Leaving #FFXIVHEALERSTRIKE: A Bittersweet Goodbye (with a Twist!)

[Kozmakis]

Hey everyone,

I've been a healer main for over 15 years across various MMORPGs. I created this forum account specifically for the #FFXIVHEALERSTRIKE, eager to share my thoughts. Recently, I decided to leave the strike to try out the new expert dungeons, and at first, it wasn’t that bad.

I did die a couple of times – once, I got one-shot with zero vulnerability stacks, which was funny because several other times I survived mechanics with 2 stacks. Our Warrior and one DPS managed to bring the boss from 60% to 0%. Another time, I wiped the group because I didn't know the ghost mechanic of the final boss of Strayborough Deadwalk. After learning it, we cleared it easily.

And that's when the excitement faded. Once I knew the mechanics, the challenge was gone. Even worse, in subsequent attempts, it didn't feel rewarding to spend so much time resurrecting players who died more than twice to the same mechanic, looking like they didn't care to learn. This is a recurring issue in FFXIV, except maybe in Savages and Ultimates – I haven't played them in the last two expansions, but that's what people say.

Even the developers admit they find it hard to balance jobs, so their solution seems to be to balance the content instead. If one or two jobs underperform, they boost their abilities' potencies. If mechanics can be avoided by a job’s spell or ability (e.g., casting Esuna on a DoT), they make them unavoidable. This makes healing feel monotonous and uninspired compared to other MMORPGs. And that's on top of having highly scripted fights, with no chaos or randomness to keep you focused and expecting the unexpected.

Here’s the twist: I had already decided to leave FFXIV altogether before trying the new dungeons. The issues I encountered simply reaffirmed my decision.

I tried to spice things up by playing as a DPS. It was more fun than healing in FFXIV, but it still didn’t compare to the enjoyment I get from healing in other games. The long dungeon queues were another issue. As much as I love the game, I just don’t have much time to play, and spending half of that time in queues is not productive.

In Japan, it is well-known that the visuals (the appearance and gear of your character, spell animations, etc.) are often more important than gameplay. This isn’t the case for me, and I believe also for most Western players. This difference in priorities further reduces my hope that gameplay – in terms of mastering my job – will become exciting.

So, to those who say “stop complaining", I just stopped. To those who say “go play another game,” I already have. To my fellow healers, my brothers and sisters in arms, I hope to see you in 8.0 – maybe then, the changes we need will finally happen. May your spells always land, and your party never fall!

[Venarius]

Good for you. I did the same - haven't played in three weeks and I am not looking back. My sub is running out tonight and from then on I'll also stop visiting and reading the forums. It was great while it lasted but there is no shame in recognizing that the game isn't for one anymore and moving on. Feedback has been given aplenty - what SE does with that is up to them, not us.

So, to those who say “stop complaining", I just stopped. To those who say “go play another game,” I already have. To my fellow healers, my brothers and sisters in arms, I hope to see you in 8.0 – maybe then, the changes we need will finally happen. May your spells always land, and your party never fall!

I'm curious though, have you found something that scratches the healer itch?

In any case godspeed to you, have a good one. o/

[Tullius]

This is a roundabout way of saying that you're taking a break after having finished this expansion's content, while making it seem like you're doing this to support the strike. Not that I don't think the strike was little more than an opportunity of convenience. People were excited to try Pictomancer, so they were already going to be moving away from healing for a while anyway.

[Xuled]

Good for you OP. At least you put money where your mouth is. Most of these kids won’t. They’ll sit and complain and say there’s no way to give feedback meanwhile not subbing is the most effective feedback. Way to go and enjoy your new adventures.

[Kozmakis]

I'm curious though, have you found something that scratches the healer itch

Thanks - I've decided to try the Evoker in WoW while waiting for Ashes of Creation. Not ideal, but still might turn out fun!

This is a roundabout way of saying that you're taking a break after having finished this expansion's content, while making it seem like you're doing this to support the strike. Not that I don't think the strike was little more than an opportunity of convenience. People were excited to try Pictomancer, so they were already going to be moving away from healing for a while anyway.

It can be interpreted that way, what I wanted to explain is (I was already asked of that) why I was seen healing while on strike. I want to avoid giving a weapon to "strike-haters" to say it's all nonsense, because people on strike are healing either ways.

Good for you OP. At least you put money where your mouth is. Most of these kids won’t. They’ll sit and complain and say there’s no way to give feedback meanwhile not subbing is the most effective feedback. Way to go and enjoy your new adventures.

Thanks, until next time

[AngaratoSvartberg]

its not an airport. you dont have to announce your departure.

gl and have fun in your new mmo.

[Tunda]

I just stopped login in.. yesterday I was in alliance raid as a tank..
I play an old alliance raid just maybe just maybe that I feel the FUN again.. but I was so wrong
I logged out after first boss.. and didn't even bother to continue the game.

I quit in endwalker after less than month and resubbing each patch to continue the story.. but dawntrail was something else.. I never in my 6 years of playing FFXIV that I quit like this

at this point I am waiting for the next monster hunter game.. to just start to have fun playing an actual RPG not a sims-like game.
every thing feels scripted everything you can plan out.. not interested in savage anymore.

to all FFXIV fans who is like me.. just go play Behaumet extreme on MHW.. you will know how much we are missing from this game

well I know that my sub which is 11$ will not make a difference but.. I will cancel it for the sake of my self

[BunnyQueen]

Hey everyone,

I've been a healer main for over 15 years across various MMORPGs. I created this forum account specifically for the #FFXIVHEALERSTRIKE, eager to share my thoughts. Recently, I decided to leave the strike to try out the new expert dungeons, and at first, it wasn’t that bad.

I did die a couple of times – once, I got one-shot with zero vulnerability stacks, which was funny because several other times I survived mechanics with 2 stacks. Our Warrior and one DPS managed to bring the boss from 60% to 0%. Another time, I wiped the group because I didn't know the ghost mechanic of the final boss of Strayborough Deadwalk. After learning it, we cleared it easily.

And that's when the excitement faded. Once I knew the mechanics, the challenge was gone. Even worse, in subsequent attempts, it didn't feel rewarding to spend so much time resurrecting players who died more than twice to the same mechanic, looking like they didn't care to learn. This is a recurring issue in FFXIV, except maybe in Savages and Ultimates – I haven't played them in the last two expansions, but that's what people say.

Even the developers admit they find it hard to balance jobs, so their solution seems to be to balance the content instead. If one or two jobs underperform, they boost their abilities' potencies. If mechanics can be avoided by a job’s spell or ability (e.g., casting Esuna on a DoT), they make them unavoidable. This makes healing feel monotonous and uninspired compared to other MMORPGs. And that's on top of having highly scripted fights, with no chaos or randomness to keep you focused and expecting the unexpected.

Here’s the twist: I had already decided to leave FFXIV altogether before trying the new dungeons. The issues I encountered simply reaffirmed my decision.

I tried to spice things up by playing as a DPS. It was more fun than healing in FFXIV, but it still didn’t compare to the enjoyment I get from healing in other games. The long dungeon queues were another issue. As much as I love the game, I just don’t have much time to play, and spending half of that time in queues is not productive.

In Japan, it is well-known that the visuals (the appearance and gear of your character, spell animations, etc.) are often more important than gameplay. This isn’t the case for me, and I believe also for most Western players. This difference in priorities further reduces my hope that gameplay – in terms of mastering my job – will become exciting.

So, to those who say “stop complaining", I just stopped. To those who say “go play another game,” I already have. To my fellow healers, my brothers and sisters in arms, I hope to see you in 8.0 – maybe then, the changes we need will finally happen. May your spells always land, and your party never fall!

Have fun, hopefully square decides to stop being a bunch of jerks when it comes to the needs of healers.