Quote Originally Posted by Azurarok View Post
So then I've been thinking, why are GCD heals (that aren't lilies, and even that's relatively recent) designed to be a dps loss? I know if a party member's dead that's a worse drop and all, but it still feels like we're being punished for doing what the role is supposed to do.
Honestly, no idea. Some people think GCD heals being DPS neutral would make healers braindead/too easy/too forgiving/etc. Personally, I think it would be better than the current situation which is 1 button damage spam and oGCD weave healing and would offer a solution to get healers pressing other buttons and actually raise the active skill ceiling since you'd need to be able to figure out how to work out cast times to heal people and manage MP. But there are a lot of people that don't like that, who like planning out fights with oGCD healing plans for a more strategic gameplay than a tactical, "moment to moment" healing gameplay, and due to being bored with the one button damage that results from the oGCD healing plan, want more damage buttons/a dps rotation on all the healers.

Personally, I think the GCD healing and tactical gameplay is more fun and the right answer, but I get not everyone likes that, so I think having some healers that work with each would be the best answer, like say SCH having more damage buttons and oGCD/Faerie healing while WHM has more GCD healing and Misery refunding damage (like if all GCD heals contributed to the Blood Lily, not just Solace/Rapture). Other people want all the healers to be more like damage dealer rotations and keep the oGCD weaving/planned out entire encounter gameplay.

As for what the Devs are thinking, I'm not sure. You're right the healing/damage combo style of thing feels more fun (WHM could do it via Misery, SGE via Toxicon), though. They could even do two and two with AST/SCH being more oGCD focused and WHM/SGE being more GCD focused with damage neutral GCD heals. No reason not to, really. It's just a question of the Devs deciding if they'd want to to it.

Quote Originally Posted by fulminating View Post
Instead there’s a situation where I’ve been forced out of the game because I can’t stomach the miserable experience of playing any job I used to enjoy. It’s only getting worse, but I’m not angry enough to care anymore.
...and that's why the 4 Healers Model would be a good idea. Well, ANOTHER reason why it would be a good idea.