Guild Wars 2

On behalf of all healers, would it be possible to implement a new option in the menus where player healthbars can be shown above their heads at all times instead of (or alongside) their names, much like how the enemy healthbars are always visible over their heads?

One of the biggest frustrations for healers in GW2 is that we have a hard time knowing where our heals will be put to best use. In PVE events bigger than 12 people and especially in the middle of raids where people have to spread out, snap decisions/casts need to be made to keep allies from being downed or killed, and it’s hard to do so when at most all you have is a list of squadmates showing their healthbars, but not knowing which player in the mass of names is the one you want to save or which side of the battlefield they are on.

Personally, I’ve lost track of the times I’ve cast Geyser or Healing Rain on a group of players thinking they’re badly hurt, only to have them get minimal benefit from it while others nearby are downed. I’m sure most other healers out there can say the same.

Healers of all kinds and in all areas would be able to greatly improve their skill use as a result of this option being available. WvW, with large groups following a commander and not all of them squadmates. Massive PVE events like the multi-part Dragon’s Stand or fighting one of the dragon champions (Jormag and Tequatl especially). Raids, raids and more raids. Group fights in PVP. Commanders in big events could also make use of this option, being able to see what areas of the fight need extra backup and what areas are doing well, without having to rely on just “how many enemies are left in this area vs that area”.

Please at least consider the idea Anet, you’d be giving a lot of players an extremely useful tool if you implement it.