{White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

[DieselBoy09]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

I don't know where to stand on this. I find it hard to locate whms below lvl 35 and then from 35-50 its not to hard.. atleast at the moment. (I know when I level whm, there's always other whm lfp)

[Horus]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Well, I'm a lvl 32 WHM ^.^
Still not sure if I plan to go to 75 with it, I might change to SMN at 37.
Anyway, I still see alot of other WHM's around my lvl and below, but rarely ones above 40 and below 60.

[hongman]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Jesus christ what have I started XD

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Re: RDM main healing
Sorry, I'm going to have to disagree and say that Red Mages are amazingly good main healers. As good as WHM? Not always. But better in some respects.

Good red mages have little to no need for rest, and thus can react almost instantly to crisis situations. Convert + Refresh provides the RDM not only with a nearly limitless pool of MP to draw from, but also improves the support power of all other spellcaster jobs in the party.

Not sure if you actually mean "no need for rest" instead of "no time for rest" there. >_>

In my experience, RDM works better than WHM as main healer only in very limited circumstances. For example, in BCNM40 "Steamed Sprouts", RDM is better at cure dumping on BRD and staying alive than WHM thanks to Fast Cast and Convert.

Just about everywhere else, though, WHM seems the better healer. The ability to react speedily is predicated more on good player skill than the job itself. (After all, you're the one who alerted me to the fact that a fully merited WHM/RDM with the right gear can toss out cures faster than RDM.) As for MP recovery, while RDM trumps all with Convert, good WHM's in decent exp parties with Refresh, Ballad's, and/or Evoker's Roll simply won't run out of MP that easily--it's just not an issue in the scope of partying.

WHM simply has the better healer tools--as it should be--which make them the better healer, IMO. (I definitely prefer WHM + RDM over RDM x2 in party.)

RDM/WHM is a good enough main healer in many circumstances, of course, with a good backup healer or two. I just wish NA players would be more open minded about leveling WHM and inviting WHM's to exp parties. WHM is an enjoyable job which contributes tremendously to most parties, without the crazy pace of RDM or BRD.

* * *

How does BLU/WHM compare to RDM/WHM for main healing? Who would you folks crown as the "second best"?

* * *

So, healing magic skill is nearly useless. So what? It doesn't get in the way of anything, as far as I can tell, and I certainly hope S-E spends its limited resources on real problems instead.

[Kirsteena]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Well, I'm a lvl 32 WHM ^.^
Still not sure if I plan to go to 75 with it, I might change to SMN at 37.
Anyway, I still see alot of other WHM's around my lvl and below, but rarely ones above 40 and below 60.

Actually I have found there are not a whole lot of people lfp between 40 and 60 anyway. You are often stuck with what you can get at those levels.

[Horus]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Actually I have found there are not a whole lot of people lfp between 40 and 60 anyway. You are often stuck with what you can get at those levels.

I've never been above 40 in FFXI yet so I wouldn't know. I really hope I get a good PT 40-60.

[Akashimo]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

To the previous statement with RDM/WHM or any other /whm for main heal, only reason I'm highly against that aside from lvling 75 whm is that 1) i don't ask that of people when I'm a pty leader nor someone to replace me for if i don't expect myself to do it, i won't of others. 2) RDM/WHM is extrememly mp draining with AoE mobs and typically I usually end up as the only mage in these situations with no mp at 4 mins before convert is up inclueding resting as much/whenever possible. 3) For losing -ra/-nas, I can really strech out my mp main healing as rdm/blm or rdm/smn. but still its not enjoyable and sometimes can be hard keeping up the refresh/haste cycle curing to tie in with enfeebling with possibility to use Ramuh's Rolling Thunder and Thunderspark(with lands around 100 dmg considering my smn skill is 94 uncapped subbed). In short, rdm/whm isn't exactly favorable for the mp pool to make up to the purpose of using it. (Conserve MP @.@ {Yes please})

[hongman]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

You know, I think I have just been having a big of a crap time with FFXI lately which is why I am moaning so much.

I know Im not the only one, but its hard when I see regular "friends" i see in xp parties at my level out do me again and again, just becuase I cant progress without things like AF and LB, whereas they either alreayd have it or have help readily available.

Whire Mage is growing on me, as for mian healing on RDM...only time can tell, its too early yet to get a good grip of how i feel about that job.

3 weeks in and Im still waiting on ToAU to arrive....once I get that BLU will be leveled as well. Apart from BLM it seems like most Mage jobs are "pushed" into healing just because they "can".

[Mhurron]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

The 50's are rough on RDM. I found it did get better after the 60's. Also, things were better when I started to refuse to heal as RDM unless there was a BRD in the party, and stuck to that.

Remember that FFXI is not a race so people leveling past you shouldn't be a big deal. If you can get past the feeling of being left behind because you leveled slower, or chose to do some quest or mission before you leveled past X level or whatnot then you might be less bothered by things.

Also level /WHM since healing as RDM/WHM is much easier.

[hongman]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Thanks Mhurron

I am leveling BLM and WHM to 37 before I start on leveling RDM again now. Its just easier in the long run and after that I can see lots of old gear Iv been hanging onto.

It probably made it worse by me feeling like I couldnt do my job properly in the party, although I DID make it clear /blm was my only available party sub.

Meh, I'm not racing others to Level up to 75, but I am racing myself. I want to be 75 just becuase. ??? Maybe after I have gotten it I will feel much better and relaxed XD

[Aksannyi]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

I'm one of those RDMs who will put {Healing Magic} {No thanks.} in my search comment. I loathe main healing. If I get an invite and I'm the only mage, I'll leave. Only ONE TIME did I want to party so badly that I decided main healing would be okay, and I was the party leader. I invited a NIN and BLU friend (Magic Fruit is a nice backup for me!) and three other melees and we owned Colibris all night. Since you can't cast on them anyway without that annoying reflect shit, it worked out well having a melee-burn party and me as RDM/WHM to main heal, and chains were only slightly slowed due to my limited MP.

I even told the NIN that if I get hit because of a curebomb, to let it hit me until he gets his shadows up, because I could take a few hits and I had Auto-Regen as /WHM anyway. I'd rather the NIN didn't voke right away without shadows because that's less MP for me and less hate for him. It worked out very well.

[Icemage]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Not sure if you actually mean "no need for rest" instead of "no time for rest" there. >_>

If you're in a situation post-60 when you need to rest on RDM, you either have incorrect party configuration, are overspending MP, or have insufficiently balanced MP/HP for Convert.

In my experience, RDM works better than WHM as main healer only in very limited circumstances. For example, in BCNM40 "Steamed Sprouts", RDM is better at cure dumping on BRD and staying alive than WHM thanks to Fast Cast and Convert.

Just about everywhere else, though, WHM seems the better healer. The ability to react speedily is predicated more on good player skill than the job itself. (After all, you're the one who alerted me to the fact that a fully merited WHM/RDM with the right gear can toss out cures faster than RDM.) As for MP recovery, while RDM trumps all with Convert, good WHM's in decent exp parties with Refresh, Ballad's, and/or Evoker's Roll simply won't run out of MP that easily--it's just not an issue in the scope of partying.

In XP parties 55+, RDM's vastly superior MP recovery trumps WHM's more efficient spellcasting. Without some additional help with cures and one solid source of MP recovery (Balladx2, Refresh, or Evoker's Roll), it's pretty hard to stay afloat on WHM.

At end-game obviously WHM takes the prime healer spot, but there are still times when RDM outperforms, such as in duos. Again, superior MP recovery and better survivability are key factors in some situations.

WHM simply has the better healer tools--as it should be--which make them the better healer, IMO. (I definitely prefer WHM + RDM over RDM x2 in party.)
RDM/WHM is a good enough main healer in many circumstances, of course, with a good backup healer or two. I just wish NA players would be more open minded about leveling WHM and inviting WHM's to exp parties. WHM is an enjoyable job which contributes tremendously to most parties, without the crazy pace of RDM or BRD.

Even in fast parties WHM can contribute by reducing downtime. It's vital to have solid MP support to make such configurations work, however.

How does BLU/WHM compare to RDM/WHM for main healing? Who would you folks crown as the "second best"?

RDM/WHM is better than BLU/WHM in most cases. BLU wins on damage and Diamondhide, but RDM MP flow + Refresh for other members + enfeebling are usually preferable.

So, healing magic skill is nearly useless. So what? It doesn't get in the way of anything, as far as I can tell, and I certainly hope S-E spends its limited resources on real problems instead.

Doesn't get in the way in the least. It's just the most useless skill in the game. I'm not saying it ought to be a priority, but call a spade a spade.


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

White Mage is one of those jobs that needs a buff in regards to making it more attractive to play rather than getting a major job-department boost. There isn't really a problem with the job itself... its just BORING.

I say give 'em bows and arrows, be like Rosa >.>b

[Spiritbear]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Like I said before everyone wants to be the one to kill the mob. So why not give whm the ability to attack while healing if they want to. Something along the lines of they don't give the mob tp for the damage they inflict as long as it is done by a staff or club.

I don't know what to do to make it more appealing for everyone else. I personally like playing as whm, but I had to take a break so I could go and kill the mobs as my bst. I'm thinking about taking a break from bst to lvl pld again. Just because I like to tank and I like the job. I would rather a pld for a tank over a nin anyday.

Sorry I went a bit off topic. I just think that if SE would make whm a little more active in the killing of the mobs more people would play as whm. Just my .02 though.

[Clever Ninja]

Re: {White Mage} {WTF are they}?!

Just make Divine Magic worth casting in parties as an alternative, cause god only knows people don't take that seriously. If WHM had more of a DD role to do on top of healing then people wouldn't find it AS boring. Just give WHM a level 40+ Job Trait that greatly lowers threat caused by Divine Magic so they don't grab larger amounts of aggro on top of healing aggro and, IMO, it'd be abit better.