5.X WHM Change Wishlist

[currentlemon]

I know that this is a bit late considering the 5.1 patch notes just came out, but since barely anyone is talking about WHM in these forums, I feel like a thread like this is necessary.

WHM was the first job I leveled up to 70 in SB. I loved the job despite it being the weakest healer in the game. 5.0 gave the job some changes, both good and bad, and is considered to be the most stable healing job out of all three.

Now, I'm aware I may not be in the best position to criticize or demand any changes to the job, since I just got back into the game, and haven't reached max level on it nor have I beaten the main scenario quest. But I still want the job to do well. Square did an okay rework of WHM, BUT some of the job's glaring flaws are still there.

I made a doc a few months ago that contains a list of changes that I think should help WHM. I just leave my notes here so that people can look and discuss what I have suggested.

And given their record with the healing jobs, I doubt Square will take into consideration what I proposed. But hey, a man can dream.

One more thing. This isn't a 6.0 wish list. This change list is built off of 5.0. As such, the purpose of this wish list is to improve on the current build of WHM. No over the top changes. Just some things that I believe should help the job in the 5.X lifespan.

[currentlemon]

Lily System
Have the WHM lily regeneration changed from 30 seconds to 25.
Have the WHM start with one lily at the start of every dungeon and raid.
Move the trait Secret of the Lily down to Level 38. WHM will gain only ONE lily instead of three.
Add the trait Secret of the Lily II at level 52. WHM can now use three lilies.

Add Skills at level 38
Stoneskin
Description: Forms a barrier around the caster and the party, absorbing physical damage totaling 10% of the target’s maximum HP
Duration: 8 seconds
Recast: 30 seconds
Additional Effect: Shares a recast timer with the skill, Shell (If cast, both skills will be on cooldown).

Shell
Description Forms a barrier around the caster and the party, absorbing magical damage totaling 10% of the target’s maximum HP
Duration: 8 seconds
Recast: 30 seconds
Additional Effect: Shares a recast timer with the skill, Stoneskin (If cast, both skills will be on cooldown).

[currentlemon]

Add Skill at level 58
New AoE Water Skill
Description: Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby.
Additional Effect: Depending on how many lilies the WHM has available, the damage potency to the target may change. The use of a blood lily allows the spell to be cast at its strongest form.
One Lily: 300 damage potency for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Two Lilies: 400 damage potency for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Three Lilies: 600 damage potency for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Recast: 2.5 seconds (GCD)

This skill will morph to Afflatus Misery at level 78.
Changes to Afflatus Misery
Description: Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby.
Additional Effect: Depending on how many lilies the WHM has available, the damage potency to the target may change. The use of a blood lily allows the spell to be cast at its strongest form.
One Lily: 500 damage potency for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Two Lilies: 750 damage potency for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Three Lilies: 900 damage potency for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Recast: 2.5 seconds (GCD)

Afflatus Rapture is now gained at level 68.

Add Skills at level 76
Bravery
Description: Empowers a nearby ally, increasing their physical damage output by 30%.
Duration: 10 seconds
Can only be executed when the Blood Lily is in full bloom.

Faith
Description: Empowers a nearby ally, increasing their magical damage output by 30%.
Duration: 10 seconds
Can only be executed when the Blood Lily is in full bloom.

[currentlemon]

Miscellaneous Changes
WHM receives the skill Aero III at level 72.

Tetragrammation Changes
Cure Potency has been reduced from 700 to 500.
Additional Effect: Regenerates One Lily upon use.

Fluid Aura Changes
Description: Deals water damage with a potency of 180.
Additional Effect: 15-yalm knockback and Bind effect on hit. Duration: 6 seconds.
Recast: 25 seconds.

Add Skill at level 40
Divine Seal
Description: Increases healing magic potency by 20% for 15 seconds
Recast: 120 seconds
The skill will morph to Temperance at level 80.

Cure III is now gained at level 42.

[Bobsmiaw]

If WHM got bravery or faith, their personal DPS should be reduced.
30% damage increase is too much (compare it with DNC and AST).
I prefer WHM to have more tools for DPS than for buffing.
Let AST have the buff and SCH have the debuff.

[currentlemon]

Snip

Well, considering that WHM would have to wait 90 sec (25/50 sec with my changes) to use Bravery or Faith, I figured the damage increase needs to be high enough for players to use it over a lvl. 3 Afflatus Misery. 30% does seem a bit too much, so let's compensate.

Add Skills at level 76
Bravery
Description: Empowers a nearby ally, increasing their physical damage output by 20%.
Duration: 10 seconds
Can only be executed when the Blood Lily is in full bloom.

Faith
Description: Empowers a nearby ally, increasing their magical damage output by 20%.
Duration: 10 seconds
Can only be executed when the Blood Lily is in full bloom.

And perhaps some potency nerfs to some of the job would compensate for the changes I'm requesting. Hmm, not sure which DPS skills would need to be nerfed.

[Sylvain]

Tbh it's clear that they don't want to make WHM a support job so requesting insanely strong buff such as "faith" sounds a bit... unrealistic
They also seem to want WHM to be the "GCD" healer with the Lilies spells being all on the gcd

I personally really like the direction they took with the lilies, heal granting dps.
With spells like Assize that could definitely be something the WHM could be built uppon, some skills heal and grant damage, and some damage and grant healing.

For instance we could have something like

"Afflatus Despair" : Instant, Spell, 60s recharge
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 200.
Additional Effect : Refresh the duration of all Regen and MedicaII effect on allies.
Additional Effect: Nourishes the Blood Lily
Healing Gauge Cost: 1 Lily

"Afflatus Wither" : Spell, Instant, 2.5s cd
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 300.
Additionnal Effect : Wither a Lily making it unusable for the next 15s. If no Lily are available, potency is reduced to 200.
Additionnal Effect : If Afflatus Wither is used while a Lily is withered, consumes the Lily and grant a Blood Lily

[Trait] Garden of Pain
Everytime Regen heals an ally, advance the Lily gauge by 3s. This effect can only be triggered once every 3s.

[Trait] Soothing Misery
Afflatus Misery now refresh Regen and heals allies affected by Regen equal to the damage dealt by Afflatus Misery.


People often complain that healers have no identity, but I believe WHM identity could definitely be expanded around the Lilies with the idea that healing grant damage and damage grant healing with more abilities such as Assize and specific Afflatus spells

[Rasikko]

I'm finding that GCD healing is under powered 71+

Cure II cast time reduced from 2s to 1.7s. (1.94 for most healers, but still too slow)
Cure II potency increased from 700 to 720.
Regen duration increased from 18s to 21s (why did they reduce this to 18 anyway...)
Medica potency increased from 300 to 350. (to cut down on the amount of casts needed)
Medica mp cost increased from 1000 to 1100.

The GCD instants are fine.

[Bobsmiaw]

All ability that consume Lily should not be DPS ability and should not be a buff ability.
SE can give a new ability that consume 2-3 Lily for medica 2 equivalent or party mitigation (protect, sheel, or shield).

On the other hand, all ability that consume Blood Lily should be DPS ability.
Ex: single nuke and aoe nuke.
The damage potency can be adjusted based on the amount of Blood Lily.

WHM will heal more with Lily in cost of a GCD. However, they can redem the damage loss via Blood Liliy in the end.

[Risvertasashi]

Raid buffs have been something WHMs have been asking for since falling out of the meta Heavensward. Let me know when it happens because I'll need to verify that hell has frozen over. That, and, WHM has the highest personal DPS exactly because it has no DPS buffs to offer the party. I'd rather WHM keep this.

Honestly at this point, right now, all I'd really like is a cast time reduction for the Stones & Glare. Make weaving not so cumbersome.