WHM toolkit suggestions and changes (PI and Lily)

[number473]

(Since it's probably more relevant here I will just add what I wrote in a recent thread)

When it comes to lilies I think they need to be completely deleted. WHM doesn't need a mechanic like this and as it is implemented at the moment they are completely irrelevant to how you play the class. The don't offer gameplay choices and they don't really do much beneficial. Compare this to aetherflow which is a resource which you have to manage and which gives you many choices as far as what you want to use it on.
So, we have the idea that WHM is the "beginner" or "simple" healer. White mage has already done quite a lot to differentiate itself from the other classes in terms of its toolkit in the expansions: whereas scholar has its toolkit of aetherflow abilities, white mage has its selection of cooldowns which it can use along with its efficient regens to heal powerfully and effectively. Once a player has played to level 50 on white mage they are as prepared with the basics of healing as they are going to be, whether they stick with the class or switch to AST or SCH. I personally like the simplicity that is part of the job's design, but I don't think it needs to be a 3 button class even after 2 expansions.

Addressing plenary indulgence: there are a number of things wrong with this skill. At least it's not as completely worthless as the version that was originally revealed, but there are still a number of problems.
- It's really complicated and has a really long tooltip.
- It is usually complete overkill, except in the hardest fights in the game. In easier content like expert dungeons, it doesn't save needing to use a GCD aoe heal and so might as well not exist. Even in much raid content, a lot of healing is covered by your co-healer's oGCD aoe heal (indom/earthly star) so it is only effective when there is high damage repeatedly over a short period of time.
- Even though it is an oGCD skill, it still costs one or more GCDs to use. In other words it doesn't save you a cast. This is the same problem that lilies have, although at least the payoff is slightly better here.

So here are some potential replacements for it that I consider reasonable:
- Replace it with a 300 potency aoe ability with a 1 minute cooldown, no conditions attached. (Yes, I would be happy to have my level 70 capstone skill replaced by a skill that is just 1/3 of a skill that I already have)
- It becomes a trait that replaces medica/medica II/cure III with enhanced versions that have 150-300 more healing potency. Once used it goes on cooldown for 30-60 seconds, during which you cast the regular version. Cooldown can be shown on the job gauge. (Here we simplify an extra button into just making your existing skills more powerful)
- It becomes a skill that converts all remaining healing ticks into instant heals. (not sure how much I like this one)

[lulunami]

WHM could get a single target Haste spell to buff another target. Make Haste have a 120 second or 150 second cooldown. If they do not really have to buff WHM pDPS, they can give WHM minor rDPS buffs. WHM had a haste buff in FFXI.

[EaMett]

WHM could get a single target Haste spell to buff another target. Make Haste have a 120 second or 150 second cooldown. If they do not really have to buff WHM pDPS, they can give WHM minor rDPS buffs. WHM had a haste buff in FFXI.

This is however clearly something they do not want to do. Contrary to the class identity.

[Valmaxian]

I don't know if it would be good or not, but an idea I have for WHM might be to give it an "Aura" system that could provide benefits to the player. Some possibilities:

-Regen aura
-Threat reduction
-Self cast speed/damage increase

Also, I think any GCD WHM spell should potentially generate lilies. *shrug*

[Elamys]

I would hardly say PI is "counter productive" to the job. As a skill in and of itself, it's actually quite well designed. The problem is that it exists in an environment that can't support it. How often is so much AoE damage coming out that you're going to get it to 3 stacks and then still need it? If the buff lasted a little longer that would help, at least. That issue affects Medica II as well. Not enough damage goes out in general to make full usage of WHM's kit.

[EaMett]

I would hardly say PI is "counter productive" to the job. As a skill in and of itself, it's actually quite well designed. The problem is that it exists in an environment that can't support it. How often is so much AoE damage coming out that you're going to get it to 3 stacks and then still need it? If the buff lasted a little longer that would help, at least. That issue affects Medica II as well. Not enough damage goes out in general to make full usage of WHM's kit.

The content and game design of "all healers can heal all content" is what makes PI counter productive. Right now you can only use it in a window where your HoTs are most likely still up. If you increase the timer on it it becomes a different mechanic entirely. Like someone posted above, it might as well be a fixed potency skill on cooldown at that point.

[Elamys]

Mmm, I think the stack mechanic would still be worth keeping around. One of their stated design goals was to make classes have a simpler skill floor, but a higher skill ceiling. A good WHM with the stack mechanic might be familiar with how much damage is coming and know that, say, 2 Medicas + a 2 stack PI is enough to get everyone back together with minimal overhealing. This of course assuming we'd have a fight with the right amount of damage for that. Also, it's just more mechanically interesting than an oGCD AoE heal with a fixed potency. You could make everything in the game be just a button with a fixed potency but how interesting would that be?

[EaMett]

Mmm, I think the stack mechanic would still be worth keeping around. One of their stated design goals was to make classes have a simpler skill floor, but a higher skill ceiling. A good WHM with the stack mechanic might be familiar with how much damage is coming and know that, say, 2 Medicas + a 2 stack PI is enough to get everyone back together with minimal overhealing. This of course assuming we'd have a fight with the right amount of damage for that. Also, it's just more mechanically interesting than an oGCD AoE heal with a fixed potency. You could make everything in the game be just a button with a fixed potency but how interesting would that be?

A skilled WHM won't use their gcd enough to stack PI in the first place. (Outside of a select few fights). It'll be padding or more upfront healing in any event. If you up the timer and actually allow these players to stack them it'll still probably only free an extra gcd every minute and a half. It then becomes a healing buff which WHM does not need and you don't even get a decent dps buff from it. Which is the current sticking point for WHM.
As a reminder, PI was originally meant to provide extra comfort on tank healing and backfired because proc rates were abysmal. The current PI was a quick patch that was usable but distinctly lopsided for the class.

[Elamys]

A skilled WHM won't use their gcd enough to stack PI in the first place. (Outside of a select few fights).

Again, it's the current content and rate of damage vs. healing available that I think makes PI less useful, not its general design.

[EaMett]

Again, it's the current content and rate of damage vs. healing available that I think makes PI less useful, not its general design.

I just don’t see how you can separate one from the other. If you’re suggesting they should change the content to balance whm I’m afraid you’re in for disappointment. The content is what it is because they want all healers to be able to deal with it, that’s not going to change... like ever.