Need Templar advice

Azphat12

I have my Templar up to level 11 now, and have primarily used the Healing Staff.

Here is my question for those in the know.... can I be an effective main healer if I choose to NOT use that staff? Or should I plan on using it in high level dungeons and/or pvp? I guess I am just unfamiliar with how this system works, as I am more familiar with the traditional Tank/Healer/Dps category and having a skill tree that pretty much is just that. With TESO, it is confusing to say the least....

I have tried doing a ton of reading, watching videos...and even worked with the talent calculators... but I just want to make sure I am on the right path. I will respec at level 50 if needed, but I want to make sure I am leveling up the right weapons and other stuff to the best of my ability..

I am trying to set myself up for main healer in end game. Any advice?
I prefer ranged combat also....but I really do like the idea of having a 1h/shield combo. And also go 5 light / 2 heavy for some defense is another thing I read was good.

If anyone remembers Everquest, I am trying to go with a "Cleric" style build.
Mace/Shield.... wears heavy armor.... but heals like a mad man. And has good defense so they are hard to kill. I wouldnt mind a damage ability or two, and I do not mind grinding slowly because I cannot do much dps...I am used to that.

But I see Class / Weapon / Armor / Alliance / World...omg there are so many skills... lol. Just need pointed in the right direction.

Any advice would be great... or possibly a good website to go read or post on this forum. Anything...

Thanks!

jmido8

Yes, you can main heal dungeons without a healing staff but I suggest using a bow if you want to do that. Sitting at range makes it easier to keep an eye on your teammates. I tried using a 2hander for a while and main healing dungeons but I often got caught up in the action and didn't pay attention to my teammates, oops.

If you're good at micro-managing, then it should be fine though, I just have trouble with it which is why I use a bow.

Azphat12

Well, I was thinking of using the 1h/shield and just sitting in the back. Having it for the extra defense over a staff. And using magic abilities for damage at range... or is that not a good idea?

Nidwin

Whatever you feel comfortable with, I would suggest.
It's always better to have a build that you enjoy playing, for whatever personal reason, than the ultimate pro build suggested by the ultimate pros.

A happy healer > a frustrated healer (same for tanks and cc support toons)

If you want to stay behind with some more heavy armor and a shield, do it, by all means. I personally prefer a more squishy build with higher heals/Magic pool and a mobile game play.

The only thing is that if you stay like me with full healing and Restoration staff, leveling and Main Storyline can become tricky because of our poor damage output when all alone.

p.s.
Heals don't come from the sky, God or ZOS so don't forget to thank your little healer once in a while. Makes us so happy and proud.

Edhelas_Naven

The Restoration staff is a good weapon for a healer to work towards to. When you get Force Siphon, combat becomes a little bit much easier. You heal your self as you damage the enemy.

The combat in ESO is somewhat tactical oriented. Do not hesitate to block power attacks or interupt casting attacts. See a healer healing thier comrades, double tap to him/her and interupt the healing, stuning them and allowing you to take them out easily. To interupt, get close, hold the RMB and then press the LMB.

If your prefer range and do not like geting close when alone, your ranged spells from Dawns Wrath can be used to take out archers and casters first allowing you to deall with melee after. And Keep Moving. I apart from Rites of Passage, the Restoring Lite Ultimate, I have not seen any other spell that you have to stand in place to cast. Correct me if I am wrong. I am level 45 Templar now and might have morphed some spells that may require standing still.

On solo times, my offhand weapon is a shield and a sword that absorbs health (a nice reward from a dungeon). Know that I do not use the stamina active skills from sword and sheild. I have only some of the passives that decrease stamina cost of blocking and damage mitigation when blocking. I may remove these skill points at max level when I respec. Have been using and plan to always have Absorb magicka on all my healing staffs. I switch to 2 healing staffs in groups. I have found it to keep me and my party alive when fighting bosses and mana regen is not keeping up with the damage we are taking.

As others have said, find what works for you. Remember that you do not need to take all skills. For example, the mages guild skill line, I think is not usefull to me as a Templar in the long run. I only have the persuade skill and thats it. For Fighters guild, I could not resist the temptation to take more damage passive skill against undead and deadric enemies. Well, in an RP point of view, if the Templar is similar to a cleric then taking the skill makes sense.

Again, choose your skills carefully. I hope these helps.