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MstSage · 04-17-2012, 05:22 AM

Ok now this has a lot of good information. My only confusion is for those of us leveling a Sorc Healer. I switched at 33 from lightning build. I am trying to find out how stats should go. Currently I have 6 moddable pieces. I am 36. I have followed the BIS list in picking the preferable mods and what not. But how would we place them just wondering.

Greenthy · 04-17-2012, 08:56 AM

(04-17-2012 05:22 AM)MstSage Wrote: Ok now this has a lot of good information. My only confusion is for those of us leveling a Sorc Healer. I switched at 33 from lightning build. I am trying to find out how stats should go. Currently I have 6 moddable pieces. I am 36. I have followed the BIS list in picking the preferable mods and what not. But how would we place them just wondering.

This is mainly an endgame theory-crafting forum, but I'll give u a quick tip:
Leveling = use gear that u get from drops / wz boxes / wz gear (lvl20 & 40).
Don't bother switching mods, unless they're obvious upgrades and u got them from a quest/drop/...

and don't level healing: no use, unless u plan on frequenting instances as a healer. It's all alot easier with Khem tanking and just dpsing them.

OT:
last boss EC sm: averaged 1540HPS with max 1920HPS (short wipe)
so I'd definatly say we're in a good position pve wise. It's just alot harder to deal with your force pool and to emergency heal.
(But then again, this has all been said here before)

MstSage · 04-17-2012, 09:29 AM

(04-17-2012 08:56 AM)Greenthy Wrote:
(04-17-2012 05:22 AM)MstSage Wrote: Ok now this has a lot of good information. My only confusion is for those of us leveling a Sorc Healer. I switched at 33 from lightning build. I am trying to find out how stats should go. Currently I have 6 moddable pieces. I am 36. I have followed the BIS list in picking the preferable mods and what not. But how would we place them just wondering.
This is mainly an endgame theory-crafting forum, but I'll give u a quick tip:
Leveling = use gear that u get from drops / wz boxes / wz gear (lvl20 & 40).
Don't bother switching mods, unless they're obvious upgrades and u got them from a quest/drop/...

and don't level healing: no use, unless u plan on frequenting instances as a healer. It's all alot easier with Khem tanking and just dpsing them.

OT:
last boss EC sm: averaged 1540HPS with max 1920HPS (short wipe)
so I'd definatly say we're in a good position pve wise. It's just alot harder to deal with your force pool and to emergency heal.
(But then again, this has all been said here before)

That is what I have been doing, Flashpoints, that's why i respeced as a healer otherwise I would still be lightning though. Leveling as a healer isn't that bad. I was wondering about the mods, because I have 6 moddable items and if you do the planet missions you get enough commendations to mod the gear. ALong with Flashpoints.

Lucrecien · 04-17-2012, 02:06 PM

Has anyone else given any thought to using the rakata tanking trinkets for healing purposes?

Considered over the timeline of a fight they contribute a lower amount of overall stats (37 static power vs a net ~64 for the on-use power trinket), but it's always seemed to me like static values would be preferable to procs for healing purposes. Especially since I'm not very good at remembering to use the on-use trinkets.

Malal · (This post was last modified: 04-17-2012 05:44 PM by Malal.)

(04-17-2012 02:06 PM)Lucrecien Wrote: Has anyone else given any thought to using the rakata tanking trinkets for healing purposes?

Considered over the timeline of a fight they contribute a lower amount of overall stats (37 static power vs a net ~64 for the on-use power trinket), but it's always seemed to me like static values would be preferable to procs for healing purposes. Especially since I'm not very good at remembering to use the on-use trinkets.

Honestly if you want to max out relics even with black hole relics available, currently, A Rakata power relic with an augment is going to be the best option. It give more end as well as 18 willpower static with an emergency use for when we need it. That paired with the data cube relic are the best options. Getting used to popping CDs is something you need to learn to do and is a very valuable asset.

To talk more about the changes, I am having nearly no force problems. If you play smart and make heavy use of salvation you will not catch force problems that are overwhelming. Also I have been starting to use benevolence (flash heal) more. I have been healing the new HM flash a lot and the first two Conflict fights pretty much forces us to tank heal and this spell is our emergency heal now. It is not very inefficient with an auto crit and I even use it without the proc if need be. The fact is that if you are on the tank and a heal is needed you need to get it on them. Now the times I use it are not often but usually I will if 1) tank is low hp and 2) trance is on CD.

I know it is not an efficient spell but if you need to use it then you need to use it. The end goal is to keep the tank up and you need to manage your resource to do that. The best way to avoid this is simply with heads up healing. Keep your hot and AoE on the tank so spikes don't hit as hard and stay heads up with pre-casting deliverance (big heal). Being heads up on the tank is the best defense to avoid plunging force into a flash heal but nonetheless shit happens.

Basically benevolence is back on my cast bar and I am using it when needed which at the moment is something that happens. We pay for the quicker heal but this is what we have for an emergency and we need to move away from the benevolence sucks syndrome.

Do you guys who are doing progression content agree with this at all? I may need to just adjust my healing to perform better but currently I need this tool.

Function · (This post was last modified: 04-17-2012 05:56 PM by Function.)

I have my Dark Heal (Flash Heal) on my action bar too, but it's use is very limited since it's not very efficient. If an encounter exceeds 3 minutes, I ALWAYS have force issues if one of the following happens: the raid is Melee heavy, someone isn't paying attention and gets hit really hard.

This is the meters from the second boss of HM EV. As you can see, I favor Revivication, Innervate, and Resurgence. I casted Dark Infusion (big heal) about 15-20 times this encounter, but threw out well over 40 Innervates. I only cast Dark Heal when the tank or melee is at about 95%, and it comforts me to see it at 100%. Smile

My "emergency" heals have been Innervate and Resurgence. I use those whenever I possibly can.

When leveling a sorcerer, I found that it's much easier to do it as a Madness spec once you can get Creeping Terror. It breaks my heart trying to solo dailys as a healer right now, and I'm in full Columi (minus the saber). It seems that some d-bag dps guy will run in while I'm taking out the first batch of mobs, and clear the area before I'm done with the first batch of mobs.

Malal · (This post was last modified: 04-17-2012 07:07 PM by Malal.)

I see a lot of people having force issues and I think the importance of management needs to be a top priority. I have not attempted HM Conflict yet but the only fights I see force being an issue is still Jarg and Sorno for obvious reasons. I personally try to see how long I can keep my force above 90% at the start of the fight. If you open with your AoE and hot with a bubble, you start out with strong passive heals on the tank and follow up with the first burst with your channel heal. I make sure to start using sac very early to keep pushing my force to cap.

I think sage healers honestly need to become more comfortable not being topped off. It is okay to chill at 60-80% in my opinion. You need to be saccing and allow passive heals to maintain your health level. Riding out a rejuv hot or keeping in your circles is how you do this. Another thing I find myself doing a lot is spamming noble sac. If I am getting low and need to catch up I will load my tank with all my passive juice. Top him off, throw down AoE with bubble and active hot. Stand in the AoE and sac 2-3 times to regen force followed up with a channel when the tank is getting hit beyond the passive heals and another sac. Sure I get a debuff but I gain considerable force and heal up a lot by sitting in a full AoE.

The trick is knowing when you can dip low on health and do things like this. You need to create passive time with the above methods and know when you can drop to a 40% range and heal it back up with AoE and hot safely.

I think sac spamming is another strong tool that helps with resource management. Do not think that you have to use the standard channel then sac procedure. You need to make the most of your downtime and even create downtime with preemptive healing.

I personally am LOVING the changes to our class. The amount of thought we need to have now in fights is much greater and I feel like the different spells all have a purpose now. Procced AoE and big heal keep you efficient if things aren't intense, procced channel is your best and most consistent burst, and procced flash heal is your back burner button for when you are not prepared or need to do "more" than you can currently handle.

The most important tools for us right now is awareness. Know when you can restock force and take advantage of it. Understand when and where spike damage is going to hit. And don't start thinking about your force when you are running low. Think about it in great detail from when the tank starts running in to pull to when the big bugger is lying on the ground and your finding your place in the website picture.

Function · 04-17-2012, 08:59 PM

I think force management is very easy to do when there are only 2 people in the raid that's taking unexpected damage. However, when there's multiple people taking random unanticipated damage like standing when they should be moving or ignoring mechanics of the game, I end up going into panic mode spamming heals in an attempt to get everyone up to survive percentages. Afterwards, I notice I'm down to about 20% of my force remaining, and I know I'm screwed.

Malal · (This post was last modified: 04-17-2012 09:50 PM by Malal.)

(04-17-2012 08:59 PM)Function Wrote: I think force management is very easy to do when there are only 2 people in the raid that's taking unexpected damage. However, when there's multiple people taking random unanticipated damage like standing when they should be moving or ignoring mechanics of the game, I end up going into panic mode spamming heals in an attempt to get everyone up to survive percentages. Afterwards, I notice I'm down to about 20% of my force remaining, and I know I'm screwed.

I understand your pain, but given what you have described, this is what should be happening. If your dps cannot follow mechanics then you will wipe. It is no longer in the design of healing to overcompensate for dps making mistakes constantly. We cannot carry groups like we used to and that is perfectly fine. Downing bosses is a group effort and everyone needs to execute the fights.

Inform the dps that they need to gravitate towards salvation if they want heals. Help them understand the fight and follow the mechanics. Be a leader and improve your raid group.

I don't mean any offense to you and I'm sure you are busting your tail off, but you won't succeed if your dpsers are dragging you down. That is just a fact.

**Petrus** · (This post was last modified: 04-17-2012 11:27 PM by Petrus.)

(04-17-2012 05:39 PM)Malal Wrote: To talk more about the changes, I am having nearly no force problems. If you play smart and make heavy use of salvation you will not catch force problems that are overwhelming. Also I have been starting to use benevolence (flash heal) more. I have been healing the new HM flash a lot and the first two Conflict fights pretty much forces us to tank heal and this spell is our emergency heal now. It is not very inefficient with an auto crit and I even use it without the proc if need be. The fact is that if you are on the tank and a heal is needed you need to get it on them. Now the times I use it are not often but usually I will if 1) tank is low hp and 2) trance is on CD.

I know it is not an efficient spell but if you need to use it then you need to use it. The end goal is to keep the tank up and you need to manage your resource to do that. The best way to avoid this is simply with heads up healing. Keep your hot and AoE on the tank so spikes don't hit as hard and stay heads up with pre-casting deliverance (big heal). Being heads up on the tank is the best defense to avoid plunging force into a flash heal but nonetheless shit happens.

Malal, while I agree with everything else you said (Force shouldn't be an issue, you can chill at 60% for a long time, healers can't carry a raid like they could in T1 - if you DPS mess up it may be a wipe, etc - It's what I've been saying since the PTS) I can't really agree with your use of dark heal/benevolence - or rather, think that it shouldn't come to that.

The only time it's OK to use that spell, IMO - is if someone has little enough HP that they'll die on the next hit, BUT also enough that *ONE* DH) will get them high enough to not die AND your channel AND your shield is on CD AND you already have a force bending (or whatever makes it crit for sages) up.. Basically, ANY other heal you can do (even your instant hot/AoE assuming you have about 4 seconds) is better than DH. A non-crit DI heals for more, and takes 1 second longer. Your instant hot + DH takes too long, so even for a guaranteed crit it's not worth it. If you EVER have to cast DH twice in a row - then it was better to use your big heal instead.

Let's put it this way, we're 3/4 HM EC and have the last boss to 5% (server lag wipe...) and I have yet to find a use for DH.

Mostly this is because we built our strats around me being a crappy emergency healer. The first fight is the ONLY one where my merc isn't the main tank healer. In the second fight, the merc takes the two tanks and I more or less take care of the rest. In the first fight - between using my heals correctly, a good use of my AoE (even if it only hits the tank and the 1 melee with him) etc - I am never in a position where I need to "emergency" heal the tank. Sure, there's a couple times where he drops to 10 - 15%, but these are timed mechanics because of the berserk that Toth does, and I have more than enough time to hit him with a resurgence, shield, innervate, and then DI if I need to, before he takes another hit.

Anyways, what it comes down to is that, in my experience, you really shouldn't be using DH/Benevolence at all. There is a VERY specific set of circumstances where it's your best (read: only) option - however if everyone does their jobs, and you play smart - that should never arise. Almost ALL the damage in EC gives you enough time between hits to cast a large spell or two - and certainly on Toth/Zorn - which is the only place you'll ever need to single heal a tank (unless you're on stormcaller, then you will when you're under the shield - but that's easy.)

Also:

(04-17-2012 06:58 PM)Malal Wrote: 1. The trick is knowing when you can dip low on health and do things like this. You need to create passive time with the above methods and know when you can drop to a 40% range and heal it back up with AoE and hot safely.

2. I think sac spamming is another strong tool that helps with resource management. Do not think that you have to use the standard channel then sac procedure. You need to make the most of your downtime and even create downtime with preemptive healing.

3. I personally am LOVING the changes to our class. The amount of thought we need to have now in fights is much greater and I feel like the different spells all have a purpose now.

4. The most important tools for us right now is awareness. Know when you can restock force and take advantage of it. Understand when and where spike damage is going to hit. And don't start thinking about your force when you are running low. Think about it in great detail from when the tank starts running in to pull to when the big bugger is lying on the ground and your finding your place in the website picture.

These are all things I mentioned in my previous posts - but here they are summed up nicely. These are all VERY true. I may use consumption 6 or 7 times in a row, and then heal up through hots. I may spam the crap out of my DI and burn through force - knowing that I have a chance to regen before I use it again. I may be sitting at 30% and top someone off who is at 80% - because i know they'll take damage again before me.

(04-17-2012 05:52 PM)Function Wrote: This is the meters from the second boss of HM EV. As you can see, I favor Revivication, Innervate, and Resurgence. I casted Dark Infusion (big heal) about 15-20 times this encounter, but threw out well over 40 Innervates. I only cast Dark Heal when the tank or melee is at about 95%, and it comforts me to see it at 100%.

That looks about right there (except the DH - especially if you are having force issues as mentioned.) In the newer encounters though that will be very different - I may try to post some pictures after my raid tonight (which I'll be streaming through the MMO-Mechanics channel if you want to see how I heal.) but my resurgence, then innervate, then revivification, and then DI is generally the 4 heals I use, with sith purity taking #5 depending on the fight.