Thread: How to easily spec both DPS and Heals?

I have been having a good time being a DPS-specced RK, but now at the end-game there are times when I want to be a healer instead. And I mean a really good healer not just the "oh can you heal instead, I know you are DPS-specced but we are short on healers" type deal. But I don't want to give up DPS for soloing, so I want to be able to switch from one build to the other.

I think I have a handle on what needs to be done:
- create a set of healing LIs (stone and bag)
- get a set of healing armor (probably the Orthanc set)
- visit the bard to switch out class traits whenever switching roles

My one unresolved problem is the hotbars. To my knowledge, there is no way to save a current configuration and this really makes switching from dps to heals and vice versa a pain. If I am dps, I want my dps skills to be bound to the number keys and the heals can be in the #2-#5 hotbars which is slower to click (but I don't care since I am using heals less). But when I am healing, then I want the reverse (the heals to be in the numbered slots). Also, the whole way I set up stuff will be different since I use a different rotation/secondary skills (e.g. I might want to put some winter skills nearby since I might debuff during off moments, but epic conclusion far away since I don't anticipate being attuned to use it).

Is there any way to solve this problem? My hotbars are complicated enough that if I had to rearrange every time I wanted to switch, I probably won't even bother.

Originally Posted by Trisbane

I think I have a handle on what needs to be done:
- create a set of healing LIs (stone and bag)
- get a set of healing armor (probably the Orthanc set)
- visit the bard to switch out class traits whenever switching roles

that is what you should do, yes

Originally Posted by Trisbane

Is there any way to solve this problem? My hotbars are complicated enough that if I had to rearrange every time I wanted to switch, I probably won't even bother.

i'm moving my skills around all the time depending on which trait line i'm in since i can't think of a better way

I use F1-F7 for main healing skills. For some other less using heal skills i use mouse click. And mouse for targeting too.

I have my healing skills 1-9 on one bar, my lightning skills 1-9 on another, and fire 1-9 on another, and cold skills on another. The last three slots on my main bar are situational, I generally keep debuffs in the top 0-=, runestone on 0, Wondrous Foreshadowing/Shocking Touch/Self Motivation on -, and Calming Verse on =. I still have to manually rearrange my skills to the right hotbar, but keeping them in a fairly consistent order based on skill type makes it much simpler to swap things out when you need to. Plus, it has the added bonus of making it easy to hit non-primary skills.

Hello, my name is Shamborn, and I am a skill clicker.

I keep all my skills on the bars at all times, and just click the ones I need, while using the F keys to select my fellow members.

Originally Posted by ShammWoww

Hello, my name is Shamborn, and I am a skill clicker.

I keep all my skills on the bars at all times, and just click the ones I need, while using the F keys to select my fellow members.

Same here. Using F keys is faster than using mouse in selecting fellows.

Oh, I click fellows, but I've got a Razer Naga mouse, so I can just keep my mouse hovered around my fellow members and hit the numbers on the mouse. (That's also why I tend to group skills in threes... the buttons on the side of the mouse are grouped in 4 rows of 3 buttons.)

I have my bars set up so that to switch between healing and DPS roles I basically swap the "1" slot with "alt+1", "2" with "alt+2" etc. Not the most elegant solution, and does cause problems when I forget, and I'm trysing to switch mid first encounter...

Originally Posted by Trisbane

I have been having a good time being a DPS-specced RK, but now at the end-game there are times when I want to be a healer instead. And I mean a really good healer not just the "oh can you heal instead, I know you are DPS-specced but we are short on healers" type deal. But I don't want to give up DPS for soloing, so I want to be able to switch from one build to the other.

I think I have a handle on what needs to be done:
- create a set of healing LIs (stone and bag)
- get a set of healing armor (probably the Orthanc set)
- visit the bard to switch out class traits whenever switching roles

My one unresolved problem is the hotbars. To my knowledge, there is no way to save a current configuration and this really makes switching from dps to heals and vice versa a pain. If I am dps, I want my dps skills to be bound to the number keys and the heals can be in the #2-#5 hotbars which is slower to click (but I don't care since I am using heals less). But when I am healing, then I want the reverse (the heals to be in the numbered slots). Also, the whole way I set up stuff will be different since I use a different rotation/secondary skills (e.g. I might want to put some winter skills nearby since I might debuff during off moments, but epic conclusion far away since I don't anticipate being attuned to use it).

Is there any way to solve this problem? My hotbars are complicated enough that if I had to rearrange every time I wanted to switch, I probably won't even bother.

At your service, and your families!

Why don't you just keep your dps build active as is, and trait steady hands for the healing swing. I mean that will get you from full dps to full healz with one click--then if you want to switch back just click SM, CV and dps again!

RK's are the most versatile class in the game and on the fly, so I would recommend playing with a few builds and seeing what you can do.

As for the hotbars skill movie thingys, what the others have said will work great for you. I recommend, if you have not done so to open the options window, press "Alt-\" and customize your skills that way. As for moving your skills, unlock your skillbars to move them as desired. Make the game comfy for you so you can tear through everything as quick as possible!

Thats my 2 silver for the record, I hope this helps. Happy runespeaking!

I've been doing this quite a bit - especially in PUGs where the minstrel doesn't know what's going on. I usually trait fire, but have a runestone and bag kitted out for healing on a hotbar for quick switching. Steady hands does most of my work for me, and lets me pump out the rapid healing skills when the chips are down.

I also like the fact that I have a number of skills (writs/fiery whatsitcalled) that work at any attunement - lets me get back to setting up damage when the need to heal has passed, or if the need for dps is as compelling.

One other invaluable item is a Riffler of Writs - being able to tier up Writs of Healing without hitting attunement is really good, and if you slot the trait which tiers-down rather than removes the writs, you can be pretty good at doing damage and keeping one or two key party members alive (usually the healer or the tank).

Hi. My name is The Malf. Yes, there is only one.

I'm a clicker. I keep all skills of one group together on the quick slots. My slots are arranged in 3 rows of... Well, however many. Far left, fire. Next, lightning, next cold. A few steady skills, and pots. Healing on the right. Everything else in my bags. Takes me no time to press I, then equip anything I need if things get pear-shaped.