Discussion: Healer Identities & Implementation of Healing Roles in FFXIV

[Seraphyel]

The title says it all. Since ~ 2008 I am a healer in MMORPGs. Started back in WoW and then in basically every MMORPG I played since then (I'd say a dozen or more).

It's quite easy to give healer jobs an own identity when there are only three. And I really hope they're going to do this in 5.0 but I'm not sure about it. I mean WHM and SCH seem to have some sort of identity but AST is just a mix of the former two and I don't know why.

What route could they go with each healer? I think it's not nearly as difficult as SE seems to think when there are only three healing jobs and none of them is very elaborate yet.

I just returned to the game and I am sure a lot of players already made a lot of suggestions but I want to add mine and maybe discuss the future (identity) of healers in this game.


What kind of healers are there in other games and how could they be implemented in FFXIV?


1. Healing over time (HoT): having several HoTs that keep players alive, for both single and multi target; the whole class fantasy revolves around healing over time with instant / short cast spells

2. Direct healing: the most straight-forward healer; having strong heals that heal a lot of HP directly, mostly bound to long(er) casting times; focus is on single target but with multi target capabilities

3. Absorption / Shields: when you're able to prevent damage you don't have to heal through it; having several shields of different strenght and multitude available to prevent your allies from getting any damage

4. Pet-/Totem-/AI-based healing: a pet or another kind of AI mechanic helps you with healing by either having its own distinctive nature like a pet or being a static object like a totem which add direct healing / healing over time or whatever; you have to pop them and they do their job even if you as the healer do nothing; you still have healing skills to complement your pet / totem

5. Healing-via-damage-dealing: you basically heal with your damage; you're not as potent as a damage dealer but your damage skills heal for a percentage of your damage done

6. Leech / Sacrifice-own-health-to-heal-others: to heal your allies you sacrifice your own health / become fragile towards damage while you prevent others from getting damage

7. Buffer / Off-healer: not as potent as pure healers but having the ability to deliver powerful buffs to your allies makes up for the lesser amount of healing you throw out


[8., 9., etc.]




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