CH vs MH

[aposematis]

There's better survivability potential as a Caster Healer from what I've tested prior to the patch (with the free Fountains), and it seems to still be the case in this patch (should be the case in any patch anyway). As a Melee Healer you need to nuke fast or you run out of Mana faster than any other Mana user classes and builds I know of (only Mana class I haven't played much is the Warden, so I'm not sure about those).

In this patch if you use a one-handed weapon plus a shield you have less Faith, which means less Mana, but obviously you have more armor. If you use a two-handed you have more Faith, thus more Mana, but less armor. With more Mana you can stay on the offensive longer (can be negligible depending on talents rotation and total Mana costs after 'x' amount of time), but you're obviously more vulnerable, hence the necessity to use controlling skills whenever you should (but costs Mana as well and doesn't do dps, you just control), otherwise you're toast. I myself would only use a one-handed plus shield combo as a Caster Healer. Or of course Full Healer, especially for PvP, although for PvE being a Full Healer or Caster Healer with a two-handed and having more Faith means you can heal more since you have more Mana, but I'd keep that possibility only for PvE content, certainly not for PvP.

I don't know many "pure" Caster Healers around, and the two "CH" builds I did myself try prior to the patch were most likely not "pure" CH builds. I'm not sure if there's such a thing as an actual "pure CH build" to be honest (correct me if I'm wrong). I've been a Melee Healer since... almost forever (I was a "Melee / Healer hybrid" a long time ago when the Level cap was still 42). My play style wouldn't fit if I switched to something else right away, I'd obviously need time to adapt and actually "play like" an actual Caster or Full Healer (playing "like a" Melee Healer requires another approach to fighting). Not that I have the gear to make much out of my current MH build anyway. Taking a two months break in Allods is virtually impossible to catch up to, one or two weeks maybe (and even then), but not two months. Now I can only deal enough dps against new comers to end-game with similar gear (Cradle Reputation, or A2 mythics/legends).

What I do like to do however, for now, and until I get better gear, is to control my opponents as much as I can and ironically keeping as much distance as I can, by using Particle of Light and Chain of Light, and only going melee to pop Fanaticism and/or to use Holy Rage to entangle single targets in chains to slow them down (with Rank 3 Veracity). It seems to be efficient for that purpose (controlling), better than nothing. I do notice sometimes some League players trying to control me as soon as they can, I think some of them realized that despite the fact that I can't deal much dps I can still disrupt their fights well enough for some time if I do manage to control them first. So if anything at least a Melee Healer can also control (not as efficient in PvE unfortunately, since many mobs are immune to most if not literally all our control talents including Intimidate from a Warrior shared talent).

But, again, I think that a Caster Healer can and should survive much longer than a Melee Healer in almost any given fights. In my opinion, the general idea when comparing both Healer styles and builds would be along the lines of:

Caster Healer if:

1) Prefer defensive game-play
2) Prefer PvP over PvE (doesn't mean they always do better in PvP)

Melee Healer if:

1) Prefer offensive game-play
2) Prefer PvE over PvP (doesn't mean they only do better in PvE)

In the end, it's a question of personal preferences and situational efficiency.

[metryinghard]

Caster Healer if:

1) Prefer defensive game-play
2) Prefer PvP over PvE (doesn't mean they always do better in PvP)

whats defensive game game-play if u dont have instacast heals?

[aposematis]

Caster Healer if:

1) Prefer defensive game-play
2) Prefer PvP over PvE (doesn't mean they always do better in PvP)

whats defensive game game-play if u dont have instacast heals?

Holy Shield, but stay immobile

Yeah I might have had to elaborate on that one. What I have in mind about "defensive" game-play is subjective. If you want to use instant cast heals you can do so with various builds. Being "on defense" to me is more about the play style rather than if you instant cast heals on yourself or not. It can include that (instant heals) but it isn't exclusive to that.

Of course, instantly casting heals gives you more survivability, but being able to do that in itself doesn't mean you're "on defense", or playing defensively. If you play offensively say... in WH for example, then to me it means that you'll keep moving from any of the three capture points making sure there's no enemies around and attacking them on sight (with preparation or not), and you'll probably also follow others on offense to heal them at the same time if you can, especially if you're a Caster Healer, which is my point, you can be a CH on offense. What I meant in my previous post is just that you might prefer to stay on defense as a CH... but of course, it's subjective.

If you're on defense... in WH, then to me it means you'll actually defend a point specifically, stay there and only move if asked to. If enemies come trying to capture your point you won't exactly just throw yourself in the crowd (unless forced to or if things turn chaotic, which can always happen). If you're on defense and you're not alone in the fight (say... 3 Vs 3 or something similar) then you'll keep your distance whenever possible, that's Caster Healer's sniping time and shining moment, in my book. I guess you can consider that from what I'm saying a CH should keep his/her distance from melee range attacks whenever possible... which can be considered a "defensive play style", in my opinion.

A Melee Healer can also be on defense by using controlling talents more than anything else even if he/she can deal lots of dps, it's a question of choice, preferences and sometimes the situation can force it, it can of course become situational rather than chosen. My previous post isn't exactly a "guide" nor me trying to impose my views, keep in mind it was subjective and based on my own experiences as a Melee Healer, and based on my observations of other healers around since... well since I started playing. As a side note, off-topic (kinda)... I miss our old Holy Shield activation sound, the new one is bland, soft and boring... same with Fanaticism popping sound.

[ryosei_kitsune]

Its just means none of you have seen a proper CH play.

[metryinghard]

FH > MH > CH
ch haz no potential in pvp

[aposematis]

Its just means none of you have seen a proper CH play.

They are a rare bunch. Even you cannot deny it Ryo. I'm not sure why they are rare though, many players seem to prefer extremes, they go either full healer or melee healer, a caster healer seems to be a rare breed at the middle of the healer builds spectrum. The only non-full or non-melee Healers I know of myself in Empire are labeling themselves as "hybrid" Healers (hybrid builds). If they are Caster Healers then they don't even name their build as such. The irony is that actual CH builds do exist and are labeled as such.

Out of curiosity, Ryosei, have you tried MH? And did you like it? I've seen you around a couple of times and I died by your casts more than once, that much I know, but I never saw you going melee using Verdict or Holy Rage.

[ryosei_kitsune]

Ryosei has been an MH for 1 week straight of about 30 months or so of play.
Half of that CH and the other half FH ( I need to put other healers out of business, its called animal control )

[citizenkane_]

Its just means none of you have seen a proper CH play.

This.

Ever seen Ojamajo play a CH?

[andyh1980]

Its just means none of you have seen a proper CH play.

This.

Ever seen Ojamajo play a CH?

I haven't, only seen him do MH and FH. He's a damn good MH though

[metryinghard]

Its just means none of you have seen a proper CH play.

This.

Ever seen Ojamajo play a CH?

fraps or it didn't happen.