Why a Cleric?

[Emili]

Why do so many clerics refuse to heal? Because so many players make it an overly difficult job. Because too many party wipes have been blamed on a cleric's inability to follow/heal 5 different characters going 3 different directions. Because there's NOTHING a cleric can do about a toon with 120 hp getting critted for 200+ damage. I could go on and on...

Why did I make a cleric if I don't want to heal? Because very often "Sit, Ubu, sit... good dog" (ie: the command spells) is cheaper on my mana pool that 7 or 8 cure spells and as an added side bonus, it lowers melee's repair bills. Because bringing a comet down on mobs is FUN! Because I love my Voldemortesque skull of death. Because my purple lightening is way cool! Because bb+fw=stirfry! Because there's no save on searing light...

I have two clerics... a straight healbot and a combat caster and I can say without a doubt that most quests are easier to get through, with fewer resources used, with my combat caster than with my straight healbot. My healbot does just that... she heals and she is rather one dimensional. My combat caster, on the other hand, specializes in keeping the party from taking damage that needs to be healed and when all else fails and party members scatter to the four winds and get themselves in over thier heads, she can keep herself alive, kill mobs and still be available to raise the dead.

A long long time ago, when DDO was young, I observed that that the Cleric is the drummer in the group, I have always treated the sword arm of my fighter as an extension of theirs, I have always watched bars ... health bars and mana bars to deem how well we were doing within the quest - yes I'm eyeing other people's mana bars even from my fighter.

Heathier is one of my oldest characters ... when drow first came out I rolled her up originally as an ranger. Berzerk and Akirra came to me and told me - you should build a cleric... before that time the only really strong spell casting character I had was Rosewood (my bard) and I was reluctant somewhat to take on the role of clericing -center stage - as I knew even then the class was not only the most powerful but as such the most intense ... when things go wrong the cleric (especially in those days) was often the class to set things back right. They buttered me up with comments of how a great cleric I would play... I rerolled her as a cleric and as such added much more to my understanding once "behind the wheel" per-say. Originally built a heal-bot and turned casting cleric along with Gianthold and enhancement respects came to be... I have to admit I stepped into luck with the class quite often... then again the class is extremely versitile. The character has solo'd many at level quest she has saved epics and raids from utter disaster and had eased a bad pug group into being a good pug group... tyically many things much more difficult to do from many another class. My FvS quite the same...

You picked a good name for yourself.

Maybe so and then again maybe not...

Wait wait, all this time we've been discussing this, and the OP has three 4th level characters, and one level 10. He's played less than 3 levels of cleric, and gave it more Dexterity than Wisdom. Not one of his toons has over 100 HP, and can all be brought from zero to full health with three lousy potions.

And he has an opinion he'd like to share on healing.

Impressive.

... and possibly more reason for his observation. Fact being as he stated within those levels of play ... this is what he's experiencing, and possibly quite often. If I had to wager as to why? It's because an inexperienced player behind the keyborad of a barbarian is not so obvious as and inexperienced player behind the keyboard of a cleric or FvS. The OP's observastion is just as he states ...what he's esperienced thus far. The OP poised a question... and few people took the time or read between the lines to clarify exactly what the question was or where it was even how he arrived at asking such. The impression the OP left on me was not of noob - possibly newbie - yet as I read the post did not feel it constituted a troll but more of a search for answers as to why he's experiencing such.

Since Mod 9 we experienced such a influx of uncertanty about the average player base... We are in someways revisiting January 2005... In guild, I take the cleric and FvS classes under wing (always have) because I know how important the class to be. I have always given those respresenting my clann who cleric special attention, now even moreso. My FvS shot up from level 1 to level 20 within a couple weeks ... and I was not even concentrating on that as any goal... I do remember however as I ran all those low thru mid level groups in pugs where attitudes and play styles conflict what things be like... I've come across clerics and other FvS who had next to full mana bars come end of the quest - without them stopping at a shrine - and sad to tell even those I personally dropped off at a res shrine.

[Kalari]

To answer the OP why not?

Many people have reasons to make healers, some may want to have that party role filled for their group of friends or guild. Some may do it because its the one class that is readilly accepted into all parties and raids.

But there are some who played clerics in pen and paper had fun doing so and actually enjoy the class.

And just because you have boobs out there who want to tell you how to play the class and want you to nanny and baby sit them dont mean you have to. And many after level 11 come to find out they can play their clerics the way they wish to or solo and finding people who appreciate you can be done in this game.

I know why I still play my clerics and love them 1. I play them within my guild who appreciate me. 2. I built them the race and around the lore I wished to involve myself with (Elves of the Undying court) 3. Ive learned how to use my spells the way I wish to from buffing, heals and combat. I think once a person realizes that their clerics are theres to do whatever makes them happy with and screw anyone who tries to tell them (unless they are paying for your sub) how to play. You'll see a lot less complaining at least from the clerics

[DevKiller]

Wait wait, all this time we've been discussing this, and the OP has three 4th level characters, and one level 10. He's played less than 3 levels of cleric, and gave it more Dexterity than Wisdom. Not one of his toons has over 100 HP, and can all be brought from zero to full health with three lousy potions.

And he has an opinion he'd like to share on healing.

Impressive.

This just made my day!

I have no clerics to speak of and will probably never role one, I have group with many clerics good and bad and I have seen several styles of play, the best I have seen so far is Anthem's style which is more offense type and I can tell you from experience that clerics like him never miss a heal and becasue of their play they tend to conserve much more mana then clerics who sit back and just heal.

As for clerics who don't heal, well I have wands and pots and as a melee class I typically make sure to protect the casters and clerics but I can tell you if the cleric is only worried about himself then I take my axe and help someone else out. All I want to do is have fun and complete the quest, DDO is set up so that you can build and play your characters anyway you like if you don't like it then spend the cash and get hierlings and you can be the puppet master.

You say clerics SHOULD heal and I say play your toon how you like but you SHOULD be self sufficient as it is better for the entire group if you are so pots and wands o plenty, if your lucky and get a good group you won't use a single one.

[Emili]

This just made my day!

I have no clerics to speak of and will probably never role one, I have group with many clerics good and bad and I have seen several styles of play, the best I have seen so far is Anthem's style which is more offense type and I can tell you from experience that clerics like him never miss a heal and becasue of their play they tend to conserve much more mana then clerics who sit back and just heal.

As for clerics who don't heal, well I have wands and pots and as a melee class I typically make sure to protect the casters and clerics but I can tell you if the cleric is only worried about himself then I take my axe and help someone else out. All I want to do is have fun and complete the quest, DDO is set up so that you can build and play your characters anyway you like if you don't like it then spend the cash and get hierlings and you can be the puppet master.

You say clerics SHOULD heal and I say play your toon how you like but you SHOULD be self sufficient as it is better for the entire group if you are so pots and wands o plenty, if your lucky and get a good group you won't use a single one.

I do not see where the OP called out Amaranth nor targeted anyone in particular aside from strong healing classes who do not use the potential of the class... if one feels he targeted them then maybe they should ask him ... "When did we play together?" Instead people took his words to be some troll, firing away at him and as he backed off into a corner defensively ... sure may appear to reafirm such - still poised in a defensive manner. His disclaimer was in the OP however. "I know this isnt their ONLY job... "

[cpito]

I do not see where the OP called out Amaranth nor targeted anyone in particular aside from strong healing classes who do not use the potential of the class... if one feels he targeted them then maybe they should ask him ... "When did we play together?"

Actually, the OP targeted people who DO use the full potential of the class because clerics can do so very much more than just healing.

[SquelchHU]

Now I realize my personal experience on the subject is a bit limited since my Cleric is only level 9. However I don't just watch myself in a group so I have quite a bit of experience watching what other Clerics are doing.

The way I see it, the 'role' of the Cleric is damage prevention. If that means healing than yeah sure, go for it. But healing is not the only means of preventing damage and is not always the best way. If a 'Sit boy!' (Greater Command) or a circle dance (Blade Barrier) does the job better then by all means go for it. Only focusing on healing is only using a fraction of your potential, and even if your only goal is 'keep the party alive' it is still a suboptimal means of doing that if that is all you are doing. Now in raids... yeah, that changes a bit. Spamming mass cures or mass heal really is the best thing you can do for your group. Just consider your options, that's all.

[Emili]

Actually, the OP targeted people who DO use the full potential of the class because clerics can do so very much more than just healing.

Ok first off I am well aware that relying 100% on the groups healer will get you killed its why I love me some UMD and/or Arcane WF (or other self-healing classes) but at the same time why do so many Clerics either refuse to heal or refuse to join a group asking for a healer.

I know this is gonna get me truck loads off neg-rep (because apparently disagreeing with people is discouraged here) but why did you make a cleric in the first place if you didnt want to heal...it would be like a wizard who ignores the fact that he has spells and only melees things or a Rogue who refuses to do traps...I know this isnt their ONLY job but it's their unique thing that other classes can't do (or cant do as well).

I may be wrong but I'm guessing you went cleric for to be a self-healing char...BUT there's many options for this....A ranger, A Paladin, A Rogue w/ UMD, a WF Wizard, A Bard, etc. not to mention multitude of possible Multiclasses.

No other class gets to refuse to do what they were designed to do (except some Multiclasses where they have to explain WHAT they do...but thats another story) so what makes Clerics so special...I've never heard a pure/mostly pure rogue not join a group because their looking for a trapmonkey (Never Met a rogue past the harbor without trapskills) or a Barbarian refuse to rage.


Note: I know other classes can heal to too...but ya know I've never had a Bard complain about healing

... and refusing to heal others is encompassing full potential? As stated... he believes one may heal themselves, he knows for a fact there are many aspects of the cleric and favored soul and he states again he's encountered many who potentialy play more team oriented ...

My answer for him is still that an inexperienced player sticks out more on a cleric or FvS then it does on any other class...

[GeorgeA]

Divine casters have many more tricks besides Healing and Blade Barriers.
Play with your spells sometime. Learn them.

I am very new to the game. and have a lot to learn. But i am familiar with other MMOs.

I have a lvl 5 warpriest cleric and in tough quests I am usually requested to just heal. Some times i don't mind, but it can be sereasly boring for someone who is usd to playing a warrior or a paladin. I would prefer a group which would alow me to get in there and use AoEs that are very useful. But as a cleric i know that my main function is expected to be healing.

A cleric can do a lot more then just heal, he has awesome AoEs and CCs, yes i would agreee that he shouldnt be doing much melee. He should concentrate on healing and AoE and CCs.

But you know your in a bad or a ill geared group, where u dont find time to do anything but heal.

I also find that a lot of ppl dont use scrolls, potions or their own buffs and heals, which make it very hard on the healer.

[Emili]

Now I realize my personal experience on the subject is a bit limited since my Cleric is only level 9. However I don't just watch myself in a group so I have quite a bit of experience watching what other Clerics are doing.

The way I see it, the 'role' of the Cleric is damage prevention. If that means healing than yeah sure, go for it. But healing is not the only means of preventing damage and is not always the best way. If a 'Sit boy!' (Greater Command) or a circle dance (Blade Barrier) does the job better then by all means go for it. Only focusing on healing is only using a fraction of your potential, and even if your only goal is 'keep the party alive' it is still a suboptimal means of doing that if that is all you are doing. Now in raids... yeah, that changes a bit. Spamming mass cures or mass heal really is the best thing you can do for your group. Just consider your options, that's all.

Early DDO history... Many clerics were what one would lump into the role of "heal-bot." The main reason why? Well it's not hard to figure out a level cap of 10 and four enhancements poised only one such class with the greatest healing potential... It is also not hard to figure out that a haggle score of 30-40 was not common and that the first few melee such as barbs and fighters had squat as an income where the best items to be pulled - ml 8 - were rare... +5 mith FP was not common, +5 weapon? we were all farming threnal arena and the Retribution was a much sought after weapon... carrying 100 cure potions back then ... you were one of the elite. Rangers were an iffy build and Pallys the golden child. The cleric was the backbone of any group.

It was not until the enhancement system openned that our clerics could actually break mold and achieve potentials beyond the scope of walking shrines... but with such comes another reconning ... The best BC's heal also, the best of casting clerics heal also ... the power is still greatest in those who grasp and persue the full scope of the class. Still the cleric is the backbone of any group... self-sufficiency is appliable yet, the occasional toss of a heal from a casting class wields less resource used - including one you cannot buy back - time.

I am happy we've great players at the keyborad behind the cleric and fvs ... fact is however when you have an inexperienced one it sticks out moreso than on any other class. When you're in group with a great played cleric ... the group shines more then any group where the cleric is a tad behind. Bloody quite simple.

I've raided and even run Epics without a cleric/FvS or even bard present... yet one cannot deny what one good cleric brings to the table in group play assures less resource, less time, less struggle and risks.

[cpito]

and refusing to heal others is encompassing full potential? As stated... he believes one may heal themselves, be knows for a fact there are many aspects of the cleric and favored soul and he states again he's encountered many who potentialy play more team oriented ...

My answer for him is still that an inexperienced player sticks out more on a cleric or FvS then it does on any other class...

Ok first off I am well aware that relying 100% on the groups healer will get you killed its why I love me some UMD and/or Arcane WF (or other self-healing classes) but at the same time why do so many Clerics either refuse to heal or refuse to join a group asking for a healer.

I know this is gonna get me truck loads off neg-rep (because apparently disagreeing with people is discouraged here) but why did you make a cleric in the first place if you didnt want to heal...it would be like a wizard who ignores the fact that he has spells and only melees things or a Rogue who refuses to do traps...I know this isnt their ONLY job but it's their unique thing that other classes can't do (or cant do as well).

I may be wrong but I'm guessing you went cleric for to be a self-healing char...BUT there's many options for this....A ranger, A Paladin, A Rogue w/ UMD, a WF Wizard, A Bard, etc. not to mention multitude of possible Multiclasses.

No other class gets to refuse to do what they were designed to do (except some Multiclasses where they have to explain WHAT they do...but thats another story) so what makes Clerics so special...I've never heard a pure/mostly pure rogue not join a group because their looking for a trapmonkey (Never Met a rogue past the harbor without trapskills) or a Barbarian refuse to rage.


Note: I know other classes can heal to too...but ya know I've never had a Bard complain about healing

I think the problem with the OP is that he says he knows a cleric can do more than heal but then goes on to pigeon-hole them into strictly healers anyway and assumes that those who don't heal in an environment where self-healing is very possible (in most cases) are being selfish.

[Stuttrboy]

Divine casters have many more tricks besides Healing and Blade Barriers.
Play with your spells sometime. Learn them.

I don't mind healing. As long as you don't expect me to use expensive pots and scrolls and wands because you couldn't be bothered to wear a heavy fort item, or fight in the blade barrier/fire wall, ignore the shrine at half health or otherwise play stupid. I can even handle to stupidity as long as you are willing to accept that I'm not using non-renewable resources on you.

[taurean430]

Okay then, let's go back to the original post. And how it's original tone was interpreted by this user:
*Warning: incoming wall of text*

Ok first off I am well aware that relying 100% on the groups healer will get you killed its why I love me some UMD and/or Arcane WF (or other self-healing classes) but at the same time why do so many Clerics either refuse to heal or refuse to join a group asking for a healer.

Player seems to understand that they should make effort avoiding being dependent on everyone else in a regular quest group.

Player appears to take issue with Clerics that are either battleclerics, offensive casting clerics, or perhaps any cleric that isn't constantly healing them?

Player appears to want more healbot/nannybot type clerics joining lfm's he's started or is part of.

I know this is gonna get me truck loads off neg-rep (because apparently disagreeing with people is discouraged here) but why did you make a cleric in the first place if you didnt want to heal...it would be like a wizard who ignores the fact that he has spells and only melees things or a Rogue who refuses to do traps...I know this isnt their ONLY job but it's their unique thing that other classes can't do (or cant do as well).

Reading further the person suggests his opinion will not be popular with Clerics or healing classes.

Player poses the question seemingly to all healing classes why did you make your toon if you won't constantly heal me, so I don't have to do it myself?

Player goes on to make far out comparisons of what he believes classes should do.

I may be wrong but I'm guessing you went cleric for to be a self-healing char...BUT there's many options for this....A ranger, A Paladin, A Rogue w/ UMD, a WF Wizard, A Bard, etc. not to mention multitude of possible Multiclasses.

Player goes further to state indirectly that unless you are a healbot/nannybot type cleric you should reroll.

No other class gets to refuse to do what they were designed to do (except some Multiclasses where they have to explain WHAT they do...but thats another story) so what makes Clerics so special...I've never heard a pure/mostly pure rogue not join a group because their looking for a trapmonkey (Never Met a rogue past the harbor without trapskills) or a Barbarian refuse to rage.

Note: I know other classes can heal to too...but ya know I've never had a Bard complain about healing

More left field comparisons and supporting statements regarding the healbot or nothing proposition presented.


Overall tone of the post = negative.
Wide and varied generalizations abound within the supporting argument.
Player has made clear to this user that they believe that any healing class exists to only heal.


That's what I got out of it when I read it. As a player who controls a divine caster who does in fact heal in any group they are part of... I am annoyed at this point. Fact is that many people who play healing classes are not fond of being pigeonholed into the role of healbot. Personally I'd rather watch grass grow than sit at the computer scanning red bars and dumping everything I have into them to keep them full constantly to the exception of anything else. I'm sorry, but that isn't even remotely fun imho.

Gone to cap twice now with my healing toon, and working on the third. And in my observations in that merry go round of leveling I've noticed this attitude repeatedly. Frankly if I fufill the major class strength of my toon (keeping the party alive), from levels 1-20... If, all the way up to level 18 content I kill things just as much as I heal by way of spell or melee... If, I have no problem adjusting my play to what the situation demands (dual scimmies of various type vs. potency item and healing sceptre)... who really has the right to make that type of assertion?

On my melee specc'd FvS/Monksplash, I play just fine in meeting what is needed. There is no way that I'm going to go as far as not using the myriad of other tools at my disposal simply because someone feels my job is to constantly pump hp into them to the exception of anything else. It's not a stretch at all to see in game players that hold this opinion:

1. Not carrying basic status aliment cures.
2. Not utilizing fortification.
3. Drawing aggro and forcing me to steal it back while healing them because they can't handle it without dying.
4. Complaining that I am not nannying them.

There is a difference between being a selfish player who demands everyone else to fix everything for them, vs. a player that at least tries. This too goes into the concept of teamwork. A good healer will keep you alive in fights. This doesn't extend to constantly spamming cures to the exception of having any fun at all.

[Emili]

I don't mind healing. As long as you don't expect me to use expensive pots and scrolls and wands because you couldn't be bothered to wear a heavy fort item, or fight in the blade barrier/fire wall, ignore the shrine at half health or otherwise play stupid. I can even handle to stupidity as long as you are willing to accept that I'm not using non-renewable resources on you.

Exactly... yet I do not imagine many play with the intent to "put others out." I.E. I prefer the clerics call part four when deciding about handling the blades... I prefer from my own cleric - to let someone know - "Hey! you're seeming squishy, is there something I may do to help?" The scope of the team be what matters and the intent of the player should be to give what they may to the effort, you control your mana bar and likewise they and you have some control on their health bars, all bars however are "part of the group."... judgement and communication wins quests in a group as a group, otherwise it no longer is a group but a few who are having fun. I've a level 20 cleric and a FvS18/monk2 ... I been here seems forever and only offer insight of the scope of play among different groups ... fact is one adjusts to what one has to deal with on any character they happen to be playing.

[Anthem]

We shouldn't rule out the possibility that the cleric in question wasn't refusing to heal, but was refusing to heal the OP, quite possibly for good reasons:

Remember we only have one side of the story, from a fairly inexperienced player.

It's not unusual for clerics to stop healing players who repeatedly take unnecessary damage, play recklessly, and put the whole party and the quest's completion at risk; Supposing the party's been warned about yet another trap and this player yet again incorrectly guesses he's tough enough to handle the trap damage as well as aggroing the crowd of mobs on the other side of it. What is the best answer in this bad situation?

To me, it's to drop offense spells, possibly hit Prayer and Recitaion for party advantage, refresh the Shields on the squishies and prepare for combat, crowd control, healing, and spot buffing what and where it's needed by balancing each member's squishiness, resistances, and saves, against the enemy's estimated casting, numbers, and melee threat.

Priority healing goes to the deserving party members who now have to clean up Cpt. Noobzerg's mess. Heals on him will wait for ALL other priorities to be taken care of, and if he does somehow survive, the length of the health-bar he chose leave himself with is what I'll mentally mark as his "new 100%".

Anything else only encourages that kind of continued sloppy play, and passes the problem off to his next party and cleric. We've all seen high-level characters who have no business being in a raid, and I strongly suspect for exactly this reason.

Accidents will happen and things will go sideways. Those make some of the greatest stories, good times, and the best memories of this game. I firmly believe that recovering from the accidental and the unforeseeable deserves top-playing and the best possible healing with no grudge-bearing or lesson-teaching.

Those are not the times I'm talking about here though. I'm talking about keeping valuable party assets alive by not throwing healing resources away on the truly stupid -- those who are liabilities for the whole party.

[Antheal]

I have a question: What's the consensus (if there is one) on people who enjoy playing a "healbot" type of character? Someone who enjoys focussing solely on party support?

[Zachski]

I have a question: What's the consensus (if there is one) on people who enjoy playing a "healbot" type of character? Someone who enjoys focussing solely on party support?

I think that you're not really using your character to its fullest potential (even a healing specced Cleric or FVS should be doing things besides healing), but if that's the way you want to play, go ahead.

EDIT: I should specify, "party support" is kind of a broad term. Sometimes it involved healing and buffing. Sometimes it involves making the enemy kneel in front of your Barbarian for decapitation.

[Impaqt]

I have a question: What's the consensus (if there is one) on people who enjoy playing a "healbot" type of character? Someone who enjoys focussing solely on party support?

You cannot have a "Concensus" on how people like to play their own character.

Persoanlly, I find the rle of a healbot pretty boring... But some folks look at it as a badge of honor. Neither of us are "Wrong" Its just a playstyle preference.

[Anthem]

Healbot is part of the learning curve. Clerics have incredible depth th D&D and in DDO, and healbotting is not a destination so much as a phase.

If the sole and entire goal for somebody who chooses to play a cleric is to heal, then I view them with extreme contempt for wasting their resources, risking failed missions because of it, and not doing everything they can to help their party. If they're in that phase toward becoming an actual cleric, I'll hold my contempt.

A purely heal-specced cleric will have max wisdom in order to keep their SP as high as possible, and therefore also benefit from a very high DC, which brings their Symbols and Commands into real play, so short of laziness or ineptitude, there's no reason at all that even a purely heal-spec can't be a heal/CC. After that, they're just a maximize away from being OCC clerics. Finally cash and more build points will make them melees too.

I was a healbot once too, and it took me years -- first to realize what all is possible, and then a little more to play other classes to better understand their needs/strengths/weaknesses to perfect the art and become an actual "cleric".

Now I'm quite convinced that played to their potential, clerics are grossly over-powered compared to the other classes, who seem to me one-dimensional, and ultimately not much fun to play.

When things go badly, being the cleric is unrewarding, brutally expensive, and like a goalie, we get the brunt of the blame when we can't keep everybody on their feet, BUT when our decisions, our "sixth sense", and versatility save the day, ...well it's a pretty big rush that I've never felt with other classes.

[sephiroth1084]

While this isn't true for most high level quests and raids, I tend to avoid joining low-level groups advertising "Need a Healer," especially if they have classes that can secondary heal (Paladins, Rangers, Bards, or WF groups with casters, etc...). It just shows that the people in the group are looking to lean on someone rather than supporting themselves.

I'm not a healer, and don't play any healers, but when I go into a group, I make sure to bring potions and wands, and if I'm on my wizard, tank, ranger or rogue and see that the group is struggling, I'll step back and wand whip, scroll or whatever in order to ensure that we get by.

[MeliCat]

Healbot is part of the learning curve. Clerics have incredible depth th D&D and in DDO, and healbotting is not a destination so much as a phase.

If the sole and entire goal for somebody who chooses to play a cleric is to heal, then I view them with extreme contempt for wasting their resources, risking failed missions because of it, and not doing everything they can to help their party. If they're in that phase toward becoming an actual cleric, I'll hold my contempt.

A purely heal-specced cleric will have max wisdom in order to keep their SP as high as possible, and therefore also benefit from a very high DC, which brings their Symbols and Commands into real play, so short of laziness or ineptitude, there's no reason at all that even a purely heal-spec can't be a heal/CC. After that, they're just a maximize away from being OCC clerics. Finally cash and more build points will make them melees too.

I was a healbot once too, and it took me years -- first to realize what all is possible, and then a little more to play other classes to better understand their needs/strengths/weaknesses to perfect the art and become an actual "cleric".

Now I'm quite convinced that played to their potential, clerics are grossly over-powered compared to the other classes, who seem to me one-dimensional, and ultimately not much fun to play.

When things go badly, being the cleric is unrewarding, brutally expensive, and like a goalie, we get the brunt of the blame when we can't keep everybody on their feet, BUT when our decisions, our "sixth sense", and versatility save the day, ...well it's a pretty big rush that I've never felt with other classes.

I use the term 'healbot' as a joke. My cleric name is a take on nannybot - the old term for it.

As new to the game, and new to MMOs generally, I always wanted to play a cleric.

And yes, I was **** at it. It was so confusing. (Hence the barb, bard, sorc and now dumb fighter). She's got to level 19 despite this and I think I've got a bit better.

But it's attitudes like this that upset me.

Yes I'm learning. I have a warning in my bio. If you ever play on Khyber please take note of my name in my sig and *do* *not* *play* with me because I will find you stressful and unpleasant.

Goes for you too Impaqt.

I want to learn. I want to have fun. I have lovely guildies who are patient with me and I can see even in myself that I have got better. I have another level 2 cleric (similiar build) that I just want to play up through because I understand it more now I've played through to end game and seen how other clerics do it.

I would like to run with Twoheals as one guildie reckons he is one of the best clerics he's seen in game.

This game is about fun. Not judgement and calling people bad names and stupid and useless and hopeless.