WHM is better than I thought

[Ryouken]

I managed to get my WAR, MNK, and THF to lvl 20 since I started playing...

I decided recently that I would lvl my WAR to 30-40 and then start doing some advanced job flag quests (more specifically SMN), so I made plans to head toward Qufim. But before I went, instead of having MNK as my sub, I decided to finally start lvling my WHM instead and use that as my sub.

So I got the gear, the weapon, and pre-bought the scrolls I needed, and decided to just lvl it to 20 and then switch back to WAR... but now I'm starting to have second thoughts...

This job is actually alot more fun than I thought (I honestly thought it was going to be a pain with low defense/attack) and it's not just because of Banish (my favorite WHM spell, definitely a life-saver when fighting gobs), but because I can help other players.

I always felt bad when I saw a somebody getting chased by a mob at low health, and I couldn't help him cuz he didn't call for help. But now, I can quickly cast cure on them (along with the handy Protect) and feel good when they thank me. I've really learned that this job is not only fun because of it's powerful Divine spells, but because you can really help other players

Anyways I just wanted to say that and I was wondering if anyone else likes this job for the same reason I do (helping others out)?

[Murphie]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Well, just a bit of advice. If you want to go WHM, then level up BLM and sub that to your WHM. WHM/BLM is a great combination.

But under no circumstances would I recommend subbing WHM to your WAR.

I always thought I'd hate the WHM job too, but on my last character I took it to 65 because I fell in love with it so much. It's a great job, and it's nice feeling useful and wanted. Plus, being able to make my way through dangerous areas without aggro and travel the world quickly is always a bonus.

[Icemage]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

More so than any other job, WHMs are able to be helpful to others when it suits. There's a certain sense of security in knowing that, in a disaster, you can always offer someone a Raise I/II/III and brighten their day.


Icemage

[TheGrandMom]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Yep you really have to have the personality to make a good whm. To this day, I will catch hell for raising people at camps from other ls's. I've been told they are going to revoke my whm license! LOL I've also cured people that were trying to kill an NM and wouldn't have made it otherwise. Many times I'll walk to town instead of chocobo'ing just so I can cure or protect lower lvl people along the way. People always thank me but it really is a selfish thing that I am doing. It makes me happy...plain and simple.

[lionx]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Indeed, i always pick healer jobs in games, its just me, i like to heal, i like to be the pivotal point in a party, i like to be able to help when needed and be there. I remember playing Ragnarok Online, i was so excited when i was able to be an Acrolyte, and i healed many people who asked for heals even if they were a little rude and random strangers and passerbys and buff them up, but it was like..my job, i was proud of it. This guy once told me that many change along the way and become self-fish pricks pricks, and i said i hopefully wont do that. He gave me a Poring Doll as a gift before he parted, and i still remember that in the sense...i refuse to be like that, and will be a real good healer for those who needed me. Hence my love for WHM when i moved to FFXI, same thing here. [/ramble]

So yeah i love my job, i like to do random drive by cures, with or without hearing a thank you at times. Its what makes the job so special to me, as well as being able to make the party live on even if i am going to fall because of a Benediction. o.o *goes off and hides*

[Madtech]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

I managed to get my WAR, MNK, and THF to lvl 20 since I started playing...

I decided recently that I would lvl my WAR to 30-40 and then start doing some advanced job flag quests (more specifically SMN), so I made plans to head toward Qufim. But before I went, instead of having MNK as my sub, I decided to finally start lvling my WHM instead and use that as my sub.

So I got the gear, the weapon, and pre-bought the scrolls I needed, and decided to just lvl it to 20 and then switch back to WAR... but now I'm starting to have second thoughts...

This job is actually alot more fun than I thought (I honestly thought it was going to be a pain with low defense/attack) and it's not just because of Banish (my favorite WHM spell, definitely a life-saver when fighting gobs), but because I can help other players.

I always felt bad when I saw a somebody getting chased by a mob at low health, and I couldn't help him cuz he didn't call for help. But now, I can quickly cast cure on them (along with the handy Protect) and feel good when they thank me. I've really learned that this job is not only fun because of it's powerful Divine spells, but because you can really help other players

Anyways I just wanted to say that and I was wondering if anyone else likes this job for the same reason I do (helping others out)?

Sounds like you'd make a great PLD. Just a suggestion.

[Ellipses]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

White Mage is awesome. So awesome. I took it up intending to use it as a subjob for BST. It's going to be my first job to 75. It's really satisfying doing your best to keep a party going. Two of my favorite things in this game are wiping out status ailments before they even have a chance to proc (fastest Poisona this side of Bastok), and the drive-by life-saver/day-make-betterer. It's a great feeling. ^^

But yes, please don't use WAR/WHM or WHM/WAR in a party. With either combo, the main job becomes half as effective as it could be with a subjob that boosts its natural abilities. Of course, if you're soloing, do whatever floats your boat.

[avhmia]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Raise is what attracted me to the job, and to this day it remains a focal point. People have often said that WHMs move freely where other jobs fear to tread. There have been a few times in my career as a WHM when some poor fellow has gotten himself killed miles away from civilization, and I've been able to find and raise him before their homepoint clock ticks down to zero. Those times have validated every bit of work I've put in to the job.

Playing a healer is about helping others, making parties better, keeping people alive. What sets WHM apart, is that we represent the ultimate second chance. I have always felt that having our final spell be Reraise III really represents the nature of the job. Our crowning achievement is to overcome death entirely.

[Moaku Hyena]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Yeah, being a White Mage is not only useful, but you get to show off and travel to more places.
Only downside is that you're Johnny Cage in a nightgown--you'll get owned by EP mobs post-30 if you're not careful.
Upside is that you're the one less likely to minimize EXP loss.
And you get cool spells like Stoneskin and Blink!

A nice idea is to wear the Emnity- gear. That way you can toss a Curaga or Divine Seal + Erase in battle and won't get uber hate.
I also go for MP since I heal a lot.
MND is also a very important stat for WHMs. It affects the power of Stoneskin too. ;3

And if you have a good party with a lot of NIN/WAR tanks and a RDM, just whip out your DS or PSP; you'll barely have to do anything.

I've taken my White Mage to 66 so far. Still have to do the Maat fight for 70-75. ><

[avhmia]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Only downside is that you're Johnny Cage in a nightgown--you'll get owned by EP mobs post-30 if you're not careful.

This gets a lot better, I promise. With capped club and enhancing skills (for stoneskin), can take down most EP mobs with ease. WHM is a better soloist than most people give us credit for, I think because most of us totally neglect our weapon skills until level 67 :D

[Tirrock]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Every job at 75 is capable of soloing EPs, it becomes more of a question of how fast you kill with as little down time as possible. I don't like soloing on WHM, it just takes forever. An EP I can kill on SMN in 30 seconds takes me 5+ minutes on WHM. Even more if it's able to heal itself... (I remember having an epic battle with a temple bee in temple uggalepih because it kept using pollen. Took me 15 minutes to kill it...)

Anyway. I think some people don't give WHM a chance. They hear from others how much it "sucks" and they assume they'll hate it too, so they force their way to 37 or 38 as fast as they can then never touch it again unless they want to teleport themselves somewhere.

[Omniblast]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Tirrock/Jenica put it precisely in every regard. WHM takes quite forever to kill easy prey, and have literally no chance on killing a decent challenge. With SMN atleast I can take even match Mamool Ja Mimers.

Whm are good for the party however, when a party member dies, they bitch less with r3's around. (Raise III)

[TheGrandMom]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Oh lord, we had to implement a rule in Dynamis about raises. The whm's would get bombarded with R3 requests in /t's with whining about how they are XXXXX into lvl and really really need a R3. Well when you have a few deaths and you're in a timed zone, you get what you get and you like it dang it!! LOL We even had to have our leader give a talking to one person who actually got verbally abusive over it! The person eventually left the shell. So R3 can be a bane as well as a blessing!

[Icemage]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

Tirrock/Jenica put it precisely in every regard. WHM takes quite forever to kill easy prey, and have literally no chance on killing a decent challenge. With SMN atleast I can take even match Mamool Ja Mimers.

Whm are good for the party however, when a party member dies, they bitch less with r3's around. (Raise III)

Well, the melee aspect is a bit overstated. I can kill decent challenge enemies as WHM/RDM, and could probably beat some even match enemies as WHM/NIN if I ever bothered to level NIN up.

It'd take forever and a day, though. WHM damage output is just... low. Even with good weaponry and armor. Low weapon skill caps, with only Hexa Strike providing any sort of reasonable damage means anything near your level ends up being very hard to hit unless you overload on accuracy gear and food.


Icemage

[Ryouken]

Re: WHM is better than I thought

I agree, soloing as a WHM takes forever, not only are you limited to the enemies you can take down w/o risk of dying, but you also have to constantly rest after every battle.

I just managed to get my WHM to lvl10 (I'm using THF as my sub since I can get the evasion bonus and I havn't bothered lvling my BLM yet) and I had to use my empress band 3 times. Luckily I'm finally in the dunes, exp will be easy now since all I have to do is sit back and heal/buff my PT.

I have to ask, what spells will I be required to have in order to be useful in a PT until I hit lvl20. I've already got:

Cure, Protect, Protectra, Poisona, Paralyna, Banish, Paralyze, Barstonera, Barwatera, Barsleepra, and Aquaveil (I've also brought my Cure II, Shellra, Silence, and Slow scrolls to the Dunes with me).

Is this enough?