Healers! I owe you a thank you!

IrishGirlGamer · November 2016

Since the beginning of the game, I've pretty much played DW DPS. I don't know, it seemed to go well with the characters I had in my mind, the races I liked to play, and I love that steel tornado animation!!

Then, on Friday afternoon, I was playing with a new Breton templar DW but everything just felt ... stale. Someone on guild suggested I give her a stave and so I did. Desto staff was fun and when I got to level 15, I turned picked up a resto staff as my weapon swap.

Friday night I ran my first dungeon as a healer and had a blast. Two people I were with (from my guild) were fun and very helpful, and taught me the basics. It was unlike any build I'd ever run before. By the time the night was over, my Breton was now a pure healer (I completely abandoned the desto staff).

For about six hours Saturday, I worked my healer. She's a templar, two resto staffs, all magicka and I get health to 17k with health glyphs. I can buff health with food if I think I'm going have trouble in a dungeon but mostly I run magicka regen for food. I ran the entire day as a healer, healing dungeons, dolmens, boss fights, everything. I have biting jabs, the sun fire morph, and the javelin morph for a little damage if I need to run a quest or throw out some DPS.

Well, the fun came to an end Sunday afternoon. I queued in the group finder and dropped into a dungeon with a newbie and two experienced players (each had over 300 cps). I'd been doing this since Saturday and loving it. I find running with the new players great, and sharing some of their "Oh Wow" experience at running their first dungeon is a reminder of my own first experiences.

As soon as I hit the dungeon, I sent out a "Hey," to the group and the newbie responded. The other two just took off, running the dungeon. We hit the first set of mobs and they came after me. I roll dodged and started sending up heals but mobs were on me constantly. I had to spend my magicka to kill the mobs in my face. By the end of the second trash fight, I was concerned. By the end of the first boss fight, I send a group whisper: "Does ANYONE have a taunt?"

The newbie responded with a no; the other two didn't answer. They just kept running. Now, to be clear: my healer is squishy. To many mobs in my face and I'm probably gonna die. So I began to roll dodge like crazy and just heal. I even slotted stamina pots for the first time ever, so I could keep my roll dodge alive.

Final boss fight: I have two DPS with bows, another with a desto staff, and I'm trying to heal the group. The newbie dps at least had the common sense to hang back and stay out of the boss' face. One of the "experienced" players - the one with bow - couldn't stay out of the red, and felt the need to get in the boss' face. His health would drop to almost nothing in an instant.

But we got through it. I healed, I roll dodged like a madwoman, I dropped stamina and I healed some more. When we were done, I was kind of proud of myself. I got this group through the dungeon and without a single death. Just as I was feeling good, one of the "experienced" players sends me this gem:

"Next time DPS!!!"

Seriously? My Irish temper fired, and I was about to fire off a toxic response when I stopped.

That could have been me. Not with the snarky whisper, but being the DPS, running a dungeon, checking my DPS like the world revolved around me, and never realizing that the only reason I was able to spam DPS was because somewhere behind me there was a healer keeping me alive. I suddenly thought of all the dungeons I blew out of, proud of myself and my oh so holy DPS, without a word of thanks to the healer.

So thanks. Really. I get it now.

(And just a word to the DPS crowd: if you really think you can run a dungeon without a taunt and queue yourself up as a tank, then you freakin better to be able to drop enough burst DPS so that the mobs aren't in your healer's face and (s)he is gulping stamina pots to stay alive. Because if that's what's going on, you're doing it wrong. And the thing is: you'll make it through the dungeon, they will keep you alive, and you will never know.)

Riga_Mortis · November 2016

Dont abandon destro staff totally as your group will love you running ele drain on that bar.

IrishGirlGamer · November 2016

Dazza1968 wrote: »

Dont abandon destro staff totally as your group will love you running ele drain on that bar.

Oh, good idea. Thanks for the tip!

wayfarerx · November 2016

Glad you enjoyed picking up the resto staff, I find healing to be the most fun and rewarding part of grouping up in ESO.

Never worry about what the DPS say, as you note they tend to exist in their own little world where the damage meter is the only thing that matters. I wish the DPS meters were smart enough to break out damage gained from SPC, combat prayer, damage done because the healer kept you from turning into a pile of fine ash, etc.

Also, healing on TS with friends is fun if for nothing else but the shout of "OMG thank you healer!" that you occasionally get.

Drummerx04 · November 2016

destro/resto is a really good way to go for a healer (destro bar for ele drain and self buffs basically). Apart from healing, the healer should also buff a good group with combat prayer, provide resources back to the group with ele/siphon/orbs/shards/repentance.

A full buff/resource management healer is a really truly beautiful creature.

I'm glad you've enjoyed healing. A good pure healer is always welcome in my groups

freespirit · November 2016

Dazza1968 wrote: »

Dont abandon destro staff totally as your group will love you running ele drain on that bar.

^^This if you are running 2 staffs one may as well be a Destro, there are some nice passives and Elemental Drain is a skill frequently asked for when healing in my experience.

Jeremy · November 2016

IrishGirlGamer wrote: »

Since the beginning of the game, I've pretty much played DW DPS. I don't know, it seemed to go well with the characters I had in my mind, the races I liked to play, and I love that steel tornado animation!!

Then, on Friday afternoon, I was playing with a new Breton templar DW but everything just felt ... stale. Someone on guild suggested I give her a stave and so I did. Desto staff was fun and when I got to level 15, I turned picked up a resto staff as my weapon swap.

Friday night I ran my first dungeon as a healer and had a blast. Two people I were with (from my guild) were fun and very helpful, and taught me the basics. It was unlike any build I'd ever run before. By the time the night was over, my Breton was now a pure healer (I completely abandoned the desto staff).

For about six hours Saturday, I worked my healer. She's a templar, two resto staffs, all magicka and I get health to 17k with health glyphs. I can buff health with food if I think I'm going have trouble in a dungeon but mostly I run magicka regen for food. I ran the entire day as a healer, healing dungeons, dolmens, boss fights, everything. I have biting jabs, the sun fire morph, and the javelin morph for a little damage if I need to run a quest or throw out some DPS.

Well, the fun came to an end Sunday afternoon. I queued in the group finder and dropped into a dungeon with a newbie and two experienced players (each had over 300 cps). I'd been doing this since Saturday and loving it. I find running with the new players great, and sharing some of their "Oh Wow" experience at running their first dungeon is a reminder of my own first experiences.

As soon as I hit the dungeon, I sent out a "Hey," to the group and the newbie responded. The other two just took off, running the dungeon. We hit the first set of mobs and they came after me. I roll dodged and started sending up heals but mobs were on me constantly. I had to spend my magicka to kill the mobs in my face. By the end of the second trash fight, I was concerned. By the end of the first boss fight, I send a group whisper: "Does ANYONE have a taunt?"

The newbie responded with a no; the other two didn't answer. They just kept running. Now, to be clear: my healer is squishy. To many mobs in my face and I'm probably gonna die. So I began to roll dodge like crazy and just heal. I even slotted stamina pots for the first time ever, so I could keep my roll dodge alive.

Final boss fight: I have two DPS with bows, another with a desto staff, and I'm trying to heal the group. The newbie dps at least had the common sense to hang back and stay out of the boss' face. One of the "experienced" players - the one with bow - couldn't stay out of the red, and felt the need to get in the boss' face. His health would drop to almost nothing in an instant.

But we got through it. I healed, I roll dodged like a madwoman, I dropped stamina and I healed some more. When we were done, I was kind of proud of myself. I got this group through the dungeon and without a single death. Just as I was feeling good, one of the "experienced" players sends me this gem:

"Next time DPS!!!"

Seriously? My Irish temper fired, and I was about to fire off a toxic response when I stopped.

That could have been me. Not with the snarky whisper, but being the DPS, running a dungeon, checking my DPS like the world revolved around me, and never realizing that the only reason I was able to spam DPS was because somewhere behind me there was a healer keeping me alive. I suddenly thought of all the dungeons I blew out of, proud of myself and my oh so holy DPS, without a word of thanks to the healer.

So thanks. Really. I get it now.

(And just a word to the DPS crowd: if you really think you can run a dungeon without a taunt and queue yourself up as a tank, then you freakin better to be able to drop enough burst DPS so that the mobs aren't in your healer's face and (s)he is gulping stamina pots to stay alive. Because if that's what's going on, you're doing it wrong. And the thing is: you'll make it through the dungeon, they will keep you alive, and you will never know.)

I've had similar experiences to this so I have felt your pain.

DPS who think they are too good to need tanks can make for one very miserable dungeon run - especially for the healer.

If you aren't a tank - meaning a defensive character designed to redirect enemy attacks or attention toward yourself - then don't queue up as one. If you want the shorter queue times - then play as a tank.

ValkynSketha · November 2016

Yep tanks and healers really need to get back their rights, and dds should stop their bs, it is always dds posting dps numbers at the end with not even thank you for keeping spc/aether/war horn/minor sorcery/drain/repentance/shards/maybe siphon/orbs at 100% up as possible in addition to keeping them alive while they are standing in red

.

vyndral13preub18_ESO · November 2016

Something to keep in mind if you werent using it, is healing springs. When spamming healing springs about the only thing that will kill someone is a one shot. That is if you have built your character as a true healer. And with the morph that returns magicka based on players hit you dont have to worry about magicka to much.

So when you run into a group that isnt controlling the mobs the way they should stand on one of them and spam healing springs. You will keep yourself and whoever you are hitting alive. If the others are interested they will move into the giant glowing circle of love.

I know it really shouldnt be needed in 4 player content but when people arent doing what they are suppose to i pretty much do whatever i want. Cant beat them, join them and all that.

Dasovaruilos · November 2016

Healing is awesome, but very demanding and usually unrewarding.

Not only there are people that truly believe "it is always the healer's fault", you know you did your job well when nobody notices when you are around.

Having to keep track of half a dozen, different timed buffs and debuffs, watch the health bars (upper left), watch your resources (middle bottom), watch AoE from you (everywhere) and still do some damage and be ready to react in a split of a second when someone needs a heal is very demanding.

And most of the times the only time someone says something to a healer is to complain.

I am not even a very good healer but it is very good to hear, when you are pugging, and a random DPS comes to you and say they remember you from an earlier dungeon when you helped a couple of 20-something finish WGT without many deaths.

I wish more DPSs would try to heal to see that sometimes, that easy dungeon was easy because there was a healer with SCP, IA, Combat Prayer, Shards, Repentance, Warhorn, Rapid Regen, Orbs and Elemental Drain basically up all the time.

Gargath · November 2016

My magplar healer runs with double resto Staffs (both Dyloras) and when someone asks me for ele drain I reply that I can share templar shards, combat prayer or quick siphon instead. Usually they love me enough

.
If someone tries to be annoying with their blame that I don't have this or that spell they need so much, or that I don't have destro Staff with ele drain, I usually reply that why the hell they did not come with it after all. Anyone can have destro staff, so why blaming others - start with yourself.
And being a good healer, you should not be affraid of few mobs focusing on you. Spamming healing springs from resto Staff, along with quick siphon, while standing near the others saves a lot of magicka and should be your main goal. At least it works fine for me

.

PS. I also don't like to play with those quiet people that won't reply for your greetings or when asked. The language should not be a barrier in this case, rather bad attitude or rudeness.

Saint_Bud · November 2016

Dont forget combat prayer and necrotic orbs.

RavenSworn · November 2016

I wouldn't even heal it. Like I would just spot heal here and there and of they get into my face and say "you need to heal." my response would be "you need to taunt."

[Deleted User] · November 2016

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Minno · November 2016

My Templar heals via regen methods only for this reason. Exception of trials, the dps should be able to survive on the two HOTs I provide. I have breath of life just in case, but I refuse to spam it just because players can't play their classes.

That said I'll do whatever I can to ensure my group survives. I even have a tank set for just in case some DPS decided to waste people's time.

Jeremy · November 2016

Minno wrote: »

My Templar heals via regen methods only for this reason. Exception of trials, the dps should be able to survive on the two HOTs I provide. I have breath of life just in case, but I refuse to spam it just because players can't play their classes.

That said I'll do whatever I can to ensure my group survives. I even have a tank set for just in case some DPS decided to waste people's time.

Not to mention a DPS who invites you to spam big heals on them all the time can drain your magicka and leave you helpless to save more competent players when they need emergency healing.

bellanca6561n · November 2016

Loved the story, @IrishGirlGamer and, yeah, that sort of stuff happens...often.

That said, I love roles like healer or tank - yes, they're thankless but that's precisely why I enjoy them so. It's why I played a Captain in Lord of the Rings Online and was a logi pilot in Eve Online.

I enjoy most the roles people don't tend to notice....unless nobody is playing them.

SolarCat02 · November 2016

Jeremy wrote: »

Minno wrote: »

My Templar heals via regen methods only for this reason. Exception of trials, the dps should be able to survive on the two HOTs I provide. I have breath of life just in case, but I refuse to spam it just because players can't play their classes.

That said I'll do whatever I can to ensure my group survives. I even have a tank set for just in case some DPS decided to waste people's time.

Not to mention a DPS who invites you to spam big heals on them all the time can drain your magicka and leave you helpless to save more competent players when they need emergency healing.

This!

One of the big things to remember (and I still sometimes forget) is to look out for yourself first. A dead healer can also quickly lead to a party wipe, so what is good for you is good for the team.

This means things like prioritizing targets for healing based on their role in keeping you alive, don't run out of magicka keeping someone else alive throughout their dumb mistakes (although go for it if it's no strain on your resources), and use caution when doing non-healing things like rezzing other players or adding damage (since your primary role is healing).

Sometimes good players do stupid things, and a healer can help them survive it. (My favorite example is when our tank decided to tank the Lava Queen in Blessed Crucible by standing in the lava pool in the center of the platform. He didn't realize it wasn't just decorative... It was too funny, so I only told him after the boss was dead.

)
Others are always doing stupid things, and sometimes it is best if you don't spend too many resources on them. (For example, a dps who insists on standing in red and did 1/3 the damage of my healer. He gets to be a floor puddle for most of the dungeon because it is more efficient for the team. And that's okay. Even hospitals believe in triage.)

vyndral13preub18_ESO · November 2016

Ill just add this as well. I know ive posted it before and so have others so if you have seen it, ignore.

But if you are new to healing it is funny, and sad all at once.

https://youtu.be/2DxS7eT_ky4

Nocturnalan · November 2016

Being a healer here is very stressful at least for me. It's the only role I've played in this game. Coming from WoW I thought it would go just fine not realizing that if I didn't have a specific skill slotted that my place in the group would be in danger! Things happen much faster and there is much more to pay attention too. I don't regret it though, learning more and more everyday.

I hate when 3 DPS join in on group finder. They're always like "We don't need a tank" and I realize my next 20min. of gameplay is going to be more challenging than I anticipated. I have adapted to keep 2 shielding abilities on my back bar for those special entitled groups.

Dasovaruilos · November 2016

Haha...

The funny thing is, until now, only healers said anything on this thread.

Gargath · November 2016

Nocturnalan wrote: »

I hate when 3 DPS join in on group finder. They're always like "We don't need a tank" and I realize my next 20min.

Even better if all of them are archers without self healing

.

Nocturnalan · November 2016

hugocbp wrote: »

Haha...

The funny thing is, until now, only healers said anything on this thread.

Healers are like special needs students, just leave us alone and let us think we're are the saviors of the universe!

bellanca6561n · November 2016

Nocturnalan wrote: »

hugocbp wrote: »

Haha...

The funny thing is, until now, only healers said anything on this thread.

Healers are like special needs students, just leave us alone and let us think we're are the saviors of the universe!

That's the idea, amigo.

When you get to a "certain" age, a huge chunk of your ego takes an extended nap, and seeing reflections of your earlier self flat out amuse you.

IrishGirlGamer · November 2016

bellanca6561n wrote: »

Nocturnalan wrote: »

hugocbp wrote: »

Haha...

The funny thing is, until now, only healers said anything on this thread.

Healers are like special needs students, just leave us alone and let us think we're are the saviors of the universe!

That's the idea, amigo.

When you get to a "certain" age, a huge chunk of your ego takes an extended nap, and seeing reflections of your earlier self flat out amuse you.

Wait ... what?? I DID save you the universe! I did!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

failkiwib16_ESO · November 2016

When I carry a noob team like that through a dungeon, I only slot Rapid Regeneration on the team & Siphon Spirit the first 2-3 mobs for the team mates to take .....and then just weapon swap to Dual Wield and Sweep the hell out of every enemy, then go back and finish the ones the team is dealing with.

If anyone dies, I will (when I get time for it) move over their youthful elvish bodies and repentance them

Normally any somewhat experienced team I've played with take care of their healers, like they actually care about keeping them alive ...so if enemies swarm me, they rush over to kill them a fast as possible.

I don't know how pugs are, because I don't pug that much - most of my experienced friends prefer me to heal and buff only, because they sacrificed every bit of sustain they had for dps.

Cryptical · November 2016

Minno wrote: »

My Templar heals via regen methods only for this reason. Exception of trials, the dps should be able to survive on the two HOTs I provide. I have breath of life just in case, but I refuse to spam it just because players can't play their classes.

That said I'll do whatever I can to ensure my group survives. I even have a tank set for just in case some DPS decided to waste people's time.

Yeah, giving the regen aura at the start and again a couple secs after retribution ends really cuts down on the pinched-sounding calls for shards later on. Its a bit like a free tri-pot for everyone, no burst but all the regen boost. Plus if the tank doesn't taunt the prime targets or the dps do things like let the frost atros chase me in direfrost, then I am very happy I've got that stam / health regen boost on top of an emergency stam pot.

And it gives me space to sling destro. It's fun and helpful slinging a destro clench at the mobs the dps are on, toss the mobs off balance and they just get gutted. Also if the ilambris procs. Also for that destro ultimate.

idk · November 2016

@IrishGirlGamer

Good for you. I'd suggest leveling dstaff also. Ele drain as part of a healers suport is good, more so if you want to heal trials.

Also, Templars have mean magika melee magika build that has good survivanility.

Curragraigue · November 2016

You get a better appreciation of each role if you try them all you also can do your own role better because you can predict other players and fill in to assist the other roles if you know what they should be doing.

raglau · November 2016

IrishGirlGamer wrote: »

(And just a word to the DPS crowd: if you really think you can run a dungeon without a taunt and queue yourself up as a tank,

The other day I wwas tanking DC II and two so-called 'healers' ended up in my PUG. But neither could work out how to open a box of Bandaids, let alone heal the dungeon. I kept asking, 'which one of you guys is actually going to be healing, as you both are listed to heal in Finder?"... No response...I guess people can get away with fake tank and fake heal to pop the queue early on the non-vet dungeons, but the wheels come off pretty quick on the Vet or II modes.

Still, most people in this game are great I find. Glad you enjoy healing, I played DPS for my entire time until I started a healer and a tank alts a few weeks back, gave the game a new lease of life!

biovitalb16_ESO · November 2016

Dazza1968 wrote: »

Dont abandon destro staff totally as your group will love you running ele drain on that bar.

They will? I've seen "great tanking", "awesome tank", "dps was amazing"...never have I seen "great healing" or "ty for ele drain",

I have seen "OMG FAIL FING HEALER HASN'T DROPPED A SHARD IN 5 SECONDS!! KICK HER" though.