I'm bored when I heal because I need more complex DPS rotations

[Renathras]

Opinion.

Did I say it wasn't? It's just as valid as "getting to do an engaging DPS rotation is rewarding" is.

To make it more explicit:

"Getting to do DPS isn't seen as rewarding by everyone; so what's the reward for everyone else?"

It has been answered before. Group content of any difficulty level should have enough damage that bringing a healer is required no matter your skill level

Great! We agree.

Generally speaking, that isn't the answer - most of the time, it's "We can't change encounter design/we'd have to change every encounter in the game/it would break the game/casuals couldn't clear MSQ/etc". That's why I say there generally isn't an answer, because people say we can't do any of those things you just proposed whenever I propose them. In fact, I'm pretty sure you've told me before that we can't do those very things when I proposed them...? o.O

1. Balance outgoing damage around what healing healers can provide. Easier content can still be forgiving, but if you're going to give jobs like White Mage and Sage free healing resources every 20 seconds, for example, give those healers reasons to use those.

Agreed. Indeed, I've proposed this before. And been told we can't do it.

2. Create opportunities for the healer to make decisions within their own toolkit. As a small example, rather than putting a cooldown on something, give it a steep MP cost with no cooldown. Make the player choose when to take advantage of whatever potent effect that spell has by managing their MP rather than just waiting for it to be ready again.

Agreed. I've also proposed THIS before and been told that we can't do it and that the game has drifted so far from MP management that it can't possibly be a solution. I'm glad to see you say it.

3. Reward optimal healing with fun and interesting gameplay. For most people, that means more interesting DPS rotations that allow you to shorten the duration of an encounter and increase the rest of your party's margin for error.

Among other things. For example, ASTs seem to want buffs, not more damage buttons.

I'm sorry that you're in a select minority of...

What's that thing you and others always say not to do? Tell people they're in the minority?

There is a subset of players who prefer to focus on support. If only there was a job that rewarded optimal healing by empowering their teammates instead of themselves. That would ideally be what is designed to appeal to players within your subset.

Sure. And per the idea that we can't have things on only one Job, it would need to be an option on every Healer Job. I'm fine with that. Honestly, this is probably what RDM should be (as a Healer, go fig)

Hell, I'd be fine with it being AST if they completely revamped it to get rid of its carpel tunnel burst and got rid of the occultist and tarot aesthetic. Problem is, both of those are things that current AST players like, and I don't want to steal their Job out from under them, do you?

.

It's unfortunate, AST could've evolved into such a job. AST was never a dps-focused healer even on release. It's a shame that they cut down what we can do with cards, greatly reducing the decision tree that cards had while also reducing the time we even spend being engaged with the cards, which leaves us nothing but the lackluster damage kit that they've had since HW (minus 1 DoT).

Agreed. The devs seem to want to go the opposite direction with the Healers.

In ShB, recall they did a number on BRD's party buffs when they added DNC. I remember it being so stupid the moment I heard it.

Devs: "We think Jobs that work by buffing other party members aren't good for the game, so we're removing BRD's party buffs."
Players: "Uh...okay, we'll give this a chance. So you're doing what with BRD?"
Devs: "Well, we're adding a new Job we think will be fun for players. Dancer. How it works is that it buffs other party members and we think this will be good for the game!"
Players: <visible confusion>

They have this weird "on again, off again" flirtation with whether or not they want a true Support role and how much or little they want to allow that.

...of course, then you have PvP, so what even the heck?