Just started playing the game and decided to roll runekeeper. I know that minstrel is considered main healer but in most games off healing classes end up being able to main heal as well. Is this the case here? Will I be needed/wanted in groups?

A Runekeeper can function as main healer in most group settings.

But for very tough battles a Minstrel is still a better choice (if available).

Since there is a lack of minstrels on most servers, a Runekeeper certainly would be wanted in groups.

Since you're not getting many answers, I'll give you my two cents.  I can only speak from experience for lower levels (20ish), but a Minstrel totally outclasses a RK in the healing department so far.  Sure, you'll do in a pinch, but if there's a choice, I honestly couldn't see any group taking a RK over a Minstrel.

I know in many MMOs healer types are crappy soloers, but this isn't really the case in LotRO.  I have no difficulty soloing with a Minstrel so far.  Good luck with whatever you choose.

I agree with Oz that YES you can heal, but the Minstrel is probably the "stronger" of the two in terms of healing. As a guardian they both do fine, but I seem to spike a little less with the Minnie. Of course it could be the players I have been with....my 2 cents.

Pookie

Thanks for the replies! I think ill play it until at least lvl 20. I like to heal but not ALL the time so maybe this will work out for me. My choices are between runekeeper, loremaster, and hunter.

Sure it can be used as a main healer, however for the hard instances you will most likely want to have a non tank cap to give a hand during the hard parts.

And for raids I think its safe to say that at least one min is needed.

Originally posted by Ozreth

Thanks for the replies! I think ill play it until at least lvl 20. I like to heal but not ALL the time so maybe this will work out for me. My choices are between runekeeper, loremaster, and hunter.

You don't heal all the time as a MInstrel....they are very capable melee-soloers!  Only time you'll be healing all the time are in fellowships and instances besides healing yourself while you solo!  There is even a warrior-skald trait path you can slot that enhances all your melee abilities and makes you deal out some incredible damage.

...and if by some odd chance there is an extra Minstrel around you can always power up War-Speech which enhances your melee even greater; which can unlock up to 4 AoE attacks, a 2nd Cry and increased dmg and just fight in a fellowship instead of healing...

Originally posted by Khrymson

Originally posted by Ozreth

Thanks for the replies! I think ill play it until at least lvl 20. I like to heal but not ALL the time so maybe this will work out for me. My choices are between runekeeper, loremaster, and hunter.

 

You don't heal all the time as a MInstrel....they are very capable melee-soloers!  Only time you'll be healing all the time are in fellowships and instances besides healing yourself while you solo!  There is even a warrior-skald trait path you can slot that enhances all your melee abilities and makes you deal out some incredible damage.

...and if by some odd chance there is an extra Minstrel around you can always power up War-Speech which enhances your melee even greater; which can unlock up to 4 AoE attacks, a 2nd Cry and increased dmg and just fight in a fellowship instead of healing...

Yes indeed, having two minstrels in a fs can really be an unstoppable force, just as an example last night we did several runs of both Skumfil, Forges and Grand Stairs, all done properly and no bugs or exploits.

Make sure you combine your (Improved) Tales of Warding, Battle etc, and have one minstrel hanging back and do the traditional healing, and one going into War Speech mode, taking sight of the champ or guardian's target, and just blast away with Call to Fate, To Orome etc etc; I was doing just that and could quite frankly just stand right in the middle of the mob heap, basically never getting hit at all (champs, guards and hunter taking all the aggro), making sure to do Noble Strike on a regular basis to grant the +20% healing bonus to fellowship.

Playing like this, uou will be an invisible force of tactical damage basically, and this wasn't even in Warrior-Skald mode where I could have done double amount of ballad damage etc but Protector of Song works just fine, no need to change anything around :)

The runekeeper is currently more solo capable than the minstrels. In addition, you can dps quite good, just you can't do good dps and good healing at the same time. the RKs die more often than the minstrels, being able to wear only light armour and getting significantly more aggro in groups. They also have to heal in advance, as most of their heals are HOTs.

They also have sweet skills like protection against poison, wound, desease and immunity against silence. It negates only the first debuff but is still quite good.

But come book7, minstrel will be buffed, so will no longer be so difficult to play, and will hopefully stop being healbots.

Usually minstrels are more wanted in groups, but with this class being so rare, RKs make a nice substitute. To say it this way - RKs are healers on the reserve bench

Just last night me and another RK took a group through the Great Barrows NP.  He and I where 10 at the time and save one ranger at 24 all other members where 19/20.  As it is a tough level 23ish quest it speaks well to the healing ability of RK.  RK can be a mina healer but it is a different type of healer in so far as RKs serve to buf your regen more than toss big morale heals, RKs can also spam off various heals pretty quickly.

yes rk's heal well, for harder stuff you will want a little assistance, ie captain or other.  you really start doing better when you get your bigger 1k heal until then its a bit harder.  minstrels always will heal better tho.

If the people you fellow with use their wound, poison, fear pots, and the group doesn't get overwhelmed with adds, RKs are awesome healers.  It's when the dps is very high *and* spread over many people that you run into trouble.  In all honesty a captain or LM can back you up enough to make just about anything doable with a mini, doable with a runekeeper.  A good mini though can make up for a bad group member while a good RK cannot.  Bottom line:  if you are in a PUG, get some backup healing.  If you are confident in the other's capabilities, RK will rock just fine.  After the patch on tuesday though, I think you will find a lot of groups switch to using a mini to heal and the RK to dps (instead of an extra hunter).

Yup, hunters that don't control their aggro, Champs in Fervour Stance, Guardians that don't know how to hold aggro or don't have good enough gear to minimize incoming dmg are all issues for a Min and RK.  A Minstrel however; can keep everyone alive in those situations which are quite rampant where as an RK wouldn't be able to.

Now if for some miracle the find a Guard that knows how to kepp all aggro and dmg focused only on them, and a champ/hunter that doesn't always over DPS and turn aggro/dmg on them, yes an RK will suffice, but overall a Minstrel is your best bet always and forever for every situation!