Is defiler newb-healer friendly?

[Buttertart]

<DIV>Hi all,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>just a question for you defilers...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have never played a healer. Ever, in any game.  Respected them enough to be scared to be one. lol  They seemed to be the most loved/hated depending on the situation (if you saved people they loved you, but if the group did something stupid they still blamed the healer generally lol)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>BUT: I have played all the rest and like them all for various reasons, depending on mood. Never mastered one though...will eventually.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The ONLY thing that has kept me from trying a healer in this game is the fact I have never been one and have no idea what to do. I know you learn your class as you go,  and from reading these forums and talking to others...but I don't know about being a newb-healer in a group when so many people have played their classes for ever and expect you to know as much about yours.  So, that has held me back.  My husband teases me saying that its a game and people don't know me anyway so why worry, but the fact is, I like to do my *job* right, even if it is a game profession <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I asked once upon a time good starter classes and was told mystic or illusionist.  Defiler is the evil version of Mystic correct?  I am just wondering if Defiler IS in fact a good starting healer class??  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If so, what are some of the main things I should be doing in the first 20 levels when I will essentially be learning what to do and when? Besides the *heal when someone is hurting* thing <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>thanks for any advice. I tried to post this in Newbie forum but I am no longer allowed to post as my forum account is past the newb-stage.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Dejetdude]

 I started a Defiler alt a few months ago, also with no experience with a healer class. The class is alot of fun to play, I just dinged level 40 this morning. First you need to realize that we only heal as a last resort, we are warders first. In groups I try and pop a ward before the pull to allow for early burst damage, group wards are good for this. Often the mana used in casting the ward is regen'd  before the engage. On high dps mobs you might need to stagger your individual ward with a group ward to maintain coverage at all times on the tank. Early debuffs are great for conserving your mana, get the mob slowed early and get a shielding ward active. Don't forget to use cures on the mob effects in between wards. During soloing I start with slow and a shielding ward, then start my ho, debuff and pile the dots on. To maintain a decent mana level try and spell upgrade your wards first, choosing them as master 2's is what many people do. After your wards, upgrade your dots or debuffs depending on if you solo or group for exp. And pick equipment with high mana and wisdom when possible, a large mana pool is very important.Good Luck, and have fun,<div></div>

[Kuko Shakaku]

<P>To my mind the Defiler is a very good healer class and not difficult to play. I would definately recommend it for you to start with. You have a lot of nice buffs for the main tank and especially very good debuffs. Before a major fight you should cast your group ward which has quite a long casting (5s) and reusing time. During the fight either cycle between group and solo ward or try to keep the solo ward up all the time. The solo ward has quite a short casting and reusing time so you don´t lose too much time using it during a fight and you can still react depending on the situation. If the Main Tank still loses to many Hitpoints you can still use your direct heals (which are not bad at all- but you should mainly use the wards). Direct heals cost a lot of mana.</P> <P>I have the feeling that the Defiler generates quite a lot of aggro compared to other healers especially furies and wardens. You will need a good tank who is able to taunt well. On the other side you will get quite a good de-aggro spell which you should not forget to use <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Defilers can wear Chain Armor so here they have an advantage over Fury/Warden although they cannot use Plate Armor as the Inqui.</P> <P>Your offensive skills are not too strong so you should prefer to get Xp in a group. As your main damage spell you get a DoT which has a very short reusing timer (still quite low damage) and some combined Debuff/Dot-Spells with even lower damge. The Defiler is not the worst soloing class because he has very good defensive abilities but you will have to spend a lot of time getting an enemy down. In PvP the Defiler is a very valuable class for each group especially because of the wards and debuffs. In single-PvP you can have a lot of fun as well, although you are the underdog in most fights.</P> <P>The Defiler gets a 20% speed buff very early (like Fury/Warden). He does not get invi (like Fury) or evac (like Warden). Of course he has shape changing abilities. With the first Achievement point (with KoS) you will get a pet which has the same level as you (3 arrows down). You can choose between several very good Achievement possibilites (to my mind). For example you can get a spell (no casting time) which will do that your next healing spell will heal 20% more (at Lvl 1) if your wear a symbol in your secondary slot.</P> <P>The Defiler is a lot of fun to play so I think you should give it a try <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Good luck.</P> <P>Message Edited by Kuko Shakaku on <SPAN class=date_text>04-23-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>07:32 PM</SPAN></P><p>Message Edited by Kuko Shakaku on <span class=date_text>04-23-2006</span> <span class=time_text>07:43 PM</span>

[Ylis]

<font color="#ffccff">I play a defiler and a templar and I find defiler to be tonnes more fun.</font>

[Buttertart]

<P>Thanks for the responses guys <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I have been playing her a couple hours a day and she is so much fun so far...i am going to give her a shot! Thanks again!</P> <P> </P>

[posseder]

<DIV>all other healer class be more noob friendly, to be a good defiler you need to understand alot of the game mechanics, to be a templar you just hit heal buttons etc..</DIV>