Moving to AST

[Mizuko]

I'm a new player and have been levelling WHM as I enjoy playing healers in MMO's but I am considering moving to AST for 2 reasons:

1. I think they are the best looking class I have seen so far with some great looking spells.
2. I see WHM is in a bit of a slump at the moment.

I was thinking of continuing WHM to 60 then buy the level boost for AST as I don't want to go back and have to relevel.

My question and point of the post is if I take this option I'm concerned that it will be difficult transitioning with all the new abilities (as opposed to learning them slowly through levelling). I am generally fairly competent in healing MMO's but very new to FF so don't have a huge familiarity yet.

Do people think it's reasonable to change over like this or will I struggle with the new class at that level?

[Crizhalid]

They play fairly close, aside from cards. IMO, you're overthinking it and should just play what you want to.

[Pepsi_Plunge]

I woudn't suggest buying the level boost. You already start at level 30 and the job quests are worth doing it - besides you should get familiar with the card-system before going straight into level 60 content.

[Mizuko]

I wouldn't suggest buying the level boost. You already start at level 30 and the job quests are worth doing it - besides you should get familiar with the card-system before going straight into level 60 content.

See this is the usefulness of asking these questions. I was not aware at all that you started at 30. That at least cuts out some of the re levelling time. Maybe I am over thinking things and rushing too much.

[Alrin]

You will probably have very little problems if any. WHM to SCH is a bit different story though (If you like healing then you will try all healers in the future anyway).

Leveling healers isnt that problematic as DPS. You have almost nonexistent waiting times for duty roulettes and using healer class is best (my opinion) for Command Squadron missions which i like to use during leveling.

[EaMett]

How are you enjoying whm? And what do you like about the game?
If you’re impatient to get a healer to end content I would continue with whm. Why set yourself back 30 levels on account of what people say about whm. It’s still a viable healer.

Leveling another healer via daily roulettes and some deep dungeons isn’t hard but it’s nicer if you already have a capped class tbh. Doesn’t feel like you’re in an endless leveling phase.

I would also advise you to level it the old school way, nocturnal plays differently and getting cards and skills as you go really helps you learn the class.

[Mizuko]

How are you enjoying whm? And what do you like about the game?
If you’re impatient to get a healer to end content I would continue with whm. Why set yourself back 30 levels on account of what people say about whm. It’s still a viable healer.

Leveling another healer via daily roulettes and some deep dungeons isn’t hard but it’s nicer if you already have a capped class tbh. Doesn’t feel like you’re in an endless leveling phase.

I would also advise you to level it the old school way, nocturnal plays differently and getting cards and skills as you go really helps you learn the class.

WHM is good so far, I don't have any outstanding issues with it as a class per se, probably more with the game itself, where it's very different to other MMO's where there isn't as much focus required on actual healing.

Regarding the game it's mostly the story so far and how nice the game looks to me. Compared to others I've played, it just seems nicer, flashier maybe. It's hard to describe.

I'm in no rush to get to end content, hence why I thought I'd get WHM to 60 then buy the AST to 60 so I could just continue at same level. (Only rush I have is having done plenty of 70 content prior to 5.0 coming out, but I don't think I'll struggle to do that)

I certainly see the benefits of learning properly through levelling, I just honestly don't fancy repeating the levelling grind, it's rare for me in MMO's to create multiple characters just to level them, although I understand lots of people enjoy that, it's not for me. Unless I'm highly over estimating the time that it'll take.

[Mansion]

White Mage is largely played by the playerbase, it is enjoyable at lower levels compared to other jobs. The state of the job at 70 is fairly decent, it's more about the lack of balance in the high end content of the game because the other two healers are working very well whereas White Mage feels a bit clunky in comparison.
But in casual contant (which is more than 85%) of the game, White Mage will work as fine as any other job.

Don't forget that you have a "long" way until level 70, in terms of both Main Scenario and side quests. You'll get a lot of EXP, so you can level two jobs together quite easily.
I can only advise to give AST a try, if you are curious. The fact that it starts at level 30 helps a lot too!

[Exiled_Tonberry]

It's far too early for you to worry about healer balance at all. Just play what you like and you'll be fine. You'll eventually run through all the healers anyway so there's no rush or need to dedicate to a single healer.

[Mizuko]

It's far too early for you to worry about healer balance at all. Just play what you like and you'll be fine. You'll eventually run through all the healers anyway so there's no rush or need to dedicate to a single healer.

I'll quote you to answer this but it's been insinuated a few times earlier. Healer balance was my second and more minor point to the question. I WANT to play AST because they look fun and the animations are very nice. The question is more would I have a a difficult time learning it if I bought progression straight to 60 to match my WHM, or should I learn naturally by progressing from the start.

Now I know that they start from 30 which I wasn't aware of before it's more tempting. I'm not a fan of grinding through for XP and as mentioned previously I'm unlikely to level all healers.