Sad experiences of a newbie

[Avatre]

I play on EU and tend to go for very populated servers (I don't like waiting for my queues for very long), I actually have no idea if queueing in this game is cross-server or not.

The way queuing works in XIV is it's based on data center. So anyone on the same data center with you is a potential party member if they are queuing for something in the same roulette scope/same dungeon as you are. Sometime, unfortunately, you will run into people like the ones who you have already met, but more often than not, there is practically no chatting in dungeons aside from the initial hello and final thank you. Of course there are exceptions, but that goes with everything.

I'm not sure if it was because of the data center, time of day, or just bad luck getting people who honestly have no patience to help new players. But, it typically does get better(sometimes it takes a transfer off the center to not be a part of that).

[Squintina]

I play on EU and tend to go for very populated servers (I don't like waiting for my queues for very long), I actually have no idea if queueing in this game is cross-server or not.

Well I'm sure if you ask around you can find another FC that will be nice enough to do runs without you rather than using DF. DF is cross server (but not cross data center. There are multiple data centers each with multiple servers)

I'm used to more traditional healing model - me, a healer, just heal. From the garbage thrown my way I gathered I'm supposed to dps too. Apparently for most people I healed too little, dps'd too little, then healed too little, then dps'd too little... you get the idea. I admit, I'm a slow learner, and learning how to juggle healing, dps and buffs (I decided to focus on astrologian) is tough for me, since I don't get a lot of time to play in general.

While I do understand that as I came from WoW where healing is more ...healy , didn't you feel there were times when you didn't really need to heal and could maybe put in some other things?

Even in WoW, once a piece of content became super easy and we were basically in farm mode, I'd be asked to either switch to DPS spec (and let the other healer solo heal) or throw out a few things here and there while staying in healer spec. Maybe my group was unique in that way, and it certainly only happened once we reached "farm"-like conditions and not for any content where we were actually working hard, but it did happen. I definitely remember doing this on the first 2 bosses of the lich king raid many times.

Anyway, unless people are doing high-level content and you're trying and not just standing around (and not spamming heals when everyone is pretty much already topped off), it shouldn't matter if your dps is super high, most people will be content to just see you try. You can always try doing it gradually.

Comfort level -1:"I'm not trying" (hopefully you're not here): I'll heal when I feel like it but I'll do nothing even when no one needs healing for multiple seconds at a time and just watch videos or something.
Comfort level 0: I'm active but the only thing I'll do are healing spells and mana regeneration. Nothing else.
Comfort level 1: I'll heal whenever I feel I need to, but I'll at least keep one dot up as much as possible
Comfort level 2: I'll heal when people get < 70%, keep one dot up, and throw attacks out when above 70%
Comfort level 3: I'll heal when people get around 50%, but other wise keep learning to dps. If I'm playing a class/job with more than one dot, I'll try to make sure they're both up and also throw occasional attacks.
Comfort level 4: I'll see how far I can push it while not being overly stressed out.
Comfort level 5: END GAME: I'll see how far I can push it as long as we don't die even if it stresses me out

These comfort levels can change for each instance, and depending on how good the rest of the group is, but the idea is to try to work towards the highest level possible.

I would also recommend finding someone in NN or FC to practice casting heals on to get a feel of how strong your healing skills are so you can best determine if it's necessary to heal or if you can wait a bit and throw out another Stone.

[Mr_Gyactus]

I'm used to more traditional healing model - me, a healer, just heal.

WAIT WAIT WAIT stop this!

you know, I'm in the same server I'm a main healer, never had a complain.

They could be more sympathetic and polite, but I'm sure 99% is your fault.

This game has its own rules, you cannot "spam heal" and think "i'm doing fine". You aren't.

My advice is "begin from level 1" as conjurer -> whm or arcanist -> scholar and understand every skill
Another good advice is "try to play as tank or melee dps", you will see how others play the healing class.

P.S. I play healer in WoW, in Lotro, in RIFT... everyone is different.

[Chortle]

I'm used to more traditional healing model - me, a healer, just heal.

Here's the reason that doesn't work in FFXIV. Your heals do a lot more than in most other games relative to the damage tanks receive. You have down time and other skills at your disposal. Same can be said for any class.

Even if a tank has agro on every mob pulled, if all he/she is doing is spamming their taunts, they are not doing what the class was designed to do. Same goes for healers.

These people sound like they were rude, and that is not warranted. You should be healing, dpsing, and managing your mana though.

[Vstarstruck]

I'm used to more traditional healing model - me, a healer, just heal. From the garbage thrown my way I gathered I'm supposed to dps too. Apparently for most people I healed too little, dps'd too little, then healed too little, then dps'd too little... you get the idea. I admit, I'm a slow learner, and learning how to juggle healing, dps and buffs (I decided to focus on astrologian) is tough for me, since I don't get a lot of time to play in general.

you do not heal that often in this game, leads to a lot of downtime, so your expected to help dps otherwise it appears you are not doing much. never really seen off the wall harassment of lacking dps as a healer.

[Skivvy]

I play on EU and tend to go for very populated servers (I don't like waiting for my queues for very long), I actually have no idea if queueing in this game is cross-server or not.


I'm used to more traditional healing model - me, a healer, just heal. From the garbage thrown my way I gathered I'm supposed to dps too. Apparently for most people I healed too little, dps'd too little, then healed too little, then dps'd too little... you get the idea. I admit, I'm a slow learner, and learning how to juggle healing, dps and buffs (I decided to focus on astrologian) is tough for me, since I don't get a lot of time to play in general.

For better or worse, healers are expected to do some damage as well in XIV. I would say if you're not comfortable doing that quite yet, maybe just give a quick head's up to the party letting them know that you're still learning the ropes and will try to DPS if/when you feel you can. People seem far more understanding when you let them know upfront.

Also, not to discourage you from AST (it IS a fun job), but you may also want to try one of the other healers - see if that works out better for you. Obviously the goal is the same between the 3 healers, keep everyone alive, but they do all play slightly different, and perhaps one play-style will suit you more.

I've been a WHM main since launch, and I recently set out to level all of my healers to 70. SCH I struggled a bit with at first, but I actually started feeling comfortable and actually enjoying it towards the end of my run. AST - I was a hot mess as AST. I had caused more party wipes during those few weeks of leveling than I'd like to admit. Despite being a healer for yeaaaars, something just shuts off in my brain when playing AST.

Best luck on the next adventure ~

[Sebazy]

<snip>

Hiya, I'd be very very interested in seeing any examples of this that you might have kept? Any logs or screenshots? If you don't want to link them here, I'm on the same server as you and as such I'd be happy to throw some advice back your way if you are willing. /tell Sebazy Spiritwalker, I'm always afk these days, but I'm usually within earshot of my speakers, I'll do my best to ensure I respond in good time.

I will add, some context regarding the issues you faced would really help here as well.

I'm used to more traditional healing model - me, a healer, just heal. From the garbage thrown my way I gathered I'm supposed to dps too. Apparently for most people I healed too little, dps'd too little, then healed too little, then dps'd too little... you get the idea. I admit, I'm a slow learner, and learning how to juggle healing, dps and buffs (I decided to focus on astrologian) is tough for me, since I don't get a lot of time to play in general.

I'm going to hazard a guess that you are trying build a house before you've laid the foundations. Don't worry about your DPS yet, frankly, don't worry too much about your buffs either. Healing effectively is the very core of your job and until you get that down, don't let yourself get distracted by talk of ABC, DPS and Optimisation, it's nigh meaningless at this stage of your gameplay.

You'll see a chatter here about optimal play and things you could be trying to do, but remember that all of that means nothing if you're letting people die. These things will come to you gradually as you progress through the game and get more comfortable with your abilities and hotkey layout. You'll do best when you progress at your own pace, not anyone elses.

Some tips for you if you do decide to stick about:

Switch back to WHM, seriously, AST's card mechanics are great, but they are a distraction that I get the impression you are not ready for. WHM is just a classic brute force healer and is a no nonsense straightforward job to play, perfect for allowing you to focus on learning how the game works rather than worrying about chasing a decent card whilst your tank dies.

Communicate. This is so important i'm going to say it again in the largest bold font I can. COMMUNICATE. People will be a lot more forgiving and helpful if you just mention that you're new to the game and request that they go easy at the start of the dungeon.

Do you find yourself making the same errors repeatedly? Don't be afraid to adjust and shuffle your hotkey layout at this point. Being comfortable with your keys is vitally important.

Still making mistakes? Consider recording yourself for a completely truthful and unbiased overview on what's going wrong, on the PC you can use Shadowplay or OBS, on the PS4, consider uploading unlisted clips to your youtube account.

[Ceasaria]

I admit, I'm a slow learner, and learning how to juggle healing, dps and buffs (I decided to focus on astrologian) is tough for me, since I don't get a lot of time to play in general.

Astrologian is the most complicated job in this game.
I don't recommend any new healer to to play it before to to be used to heal/DPS with White Mage or Scholar (even Scholar can be difficult to play, but at least the fairy is a good help).

[Joe777]

It does indeed suck but it isn't, sadly, uncommon for some people to get the truly bad apples in pugs. There are 2 things you can do about this:

1. Report the player(s) for their abuse. If they are griefing you then you have every right to report them for it when you are not in the wrong.
2. Find a static group to play with that isn't so abusive. Your server's Novice Network, a Free Company, some friends, anyone you can find willing to go with you where you need to would work.

[Chronons]

*shrugs* Not enough evidence to know whether it was warranted or not.

Regardless, its always sad to see people go. Hope you give the game another chance in the future.