IMO The Healer role needs to more challenging in endgame

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

Disclaimer: This is my opinion and observations, and I'm not saying there aren't great healer's. I have played with amazing healer's you'd think had 5 hands with how much they could do at once. This is not a critique of anyone in particular, but observations I find unbalanced when compared to the other roles.

How do I define endgame?
Vet DLC content and especially hardmodes.

The problem:
The healer role seem to be "spared" a lot of stress and hazzle compared to the other roles

Breakdown:

Mechanics
Mechanics seem to overwhelmingly target the Tank and DD role.

Take Fang Lair Hardmode for example:
DD's has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. keep up a rotation 3. deal with bone collosus without tank assistance 4. while destroying the boss.
Tank: Has to 1. dodge and CC the bugs, 1. move around the acid pool with a boss that can one shot you 3. WHILE dodging ghost walls
Healer: 1. Dodge ghost walls

Take Red Petal Bastian Hardmode:
DDs 1. has to dodge a million AOE's, 2. target specific adds, 3. while dodging ice pillar's, 4. while parsing the boss and 5. dodge the moving walls.
Tank has to 1. taunt said spread out adds, while 2. taunting a boss with a shield break mechanic, 3. while dodging AOEs and walls, 4. while interrupting the boss
Healer: Has to 1. dodge Walls and 2. AOEs

What are other examples.. Kite healer in trials? Hardly a hard mechanic to stand and wait for something to happen.
Tomb healer? Orb into a burst heal... Barely a healer check.

Where is the extra stress of the other two roles?

"But the healer has to move around and heal and buff everyone while they do it..." Keep reading I got something to say about that aswell.

Lately new content seem to experiment with with giving SPECIFICLY the healer more to do... But.

Take Dread Cellar HM first boss... As a tank you take a brutal amount of damage to incentivize the group to bring a healer.

But the way they challenge the healer role is by making the Tank role 100x harder. You have randomly spawning adds, some which oneshot, while the boss throw out insane AOEs and you have to move around the map.
This fight is almost identical to Stone Garden HM in how the challenge is presented but the flame DOT is added.

Making the healer role more challenging by making it more miserable for the Tank, and increasing the bar for the Tank-Check is not ideal.
IMO the Tank checks are plenty high as they are.

Another example of a healer mechanics is the King Narilmor fight.
Your healer got the OPTION to heal Therraya, so the clones doesn't get an increased shield. Who does it punish if the healer fail? The DDs who now has to burn through larger shields and more HP.

This fight should IMO be made so you have to heal BOTH the team AND Therraya (Not optional) If the healer failed to heal Therraya it's a team wipe. That would be a true healer mechanic. The other versions are just healer "mechs" with a failsafe. "Oh I didn't heal the Tank enough? Well let him heal himself - oh we wiped? bad tank"

The Mec solution?
In my opinion I'm a fan of two options:

Make the healer role relevant by having an occasional damage DOT hit the team to stress the healer. Not a small baby DOT but a true damage over time like on The Dread Cellar final boss hardmode before it got nerfed or the fire Dagger in Stone Garden final boss HM fight. Make it very clear its a mechanic and the Healer need to be awake and ready to burst heal.

Have Specific mechanics for the healer to DO. Like with healing Therayya in vDoM but don't make it optional. And don't shift the work onto the DDs if the healer fail. No, Heal her to full or the team wipe.

Also where's the timed purges?

And... Kyne's Aegis final boss HM in execute is so wild! Very nice mechanics, What a nice healer check!

Auto Healing...
Now I promised to get back to "Healer's also has to heal" and I will.

One of the strongest healing over time in the entire game is an auto aim heal (Rapid Regeneration). You can literally look up into the ceiling, the entire game, and use that ability to hit every member of your team in 4 man content. Burst heal doesn't need to be individually clicked on the hurt team mate, you simply has to look, somewhat, in the direction and the game does the rest with a smart heal.

No other role got it THAT easy. A tank can't just auto taunt things in a 28m radius. The DDs can't just look into a wall and have their rotation 360 no scope the boss with every hit.

I fully admit it feels GOOD to be healing in ESO, and I don't want to take the QoL away, and make it a frustrating experience. I really don't. But compared to the other roles it seems to me the healer could use some more challenge in certain content.

Now if you made it this far and don't agree I completely respect your position and hope you will respect mine.
Let me say again there's amazing healer's and player's out there and this is in no way a critique to any endgame players. It is simply how I personly would improve on the healer role to bring it up on par with the DD and Tank role, so people don't que 3dd 1t.

Most likely I forgot about something important so
If you agree / disagree let me know.

Edited the title to make it more clear its an opinions piece.

StarOfElyon · January 2022

Healing is a challenge when you don't use proc healing sets, in my opinion.

_Zathras_ · January 2022

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

_Zathras_ · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

Well, tbh, I don't heal vet content in this game. In FFXIV I do, and it is vastly another beast altogether. All those checks and challenges you want? They are there in spades, with extra scoops of goodness, and even a cherry on top.

I've also healed in other games, EQ, EQ2, DAoC, WoW.. ESO healing, for the content that I do (not "endgame") is very casual.

So I will amend my other post by saying kudos that you are good enough to want more of a challenge! But, my caveat is that more of a challenge for you doesn't necessarily mean a generalized challenge should be added for all the other healers out there.

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

_Zathras_ wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

Well, tbh, I don't heal vet content in this game. In FFXIV I do, and it is vastly another beast altogether. All those checks and challenges you want? They are there in spades, with extra scoops of goodness, and even a cherry on top.

I've also healed in other games, EQ, EQ2, DAoC, WoW.. ESO healing, for the content that I do (not "endgame") is very casual.

So I will amend my other post by saying kudos that you are good enough to want more of a challenge! But, my caveat is that more of a challenge for you doesn't necessarily mean a generalized challenge should be added for all the other healers out there.

I fully understand and respect that position.

I certaintly don't expect people to agree, very seldom it seems people want harder content in ESO.

But we can disagree respectfully.

Persony I think the healer role is very automated comparatively.
People will likely point to vHOF and Kynes HM and I will honestly agree with them.
But far often than not that is not the endgame experience... Again IMO.

CP5 · January 2022

I genuinely feel you're overstating the same challenge on one role when comparing it to healers. Like in your Red Petal Bastian example, "dps need to dodge millions of aoes and healers only have to worry about aoes." But just like a damage dealer needs to prioritize targets and effectively cast their skills, so to do healers, just in a dynamic way depended on the moment to moment needs. It isn't "We have to kill x add" but instead "tank needs resources, now dps needs buffs reapplies" and so on. Comparing dps and tanks, who have a fairly consistent demand in fights, to healers who focus more on what's happening at any given second isn't comparable in most situations. Also, no mention of trials? Trying to keep 11 other people alive is far more demanding than content where running a healer for some groups is actually a drawback.

Amottica · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

You have cleared all vet trials? On HM?

As a healer.

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

CP5 wrote: »

I genuinely feel you're overstating the same challenge on one role when comparing it to healers. Like in your Red Petal Bastian example, "dps need to dodge millions of aoes and healers only have to worry about aoes." But just like a damage dealer needs to prioritize targets and effectively cast their skills, so to do healers, just in a dynamic way depended on the moment to moment needs. It isn't "We have to kill x add" but instead "tank needs resources, now dps needs buffs reapplies" and so on. Comparing dps and tanks, who have a fairly consistent demand in fights, to healers who focus more on what's happening at any given second isn't comparable in most situations. Also, no mention of trials? Trying to keep 11 other people alive is far more demanding than content where running a healer for some groups is actually a drawback.

Actually a very good point and a great healer will try to do 3 things at once.

But the penalty and consequences of not doing any of them is far less than for the other roles.. again IMO.

Tank doesn't do mechs/block/dodge = team wipe
DDs doesn't kill things = Can't progress

Healer:
No buffs? Fight drags out, tank has to hold longer, DDs has to extend their rotation's.
No healing? Tank has to self heal, DDs has to self heal having fewer ressources to do damage

But this seem to be more quality of life... and while some fight's are absolutely mandatory I think the healer feel very automated to play even when they're needed.

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

Amottica wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

You have cleared all vet trials? On HM?

As a healer.

I have not cleared all the vet trials hardmodes as a healer. But I have experience with some of them.

Kyne's is especially brutal in the execute phase.

But if we're honest is this not the exception and not the rule?

CP5 · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

CP5 wrote: »

I genuinely feel you're overstating the same challenge on one role when comparing it to healers. Like in your Red Petal Bastian example, "dps need to dodge millions of aoes and healers only have to worry about aoes." But just like a damage dealer needs to prioritize targets and effectively cast their skills, so to do healers, just in a dynamic way depended on the moment to moment needs. It isn't "We have to kill x add" but instead "tank needs resources, now dps needs buffs reapplies" and so on. Comparing dps and tanks, who have a fairly consistent demand in fights, to healers who focus more on what's happening at any given second isn't comparable in most situations. Also, no mention of trials? Trying to keep 11 other people alive is far more demanding than content where running a healer for some groups is actually a drawback.

Actually a very good point and a great healer will try to do 3 things at once.

But the penalty and consequences of not doing any of them is far less than for the other roles.. again IMO.

Tank doesn't do mechs/block/dodge = team wipe
DDs doesn't kill things = Can't progress

Healer:
No buffs? Fight drags out, tank has to hold longer, DDs has to extend their rotation's.
No healing? Tank has to self heal, DDs has to self heal having fewer ressources to do damage

But this seem to be more quality of life... and while some fight's are absolutely mandatory I think the healer feel very automated to play even when they're needed.

And again that's just the current state of dungeons, making it a better idea to run a 3rd dps rather than a healer. Would love to see how a trial works out without healers but would definitely not want to be a part of that group's suffering.

sarahthes · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

You have cleared all vet trials? On HM?

As a healer.

I have not cleared all the vet trials hardmodes as a healer. But I have experience with some of them.

Kyne's is especially brutal in the execute phase.

But if we're honest is this not the exception and not the rule?

Falgravn HM isn't actually that hard to heal...

Amottica · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

You have cleared all vet trials? On HM?

As a healer.

I have not cleared all the vet trials hardmodes as a healer. But I have experience with some of them.

Kyne's is especially brutal in the execute phase.

But if we're honest is this not the exception and not the rule?

Some of them are easy to clear such as vAA.

I am also speaking of HM since that is the most challenging and where healing would be expected to be taxed the most.

So, you are saying you cleared Kyne's in HM as a healer?

One thing I will add, I think all the vet dungeons and trials should be scaled to the current level of power. For groups that can clear the older dungeons and trials in their current state but would not be able to if they were scaled to the current state of the game they still have the normal difficulty and have something to work towards with vet.

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

sarahthes wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

You have cleared all vet trials? On HM?

As a healer.

I have not cleared all the vet trials hardmodes as a healer. But I have experience with some of them.

Kyne's is especially brutal in the execute phase.

But if we're honest is this not the exception and not the rule?

Falgravn HM isn't actually that hard to heal...

Respect!

Vaoh · January 2022

Healers keep people alive but also provide buffs/debuffs. The skill gap is mostly in how well you maintain uptimes in trials and tbh there is a large skill gap.

Now if you’re talking about 4-man content then it’s a different story lol. Unfortunately most attacks that damage dealers receive either deal negligible damage or they oneshot, so there’s rarely a time when a healer is better than a third dps in experienced groups.

sarahthes · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

sarahthes wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

_Zathras_ wrote: »

I think you should main a healer for a couple of years, then come back and do some editing of your post.

I got 3 healers mate:) I have played all content with them including PvP support which I by far find the most challenging.

I play every role.

I'm happy to change my view but I need some real specific arguments.

You have cleared all vet trials? On HM?

As a healer.

I have not cleared all the vet trials hardmodes as a healer. But I have experience with some of them.

Kyne's is especially brutal in the execute phase.

But if we're honest is this not the exception and not the rule?

Falgravn HM isn't actually that hard to heal...

Respect!

It's more a sign that healing is a bit overtuned though, in my opinion. Bahsei HM was tougher until they nerfed it - sadly the core I was progging the HM on as a healer disbanded before we tried Xalvakka HM.

BalticBlues · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

The healer role seem to be "spared" a lot of stress and hazzle compared to the other roles
Fang Lair Hardmode for example:
DD's has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. keep up a rotation 3. deal with bone collosus without tank assistance 4. while destroying the boss.
Healer: 1. Dodge ghost walls

What a NONSENSE POST...

Are there ANY ENDGAME HEALERS who are NOT KEEPING UP A ROTATION???

Healer:
1. Buff "stressed" DDs and Tank up
2. Give synergies
3. Help at crystals
4. INTERRUPT Necromancer
5. Keep HEALS UP WHERE NEEDED in this HUGE DUNGEON
6. Dodge ghost walls

I guess, at times where self heals got OP and out of control,
some DDs are beginning to think that healers are just a lazy burden...

lauykanson · January 2022

Moongrave fane HM is fun to heal

Grandchamp1989 · January 2022

BalticBlues wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

The healer role seem to be "spared" a lot of stress and hazzle compared to the other roles
Fang Lair Hardmode for example:
DD's has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. keep up a rotation 3. deal with bone collosus without tank assistance 4. while destroying the boss.
Healer: 1. Dodge ghost walls

What a NONSENSE POST...

Are there ANY ENDGAME HEALERS who are NOT KEEPING UP A ROTATION???

Moreover, buffing the "stressed" DDs and the Tank up, giving synergies, helping at the crystals and also
keeping HEALS ALIVE FOR ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE in this HUGE DUNGEON is not that easy.

I guess, at times where self heals are OP and out of control,
some DDs are beginning to think that healers are just a lazy burden...

I do not believe healers are a lazy burden.
But I do believe in most content, and especially in 4 man content, you can get away with being not so good as a healer because the consequences are often not as high.
Not always, but often enough.

And yes people are spread out but healers got auto aim heals too.

I think some healer exclusive mechs in 4 man content would be very Nice to have.
“Do this or wipe”

tmbrinks · January 2022

BalticBlues wrote: »

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

The healer role seem to be "spared" a lot of stress and hazzle compared to the other roles
Fang Lair Hardmode for example:
DD's has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. keep up a rotation 3. deal with bone collosus without tank assistance 4. while destroying the boss.
Healer: 1. Dodge ghost walls

What a NONSENSE POST...

Are there ANY ENDGAME HEALERS who are NOT KEEPING UP A ROTATION???

Healer:
1. Buff "stressed" DDs and Tank up
2. Give synergies
3. Help a crystals
4. INTERRUPT Necromancer
5. keep heals ALIVE EVERYWHERE in this HUGE DUNGEON
6. Dodge ghost walls

I guess, at times where self heals got OP and out of control,
some DDs are beginning to think that healers are just a lazy burden...

I was going to say this. The whole "keeping up a rotation" as a "point" for the DDs, as healers have to keep up a rotation as well, and healers almost universally have to use a dynamic rotation, rather than a static rotation that many DDs can use and still get good damage.

Edit to add: I'm not saying the healer rotation is easier (it's definitely more reactive than a DDs), but we're also not harmed nearly as much by missing light attacks in our weaving as a DD would be, so there is more forgiveness on that side of things.

That said, in my GS group, I was the RoJo healer, who is basically the 9th dps in the trial, and I had to pull my damage weight, while also keeping up buffs in order to help the group achieve our goal.

BalticBlues · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

people are spread out but healers got auto aim heals too.

First you tell us endgame healers do not use a rotation?
Now you are suggesting that auto aim heals can reach everywhere?
Auto aim heals have a limited range, and there are not many of them.

Please HEAL FANG LAIR HM yourself before telling people it is TOO EASY...

OWLTHEMAD · January 2022

I dont know. I can understand op's position, but on the other hand a lot of that is dependant on individual group strategy, in my group healer tends to be the mechanic jockey and often times a secondary tank. Alot of the argument comes from player trends rather than game design.

Try using your healers differently?

Healer builds in this game are pretty uniquely suited to multi role as back up tank or back up dps.

In my experience running with a "good" healer is a night and day difference.

If anything we should be asking for more content that doesnt trivialise the role by simply burning through the mechanics with a third dps, and relax the requirements for acheivements like speed runs that encourage you to out right drop the healer for another dd.
f course new content (dungeon wise) seems to be pretty good about that

kargen27 · January 2022

"I guess, at times where self heals got OP and out of control,
some DDs are beginning to think that healers are just a lazy burden..."

A guild I am in there was a couple of groups that were using three DPS one tank for a lot of the hard four man content. I healed for trials with these same people but didn't do the four man content with them. One night they couldn't find a 3rd DPS so I went in with my healer. The person that organizes the groups told me the run went much smoother and might have been quicker. Why?
Because the DPS could concentrate fully on DPS without worry about most buffs or keeping alive. Their DPS improved because that is all they needed to worry about. Where getting caught in red for a bit could be catastrophic with three DPS it was a minor thing with a healer.
I'm guessing the absolute best DPS in the game can go no healer without a problem. Most though even if they can clear the hard mode stuff will find they benefit from a healer that does more than just dodge ghosts.

BalticBlues · January 2022

OWLTHEMAD wrote: »

In my experience running with a "good" healer is a night and day difference.

THIS. You mostly note this when playing as tank.

I have a friend who might be the best healer in this game.
When I tank anything with this girl on my side,
I get the impression I am not taking any damage and cannot die.

To give the tank and the DD the impression the content is easy, she as a healer is working like hell.

guarstompemoji · January 2022

The original post comes across as though the author has never kite healed. I've healed and DPS'd veteran content (I've got vet clears in all trials, and some hm, as well as parse 96k), as well as dlc dungeons and including FL HM.

Dynamic rotation was easier to pick up as a deeps because it's what I'd been using as a healer. If I try static, my brain falls asleep and I want to take a nap. If I'm having a tired day, there are trials I'd rather deeps than heal (vHoF hm or vAS come to mind). Likewise, sometimes deeps portal mechanics aren't particularly fun.

I'd suggest working with healers in a positive way. Here are some complaints that I'd like to see addressed:
o Address the toxicity around healing. DPS had a meta update and there was a hue and cry over update costs, but imagine doing that 20x. The other day, I had to drop 2 mil in upgrade mats and transmutes, with more expected on the way.

...did the raid group offer to help farm it? No. It's just "expected." Complain about it? Expect derision. Oh, and you've got 2 days. Congrats.

o The number of support sets, again. It's "fun" to learn each and every one of those sets. Y...y...yaaay...?

o Buff and debuff tracking improvement. Currently, this involves a hodgepodge of multiple addons (some maintained, some not) and attempts to compare them in different and conflicting ways. Do you like the way that ESO looks? Good, take a picture because you'll never see it again.

An above poster mentioned differences in buff and debuff uptimes; this is a big reason for it.

o More focus on teaching healing mechs from raid leads. The best kiting setups and mechs are those that I've learned from other healers. Raids fail if I don't do them, so...

This lack of knowledge between roles also leads to roles blaming one another, I suspect. "What DOES the tank do except stand there and hold block?" one deeps asked me in vCR. Or, "Why aren't you healing me through one-shots?" asked the tank in Red Petal hm.

o Make tanking more enjoyable.

o Do something that addresses LA weaving--by teaching it ingame, reimagining it as a rhythm challenge (it's already ~ 60bpm), something. Or just...address the LA weave/Skill foundation. Rebuild something dynamic, fun, and challenging from it. One of these things needs done in general, but the point here is that...

All roles could be built upon, expanded, and made more challenging in a fun way, this way. Make players anxious to play ALL roles. They'll learn them, and possibly blame eachother less.

Also, as an aside: since hitting certain numbers as a deeps, peoples' perception of you changes. You get more invites, you receive more respect. ...despite your clears list, and even though it has little to do with your current role.

peacenote · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

Take Fang Lair Hardmode for example:
DD's has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. keep up a rotation 3. deal with bone collosus without tank assistance 4. while destroying the boss.
Tank: Has to 1. dodge and CC the bugs, 1. move around the acid pool with a boss that can one shot you 3. WHILE dodging ghost walls
Healer: 1. Dodge ghost walls

I do understand that this is an opinion and definitely I'm not trying to be difficult, but in my opinion I don't think you are providing consistent comparisons and you're double counting things. For example keeping up the rotation IS what's causing the damage and destroying the boss so that's the same thing. Also for example, if DPS get "credit" for doing damage, healers should get "credit" for healing as part of the things to manage and tanks should get "credit" for taunting the boss.

It should be more like....

Take Fang Lair Hardmode for example:
DD's has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. keep up a rotation for damage on boss 3. deal with adds (switch targets) 4. help with interrupts
Tank: Has to 1. dodge ghost walls 2. taunt boss 3. dodge and CC the bugs 4. move around the acid pool
Healer: 1. Dodge ghost walls 2. manage uptimes on all hots and buffs and debuffs with a dynamic rotation 3. burst heal when things go wrong or when mechanics call for it 4. parse boss 5. deal with adds (switch targets) 6. help with interrupts

Of course some of this also depends on who is in your group - like does the healer need to ele drain, and do we need ulti rotations to get the crystals down fast enough, etc. And I believe the standard start for Fang Lair is actually to have the healer call out the interrupts. It's been a little while since I've done it and of course there is probably more than one strategy.

But generally speaking if you're end game healing and you're not adding damage during downtime, in my opinion, you're doing it wrong. Which would mean that the healer is doing that same if not more things than DPS, depending on how you count it. No, the healer isn't solely responsible for taking down the boss, but the light attacks, buffs, ultimates, etc. do all help. There may be DPS that don't need any buffs or help to take down HMs but I don't think that's typical.

This really goes back to the other thread that I think is still floating around, which was talking about what "unique" thing do healers bring. I'm still not convinced that we should be assigning value solely by if you do something that no one else could do/bring. There doesn't need to be a mechanic that MUST be done by the healer ONLY in every fight for them to be challenged.

peacenote · January 2022

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

But I do believe in most content, and especially in 4 man content, you can get away with being not so good as a healer because the consequences are often not as high.
Not always, but often enough.

I guess I'd like to comment on this too. I think the consequences for a mediocre healer are often identical to having a mediocre DPS. If you have either of those in your group, what will happen is DPS will be lower, and you'll have trouble with DPS checks, and you'll have people struggling with mechanics and making mistakes because you go through more cycles of the mechanics. Often it can be difficult to tell where the fault is. Sometimes it is there are no heals and buffs, and sometimes it is that one or two of the DPS is low, but the result is usually the same... a slow slog through a dungeon with survivability issues that further slows your DPS.

TitusF2 · January 2022

I'm primarily a heals and I like to incorporate DD strats in my maneuvering tactics. If you were to role a vet dungeon with me, you'd think I'm a DD with how I move around. I flank, dodge role cast often, bash around, etc. lol. I like being very active, rather than being more stationary. I do admit, however, that healers can get away with standing still some of the time without much issue surviving or dodging (Especially with Templars). Perhaps enemy AI could be programmed to target a PC with Healer as their primary role. Not a lot, but enough to spice it up for us healers. lol

sajackson · January 2022

Healers can always contribute damage if they've got free time after healing and buffing. That's what I do anyway. One of the nice features of ESO is the capability to switch ability bars during combat that far too many people seem to forget is in the game.

Darrett · January 2022

Thanks for the post, now I know that I don’t need to use any abilities or apply any DPS while playing a healer, I just need to avoid mechanics.

Kaelthorn_Nightbloom · January 2022

Most of my Vet DLC hard mode achievements were completed with my DPS build and only slot Twilight Matriarch. Throw a few heals around and do 40k dps. If you slot spell damage instead of crit, you still do damage and heal for 20-30k.

Much easier to do HM boss fight when your healer can do 5+ million damage during the fight.