WHM getting progressively more unnecessary in content?

[Assirra]

Didn't read the whole thread, but realistically due to the extremely limited raid sizes in this game and the addition of new jobs down the line, it's going to become VERY apparent which healers aren't stacking up to the typical meta. When there are 4 healing jobs and you can only take 2 of them...sorry, healer (or healers) that doesn't bring enough personal or group DPS - you're out.

Only when you want to be the number 1 or are super focused on comps.
Even back in wow 10 man all kinds of healers were used and there are lot more in that game.
Not to mention this game has the amazing ability to make you switch class on the fly so as long as you level and gear more then 1 healer job you are fine.

[Fernosaur]

But of course any tips or helpful advise is most appreciated. Not snide remarks. id same I'm a pretty casual player, and I haven't been playing for that long either so I'm sure there is plenty about the game I don't know. I started a few months before heavensward launched then left the game for 3 or so months do to lack of time for it.

If your healer partner is a Scholar, proper use of their fairy can net you more DPS uptime even as WHM. You should talk it out with them and see which fairy they're using and at what times they're using Rouse so that you get a chance to throw some DoTs and Stones in there too. The best part about that is that SCH themselves don't even have to leave CS to help out their co-healer to DPS more.

If it's a NoctAST, you can have them throw barriers and Benefic IIs more often to let you put up DoTs or switch around your DPS uptimes too.

[RitzNBitz]

WHM makes an excellent Co-Healer to a Noct AST. They can throw regens while doing a substantial amount of DPS out while the noct AST handles the rest. Its just a different type of playstyle that we aren't used to with WHM/SCH. WHM fills in where the Noct AST cannot, not only with regens but with emergency heals that are all OGCD allowing them to be used in between DPS'ing without worrying about GCD's.

In fact i'de beckon this combo is alot stronger then diurnal/sch. Diurnal feels like a poor mans WHM sometimes. And DPS wise on par or stronger then SCH/WHM due to cards.

[Accelerating]

-snip-

Pretty much the other way around for me: WHM feels like a poor mans Diurnal AST: While AST provides the necessary healing, he also brings mitigation and powerful buffs. Also I don't really see WHM as an offhealer, because he is too much limited by his manapool.
Furthermore I don't really understand what you mean by "emergency heals that are all OGCD". Benediction shouldn't be used as an emergency heal, but as a planned healingburst after a tankbuster (combined with HG/LD). Tetra should be used as often as possible to maximize mana efficiency.
Not saying WHM/AST or WHM/SCH is bad, AST/SCH is just better.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

Diurnal feels like a poor mans WHM sometimes.

I'm sorry but this is just not true. The only thing separating D.AST and WHM is cure III. D.AST is every bit as good as a WHM. It successfully fills the role of a main healer, but while also adding it's own support and mitigation.

Not to mention they have better MP management which means longer times DPSing and longer healing time.
If anything WHM is the one that's lacking. It can only heal and it's DPS is subject to acc issues and MP issues.
It's heals all cost a bucket ton of MP even though it's 1:1 potency with AST heals. One of its emergency heals, Benediction, is so inconsistent because of its animation time that it can barely function as a emergency heal. Not to mention it's on a HUGE CD even though essential dignity can achieve similar effects if it crits.

[Rennies]

Diurnal is objectively better than White Mage at level 60 due to superior mana management, utility, a combined Asylum/Sacred Soil cooldown (which doesn't require people to stay put for more than 3 seconds) and the underestimated extensions offered by Time Dilation and especially Celestial Opposition. White Mage is only better than Astrologian at 50 because Gravity isn't available til 52. Without superior AoE damage, there's no contest.

[technole]

Some White Mages like to hang on to the "but Cure III" card, because its about the only niche skill left and it's not even necessary. Astro had no problems substituting Cure III back in Midas (A6S/A8S) and Creator Savage (A11S) with Helios as-applicable. Plus we have stuff in our kit to lessen the damage impact such as CU/Disable that WHM can't even do.

[Rennies]

I just wish they'd knock down WHM's mana costs down a tad, perhaps to match AST, and lower Assize to a 60s cooldown while allowing it to do the "not chosen" effect at half power (so if you're in Cleric Stance, it does max damage and half its non-CS healing).

Then, they could replace some of the reduced mana cost traits with actual power, like making Medica give 10 second 5%-10% mitigation, or having Esuna have a chance to be AoE.

[Fernosaur]

In fact i'de beckon this combo is alot stronger then diurnal/sch. Diurnal feels like a poor mans WHM sometimes. And DPS wise on par or stronger then SCH/WHM due to cards.

The problem with NoctAST+WHM vs DiAST+SCH is the lack of stacked regens, and as such, CS uptime will be less for whoever is taking care of the MT. SCH+DiAST can very easily leave AspB + Eos handle most of the MT damage save for tank busters, and big hits on the party will always force the WHM to put up Medica II, which not only takes casting time and less CS uptime, but also big chunks of MP that, in your example, would be better spent DPSing. Whispering Dawn takes care of all that and completely ignores these setbacks.

I'm not saying WHM+NoctAST is bad, I actually think they can work pretty well and also agree that they can cooperate very well in having them both DPS, but that pairing is still inferior to DiAST+SCH by a considerble margin.

[Valmaxian]

I just wish they'd knock down WHM's mana costs down a tad, perhaps to match AST, and lower Assize to a 60s cooldown while allowing it to do the "not chosen" effect at half power (so if you're in Cleric Stance, it does max damage and half its non-CS healing).

Then, they could replace some of the reduced mana cost traits with actual power, like making Medica give 10 second 5%-10% mitigation, or having Esuna have a chance to be AoE.

These are great suggestions. On another thread I had recommended giving WHM a passive that would restore MP when DPSing - more incentive to make them more serious sustained DPS contenders? Also, for mitigation options, what about Blink? A procced free or cheap-cast Stoneskin II in combat (others have brought this up)? That should be a GIVEN.

For me, WHM has always been about elegant design simplicity and raw power - keep it uncomplicated and reliable.