Why you should play a healer!

[Kabzy]

-Snip-

I agree with all of that, but I guess our definitions of execution are different. I see what you're saying as planning and coordination, whereas the actual execution part for me is just using the abilities. Unlike DPS, we don't have rotations or positionals to hit, so in terms of that I feel like the healer execution is by far easiest. Now the rest of the job I can agree is a lot more difficult than most give us credit for

[tinythinker]

I started playing healer in another MMORPG before I found FFXIV. Mainly because 1) I am terrible at dps rotations and 2) tanks need to know where to go in dozens of instances, exactly when to turn a boss 10 degrees to the left, etc. Also because I was in a group with a healer who soloed a mini-boss after the other three of us wiped to its surprise attack. And lastly because I like the idea of healing in games that focus so much on death and maiming and violence of all stripes.

I started this game in spring 2016, so, halfway through Heavensward or a little beyond half? Loved this game. Looked for the healer's healer job and loved WHM. Then tried SCH and loved it even more. Avoided AST because I didn't know enough about other jobs to pick and use cards effectively. Yet stuff gets in the way, and my total playtime for FFXIV is still low, and every time I go away I feel like a noob coming back because I never really got it all 100% the last time I was here so I lose more than a step. I've tried all the healers in 4.x and have now shyed away from SCH after 4.0 play. But even for WHM I seem to feel pretty weak as a player. I have a hard time keeping up in anything Bardam or above when tanks pull big.

I agree that even if you see it as just a game, you can feel lots of pressure to do well and do right by the other players by giving a great performance. I know I flub more than I would like, and when someone feels the need to "LOL you suck healer" at the end of the run right before they exit a dungeon (have gotten that twice since SB started) it does make me wonder if I am cut out for the role. Not because I let it get under my skin, and not because I don't know the net is full of immature ("I only see things my way and care about what I want") and insecure ("I've gotta make everyone else miserable with my play and in my words to feel better, hue hue hue") people, but because I know I did make a mistake or I didn't perform up to what other healers can do.

But, if I know I tried my best, I make peace with that. When I actually do well, it's amazing. And even screwing up is fine with a cool DF group (yes, 99.9% of my runs are me and three to twenty-three strangers). My fav so far is right after early access ended and I was still trying to clear Menagerie with pug groups from DF. Every group was full of great people but it was always a bust. Then, that Friday, a new group. We wiped what, once, maybe twice, and were getting there but suddenly it was just me and a tank who was taking his last few hits. I never use LB, but I thought of it then, got it off right before I died. Everyone else was up and down goes the boss as I'm laying there. Best. deathscene. ever.

[Kabzy]

...but because I know I did make a mistake...

Aww, a little off topic but you sound really pleasant and I hope you stick with WHM if it's what you enjoy the most. That little snippet above is why I think you'll go far if you invest time in the job. That kind of mindset is what makes good players, it's the stubborn ones who refuse to learn that end up staying trash forever.

Rectify mistakes as well as you can and stick with it!

P.S. - We all felt the Bardam struggle, you're definitely not alone in that.

[MoroMurasaki]

Aww, a little off topic but you sound really pleasant and I hope you stick with WHM if it's what you enjoy the most. That little snippet above is why I think you'll go far if you invest time in the job. That kind of mindset is what makes good players, it's the stubborn ones who refuse to learn that end up staying trash forever.

Rectify mistakes as well as you can and stick with it!

P.S. - We all felt the Bardam struggle, you're definitely not alone in that.

I would like to second, third and fourth this!

Seriously though, that's a good attitude to have going into healing. Also tinythinker if you ever want to run things together we are on the same data center and my discord is in my signature. So its only you and 2-22 strangers.

[tinythinker]

Aww, a little off topic but you sound really pleasant and I hope you stick with WHM if it's what you enjoy the most. That little snippet above is why I think you'll go far if you invest time in the job. That kind of mindset is what makes good players, it's the stubborn ones who refuse to learn that end up staying trash forever.

Rectify mistakes as well as you can and stick with it!

P.S. - We all felt the Bardam struggle, you're definitely not alone in that.

I did really like 3.0 SCH but I confess I never really got into the guts of my faeries, which sounds... I never got too deep into the effective use and inner workings of faeries. Like the Tactics moves and what not. I figure once I get comfortable on the WHM I might try SCH again. As for sounding pleasant, it's a good thing I have to keep my voice chats on mute or people would hear things like, "Why the @#^ is the tank's health dropping so fast with only one mob at half health... isn't that ability off cool-down yet... what the #@$% just killed me, I didn't see anything hit..."

I would like to second, third and fourth this!

Seriously though, that's a good attitude to have going into healing. Also tinythinker if you ever want to run things together we are on the same data center and my discord is in my signature. So its only you and 2-22 strangers.

Well, I keep my voice com muted for a variety of reasons but I could still type for invite to a party and listen to directions.

@tinythinker

Hats off to you milady/milord, for having such tenacity in spite of adversaries. Healing does not come naturally for everyone, but I wholeheartedly agree with Kabzy that your attitude will take you very far should you decide to stick with the role/job. Like Moro, we're on the same datacenter and it'd be my honour to co-heal with you sometimes. My friends and I run random things regularly and I could definitely introduce you to them if you'd like. That way you don't have to play with strangers 99.9% of the time anymore (nothing wrong with this if this is your preference)

P.S. If you're interested in learning about Astrologian, I'd be more than happy to guide you through the job. I'm not a pro myself, but I have solid understanding about this job and its roles.

Not sure kudos for putting up with some bad runs and ungenerous players while trying to make fewer mistakes are deserved, but the encouragement from the thread is welcome. My DF runs are based on the need for roulette rewards and my on/off cycle with the game; it's definitely a gamble but it's also great practice at my jobs, at patience, and at getting comfortable with failure and the unexpected in the game. I read AST guides when I unlocked and leveled it over the summer, but I still think not being familiar with the mechanics of bosses and other jobs will be a limiting factor to effectiveness. It does seem fun in solo content though. If I hop back on AST your help will be appreciated.

[MoroMurasaki]

Well, I keep my voice com muted for a variety of reasons but I could still type for invite to a party and listen to directions.

Awesome! I find discord to be handy for setting up cross world parties particularly. I actually responded to your big pull thread with this as a suggestion. Add me if you get a chance and we can set up a time to run some things

[Aeducan]

@tinythinker

Hats off to you milady/milord, for having such tenacity in spite of adversaries. Healing does not come naturally for everyone, but I wholeheartedly agree with Kabzy that your attitude will take you very far should you decide to stick with the role/job. Like Moro, we're on the same datacenter and it'd be my honour to co-heal with you sometimes. My friends and I run random things regularly and I could definitely introduce you to them if you'd like. That way you don't have to play with strangers 99.9% of the time anymore (nothing wrong with this if this is your preference)

P.S. If you're interested in learning about Astrologian, I'd be more than happy to guide you through the job. I'm not a pro myself, but I have solid understanding about this job and its roles.

[Obsidia]

Really surprised so many responded to my post back on Page 1 there haha! Read some friendly, helpful advice from some cool people =). I used to be scared of tanking until I just dived in and learned it as I went. I suppose it's only natural to do the same for anything else. I'll have to give Scholar a go since I heard the MP costs got toned down a bit. DPS feels very low stress because I neither lead the entire party nor am the sole responsibility for keeping everyone alive at all times. Yes, DPS are needed just as much but it feels very different from my perspective. I'll just keep queuing on heals and get used to it a little at a time. Maybe someday it'll be a second nature yawn-fest for me haha.

Perhaps being DPS, there's something I find disturbing about having no rotation, so it's like, "...What am I supposed to be doing? Why are these guides so non specific!?" Even tanking I have enmity and damage combos/rotations xD

[Kabzy]

Stuff

You picked the right healer at least. Compared to the other two Scholars at least have a bit more to it. You can think about incorporating Dissipation into your DPS which requires some pre-planning on Aetherflow CDs and then you get to weave in Energy Drains with Miasma if you have free stacks to use and providing you keep an eye on your MP. Unfortunately it doesn’t get more involved than that, but at least it goes slightly above the DoT and nuke spam the other healers have to deal with.

[noct_lyuis]

Really good points, to add though
My reason for trying out level 70 rotations for all classes
Is to know the struggles of the other players and how to make them perform better.

If a tank uses convalescence early (might mean their comfort zones are low), or if they're handling CD's well. If your MNK ate minimal aoe's, so that his stacks won't fall off, you'd get why they do that. And that makes you a better player overall.