Mystics as Primary Healer?

[Ay]

<DIV>Hey all, the wife and I are making alts and were wondering how you all think a Mystic stands up as the only healer in the group. The MT would be a Guardian. Basically we'd be in full groups most the time, but want her to be able to handle the healing all by herself even in places with powerful Tier 6 Named Heroics. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>First of all, is it more common to have 1 or 2 healers these days? I have heard that templars are better, but personally i've always loved how the mystic just stops you from being hit altogether as long as they keep wards active. If a mystic isnt much worse than a templar then I think we'd rather go mystic. We do however want to be desired in all the groups we form so we are seeking the fotm/uber class. I'm happy that SoE made most of the classes much more similar in their ability to do their role, and i'm wondering how the mystic fits into all of this and how you all feel about being the primary/only healer.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[thedu]

I've been MH since prior to the CU and never had a problem. And it's become all the easier since the healing balance. So you should have no problem having a Mystic as MH.  As for having two healers. That is very much a situational area -- it just depends on what your doing. But if you have a good group this should never be to much of an issue. <div></div>

[Eepop]

A mystic can handle pretty much everything a Templar can. A mystic edges out a little bit on a single target, while a Templar edges out when there are a few more targets. My group is made of Mystic (me) Templar Berzerker Troubador (my wife) Conjuror Illusionist Often times the two priests is way overkill, but safety is always good. <div></div>

[Finora]

<P>I've also been MH (and only healer) for the vast majority of my 56 lvls.</P> <P>Been sole healer against 2 group epics, various and sundry grouping situations from the easy to the times when we are pulling multiple groups of high blue and higher mobs.</P> <P>Often it is just me, a my berserker husband (almost always been the same level as me), an illusionist friend and a wizard.</P> <P>Occassionally have another couple of folks (dirge, troubador, conjurer, paladin, guardian being the most common to fill the other slots).</P> <P>Honestly don' t remember the last time I had 2 healers in a group and actually needed it.</P>

[Birn]

I'm often MH, well the only healer in a group and it usually works out just fine. The only problem is if it's getting really messy with far to many mobs attacking every group member, because as soon as I have to use a couple of direct heals my power runs out very quick. But as long as the tank have aggro and the mob is not too tough it's very efficient with wards and we can usually continue fighting without any downtime (from my side that is.. ehhe).<div></div>

[Dr^Ney]

Currently I love my capability to be the sole healer, and I think that people sometimes underestimate the capabilities of a well played Mystic.My best experience so far was the Roost instance where there is 6 lvl 57-58 nameds, we beat it with me as the only healer at lvl 53, lvl 55 monk tank a 53 necro and a 56 conj. The 58 nameds was tough but fun. Hope that answers your question as being able to MH on T6 content <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Fetid - Runnyeye

[Ay]

<P>Thanks guys, i am pretty sure we're going Mystic.</P> <P> </P>

[Karlen]

<font color="#ffff00">>>>the only problem is if it's getting really messy with far to many mobs attacking every group member, because as soon as I have to use a couple of direct heals my power runs out very quick.<<<<font color="#ffffff">I don't group very much so maybe I am missing something, but isn't this what your group ward is for?  If everyone is taking hits, you spam that and everyone is protected.   I just turned 44 and took my group ward as my Master II choice and it protects for something like 1800+ I think.  Against tough opponents when soloing I like to pre-ward with the group ward which will see me through all my debuffing.Do people use the group ward in groups normally?</font></font><div></div>

[thedu]

One of the biggest habits I developed prior to the CU was to not group ward. And the reason for this was the insane amount of aggro that would be generated as result. After CU, it's still conditional to me when and where I do it; in certain XP groups I never do group wards, but in other situation where I know I will hardly get aggro, I go ahead and do it; <div></div>

[RicoRanger]

<DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Zotar99 wrote:<BR><FONT color=#ffff00>>>>the only problem is if it's getting really messy with far to many mobs attacking every group member, because as soon as I have to use a couple of direct heals my power runs out very quick.<<<<BR><BR><FONT color=#ffffff>I don't group very much so maybe I am missing something, but isn't this what your group ward is for?  If everyone is taking hits, you spam that and everyone is protected.   I just turned 44 and took my group ward as my Master II choice and it protects for something like 1800+ I think.  Against tough opponents when soloing I like to pre-ward with the group ward which will see me through all my debuffing.<BR><BR>Do people use the group ward in groups normally?<BR></FONT></FONT> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>I'm a 48 Mystic.  The problem I find with the group ward is that its such a slow cast.  If a caster or other thin-skin starts taking dmg unexpectedly, they'd almost certainly be dead by the time the group ward landed.  Also, I can't think of very many times when the aggro was spread to more than one, maybe two people beyond the MT.  I usually find it easier to drop single ward on the one who pulled aggro to buy the MT time to get aggro back.  I most often use group ward when we get an unexpected add (or even if I think there is a probablility that we might - like running through a tough spot) since you never know who the add will aggro on.  I'm fairly casual so this may be bad technique.  If so, please set me straight :smileyhappy:<BR><BR></DIV>

[Karlen]

I guess I got used to using the group ward when we had the "lots of aggro" problem.  If I group ward and everything starts pounding on me, that's ok -- I can stand and take it while the tank pulls everything off of me.<div></div>

[paisan]

<P>I normally use my group ward for instances where agro might be pulled off the MT. Key is anticipation. Also when someone pulls agro try using single ward on them for instant safety and then immediately cast your groupward so if the MT doesn't have agro youll still protect the agro-puller or if the tank gets agro back you still protect the MT.</P> <P>Also if your MT is a paladin ask him for "Amends" and then preward the crap out of him. About half of your agro will be granted to him and he will live a lot longer with 4k+ extra hp on the pull and have a much easier time holding agro.</P>

[Late]

<i><font color="#ffff00"><font color="#ffffff">Do people use the group ward in groups normally?</font></font></i><font color="#ffff00"><font color="#ffffff">I have my group ward as my level 44 master II, and I use it interchangeably alongside my single wards during big fights. Its a lifesaver and can buy you some time to get your slows applied, etc. It absorbs alot of damage. You just have to get the feel of what wards/heals to cast in what order so you aren't waiting on the longer cast time with your target unprotected.  </font></font><div></div>

[ecoskii]

Prior to the CU i was sure i'd be binning my mystic at 30 - now we are first rate group healers and pretty near essential in MT for raids (or our sorry evil defiler cousins) - up at lvl58/9 now.  I'm still in the habit of pre-warding the tank - as long as they don't body pull they will overcome our initial aggro quickly - other than that i try to keep my group and single target wards up on the MT all the time - minimise any direct heals and remember to cure the dots that i can.  I still haven't got the raid de-buffs cracked yet but find it is rarely worthwhile using them on normal group encounters ... they are dead before they land unless we are in a stretching situation (single grouping epics etc).  Sometimes find myself in 2 healer grps - tend to go to sleep then.... i think only furies are struggling a bit on healing power atm

[Nacire]

I usually pre-ward with the group ward so that I will have time out of combat to regen most if not all of the casting cost and have a big opening ward on the tank so I can debuff a lil if I want, also gives me a free manastone hit if I need it.  As for debuffs I always use our cry line (group sta/resist debuff) and usually follow that with our aoe nuke just so I know every mob in the encounter will have taken at least some damage before the sta drain expires.

[Meme]

Back to the original question. I have played most healing classes in game to at least the mid 20's... only one I have not done it with is an inquisitor. Currently I am playing a defiler, but I enjoy shaman in general. As far as Main Healer goes, a lot of time it is quality over quantity. Cleric is the easy choice to take. They have the "traditional" healing concept, so it is easier for a lot of people to play. Shaman require someone who loves the preventative damage, not a spam healer. You need to enjoy the nuances involved in preventative healing, debuffing and buffing. Our heals are slow but large. The class takes a bit to get used to, but in my trio (dirge, paladin and me the defiler... I am a defiler who's heart is with Qeynos)... anyway in my trio I feel far more powerful now that I play my defiler than I ever felt on the Templar, or the Fury. Furies were made for smite cleric lovers. Shaman, we are a whole new breed in Main Healers. If you like the way they heal, play one, it is so worth it. Those who like the nuances should always play a Shaman. We rock when played by those who love the way Shaman work. <div></div>

[BALTO]

yep, i have changed my tune an shedded off my doom and gloom about mystic's MH for groups on even to tuffer content.  CU did some wonders for us in that department (prior to CC had me in permament /rant mode, sure i could heal, but dam did i have class envy, an to stuborn to give up on my mystic with out a fight...well its all in the past, finally) an group warding...depending on where an what may be happening is pretty much always up,  not that im a lazy healer, just seen alot of the unexpected taken place...an seeing as were a healer that prevents an not blasts, always best to be safe an keep everyone capped an green...and with the shaman agro issue "pretty much" solved, we're even pre-warding as well, like all the other class have been...now its up to the tanks to remember their job when bringin the mobs to us! it is a downer when ppl begin to think that they're not fight'n challenging content, from the lack of seeing damage be'n done to party members....or that rambunxious finger twiddlen gnome that began to see the light at the end of the tunnel, getting frustrated that your not healing him to full health...even though he's sitting on a ward that'll cap his health to a full bar, when it expires.  pet handlers also feel like were neglecting them, an start burning mana healn their pets by themselves, muttering curses under their hoods. I'm sure this will all be changed as they experience how us mystics go about do'n our jobs as MH. are we finished and no longer needing tender loven care?  I still see things that just dont float right (literly, eb for one)  but from what i've seen of our fellow adventures issues.... i'm content an would love the dev's to fix those that really need some tweeking before working on our class. once again, thanks SoE (still sware topar is not the same topar of last month, numbers on the descriptions look how i remember them, but...somethings diffrent with it) <div></div>

[KolchakV]

I solo heal Poet's Palace all the time without much trouble. Mystics are as good as any other healing class.

[Kaharthemad]

<P>i have been the main healer in my party since time out of mind. Mystics make good healers for a duo group as well as full. The only thing you have to do is make sure A) the wizzy does not overnuke  B) one meatshield keeps aggro other than that you work fine</P> <P>I dont reccomend main healing unless you have adepts or higher in your heal line and your ward line, of course that goes without saying.</P> <P> </P>