Newbie: Healing Freeform Guides?

noxa

Hi!

I'd like to start off by noting that I'm new to the game. I've started to play with a couple of friends — all roleplayers. However, I've also got a lot of interested into the PvE aspect of the game, most notably healing. I love healing; supporting is just what I'm born to do. However, with a free form slot and a lack of experience I find myself vastly overwhelmed by all the possibilities.

I was wondering if anyone could point me to a healing guide meant to work with a free form slot — preferably something better than radiant. While I'm mostly interested in helping others, if the build isn't suicidal (has some survivability) that'd also be a bonus!

Currently I'm thinking of starting off with this guide until I can find something better.

Alongside helping me find more healing builds, does anyone have any general tips for a new player? I'd love to hear 'em.

Thanks for your time!
—N

flowcyto

Well I can't really give you a guide, but if you want a more defense-oriented healer that other allies will like having around, here's one possibility:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform
v2.3.1-25

Super Stats
Level 6: Presence (Primary)
Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Witch (Con: 10, Int: 8, Pre: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Shrug It Off (Con: 5, Pre: 5)
Level 9: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
Level 12: Diplomatic (Int: 5, Pre: 5)
Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Lasting Impression (Pre: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Aura of Radiant Protection (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Compassion
Level 8: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Tranced)
Level 11: Arcane Vitality (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Will-o'-the-Wisp (Guide, Cursed)
Level 17: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 20: Conviction (Rank 2, Reverence)
Level 23: Iniquity (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Soul Beam (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Eldritch Shield (Rank 2)
Level 32: Redemption (Salvation)
Level 35: Ascension (Judgment)
Level 38: Rebirth
Adv. Points: 34/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Presence: Repurpose (3/3)
Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (3/3)
Sentinel: Genesis (1/2)
Sentry: Fortified Gear (2/3)
Sentry: Precise (3/3)
Sentry: Sentry Aura (3/3)
Sentry: Fortify (2/2)
Mastery: Presence Mastery (1/1)

Not an early leveling build, but you can get something like Eld Blast early on and re-train into the build proper around lvl 17 or so. AoRP (or Med Nanites) boost you and ur teams survival a good deal, and otherwise you have a pretty solid healing repertoire (ally res, self-res, singe-target/tank heal, AoE heal). Wisp + Soul Beam (or Skarn's for AoE) can be used in downtime to dps a bit, and Illum/Guide from the Wisp woks w/ the Judgement adv on Ascension for a potential group heal. Gears mostly for Pres, w/ some Con and Int.

pantagruel01

The main difficulty with healers in CO is that an optimized healer does next to no damage, so leveling them solo is like watching paint dry. A lot of people do level 40 retcons.

noxa

Thanks, Flow! I'll definitely kick it up w/ this one.

Panta, I'll keep that in mind. The thing is that I'm not a fan of single-player, so I'm always in a group. And, you know, groups love healers — and so do I!

carrionbaggage

What is your character's theme/story/look?

And what sort of content do you want to run with this character? Are you sticking to alerts and instanced missions in small groups, or do you want to eventually engage in large-scale fights like Cosmics?