What is WHM's true identity?

[HyperiusUltima]

This is something I've been pondering over the past couple days before patch day, but this really nagged at me: With AST getting these buffs to their toolkit, SE not only buffed Nocturnal, but indirectly buffed Diurnal as well. Since WHM got their Stoneskin's 18% damage reduction and Proshell taken away to be spread across the entire healer spectrum, what is its true identity? We have Cure III, Assize, Asylum, Benediction...

The only bland thing I can come up with is just a high potency healer. AST already gets a unique trait for a Guaranteed Crit Benefic II, meaning they would have higher heals most of the time if their procs went off. Also there is one redundant thing I want to point out: Quick Stoneskin. What's the reason of it? It was made for ARR, but there needs to be something more to discern WHM's nature outside of having best heals in the game.

[Powe]

Um.............. It's a powerful heal no matter what, it has regen and a regen bubble that can be placed anywhere. It also is able to increase casting speed and healin power. It's a powerful dps also, whm is powerful but comes with a price, mp. Whm is always needed, that's it's identity.

[Rennies]

Whm is not "always needed" lol, Astro can fill the spot just fine before AND after 3.4.

[Powe]

Whm is not "always needed" lol, Astro can fill the spot just fine before AND after 3.4.

But cure 3 op lol, but yea the AST can fill the whm role but I was trying to be nice to the whm job

[HyperiusUltima]

Um.............. It's a powerful heal no matter what, it has regen and a regen bubble that can be placed anywhere. It also is able to increase casting speed and healin power. It's a powerful dps also, whm is powerful but comes with a price, mp. Whm is always needed, that's it's identity.

This isn't necessarily true in terms of WHM always being needed. AST fills it fine like Rennies said, but I'm trying to figure out what WHM's identity is outside of just powerful heals.

[Anchored0wl]

WHM identity comes from the flexibility in its role. Assize can be used for dps or heals (though I argue it should always be dps.) Asylum can be used as a party regen or a single target tank regen.. both of which provide more cleric stance windows. Benediction can be used as an "oh sh*t button" or as it should be used, intentionally at a specific interval in a fight to either provide more cleric up time or conserve mana.
Presence of mind is yet another versatile cooldown that can be used for healing or cleric stance uptime however it is very rare that you will actually NEED this to heal any content.

White mage identity is versatility and that will not change whether they are paired with a scholar or paired with a nocturnal astrologian.

[DreamWeaver]

The Mind Party Buff contributor.

[Fyce]

WHM doesn't have a card management system to deal with. Its cooldowns are extremely direct, predictable and impactful. WHM is stable. WHM is reliable.
WHM is a very barebones healer with powerful heals and answers to almost every situation (single target, AoE, regen, instants...). Even its DPS toolkit goes that way.

That's its identity.

[Rennies]

So it's unique in that it has no interesting strengths... that sounds pretty lame.

[Hestern_Nestern]

Excellent summation, Fyce.