All Healers (Attack Spells), what are peoples thoughts ?

[BigMac]

Hello all, with the current patch one of my hopes for healers was a more interesting DPS rotation or some synergy between our DPS and Healing skills. But unfortunately StormBlood went in the opposite direction.

I have had this "discussion" with friends a few times over the last few days and I am usually told well healer get to heal more now not DPS so what does it matter, healing is the job.

To which my reply is well a Tanks job is to Tank not to dps but they at least have some combo skills in there attack rotation that provide enmity or DOTs and the combos give increased potency, by their logic should a tank not have 1 attack for single target with a enmity bonus and an AOE variant as all they need to do is hold hate.

At least it makes leveling , solo and dungeons more interesting I would think.

Combine this with the other issues healers are having atm and I have just lost all enthusiasm to play.

I have played since 1.0 and I picked Scholar since day one ARR as I thought it was an awesome job in FFXI, I loved the style and feel of the job as well as the story behind the class. But currently I trying to find another job to play and will try to level Scholar in PVP as the abilities in there seem to be at least more fun to use.

I refuse to spam Broil for another expansion.

[AlexanderThorolund]

Lord of Crowns is insane. Astro gets nasty

[Lukha]

I went back to Monk for exactly this reason. White Mage isn't 'literally unplayable' as was feared, but losing Aero I and Fluid Aura really whittled down my DPS rotation to almost nothing. And I can't even get started on what the new PVP skilll system did to me without starting to cry.

I'm pretty sure I'll run back to WHM as soon as I hit my first DPS Queue as a Monk, but between work and the issues progressing in the MSQ over the weekend, I haven't even gotten that far yet.

[Serilda]

Attack spells are the one area I am satisfied with WHM, though Stone is as ugly and noisy as always. AST also seems fine. SCH needs something, definitely. They have more actual attack spells, yet less to do.

[BigMac]

Its not just about number of spells for me. They don't interact with our healing kit in anyway or for that matter with each other they just feel tacked on so we can kill things in the story to level. Some form of interaction or proc or combo, anything to break up the monotony of healer leveling / dps.

Even something like with Chain Strategem active Broil Crits reduce the cool down on Shadow Flare, I have no idea if that would be too strong but surely something can be done to make the overall gameplay more enjoyable.

I can't speak for the other healers as I haven't played them past 50 but by the looks of their kit they are not much better off.

[Lemuria]

To which my reply is well a Tanks job is to Tank not to dps

Where this argument fails is that most enmity is drawn from the damage dealt, so more damage means more enmity. The reason skills get a damage bonus when used in a combo is because, in turn, it increases the enmity gained. It means that even through their DPS, they're still performing their role. Healers on the other hand have to use entirely separate skills to be able to DPS (with the exception of Assize), many of which have cast times or otherwise affect the GCD. This means that while damaging mobs, you're unable to react to heal.

Long time healers don't have any problem with this and will find ways to compensate, but I've seen more than a few get caught out when something unexpected happens such as a cleave or similar. Even simply having delayed a heal and then needing to move to avoid an AoE and thus delaying it further. That's why, DPS or not, I don't mind either way if they're in my party.

For my part, I do prefer to DPS but that's a personal choice and preference. I feel that when done right, it can benefit the party substantially. That doesn't mean that a healer who's doing their best to keep me alive, and nothing more, won't get a commendation from me though. I respect both styles of play.

[AlphaSonic]

I went back to Monk for exactly this reason. White Mage isn't 'literally unplayable' as was feared, but losing Aero I and Fluid Aura really whittled down my DPS rotation to almost nothing. And I can't even get started on what the new PVP skilll system did to me without starting to cry.

I'm pretty sure I'll run back to WHM as soon as I hit my first DPS Queue as a Monk, but between work and the issues progressing in the MSQ over the weekend, I haven't even gotten that far yet.

The PvP system is actually a good use of the lilies. They feel impactful in pvp.

[BigMac]

I get what you are saying about Tank damage as it currently is Lemuria but if the role is to tank they could have just given them 1 single target and 1 AoE with a large enmity bonus so their damage wouldn't matter. But they did not because that would be boring as all hell.

[Guffs]

...Stone is as ugly and noisy as always.

Stone IV looks like the graphics department got bored & swiped some discarded Minecraft textures. It's not just ugly, it has no visual relationship with anything in the game.

Far as the attacking goes in general I'm quite impressed; it feels smoother and leaves me with an impression that I'm doing more damage (no clue if I am, but if feels that way).

...just don't get me started on Lillies.

[Reiryuu]

I know it would be OP probably but I wish the spells had a bit more punch... or at least more options. I can't speak much for SCH or even AST, but I imagine SCH would like at least another AoE Dot or something akin to Aero III (miasma II but castable at range)...

It's just... Aero III, Aero II, Stone IV Minecraft x8-10, Oh crap it's still not dead?! Assize (if its up) *repeat till dead* It was really boring questing ><;