Healer Psychology
by Elizabeth Harper 
Jun 13th 2006 at 2:00PM
As a healer myself (with two level 60 priests at my disposal), I find this post discussing why so few people have a desire to play healers to be rather interesting. The favored theory, by both the original poster and subsequent responses, is that staring at health bars isn't very exciting and playing whack-a-mole with the health of your party members just isn't very much fun. In my case, I find the importance of the healer role to be the exciting part - your action (or inaction) has a very real impact on whether your party lives or dies. However, perhaps I haven't played the class to the point of burnout yet, which seems to happen to many healers at some point or another.Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Priest, Shaman, Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chubby Jun 13th 2006 2:44PM
Raid Healer Burnout is almost inevitable.
After running Molten Core enough times myself to max out my Hydraxian Waterlords Rep, I can tell you that Healing can be very repititive, cant tell you how many times It would be 12am+ and I would be half asleep healing with one eye open.
Chubbs
frodo Jun 13th 2006 2:59PM
In both Final Fantasy XI and WoW I have been a healer class, and I must say that after taking my undead priest to 60 I am enjoying it more and more. The poster is right, it is the fact that the fate of your party rests in your hands that is so exciting. Also, I enjoy the gratitude people have for your heals.
It's a bit more effort than just playing whack-a-mole with the bars, though. Timing is critical, and you have a variety of other spells at your disposal (crowd controlling with shackle or mind control, dispelling, buffing). I love being a priest.
tilt Jun 13th 2006 4:18PM
On the march to 60, I was an unabashed feral druid. Switching forms was fascinating to me. I mostly used my casting abilities during downtime recovery, casting some heals on myself with my mostly full mana pool, and then getting right back into cat or bear form. When we ran instances, I'd often tank, because it was a blast, and because we didn't really have a warrior in the guild. (Just a pallie who didn't yet understand how to use his skills to manage aggro.)
As I approached 60, I started making some concessions to the resto tree -- Nature's Swiftness was too good to pass up, especially when faced with world PVP. But still, I didn't really just sit back and play the healer until I hit 60.
Now, astonishingly, I can't get enough of it. I've respecced to full resto (with still a dash of feral -- I
tilt Jun 13th 2006 4:20PM
(cont.) I can't get enough of it. I've respecced to full resto (with still a dash of feral -- I
Big Duke Jun 13th 2006 4:20PM
"Raid Healer Burnout is almost inevitable."
I would point out that it is common amongst most classes to have less to do during a raid. You think it's bad for healers try being a mage in a raid. Frost Bolt FTW!
tilt Jun 13th 2006 4:21PM
Bleah. I see what's going wrong. Sorry about the spam :(.
(cont. for reals)
Now, astonishingly, I can't get enough of it. I've respecced to full resto (with still a dash of feral -- I heart feral charge), and have collected a pretty decent int/+healing set. I yearned for months after Rejuv XI. I spread HOTs like candy across a 40 man raid. I live for the moment when I dash towards the OT whose priest just went down, nature's swiftness at the ready, so I can save his ass at the last second. When I get the healing rhythm down to balance party health and my own mana regen -- it's like playing an awesome bass solo in the band.
Damage is great and all, but at the end of the day, you're just pouring out while trying to not to pour it out *too* much and draw aggro. Don't get me wrong -- my mage and my warlock are both a ton of fun. But there's something really visceral about healing -- you can measure your success or failure by how much mana you have left when you're done, and how many guys you lost. And you can see that improvement more directly than just watching your DPS improve. If I'm blasting, I'm one DPSer out of many contributing to the kill. If I'm healing... well, I feel more like a hero.
Derelict Jun 13th 2006 8:34PM
It's easy to keep it fun / avoid burnout. When encounters get too easy ... take less people. We do limited-person Baron runs, beat the 45 minute timer, etc.
I thoroughly enjoy playing a healing class in MMORPGs, and have since I started playing them back in the dark days of DSO and UO.
D
PodMonkeys Jun 14th 2006 7:20AM
My main is a Prot/Holy Pally that used to be Retrib. Mostly I solo, and occasionally tank on the rare times I do group. The one time I decided to stand back and act as a healer, I was quite suprised at how difficult it can be. It was pretty intense, and actually more fun than running in there and getting killed off quickly.
Jamus Jun 15th 2006 2:40PM
I think that is why I like my tauren druid. I can be a healer in a pinch, but can play other roles also. Jack of all trades, Master of none...