The Healer Class

The last two classes really must be racking people's brains, cause I know for a fact is it me. Anyway although I'm still open to ideas on what they can be there still remains one part of the MMO class trinity left untouched - the healer. Ya know, the guy that most people won't play that actually ends up being the most powerful class?....

I am actually coming to the conclusion now that all the classes now are starting to look pretty mirrored. We've got the ranged DPS guys (Bounty Hunter & Trooper), we've got the rogues (Smuggler and what most of us believe to be some sort of Spy), and we have the melee 'magic' classes (Jedi & Sith). So I ask, why not consider the REALLY big roles of leadership as the healers - the Senator and the Grand Moff? (Thanks Harly for the suggestion, its the best one yet)!

I do have reasons as to why these clases are looking quite likely but I'm gonna disprove a theory first from BH (sorry mate!):

Quote :

Moffs won't be in the game because they weren't created until around 22 BBY or so, they were Palpatine's creation.

In the latest vid doc the Sith player character actually states "You disobeyed a direct order from Grand Moff Kilron". I agree that I personally thought that Palpatine created the Sith Miltary ranks as we know it now but then again we haven't actually seen the Sith Empire of old in full action as we are now. Anyway I'm going off on a tangent but what I'm trying to say is that this at least leaves an opportunity for a "Moff" class.

Again, going by classic Star Wars characters and what BioWare have stated about including them we NEED a Princess Leia, and who's her main adversory?.... You got it....Grand Moff Tarkin!

Now another thing thats making me think a Noble class on both sides is quite likely is that, and I mean no offence to most healers, a healing class in MMO's can be kinda dull unless you have friends to heal. However we always consider healers to be just that light armoured pansy that heals morale/health, but what if BioWare decided to mix the healer and the buffe AND a light combat class into one? You'd have a leadership type class that didn't seem like a bit of a pansy and if you mix that with the Moff/Senator heroes/villains that we know from Star Wars you'd have quite an enjoyable class on your hands. Maybe its just me thinking this but give me a Amidala over a Minstrel anyday of the week! Another thing we have to consider that both Leia/Tarkin were both miltary trained professionals so maybe the class could be "the good all-rounder"?

I know I'm probably rambling on but I blame Harly for his suggestion of a Moff in the first place! Still, it's all food for thought.

Don't ask me why, because I have nothing to back this up than an odd 'gut feeling', but I don't think there will actually be a dedicated healer class.

I get the impression that BioWare is instead gonna allow each class to heal themselves (some being better at it than others) with things like stims, the ability to use bacta-tank-like devices between missions and whatever passes for the sci-fi game equivilent of 'health potions'.

Now a Noble-type class? I reckon that's VERY likely for a few reasons:

1. Nobles/Aristracts/Officers are all over the bloomin' place in SW lore.
2. A 'buffer' class which uses either inspiration/intimidation would fit in nicely.
3. There are too many strong iconic SW chars (Leia, Amidala, Palpatine, Jabba, ,etc) for people to not be interested in playing them. They're just too popular to miss out!

I've had the same feeling for a while as well. I just don't think there will be a healer class. Maybe we will get sidekicks (or companions, don't remember what Bioware call them) that will heal us as we fight, just a thought?

Aye thats EXACTLY what I'm saying. It's all in the description....

For example a minstrel in LotRO would get a "ballad" of something, but a Noble/ Military Officer of some kind would get a "Command" that instead of healing would "Inspire" which to me sounds far more heroic. Actually dude you play a Captain so you probably know exactly what I'm on about?

EDIT:

Nosyd wrote:

I've had the same feeling for a while as well. I just don't think there will be a healer class. Maybe we will get sidekicks (or companions, don't remember what Bioware call them) that will heal us as we fight, just a thought?

Normally I'd agree with that but there is a massive percentage of gamers that only play the healer class so missing them out I think would be a bad move on BioWare's part. I myself like to play a support class so not seeing it available to me would be a bit annoying.

Well I've got my Lekku crossed for a Noble who can 'heal'.

Right, your move BioWare!

It just doesn't seem to fit for me having a Noble class, I can definatly see the reasons, as each class has a seperate story you could not so combat heavy story for them (you won't have a noble storming and enemy stronghold or assasinating someone ) you need a healer class and Nobles certainly would fit the type, you could have missions where your leading guys into battle, negotiating with people for trade/help and I'm racking my brain for another type of class tbh

But at the same time I'm not sure how it would work, could they really string a combat light story for the entire toons level-span, I'm guessing the'd have to play just like the smuggler/spy becuase of the lack of armour, and they don't seem like natural healers, also what sub-classes would they have?
I'm not sure there will be a healer class maybe they'll just do away with it somehow? but if there were going to be a healer class I'd be much more likely to think id be a Trooper medic sub-class or droid class, which seems just as unlikly but there are Droid medics in the movies and people loved Ak-47, maybe a droid class could work as each other class Droid healer, droid spy, droid Bounty hunter (ie IG-88) ?

I dont think the will be a healer class, but the jedi/Sith and maybe officer/ diplomat class will have healer subclasses.

Lunarwolf wrote:

I get the impression that BioWare is instead gonna allow each class to heal themselves (some being better at it than others) with things like stims, the ability to use bacta-tank-like devices between missions and whatever passes for the sci-fi game equivilent of 'health potions'.

Now a Noble-type class? I reckon that's VERY likely for a few reasons:

1. Nobles/Aristracts/Officers are all over the bloomin' place in SW lore.
2. A 'buffer' class which uses either inspiration/intimidation would fit in nicely.
3. There are too many strong iconic SW chars (Leia, Amidala, Palpatine, Jabba, ,etc) for people to not be interested in playing them. They're just too popular to miss out!

I agree 100% with Lunarwolf on this. If you look at what Bioware have said in the past about this being like KTOR III, IV, V, etc. all rolled into one, and that preserving the single-player experience within an MMO setting aaaand that you'll be able to solo your way through TOR, then each class will pretty much have to be able to look after itself health-wise which makes your traditional healer fairly redundant. And I don't see them wasting a quarter of the available classes focussing on a role which monopolizes on the small group-absolutely-necessary portions of the game.

But it seems the general consensus is that whatever form the class takes it'll likely be an all-rounder which makes sense.

As an afterthought, I think it might end up where the Jedi/Sith get the most healing/buffing powers via the Force. Bioware run the risk of having the game splitting into a "them" and "us" battlefield with Forcers and non-Forcers disdaining eachother. Making Jedi in demand for party-play would help integrate the two. I'm sure for the sake of game balancing there will be something important the Jedi/Sith are rubbish at and need a hand with in return. Perhaps! lol

Har har! I think I'm going to prepare my 'I told you so' for when the classes are released. I'm going to focus on Moffs here, Tarkin is a very iconic character in the first film and I'm sure many people would love the command that a similar character like him would possess, as well as the other abilities. In the Threat of Peace, you can see many "High Ranking Sith Officers" such as the torturer in the last one. Such focus perhaps hints at Moff inclusion.

Bioware tends to have a way of every class being able to heal themselves (usually poitions and medipacks) so i wouldn't be suprised if we didn't get a healer in the game (Mass Effect didn't have one). Personally i would like the see an officer class as well. Buffer classes have always been one of the funnest classes to play in RPGs (protect monk in GW, bard in Everquest, entertainer in Galxies etc), and I wouldn't think the tren would end here.

Harlequin2 wrote:

Har har! I think I'm going to prepare my 'I told you so' for when the classes are released. I'm going to focus on Moffs here, Tarkin is a very iconic character in the first film and I'm sure many people would love the command that a similar character like him would possess, as well as the other abilities. In the Threat of Peace, you can see many "High Ranking Sith Officers" such as the torturer in the last one. Such focus perhaps hints at Moff inclusion.

Don't forget to put it in the "Crystal Ball Prediction thread" mate, then you can officially point back to that if you're right!

Lunarwolf wrote:

Don't forget to put it in the "Crystal Ball Prediction thread" mate, then you can officially point back to that if you're right!

It already has been, that's were the whole Moff/Noble thing started from

Just a thought, has anyone else seen This? (Over at SWTOR.com)

Two major points really grabbed my attention:

[QUOTE=TheDarkKnight;842548]

[*]Healing is in TOR, several classes have healing branches - IGN Q & A
[*]Healing not a requirement for base core game - IGN Q & A
[*]Healing in TOR has a twist and is unique to the game (not revealed) - IGN Q & A

and

[QUOTE=TheDarkKnight;842548]
[*]You can play as a Neutral character such as a Grey Jedi, Confirmed - Live Q & A session Comic Con.

Obviously this is not "Official BioWare released info" but its certainly food for thought...

Of course in their RPG's there was also just a normal (out of combat) health regen (you could boost it quite a bit with armour and stuffz).
I kind of like that tbh, it's rare in an MMO but standard in most FPS'es and just gives a much more fluid and active gameplay I think.
It could allow for instance smugglers (who would most likely not have the most HP or armour) to regen a bit by simply taking cover. If the AI is smart enough to react to such tactics it could provide an unseen combat-mechanic for MMO's.

I'm on board for the last unknown class-branch to be some sort of a buffer, it's the only truly epic character left I think apart from droids (and it's highly unlikely those would be more than companions I think).

I got my fingers crossed we'll get some info this Friday though, another class-reveal is way over due!

TheSweatyFox wrote:

Of course in their RPG's there was also just a normal (out of combat) health regen (you could boost it quite a bit with armour and stuffz).
I kind of like that tbh, it's rare in an MMO but standard in most FPS'es and just gives a much more fluid and active gameplay I think.
It could allow for instance smugglers (who would most likely not have the most HP or armour) to regen a bit by simply taking cover. If the AI is smart enough to react to such tactics it could provide an unseen combat-mechanic for MMO's.

I'm on board for the last unknown class-branch to be some sort of a buffer, it's the only truly epic character left I think apart from droids (and it's highly unlikely those would be more than companions I think).

I got my fingers crossed we'll get some info this Friday though, another class-reveal is way over due!

A Planet reveal is even more overdue! but since bioware said we would get a big update at the end of this month, maybe it will be a big Class/Planet reveal, I'm sure everyone can agree that would rock.

Sean on the Bioware site wrote:

Understandably, some of you are not ecstatic with the original post on this thread (yes, they do call me Captain Obvious sometimes...). As I explained a few weeks ago, the convention season can (and will) be a little different than the other parts of the year. During this time of year, our announcements are planned around events such as E3, Comic-Con, GamesCom, PAX.

Looks like we're going to be underwhelmed. And the way he's putting it, we aren't going to see any real big updates this summer it seems
Kind of makes sense I guess; I still think they're aiming for a Spring/early Summer 2010 release so they gotta save some stuff to really start hyping it beginning of the year probably.