Classification: Healer - to provide the party with some much needed health, or die trying
by Medeor – Latin;[to heal , to cure, assist, alleviate]; [a physician]
Unlike I implied in a previous editorial, I do, in fact, spend some time choosing names for my characters. I chose my name because I like it to reflect something I want others to know before they even speak to me. I'm sure everyone has taken Latin and knows what “medeor” stands for…oh wait, maybe not. Anyway, it has some meaning to me. I also like very easy-to-spell names: I tend toward names that people can write out quickly so phrases can be typed out fast in the heat of battle like “/shout Medeor, stop fighting and heal me you dork!” Similar terms of endearment are commonplace for my class. From all of this, you can gather that I play a healer in most games, and will veer towards a Cleric in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes when it comes out.
Why a healer?
I have almost always played support classes. I like being able to get into groups easily and I like the inter-dependence required within group dynamics (my therapist says I have issues). Said another way, I like the fact that every class has a role in the group and I tend to like to support those who are up front, bashing away. I would equate this to playing a non-skilled position (i.e. Lineman) in football and making spectacular blocks that allow a running back to score and get the fame and admiration of the crowd. He and I know that he wouldn't have scored without me, but I don't need to be in the spotlight.
What's your sign?
In Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, there are different flavors of healers: the Holy Healer (Cleric), the Dark Side Healer (Blood Mage), The Nature Healer (Shaman), and the Mystery Healer (Disciple). Each of these is a healer with a different side dish. Each healer's main course includes the liberal application of health.
When the game comes out (or I get into the Beta) the first character class that I will try is the classical healer, the Cleric. I have played several cleric-type characters (I say Cleric-type instead of Clerical because of too many bad images of Clerical
persons in real life). I'll begin my first character as the classic version, because I will at least understand my role from the start, if not the way to use the best spells and chains. I'll learn those as we go. The Cleric as described by Sigil will be the battle-healer in my mind. I enjoy wearing heavy armor so I can take a beating while laying down the heals. This is important because some games do not allow spell casters to wear heavy armor, so the healers are also delicate, like a porcelain vase.
This is really a side note, but I usually play a dwarven cleric due to my fascination with the Dwarves behind King Bruener Battlehammer in R.A. Salvatore’s Drizzt books. I always imagine myself shining in mithril armor, standing behind the Battleragers as they fly into a throng of bad guys. It brings a bit of a tear to the eye actually. Excuse me for a moment while I collect myself, wait a second, that's not Dwarf-like. What I meant to say is, “It brings a bit of fire to the belly and makes me want to drink a hearty stout!”
Stop or I'll hit you with this pillow!
The flip side to being able to withstand damage while healing is that the damage production of a Cleric is only slightly more noticeable than running by the mobs and yelling “Boo!” While amusing, it can be difficult to level a non-dps class character such as a healer. Herein lies the secret to leveling a healer, repeat after me: in your general chat window type the following “Cleric LFG [looking for group].” 
This simple line will get you into almost any group doing almost anything at almost anytime. I leveled up in EQ2 very quickly using that simple line when I was on a server with no friends. Of course, I made friends quickly by keeping the cool ones alive. I should mention that sometimes I use the tactic of strategic healing. If you are appreciative and help me, then I will help you by keeping you alive. If you are a jackass, well you may find yourself waiting for a rez after the fight.
What makes this class special?
There is almost nothing better for me in a game than the following scenario:
[Setting] Huge Boss Fight
Major battle ensues, people hammered to the edge of death and then a split-second heal brings them back into the line of fire, with some confidence, and the boss drops like Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride.
Everyone takes a deep breath and begins looting the corpses for the special stuff, when the main tank utters “Thanks for the heals.” The Healer (me) types back “You're welcome,” and we're off to the next battle.
That simple phrase says “hey man, we couldn't do this without you.” While I like to think of myself as the key to the secret sauce, every class has its place. The 
main tank has to keep the big, bad guy occupied, and the ranged DPSers need to lay on the hurt. It takes all of us to bring down the boss and everyone has to do their job. Usually after someone says “Thanks for the heals” I make sure to thank those that kept the bad guys from ripping me limb-from-limb. I always think of the Isotoner glove commercial where Joe Namath said, “Remember to take care of those that take care of you.” If you're too young to remember that commercial, then Google the following phrase “Medeor is an old fart.” It is critical to be nice to those whot kept you alive!
Love us or hate us, you have to play with us! If you are one of my fellow Cleric-types, do you play the typical healer or are you more of a side-dish healer? What are your thoughts on the Disciple?
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