Return of Reckoning

Im recently returned, but have played healer in PvP MMOs for a long time. Sure the actual healing isnt that stimulating, with various levels of "whack-a-mole" type gameplay.

Healing is both very appreciated and also very quickly critiqued, but the appreciation generally out-weights the whines

The fun parts come from, imho:

• Predictive healing/shielding/cleansing, i.e reading the oppositions focused attacks on a target
• Defensive CC for both you and your team, as well as debuffing enemies
• a different kind of positional play where both enemy and friendly targets play a big part
• PvP tanking is an important part of PvP healing, as well as drawing/baiting "aggro" from the opposition
• Gear/Spec is usually a fun mix of healing, survivability and being able to optimize your team with buffs

In some games, healing also comes as a DPS hybrid which is another level of gameplay

no matter how wasted you are, you're always of some use. targeting via party icons is much easier than trying to target specific enemies in mass melee after 12 beers

there's also something to be said for being the hunted. whereas playing a black orc or ironbreaker empowers you and makes you act boldly, because most enemies are simply trying to avoid you, playing a vulnerable character such as a healer is a game in itself, kinda like how survival horror games are so popular

also the skill ceiling is huge. i don't know the current meta but there's an endless conversation about how much defence vs healing output a healer should have. as you progress, get better and improve your positioning, duking, kiting, ect. you can start to shed defensive stats for max heal output. this is a very risky and difficult game to play but every inch you gain is very satisfying

then finally i guess there's altruism. i do enjoy rolling t1 healers and trying to keep all the noob melee alive, watching them grow up and learn

dolleater wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:52 am "whack-a-mole" type gameplay.

Best description of healing in mmos Ive heard.

Telen wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:31 am

dolleater wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:52 am "whack-a-mole" type gameplay.

Best description of healing in mmos Ive heard.

it's more like playing whack-a-mole whilst a man fires a crossbow at you and every now and again the table sets on fire

charlysixb wrote: Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:50 pm Didnt say i dont like smashing enemies but i find out that making people "safe/strong" is very satisfactory for me and no i never asked myself why xD.

Doing a good job at it too! Always happy to have you nearby! Hate to see you as Peckman tho

I am a pure healer RP. What i like the most is having my group alive after a fight in which we are facing double or triple the numbers we are. Being in a duo with my WL friend we are able to kill more than 6 man groups (if they suck ). He alone could burst damage to death almost 1 or 2 but with me he gets a crazy killing machine and i like it.
If you ever been a proper healer in a 20+ minutes constant fight with the enemy zerg and the victory is yours then you realize that there are not many things to satisfy you more than THIS feeling in the game.

Telen wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:31 am

dolleater wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:52 am "whack-a-mole" type gameplay.

Best description of healing in mmos Ive heard.

To me this describes playing tanks and mdps more then healers.

A single pro healer can completely change the tide of a battle, far more than a single dps or tank class and can turn certain defeat into a win.

No better feeling if you ask me.

roadkillrobin wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:03 pm

Telen wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:31 am

dolleater wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 8:52 am "whack-a-mole" type gameplay.

Best description of healing in mmos Ive heard.

To me this describes playing tanks and mdps more then healers.

It's not about the direction health bars go if that's what you mean. It's about how much time you spend focusing on unit frames, giving attention to the bars that move.

To me it's not really that accurate though. You need to pay attention to so much more, especially in a game like this. If all you are paying attention to is unit frames either you are doing a bad job or whatever you are doing isnt hard enough.

You will easily find groups, even if you want solo you can give much more then solo dps in both scenarios or orvr.