Poster: Zhak at 6/8/2006 1:16:19 PM PDT
Subject: Healer Psychology |
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Healers are the staple of any successful dungeon or raid group. Without healers, adventuring into Azeroth's deepest and darkest holes would all end in tragedy.
Yet despite healers being so incredibly important, very few people play healers and even fewer still enjoy it.
People who roll hybrids complain that they get pigeon-holed into the role of healer.
So what is it about healing that is so unactractive to so many players?
I have a few theories, but please feel free to jump in with some intelligent discussion of your own.
Theory: Everyone wants to be the hero. Whether its topping the damage charts, tanking the biggest and baddest boss, or weilding an item of legendary status, everyone wants to be the hero.
This is an egocentric viewpoint, which doesn't fit the team mentality.
Being the Main Tank in an MMO is similar to being the pitcher in baseball, or quarterback in football. Those positions might be more visible, but they are no more or less important than the rest of the team. A quarterback is nothing without a good line and receivers.
The same is true of a MT. A MT is only as good as his support.
So why do people have it in their heads that healing isn't as heroic?
Theory 2: Another thought I had is about the competitiveness of the damage meters. Everyone who plays a dps class is trying their hardest to reach the tops of the charts. People are always striving to perfect their characters, their tactics, and their performance, and beat out the other people for top position.
But healing is different. People know that Healing Meters can be tricked due to over-healing and so forth. So the competitive nature in DPS isn't there for Healing. Getting to the top of the healing charts isn't a very big accomplishment because in doing so, the healer could have easily been spam healing a healthy target.
Theory 3: Watching Health Bars. This is my most favored theory. Watching Health bars is boring. Simple as that. When you're a DPSer, you are in a much better position to see the enemy, and impact the outcome of the battle by being right there in the thick of it.
On the other hand, healers are pushed as far back as they can be. Safety is job 1. Keep your healing line secure. This means that the healers very rarely see any "action". All they have to do is watch their tanks/groups health bars as they rise and fall.
So what makes a good healer? Is it someone who can always keep their entire party at full health at all times?
It it someone who can make those miraculous saves from 100HP to full?
In WOW, warriors brag about huge execute crits or MS crits. Rogues have their ambushes, backstabs, and eviscerates, mages their pyroblasts, warlocks their Shadowbolts, and Hunters their aimed shots.
But healers never get bragging rights. Nobody cares if you had a crit heal for 3500 or whatever.
So how do healers make themselves stand out? How do healers get the proper recognition for doing what they do?
I think if these questions can be answered, we will see a much higher rise in healer popularity and fun value.
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=8638024&p=#post8638024 | | | Poster: Coreiel at 6/10/2006 6:44:20 PM PDT
Subject: Re: Healer Psychology |
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An extremely well-thought-out exposition on one of the most interesting topics in metagaming, Zhak. You have my commendations, and I hope to see a lot of good discussion in this thread.
If I may, though, I'd like to turn the discussion in a slightly more positive direction. Instead of asking "What is it about healing that is so unattractive", let's hear some healers' sides of the argument.
Why do you like healing? I'd like to see answers from Paladins, Shamans, and Druids who consider themselves "healers" as well as Priests. Share your thoughts!
I'm going to steal the moon. You can't stop me
| | | http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=8638024&p=#post8666077 |
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