After playing a nuker for the last 74 levels.. Ive pretty much decided to subclass an EE. I had a blast playing an EE on PTS, and it looks like really fun class in both PvE and PvP. NCSoft obviously class EE as a healer.. they're one of two classes that get major heals. Im wondering how EEs stack up against other healers...
So my question... does the lack of greater group heal and a paralyze cure still keep EEs out of many parties? Are there still places to level where an EE won't suffice as a healer? Or does it depend more on the player?
My reasons for going EE over bishop is that I see myself partying a lot with a tank (shield buffs would be nice), and parting with nukers (clarity + recharge). I cant remember the last time I was paralyzed (I dont party in FoG or the lair much), and from what little I played in the PTS, I had no problems keeping HP up with lvl36 group heal and single target heals.
So my question... does the lack of greater group heal and a paralyze cure still keep EEs out of many parties? Are there still places to level where an EE won't suffice as a healer? Or does it depend more on the player?
Greater Gruop Heal is a major life saver in mass PvP and in chaotic PvE situations and Para is a definate killer (tho it dosen't land all that often) but Party Return should make up for any short commings. Sure it may suck to have to run or port back but it's better then losing 4% or worse....gear
It often means you have to get a SE to tag along for a lot of places. The good place for an EE grouped party to hunt is somewhere with stunners. The anti-stun buff helps a bit there, and those hunting places tend to be fairly unpopular. So lack of purify is a problem. Lack of greater group heal is not generally a problem. If you're taking so much damage you need to GGH much, you're going to run out of mp anyway.
Up until c5, there wasn't much reason to play an EE. I mean, in c4, our BD with dance of vampire and VR (or our tyrant with those) can tank better than an actual tank with EE buffs.
A *lot* of people don't recognise EEs as good healers, but it sounds like you have a good group of people to party with? Though come C5, and clarity, every nuker group (especially with sorcerers or spellsingers) is gonna want an EE.
To avoid paralyze, notice when the mob starts to cast it, and sleep (or "trance" - still getting used to the word) it before it gets it off. It's pretty effective. -If all goes wrong, just PR :p
Though I can imagine some pretty sticky situations with mass aggro of paralyzing mobs, now that sleeping cloud has had a major reduction in casting speed... But I suppose people will re-adjust and be more careful with pulling.
I remember the plandos in dvc when they suddenly started to kite like mad... That killed my party a few times >_< -But then we learned how to root :p
I've never been to a location where an EE can't be the only healer in the group. Para is not as bad as it seems, as has been posted it can be interrupted with sleep, even with multiple para mobs at once it can be managed with the EEs fast casting speed. The only issue is if, you have to make the tank pull the mobs that para away from more social mobs, otherwise sleeping will cause more aggro.
Greater Group Heal would be nice to have, but I don't think it's required in most situations. Group Heal, and normal single target heals can easily keep up with damage, and if you have a prophet in group, they can fire off a group heal as well if you're really in trouble. Major Heal will help even more, with it's fast cast and basically zero reuse time.
Although all this is true, you might still find (ignorant? :p) people not willing to group you, because you don't have Purify, or VR. But you have a good clan, so I'm sure you'll get groups fine :).
Although all this is true, you might still find (ignorant? :p) people not willing to group you, because you don't have Purify, or VR. But you have a good clan, so I'm sure you'll get groups fine :).
hahah yeah my clans stuck with me whatever I roll... they dont have the choice to not party me :p
In my experience the EE is not very valued in PvE. Unless you are in a clan that is willing to take you in, you will not get that many parties.
They are great buffers for tanks though. But the lack of being able to deparalyze people means that they cant play well in Toi. The lack of vr and emp, means they are no good at the normal duo groups. They are only good at running away fast after they reach level 58. Handy for clanwars of course.
Perhaps in c5 they have grown in strength and there is more demand for them.
One thing, one group only needs one SE. If there's a need for more recharge and maybe heals, the EE is ideal with their superiour mp regeneration = more recharges, and they can buff basic buffs such as might, shield, wind walk, and their unique buffs if they are necessary. It's rough for an SE to fully buff a 9 man party and still have enough mana to recharge, if the SE isn't set up for mana.
I cant sub an SE... not sure I'd want to anyways. I enjoy PvP when it occurs so wouldnt want to sub a class that isnt built for pvp one way or another.
Lack of buffs doesnt really bother me at all... I think EEs have some very nice buffs especially in C5, and especially for tanks. Playing a healer really looks fun to me... I just want to be certain Im not subbing a class that will be only wanted in PvE as a mana battery/secondry healer.
If larielle says an EE can be the sole/main healer anywhere... then Im sure Ill enjoy the class :)
Oh, I wasn't saying you should sub SE at all. Just that those two classes compliment each other really well, and that an EE would be a better choice than a second SE.
Guess it depends on your parties and where you go. In the Forge you must have greater group heal because of the mass mob spawns, and AOE damage they do. If you have a party full of BTMing SH's you need greater group heal. Saying if you go somewhere that needs GGH you'll "run out of mana" is completely foolish. GGH is more mana efficient when 2+ people need a heal, rather than using GH on each person.
IMO EE's can't be the sole healer everywhere. No healer was meant to be that though, a bishop still needs someone to recharge, or buff for example. A EE with nukers will need a SE. I don't like to think of it as "EE sucks we need another class" but more like classes were meant to compliment each other, not replace.
If larielle says an EE can be the sole/main healer anywhere... then Im sure Ill enjoy the class :)
I said everywhere I've been :p, so exclude Forge of Gods, past the first few rooms of Imperial Tomb, and the higher rifts.
You might well end up being a recharger in a lot of groups though, even if you can heal well enough. I certainly end up recharging a lot, but then again I group with Bishops quite often.
Trinity the only clan that rolls with a necro/SH for silences/baby DD?
re-> rifts:
The only really good healer here is a PS anyway, since they don't run OOM. It's a strenous situation, so even bishops can run OOM in my experience, if they don't pace themselves very well. Having one proper healer for GGH at the explosive mobs (if your boss doesn't just joker out of those rooms - they tend to be low reward, so we usually just don't bother) and a PS will work fine throughout the entire rift.
I bet EE & PS would make a nice team there though for recharges for the group from EE and some back-up healing in sticky situations.
In my experience, btm'ing nukers are often sufficiently healed with the lvl 35 group heal EE's have. For level 70 nukers with bsps used, it heals over 1/3 of their health. GGH is simply overhealing them in most cases, and therefore less efficient.
I'm not such a stupid bishop that I overheal people. Let's put it that way.
Our groups usually roll with an EE, but they always take a bishop to keep up on heals otherwise the EE runs out of mana very fast because they are much more useful as rechargers and giving out PoW.
EE works perfect as the main healer in 90% of pve parties. Sure the lack of purify you cant go to places as lair or fog but places like that is most often full 9-man parties where you have 2 healers anyway. The typical smaller catacomb party a WC should always be used as the buffer, you would be perfect to fill in the missing buffs like WW, Mental Shield, Resist Shock etc.
Also in nuker parties you need more rechargers, of course se is a natural choice to be in but if the party wants a couple more recharge EE is the best choice for faster casting speed and better mp regen. Also archer parties EE is the natural choice since they are needed for rechargers.
I dont really notice much the lack of GGH, most pve parties is either to small to use GGH in a mp efficent way or if you for some reason have a full party thats not a nuker/archer party you wont often need it since you probably have a real tank.
As for pvp, GGH is almost never needed in a pvp situation. Sure before CP was introduced it happened ALOT that you would need it but now you never really find a situation where +3 people are down at 60% of their hp in a pvp. And if many of your party members are getting attacked at the same time its sure that they wont go down at the same rate so the best would be to focus on the target who actually needs healing. Healers have their different uses but those who say an ee doesnt belong in a pve party needs to party them more or is probably on of the other healers so they dont get to party EE's much.