Chemist or Priest?

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

It depends on how you play the game. I find it utterly pointless to keep changing jobs whenever I master one job. I map out what I want my characters to do, and take the necessary steps so that they become what I want. For example, take what I did with Ramza:

I wanted a fighter who could equip Two-Swords, so Ninja. I didn't want any other Ninja skills, so I only learned the Two-Swords ability before abandoning the job.

I decided that I wanted Ramza to specialize in his class, i.e. Squire. Therefore I mastered squire (even though that was probably unnecessary, just so long as I had Gain JP up, Move +1, and all the abilities). I also wanted Ramza to have good firepower, so I chose to master Oracle, Time Mage, Wizard and Priest, then Calculator.

Finally, I spent some time with the Bard class for Move+3, and I aquired Auto-Potion with the Chemist class. It took a long time to build up because of all the Calculator preparation, but it was worth it in the end.

[Mr. Rothgar]

i use chemists cuz i equip every character with teleport, blade grasp and a feather mantle so i very rarely get touched and if i do--im dead and i just use a PD to bring back--i dont need a lot of life cuz i gamble with the low life goin on the offensive--personally i think its a lot mroe useful to do this--choosing good primary classes that have the attacks u want--and always equipping items so u can have five people killing who can pick up the wounded--than it is to waste a spot on ur team wtih a priest who is usualy completely uselesss unless their healign someone--ofcourse u can always give them offensive spells but a priest magic isnt that high

[Flying Mullet]

I've never had much of a need for either. I usually equip all of my characters with Auto-Potion for their Reaction Skill and I never think much about healing.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Auto-Potion reaction skill is pretty helpful, especially if you only have (and use) X-Potions. However, stronger monsters can give you trouble if they're doing too much damage for you to heal.

[UltimaLimit]

Forget Priests, they're unrelaible and have gotten some of my best people turned to crystal. Chemists are much better, though weak attackers. But your best bet is to get a Monk and use Chakra. Or equip everybody with Earth Clothes and use Earth Slash.

[Edgar]

Chesmist with Priest sub would be better because they can use guns. In terms of healing and fighting undead, Chemists are infinitely more useful and reliable due to the charge time.

And gun! remember the guns!

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Monks are unreliable in that Chakra and Revive MUST be executed on the same height level as their target, and Revive doesn't always work. Chemists are good if your priest doesn't have high enough Faith to have near or at 100% with Raise, but if their faith is high enough, Priests all the way. The charge time for the more basic spells really isn't that much, and if they're Hasted it won't be very detrimental, if at all.

And guns are all right, but certainly not necessary.

[Raistlin]

If you have guns, it all comes down to faith. If you have a mage with really good faith, priest might be the best option.

However, with guns, a Chemist might be the way to go. Then you could have another secondary skill that could drain your MP(time magic, anyone?), since it won't be used up in your primary skill. Also, guns rule.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Guns are only good if you have the stronger ones though. In the beginning of the game you don't even have access to the Ramada Gun, so if you have a high Faith character Priest would probably be the better choice.

[Edgar]

Then again, I don't have Priests and Chemists in my party, not even a Black Mage or Calculator.

My healer is a Monk with Items and high Movement.

[Mr. Rothgar]

phenix downs are pretty badass against undead enemies

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

But you don't fight enough undead to justify their use. Plus healing spells work just as well.

[Raistlin]

Still, a chemist with a bad-ass gun and Time Magic secondary skill is pretty bad-ass.

Of course, that's dependent on the assumption that you have a bad-ass gun. Or you could use Mustadio with Item secondary skill and Item Throw(or whatever it's called).

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Why waste slots on Items, though, when you can just as easily have Math Skills. It doesn't take up an extra slot for the Item Throw ability.

[Jolts]

Yeah, but Math Skill can sometimes force you to choose to either heal the enemy, or sacrifice a unit.