and the chance of getting a crit in one of the ticks is very high, so Aero and non-crit Stone III are even.

[Rivxkobe]

Stone III is especially funny, as it's so powerful that it actually replaces Stone II AND Aero.

Aero is purely a scholar and astrologian spell now, lol.

...

wut

...

[VanilleFang]

Stone III is especially funny, as it's so powerful that it actually replaces Stone II AND Aero.

Aero is purely a scholar and astrologian spell now, lol.

I'd have to disagree. Aero can be used in different situations (moving etc.) and since it's a DoT it can deal damage while you are healing. Aero 2 + Aero is my usual DPS "rotation" if I have a second between healing bursts if healing is intense.

[TatoRazzino]

From a GCD perspective, casting Aero can be a DPS loss since they have the same recast timer. However, the difference is so small (10 potency) that it's hardly an issue.