How can we really define Healers?

[Katish]

The definition I'd give healers is, DPS with the ability to keep people alive efficiently. Still dps at the end of the day and their skills should reflect some of that tbh. Still waiting for the day this happens, wistfully that is. As for how Square could move...

Square could redefine healers by fusing some of their button bloat, i.e useless heal skills that basically are just copy pasted and are similar to other skills in their tree. By fusing, the skills keep the effects and identity but rather than four skills you only need one or two to execute that job. Then Square could implement new skills that are unique and worth having for those slots. Perhaps even proper dps combos that could also give off healing when executed correctly. This would not only cut down button bloat but future proof the game for additional updates, as well as, lessen the grievance for healers that focus more on healing.

For scaling purposes, they could introduce this new identity for healers via traits. When scaled down, the healers would play similar to how they do now. When not scaled, some skills would gain copy-pastad effects and the previous skills slots would become entirely new skills altogether, preferably DPS centric. This would: simulate healer skill evolution rather than just potency, have healers keep consistent, and edge people into a more damage centric mindset. That is, how healers focus more on damage than healing in the later content. Ironically, this would also allow Square to not having to go back and rebalance prior content AND them to reconsider where healers stand in terms of end game. Although this makes too much sense and would never happen which is unfortunate.

I personally would also like to see pushes for random AI, so healing isn't as predictable, and sustainability from players, especially tanks, reduced. This would make it so healing would be more spontaneous and needed, and for healers to be required to y'know "heal". But that's only what I personally would like to see and not everyone would agree. Should it ever come to fruition that would be the day xD.