Relatively large concern about new Healer: Sage

[ForteNightshade]

some people don't want to level WHM just to unlock or play another healer
big reason why they got rid of needing to level 2 classes to unlock jobs

and people could just ignore this entire restriction with Summoner.

And other people don't appreciate having to put up with a new healer at level 71 who has little to no idea what they're doing and decided to queue into Holminster Switch instead of gaining some experience in earlier baby dungeons.

As for Summoner. I've long thought they should just split off Scholar and make it "Classless". They've all but removed nearly every Arcanist aspect from the job.

[Ashemmi]

Per Yoshi-P:


That means someone who has never played a healer at all could be thrown in late level content with next to no experience in the role. Imagine being put into a group with said healer. How do you think that is going to go?

Healer is a role that requires you to at least have some idea on what to do or the party will fail.

We saw this many times in the past where people started at lvl 50, didn't read their tooltips and had zero idea how to play their job or their role.

While your points are true, this is already happening. You can create a character today and purchase both story and level skips, then be playing tiered content inside a few days as 70-80 isn't all that hard. I've run plenty of level 80 content with people who have no concept of their class.

All added jobs have started at higher levels, folks figuring out the job through recent content isn't exactly new either.

I *wish* the jobs would start at level 1, certainly no higher than 20. Then not allow level skips for them. Players as a whole would be more likely to learn the class.

[Mikaeus_The_Lunarch]

While your points are true, this is already happening. You can create a character today and purchase both story and level skips, then be playing tiered content inside a few days as 70-80 isn't all that hard. I've run plenty of level 80 content with people who have no concept of their class.

All added jobs have started at higher levels, folks figuring out the job through recent content isn't exactly new either.

I *wish* the jobs would start at level 1, certainly no higher than 20. Then not allow level skips for them. Players as a whole would be more likely to learn the class.

im inclined to disagree with starting stuff at lv1. levelling it easily one of the most boring and tedious things in the game imo and doesn't really teach you much depending on the role. i remember levelling up MCH in StB and all throughout the levelling process i had no inkling of how i was supposed to be playing at all. sure that example is prolly an anomaly, but i straight up wouldn't touch sage or the other dlc jobs if they started at 1 now. forcing these restrictions isn't gonna magically make em better, they're still not gonna read tool tips, and they're not gonna care.

not to mention the business model of it all. idk how other mmos do new expacs/jobs, but i'd be pretty annoyed to get the new expansion and have to grind out ARR content just to get the job caught up to play the brand new story content.

[ItMe]

im inclined to disagree with starting stuff at lv1. levelling it easily one of the most boring and tedious things in the game imo and doesn't really teach you much depending on the role. i remember levelling up MCH in StB and all throughout the levelling process i had no inkling of how i was supposed to be playing at all. sure that example is prolly an anomaly, but i straight up wouldn't touch sage or the other dlc jobs if they started at 1 now. forcing these restrictions isn't gonna magically make em better, they're still not gonna read tool tips, and they're not gonna care.

This isn't a reply to the bit I'm quoting, but I'm kind of sprig boarding off it to make a reply to the thread in general.

I like those restrictions.
I like starting a new job at level 1.
So when I get a job that starts at a higher level I que info Sastasha or PotD and move up through newer content as I feel comfortable.

The game is set up to accommodate both those that want to ease into Sage, as well as more experienced healers that feel comfortable doing more with it right away.
There will be some misjudging their abilities.
Some will do Quarn when they could be pushing themselves further, and there will be some that hop straight into Holm Switch unprepared.

Can't stop players from making mistakes.
And the game is set up so no one is forced into the deep end if they don't wanna.
SQEX wants to have new jobs start at high levels so when the next expac drops people CAN jump into them.
If you want to do something to test players to ensure they're capable and qualified to use the full kit of their new job... that's not much different than just putting gates on content.

[EgilTheStressedMage]

How do you think that is going to go?

The same as the healers who have played them all without skipping and still absolutely suck.

[Cyrocco]

Yeahhh, in all honesty, if they're releasing a DPS and a Healer at the same time, I don't think we're gonna see a big uptick in healers.

[MisterNublet]

Yeahhh, in all honesty, if they're releasing a DPS and a Healer at the same time, I don't think we're gonna see a big uptick in healers.

Especially if they give Sage the same dry healer's damage package of one damage ability, one dot, and one AoE.


If there isn't going to be any meaningful changes for healers in general, I can actually see less people playing healers come next expansion.

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

Imagine Holminster Switch actually switching into 'Holminster Suffering'

[Duskane]

Imagine Holminster Switch actually switching into 'Holminster Suffering'

considering past expansion trends Holminster switch wont be a problem like Dusk vigil and Sea siren

[Raikai]

Per Yoshi-P:

The new healer Sage will start at level 70 and only require one other job at level 70.

Why is this a concern?

That means someone who has never played a healer at all could be thrown in late level content with next to no experience in the role. Imagine being put into a group with said healer. How do you think that is going to go?

Healer is a role that requires you to at least have some idea on what to do or the party will fail.

We saw this many times in the past where people started at lvl 50, didn't read their tooltips and had zero idea how to play their job or their role.

This will do nothing but exacerbate that issue.

I REALLY hope they have some sort of training regimen that is required if you select the job. Some scenario where you have to escape a facility and heal people to do it, otherwise this could potentially be a disaster.

It's a very valid concern, and to a similar degree happens with GNB, even though 60 isn't as forward.

It's a shame Sage won't get a job storyline given they will be back with role quests instead, but at least I think Sages should get some form of intro quests with specific challenge scenarios towards newcome healers.