Consolidated White Mage 4.0 Feedback Thread

[Ilenya]

There's really no reason to actively AVOID using skills we freely use anyway in order to gain a completely garbage shield. Maybe if it was like 100% of the target's max HP, AND had some kind of reflect property. AND haste. But it doesn't. Just try running a few dungeons as WHM but take Stoneskin/Stoneskin II off your bars, along with your choice of one of either Esuna/Protect/Swiftcast/Divine Seal/Shroud of Saints. Welcome to White Mage 4.0.

Just going to note I am not a good WHM and am terrible at Divine Seal usage, so...

The point was that, while yes there is a choice, any emergency basically makes that choice pointless. Have it only remove one Lily per skill even would make it less of an issue. It'd make it somewhat similar to Aetherflow stacks, but at least you wouldn't lose all the benefits of them existing.

Edit: Honestly, take my thoughts on this with a grain of salt, because while I've leveled WHM, I will never claim to be good at it. I'm just trying to get ideas on how to make the Lily mechanic more viable. Confession would be easier, chance of stack on initial regen/Medica II, and make the stacks *do* something as a buff. As it is, with the confession stacks being on a timer (For some reason?), the mechanic just doesn't work. Either make the stacks not time out, or give more ways to use them and/or give them some other effect

[MystearicaYulia]

As a healer main and a WHM players, I have to say that I am disappointed in the direction that WHM is going. I though that there's going to be some Water element spells to help balance the lack, and the needed group wide utility, but I see that it will not the case in SB. I just do not understand how an original classic healer in this game deserved such low attention. In the spirit of WHM, I'm still going to level it up to 70, but not SCH and AST until some issues are addressed. I hope for the best as it was WHM who brought me into the game, and only fitting that it too can take me out.

[MystearicaYulia]

Some idea for the changes:
- Have the Lily system based on the regen tick of Regen and Medica II to encourage the personal DPS from WHM since it doesn't have party buff.
- Have WHM be a restorative healer by giving some sort of party wide MP or TP regen (based on whichever is lower). The amount of regen can be based on the Lily system. This way, the healer classes will bring something different to the table with AST with pure damage buffer, SCH with crit buffer, and WHM with resources buffer.

[Parawill]

PvP Wise these buffs are fantastic since the PvE environment thrives off regens, but a high abundance of Cure 2 spam which the lily system and Plenary Indulgence is pretty fantastic (I guess the shield is too, since it's now free).

PvE wise... completely horrible with the current raid design in terms of both damage output and frequency starting from T1 through A12S in exception to maybe AS4 and perhaps A8S. The frequency and output of damage doesn't favour this volume of healing as most of it is either overheal (which also translates into loss of MP and GCDs) or simply unnecessary. If there is content in Stormblood that requires this, then with the current standing of what Stormblood's preliminary kit, raid damage is centralized on single-targets with few situations which require Cure 3s, which Astrologian's can now deal with their 900 potency heal when timed properly.

Plenary Indulgence will be useful though is lucky concession procs thus enabling faster in-between GCD heals, which may potentially be more mana efficient in the event regen or cure 2 overheals by a lot, whereas cure is close but fall shorts a few points. Super awesome for tank healing too, but at the same time

Divine Benison is sweet at instant speed, and since it costs no MP, Scholar and White Mage (I think) may potentially be the best burst shielder for single targets since they should stack because logically, if it didn't, this skill drops in value. There's no duration listed though, so I'm hoping it lasts either 30 seconds or a minute, because it lasting long enough to apply 8 Divine Benisons for fights that have an AoE right at the start (think A10S) will favour this.

Secret of the Lily is also very lackluster and does not work with the player's developed metagame that is obviously and mathematically more efficient that the developer's intended style of healing. The current meta is to convert as many healing GCDs into offensive GCDs (Stones, Broils, Malefics, etc); however, the Lily system in a completely opposite direction: converting DPS GCDs into Healing GCDs to lower oGCD cast times... Not really good, especially it's unreliable.

Cleric Stance, Assize, Aero 1 + Aero 2 Consolidation
Not many people mention this, but WHM will now need Smokescreen in their openers. Assize now healing for its full amount and doing damage will generate a ridiculous amount of enmity. With Aero 1 and Aero 2 Consolidated into one, we're now earlier in 1 GCD to Assize, which puts us at the 3rd GCD... I'm not sure how much aggro tanks can generate by the third GCD, but keep in mind that currently my Assize heals for 4k (non-crit), and with 8 targets (excluding pets and turrets--which btw adds more to enmity), that's around 32K enmity through the heal.

While we can Lucid Dreaming (shroud) earlier because we do have Light Air, that's 5 to 6 GCDs without PoM or 4 Holies/Medica 2. Saves a lot of MP, but burning Lucid cuts into mana reserves.

As for "you're healing a different way than the developers intended." Intention of developers doesn't matter until what they intend meets what is needed in their raid content. Class development and raid go hand and hand, and at the moment the mathematical and most logical play for any of the healers is to convert as many healing GCDs into DPS without going into the red in mana reserves AND neglecting healing and keeping the party alive.

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Side Note: Balance hasn't been nerfed. Both Astros and Scholars lost some damage, but their utility is so much more appealing right now than the raw (currently--emphasis on the word currently, like referring to heavenward content and prior) than White Mages. Also lol at 15% healing on Diurnal Sect (heard from someone, correct if wrong). And really sad they gave Scholar a conditional based heal buff, but maybe they needed it.... >_> <_<

End Note: Things are still subject to be changed. I'm a little disappointed in the development team, but I'll hold my thoughts here because the things "released" are potentially not final.

EDIT Note: Just forgot to mention this. White Mage has always been known for the raw healing output they provided, but be open minded. Look where Summoner went. Regardless of it being good or bad, change finds better paths to tread, which is very important when finding new solutions

[Windseraph]

It ASTOUNDS me that people give the OP the time of day considering all his threads.

Normally I wouldn't but this topic is relevant and accurate, no trolling going on here for once.

[fantasticm]

Just going to note I am not a good WHM and am terrible at Divine Seal usage, so...

The point was that, while yes there is a choice, any emergency basically makes that choice pointless. Have it only remove one Lily per skill even would make it less of an issue. It'd make it somewhat similar to Aetherflow stacks, but at least you wouldn't lose all the benefits of them existing.

I'd say there's still really not much of a choice. Shields are nice but not required in most content, and any full party content will most likely group you with a SCH/AST that can deploy superior shields at any time. In a perfect world, Lilies would only be consumed through skills MADE for the system, not skills we already have and rely on. Like Divine Benis, or perhaps expending them to give single/party buffs, or self buffs? Literally ANYTHING other than what we have OH MY GOD Square Enix WHY.

[Sunako]

That lily system would be fine if it would proc from something else than cure. Free extra instant heals while doing dps would be nice. Just make it proc from stone as well.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

It ASTOUNDS me that people give the OP the time of day considering all his threads.

Despite what his pass actions are, his post is 100 accurate and relevant. Why ignore someone just because of their past actions? Right now, getting the word out to SE that the WHM system and it's current standing is horrible is far more important than keeping up your dislike for a user for no reason.

[JedahJohnny]

OMG! WHM 4.0 is the worts ever healer.. simple HEALING + RNG = STUPID THING!

No new mechanics of WHM can take in consideration to Raid Healing!..

And that useful things is gone... to X-Skill Role... so we may have choice between all our old skill ( A WHM without Esuna/Protect -> stupid)... Rescue a the worst skill nobody will take it!

[TaleraRistain]

It ASTOUNDS me that people give the OP the time of day considering all his threads.

His other threads don't change the fact he's absolutely right with this one.