So my coworker was looking at my phone while I watched some gw2 pvp. He said that looks cool but I don't see a healer. So I told him there are no dedicated healers in this game. So his reply? That's dumb so how am I gonna survive in the game. I told him that you are self reliant and mostly depend on yourself. He said that's stupid why am I gonna play a game where im going to die all the time im not playing that dumb game and proceeded to list several(noobish) reasons why wow is better and told me to play dc universe instead. Discuss.
Hey Mask. My advice is this: don't waste your time trying to sway this guy to your way of thinking. If he's just a coworker and not necessarily a 'friend', I'd leave it at that too. His mind is made up. If people can't get "on fire" for this game, then there are tons of other games out there for them. I remember when I first read that there were no dedicated healing classes...I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face! Once this game releases, hopefully, the 'holy trinity' will be in my rear-view mirror forever.
Thanks for the answers, but am I right in reading them as basically, we're not entirely sure, yet?
Sounds like there are some healing abilities, and maybe some ways to specialize in them, but to what degree, and how effective they'll be, no one outside ArenaNet really knows?
In AoC, there are healing classes, but they suck at healing, compared to a game like Aion or WoW. So one could technically call AoC's healers "dedicated" but the real difference is that the game isn't balanced around needing massive amounts of health replenished constantly, so even those healers are mostly damage dealers. I'm getting the feeling that GW2 is similar? Might even be possible to make a better healer than the dedicated healers of AoC - but not necessary?
There is some things we do not know, but we do know that the self heal is going to be the most powerful heal anyone has. There is no skills design to target allies in this game, so being a standard healer is out of the question. Instead of relying on a healer people are going to have use things like wards, dodging, and self heals to keep themselves alive. With the AOE heals used to provide small heals in between the rest!
Have somebody imagined how forums would be if the game gets infested with that kind of people? Lots asking for content nerf cause they cant avoid dmg and/or heal themselves
That's a scary thought, but I doubt GW2 will appeal to them in the 1st place.
I consider myself a pretty avid follower of gw2. With that said I can see why your co worker might reactthis way to the idea of not hqving a dedicated healer. Someone who has only played wow or has very limited gaming experience might viewtue wrong way. Having only experienced wow he probably sees this as wow with no healers.
Since this is something not widely done yet in mmos, you may want to be careful when throwing out the phrase "no healer". Not only will gw2 have no dedicated healer but everyone has means of avoiding damage and healing themselves and also others to an extent. Every class also has their own form of cc. I guess explaining dynamic combat isnt so simple.
I believe we'll be seeing alot of gw2 haters into launch and even some after. For some people they will have to play the game to umderstand. This is why it's so pointless and arguing with some people at this point
There is some things we do not know, but we do know that the self heal is going to be the most powerful heal anyone has. There is no skills design to target allies in this game, so being a standard healer is out of the question. Instead of relying on a healer people are going to have use things like wards, dodging, and self heals to keep themselves alive. With the AOE heals used to provide small heals in between the rest!
What about the "spike"? How effective will be that self heal even with team play and support? Will be possible to escape and recover from spikes?
What about the "spike"? How effective will be that self heal even with team play and support? Will be possible to escape and recover from spikes?
Go watch the ANet VS Boon Control PVP match you can see people using the self heal in action. You have to remember ANet built this game around proactive combat instead of reactive like a traditional MMO, so every profession has support abilities that factor in the use of that self heal.
I expect a lot of confusion when GW2 hit the shelves, but its only natural
The game is getting significant hype and when it'll be released, game magazines will be filled with "Revolutionary MMO's out!" and MMO haters/newbs will buy it just because of these titles
those people prolly never heard of it (trust me, A LOT of people dont know about GW2) and when they'll play it they'll be like:
Where are the quests?? This is dumb..
Who's the best healer??there aint any?? This is dumb
It has Item shop - Pay2Win - dumb...
etc etc
But the words spreads quickly and if GW2 will trully walk the walk (and right now it looks like it will) we can expect steady player growth after the initial half of a year...
I think I actually spent way more time reading and theorycrafting about MMOs than playing them
So my coworker was looking at my phone while I watched some gw2 pvp. He said that looks cool but I don't see a healer. So I told him there are no dedicated healers in this game. So his reply? That's dumb so how am I gonna survive in the game. I told him that you are self reliant and mostly depend on yourself. He said that's stupid why am I gonna play a game where im going to die all the time im not playing that dumb game and proceeded to list several(noobish) reasons why wow is better and told me to play dc universe instead. Discuss.
Actually it is not THIS black and white. You are right in that we do MOSTLY depend on ourself. BUT does not mean there is no team effort involved either.
This is pretty dumb. When I told my mates (2 of them played GW1) that the game had no healers, they said "Well, that should be interesting) with one of them saying "I trust Arenanet on the matter".
They kept saying for weeks that they still don't understand how stuff will work without a healer, but they don't make bold statements such as "The game is stupid" or "That will never work" before actually seeing it in action.
TL:DR Get a new friends that don't judge stuff at first sight
This bothers me as well. DPS bores me to tears and back again. I think it's still going to be worth the box price .. just not sure how much Ill play it beyond leveling 1 character up and messing with some professions.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity. I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already
GW2 classes is much like LoL, HoN and Dota games. Carry(DPS),Tank and Support. Tanks in these games does'nt stand and aggro all the mobs they can, they have alot of armour and hp and use abillities to snare and root and stun.
CC will be huge in this game, with all the area effect things, and walls etc, so there is plenty to do if you want to support rather than fight directly. You cant just sit in one spot and watch green bars all day long, but there are plenty of non dps things to do.
Also, when you die you are not out for the count, not only are there ways for many classes to res themselves (rangers can call their pet while they are down to come res them), but all players are able to res teammates.
So just because there is no dedicated healers doesnt mean you are all on your lonesome. You are more self reliant, but all of the content is designed for groups (dynamic events and pvp) so lone wolf-ism is not rewarded.
I think the fundamental issue is that some folks can't see any way to keep a character alive other than to constantly dump hit points back into their bar. This stems from a long list of games where combat basically boils down to standing in front of a baddy and letting him bash your hit points away.
You have to step outside the healing box...and think in terms of the wider concepts...control, avoidance, mitigation, etc.
The idea is, if you can avoid taking damage in the first place, you won't need anyone to refill your bar. If you can help your team mates avoid taking damage or take less damage, they too will need no refills. By using tactics and strategy, movement and positioning, along with your characters abilities, you decrease the need for heals. You'll be able to block attacks with abilities, terrain, or shields. You'll be able to avoid attacks with abilities, by dodging, or by just moving out of the way. You'll be able to decrease the damage you and your teammates take in a number of ways, like abilities that weaken the enemy, etc.
It's going to take some people a long time to break out of the ingrained rules they've learned by playing the exact same MMO combat for 10 years. It's hard for people to even grasp the concept of abilities being ground targeted instead of individually targeted, of characters being able to physically block or dodge projectiles or spells...it's just going to take some people a while. They'll have to try it to see. The fact that you can't target your friends because you don't need to... I'm sure that's going to make some people's heads explode.
Will there be healing spells in the game? Certainly. There will be direct heals, regens, all the things you typically expect. Many of them are more complex, however, and also involve a movement or control aspect (like blocking enemies attacks, reflecting them, or rolling away at the same time). Some classes will without a doubt be able to take on a support role in a group if they choose to, helping their teammates stay alive in MANY more varied ways than just dumping hit points on them. But at the same time, those same classes will always have utility and options...they will be able to switch to a more offensive role if needed in the flow of the combat.
When they say there's no "healer", what they mean is that there is no class who's entire game play consists of standing in the back and clicking on hp bars. If that's your idea of fun MMO combat, GW2 is not your game. ALL classes will have to move, adapt and function cooperatively in order to succeed. I'm sure it will be perfectly possible to pigeon-hole yourself and only do that one thing if you choose, but I'm guessing you're going to have a hard time finding folks to group with more than once.
Well I have always played healers so its a big deal for me t oo but what can you do? Arenanet decided to introduce a FPS like combat system so I guess healing would have been almost impossible with their current cs.
We need a MMORPG Cataclysm asap, finish the dark age of MMORPGS now!
"Everything you're bitching about is wrong. People don't have the time to invest in corpse runs, impossible zones, or long winded quests. Sometimes, they just want to pop on and play." "Then maybe MMORPGs aren't for you."
Well I have always played healers so its a big deal for me t oo but what can you do? Arenanet decided to introduce a FPS like combat system so I guess healing would have been almost impossible with their current cs.
I play healers or support classes most of the times. I like the role of a dedicated healer. I can understand that many find healing boring, but then I find DPS classes boring. Each to his/her own. I prefer healing or crowd control.
This is why I am not going to play GW2. No hate here. The game is just not for me. I bet I am not the only one.
Edit: Currently playing GA, a shooter, as a heal medic. So, healing and FPS or TPS are actually compatible. My next game will probably be Firefall, and you can bet I ll play a healing class.
So my coworker was looking at my phone while I watched some gw2 pvp. He said that looks cool but I don't see a healer. So I told him there are no dedicated healers in this game. So his reply? That's dumb so how am I gonna survive in the game. I told him that you are self reliant and mostly depend on yourself. He said that's stupid why am I gonna play a game where im going to die all the time im not playing that dumb game and proceeded to list several(noobish) reasons why wow is better and told me to play dc universe instead. Discuss.
You could be a dedicated healer if you wanted to be. I don't really see what's stopping you.
You probably won't be nearly as effective as some games but people will still appreciate your heals.
I think the fundamental issue is that some folks can't see any way to keep a character alive other than to constantly dump hit points back into their bar. This stems from a long list of games where combat basically boils down to standing in front of a baddy and letting him bash your hit points away.
Not sure, but I think the fundamental issue is more that some people like playing a support role. Healing tends to be the most supportive thing one can do, in most MMOs. Also, I think some people just like the diversity of support roles being a part of the gameplay, even if they prefer to be the one tanking, DPSing, etc. I think this is what people are mostly concerned about - that in GW2, there will be no support roles.
I'm still not sure if that's 100% true or not, though. Just because there aren't ally targetted skills doesn't mean that there aren't AOE or group heals or mitigation abilities that might fill a similar enough function.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
Anet is not exactly developing a role-playing game, instead aiming for action e-sport gameplay with story elements. I think GW2 will be a great game, just not a great "role-playing game".
I think you perhaps don't know enough about the game. Guild Wars 2 will be supporting role-play in more ways than almost any MMORPG in years.
Just a few of the many ways GW2 is supporting role-play -
Walking - included. *giggle*
Personal story - an over-arching story that players control through their choices, actions, and exploits, and can be shared at any point with friends.
Character alignment - the way you interact with NPCs will change the way they act toward you.
Cities alive with mini-games, voice acting, and whole areas (instanced) dedicated to the individual's story, achievmeents, and choices. You'll actually get to see NPCs, buildings, and other things change in your personal instance based on the story you develop throughout the game.
Town clothes of all kinds to wear when not adventuring
Extensive dye system and the ability to customize the appearance of armor and clothing - Tstones, etc
A world alive with dynamic events where things are actually happening - moving and changing all the time.
WvWvW PvP, where players will be able to control territory, keeps, castles...set up supply lines, use siege weapons, and have massive battles for two weeks at a time.
I think the fundamental issue is that some folks can't see any way to keep a character alive other than to constantly dump hit points back into their bar. This stems from a long list of games where combat basically boils down to standing in front of a baddy and letting him bash your hit points away.
Not sure, but I think the fundamental issue is more that some people like playing a support role. Healing tends to be the most supportive thing one can do, in most MMOs. Also, I think some people just like the diversity of support roles being a part of the gameplay, even if they prefer to be the one tanking, DPSing, etc. I think this is what people are mostly concerned about - that in GW2, there will be no support roles.
I'm still not sure if that's 100% true or not, though. Just because there aren't ally targetted skills doesn't mean that there aren't AOE or group heals or mitigation abilities that might fill a similar enough function.
As I said in my above post...there are most definitely classes which can fulfill support roles in multiple ways. That just isn't ALL they can do. It will be up to the player to decide on the play style they enjoy, and they'll be able to tailor their skills to that style. Just as a general example, you could choose to be a support Guardian... you would choose a weapon or weapons which provided you with the support skills you liked, then choose your heal, utility skills, and elite skill based on the support role as well. There will also be many tweaks you can make through traits and attributes to also mold your abilities into being even more support-oriented.
It's obvious that the biggest issue is that people don't understand the class system in GW2, and saying "there's no healers" is really kind of a bad and overly simplistic explanation of a complex system. Just that one soundbite will work for some people...for others it obviously does not. I'd urge you to give the game a try, though... even as someone who ONLY ever wants to play a dedicated healer. I think you'll likely find that the flexibility in the system (and the range of abilities that each class has available) will allow not only for more active and interesting encounters/combat, but also for almost anyone to be able to play in a style they enjoy.
Oh, and you might find that you actually enjoy kicking some ass or directing traffic with your support character once in a while when needed.
You should tell your friend that a water-attuned elementalist will play more like a healer/buffer/controller to assist other teammates. And the Guardian can be specced to do similar things, providing shields and walls and such.
He's a reactive player with bad reaction time. His idea is you need direct heals to live and doesn't understand the concept if living through field control and support. He only sees healers as the only way you can succeed. Which is sad because I am a tank and healer in wow and its just not fun anymore because you get lazy people or the raids force people to be mean or unsocial. I was in a pug raid for BOT and they didn't give a shaman healer a piece of gear and kicked him out because of his 6k heals. Is that was the trinity brings us too? Harsh stadards even after you completed the goal? And I feel bad for those who get treated like that or worse.
Wait till the game is out and let him try it, might change his opinion about stuff.
What comes to raiding, if you're hanging with a bunch of assholes then it does not matter what game you are playing. Some game having bad apples and another not having bad apples is a myth, bullshit, or ignorance. When a lot of people gather there's bound to be trouble, every game will always have a fair share of kids and idiots, just choose a nice and mature guild, that's what I do and there's never no loot distribution problems or anything similar
So my coworker was looking at my phone while I watched some gw2 pvp. He said that looks cool but I don't see a healer. So I told him there are no dedicated healers in this game. So his reply? That's dumb so how am I gonna survive in the game. I told him that you are self reliant and mostly depend on yourself. He said that's stupid why am I gonna play a game where im going to die all the time im not playing that dumb game and proceeded to list several(noobish) reasons why wow is better and told me to play dc universe instead. Discuss.
That's completely his right. In a way, I completely understand his thinking. If everyone has the same basic role, DPS and self healing, what's the point of grouping?
When you are in the heat of battle and have so much to keep track of, and particularly in this game where you can now move away from and dodge attacks, there are going to be some players that don't have coordination/ability or even the desire to have to also keep track of their own health, that's what the dedicated healers role has always been there for.
So my coworker was looking at my phone while I watched some gw2 pvp. He said that looks cool but I don't see a healer. So I told him there are no dedicated healers in this game. So his reply? That's dumb so how am I gonna survive in the game. I told him that you are self reliant and mostly depend on yourself. He said that's stupid why am I gonna play a game where im going to die all the time im not playing that dumb game and proceeded to list several(noobish) reasons why wow is better and told me to play dc universe instead. Discuss.
doesn't dc universe use a similar system? where a lot of classes have the ability to heal?
Well I have always played healers so its a big deal for me t oo but what can you do? Arenanet decided to introduce a FPS like combat system so I guess healing would have been almost impossible with their current cs.
There's nothing "FPS like" in this game as far as I'm aware, it's quite traditional mmorpg combat with added features like active dodge which allows you to avoid being hit and some other stuff (maybe someone else can give a quick and short list of the new or different stuff about combat minus the dodge and no trinity).
Comments
Hey Mask. My advice is this: don't waste your time trying to sway this guy to your way of thinking. If he's just a coworker and not necessarily a 'friend', I'd leave it at that too. His mind is made up. If people can't get "on fire" for this game, then there are tons of other games out there for them. I remember when I first read that there were no dedicated healing classes...I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face! Once this game releases, hopefully, the 'holy trinity' will be in my rear-view mirror forever.
There is some things we do not know, but we do know that the self heal is going to be the most powerful heal anyone has. There is no skills design to target allies in this game, so being a standard healer is out of the question. Instead of relying on a healer people are going to have use things like wards, dodging, and self heals to keep themselves alive. With the AOE heals used to provide small heals in between the rest!
That's a scary thought, but I doubt GW2 will appeal to them in the 1st place.
I consider myself a pretty avid follower of gw2. With that said I can see why your co worker might reactthis way to the idea of not hqving a dedicated healer. Someone who has only played wow or has very limited gaming experience might viewtue wrong way. Having only experienced wow he probably sees this as wow with no healers.
Since this is something not widely done yet in mmos, you may want to be careful when throwing out the phrase "no healer". Not only will gw2 have no dedicated healer but everyone has means of avoiding damage and healing themselves and also others to an extent. Every class also has their own form of cc. I guess explaining dynamic combat isnt so simple.
I believe we'll be seeing alot of gw2 haters into launch and even some after. For some people they will have to play the game to umderstand. This is why it's so pointless and arguing with some people at this point
No they will absolutely try, couse its something new to them, and then make loads of complaits to Anet to nerf the game as he said
What about the "spike"? How effective will be that self heal even with team play and support? Will be possible to escape and recover from spikes?
Go watch the ANet VS Boon Control PVP match you can see people using the self heal in action. You have to remember ANet built this game around proactive combat instead of reactive like a traditional MMO, so every profession has support abilities that factor in the use of that self heal.
I expect a lot of confusion when GW2 hit the shelves, but its only natural
The game is getting significant hype and when it'll be released, game magazines will be filled with "Revolutionary MMO's out!" and MMO haters/newbs will buy it just because of these titles
those people prolly never heard of it (trust me, A LOT of people dont know about GW2) and when they'll play it they'll be like:
Where are the quests?? This is dumb..
Who's the best healer??there aint any?? This is dumb
It has Item shop - Pay2Win - dumb...
etc etc
But the words spreads quickly and if GW2 will trully walk the walk (and right now it looks like it will) we can expect steady player growth after the initial half of a year...
I think I actually spent way more time reading and theorycrafting about MMOs than playing them
Actually it is not THIS black and white. You are right in that we do MOSTLY depend on ourself. BUT does not mean there is no team effort involved either.
Guild Wars 2's 50 minutes game play video:
http://n4g.com/news/592585/guild-wars-2-50-minutes-of-pure-gameplay
Everything We Know about GW2:
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/287180/page/1
This is pretty dumb. When I told my mates (2 of them played GW1) that the game had no healers, they said "Well, that should be interesting) with one of them saying "I trust Arenanet on the matter".
They kept saying for weeks that they still don't understand how stuff will work without a healer, but they don't make bold statements such as "The game is stupid" or "That will never work" before actually seeing it in action.
TL:DR Get a new friends that don't judge stuff at first sight
"I am not a robot. I am a unicorn."
Tell your friend to try it, if he doesn't like he doesn't have to play it.
Somehow the story you told, reminds of all of the people i try to avoid when playing a traditional trinity based game.
This bothers me as well. DPS bores me to tears and back again. I think it's still going to be worth the box price .. just not sure how much Ill play it beyond leveling 1 character up and messing with some professions.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity.
I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already
GW2 classes is much like LoL, HoN and Dota games. Carry(DPS),Tank and Support. Tanks in these games does'nt stand and aggro all the mobs they can, they have alot of armour and hp and use abillities to snare and root and stun.
CC will be huge in this game, with all the area effect things, and walls etc, so there is plenty to do if you want to support rather than fight directly. You cant just sit in one spot and watch green bars all day long, but there are plenty of non dps things to do.
Also, when you die you are not out for the count, not only are there ways for many classes to res themselves (rangers can call their pet while they are down to come res them), but all players are able to res teammates.
So just because there is no dedicated healers doesnt mean you are all on your lonesome. You are more self reliant, but all of the content is designed for groups (dynamic events and pvp) so lone wolf-ism is not rewarded.
At least that's how it looks from 20k miles away.
I think the fundamental issue is that some folks can't see any way to keep a character alive other than to constantly dump hit points back into their bar. This stems from a long list of games where combat basically boils down to standing in front of a baddy and letting him bash your hit points away.
You have to step outside the healing box...and think in terms of the wider concepts...control, avoidance, mitigation, etc.
The idea is, if you can avoid taking damage in the first place, you won't need anyone to refill your bar. If you can help your team mates avoid taking damage or take less damage, they too will need no refills. By using tactics and strategy, movement and positioning, along with your characters abilities, you decrease the need for heals. You'll be able to block attacks with abilities, terrain, or shields. You'll be able to avoid attacks with abilities, by dodging, or by just moving out of the way. You'll be able to decrease the damage you and your teammates take in a number of ways, like abilities that weaken the enemy, etc.
It's going to take some people a long time to break out of the ingrained rules they've learned by playing the exact same MMO combat for 10 years. It's hard for people to even grasp the concept of abilities being ground targeted instead of individually targeted, of characters being able to physically block or dodge projectiles or spells...it's just going to take some people a while. They'll have to try it to see. The fact that you can't target your friends because you don't need to... I'm sure that's going to make some people's heads explode.
Will there be healing spells in the game? Certainly. There will be direct heals, regens, all the things you typically expect. Many of them are more complex, however, and also involve a movement or control aspect (like blocking enemies attacks, reflecting them, or rolling away at the same time). Some classes will without a doubt be able to take on a support role in a group if they choose to, helping their teammates stay alive in MANY more varied ways than just dumping hit points on them. But at the same time, those same classes will always have utility and options...they will be able to switch to a more offensive role if needed in the flow of the combat.
When they say there's no "healer", what they mean is that there is no class who's entire game play consists of standing in the back and clicking on hp bars. If that's your idea of fun MMO combat, GW2 is not your game. ALL classes will have to move, adapt and function cooperatively in order to succeed. I'm sure it will be perfectly possible to pigeon-hole yourself and only do that one thing if you choose, but I'm guessing you're going to have a hard time finding folks to group with more than once.
Well I have always played healers so its a big deal for me t oo but what can you do? Arenanet decided to introduce a FPS like combat system so I guess healing would have been almost impossible with their current cs.
We need a MMORPG Cataclysm asap, finish the dark age of MMORPGS now!
"Everything you're bitching about is wrong. People don't have the time to invest in corpse runs, impossible zones, or long winded quests. Sometimes, they just want to pop on and play."
"Then maybe MMORPGs aren't for you."
I play healers or support classes most of the times. I like the role of a dedicated healer. I can understand that many find healing boring, but then I find DPS classes boring. Each to his/her own. I prefer healing or crowd control.
This is why I am not going to play GW2. No hate here. The game is just not for me. I bet I am not the only one.
Edit: Currently playing GA, a shooter, as a heal medic. So, healing and FPS or TPS are actually compatible. My next game will probably be Firefall, and you can bet I ll play a healing class.
You could be a dedicated healer if you wanted to be. I don't really see what's stopping you.
You probably won't be nearly as effective as some games but people will still appreciate your heals.
Not sure, but I think the fundamental issue is more that some people like playing a support role. Healing tends to be the most supportive thing one can do, in most MMOs. Also, I think some people just like the diversity of support roles being a part of the gameplay, even if they prefer to be the one tanking, DPSing, etc. I think this is what people are mostly concerned about - that in GW2, there will be no support roles.
I'm still not sure if that's 100% true or not, though. Just because there aren't ally targetted skills doesn't mean that there aren't AOE or group heals or mitigation abilities that might fill a similar enough function.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
I think you perhaps don't know enough about the game. Guild Wars 2 will be supporting role-play in more ways than almost any MMORPG in years.
Just a few of the many ways GW2 is supporting role-play -
Walking - included. *giggle*
Personal story - an over-arching story that players control through their choices, actions, and exploits, and can be shared at any point with friends.
Character alignment - the way you interact with NPCs will change the way they act toward you.
Cities alive with mini-games, voice acting, and whole areas (instanced) dedicated to the individual's story, achievmeents, and choices. You'll actually get to see NPCs, buildings, and other things change in your personal instance based on the story you develop throughout the game.
Town clothes of all kinds to wear when not adventuring
Extensive dye system and the ability to customize the appearance of armor and clothing - Tstones, etc
A world alive with dynamic events where things are actually happening - moving and changing all the time.
WvWvW PvP, where players will be able to control territory, keeps, castles...set up supply lines, use siege weapons, and have massive battles for two weeks at a time.
As I said in my above post...there are most definitely classes which can fulfill support roles in multiple ways. That just isn't ALL they can do. It will be up to the player to decide on the play style they enjoy, and they'll be able to tailor their skills to that style. Just as a general example, you could choose to be a support Guardian... you would choose a weapon or weapons which provided you with the support skills you liked, then choose your heal, utility skills, and elite skill based on the support role as well. There will also be many tweaks you can make through traits and attributes to also mold your abilities into being even more support-oriented.
It's obvious that the biggest issue is that people don't understand the class system in GW2, and saying "there's no healers" is really kind of a bad and overly simplistic explanation of a complex system. Just that one soundbite will work for some people...for others it obviously does not. I'd urge you to give the game a try, though... even as someone who ONLY ever wants to play a dedicated healer. I think you'll likely find that the flexibility in the system (and the range of abilities that each class has available) will allow not only for more active and interesting encounters/combat, but also for almost anyone to be able to play in a style they enjoy.
Oh, and you might find that you actually enjoy kicking some ass or directing traffic with your support character once in a while when needed.
Wait till the game is out and let him try it, might change his opinion about stuff.
What comes to raiding, if you're hanging with a bunch of assholes then it does not matter what game you are playing. Some game having bad apples and another not having bad apples is a myth, bullshit, or ignorance. When a lot of people gather there's bound to be trouble, every game will always have a fair share of kids and idiots, just choose a nice and mature guild, that's what I do and there's never no loot distribution problems or anything similar
That's completely his right. In a way, I completely understand his thinking. If everyone has the same basic role, DPS and self healing, what's the point of grouping?
When you are in the heat of battle and have so much to keep track of, and particularly in this game where you can now move away from and dodge attacks, there are going to be some players that don't have coordination/ability or even the desire to have to also keep track of their own health, that's what the dedicated healers role has always been there for.
doesn't dc universe use a similar system? where a lot of classes have the ability to heal?
There's nothing "FPS like" in this game as far as I'm aware, it's quite traditional mmorpg combat with added features like active dodge which allows you to avoid being hit and some other stuff (maybe someone else can give a quick and short list of the new or different stuff about combat minus the dodge and no trinity).