Thread: Astrologian 5.0 Discussion

Hey everyone. Since the embargo just lifted, i would like to start discussing the rework of the Astrologian Job since it was one of the jobs that got the biggest changes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=yAS-pGutt4o

So, about the card changes, i must say (and while i understand that the cards had to get a nerf) i found them utterly disheartening. All cards now having the exact same effect of a flat damage boost is the worst solution they could have done, really. Whats the actual point of cards at all, when its all the same anyway? They could just have removed the card mechanic entirely and give ast a single target party member (as in similiar to drg tether) buff and it would be the same result. I think if they want to keep the card system going, its absolutely mandatory for different cards and/or effects at least. Royal road/Celestial Opposition/Time dilation/lord/queen effect is gone too so cant even do anything with those effects anymore. Not to mention that the whole card system is now absolute obsolete in all solo content, since the cards only giving yourself a 3% buff for 15s, that is barely half of what cleric stance is doing and that was already a huge disappointment.

While i do like all other new skills AST get, these changes to the card system are very disheartening for the whole flow of the job. I cant really believe how they think this new system is anywhere near fun to play. In my opinion, a simple solution would have been for example removing spread/redraw and make all cards single target (to get some nerfs done) and then give ast two decks of cards. One deck containing arrow/spear/balance with the effects we know and another deck containing supportive cards like bole/ewer/spire. Both decks would get their own cooldowns while still having options to enhance the effects by duration and strength. This would end up in no balance fishing (Since two different decks and no redraw), would give ast the needed nerfs to an degree while still being fun to play and keeping the job flow going. This is just a quick thought about the job ive put together in the last couple of minutes and i much more like it than the what it seems new system we got.

I... just don’t get it.

Cards are now pointless.
In addition, they gave WHM a rework to Lilies and Plenary Indulgence, meanwhile they adjusted AST with this ‘Horoscope’ thing which... is exactly the same as the new Plenary Indulgence… So AST is just a WHM with cards, again.

It seems like their attempt to rebalance healers involves a lot of homogenisation.
They basically boil down to pDPS and rDPS like all the DPS jobs now, AST gets flat damage buffs, WHM gets more personal DPS.

I'm super disappointed, I honestly didn't expect any big changes to AST since the job seems perfect as is. They pretty much just ruined it and completely dumbed it down. I hadn't been playing for the past few months as I moved and haven't been as into it, so was waiting for the new expansion to get back into it but now I'm honestly so unmotivated to play that I can't really see myself subscribing for much longer. I preordered so I'll give it a try to see but the changes to the cards is just ridiculous especially as it feels like if they were creating this job today they'd never do it this way. Instead they had 6 cards they needed to change so they just basically made them all the same. What a disappointing day!

Originally Posted by 416to305

I'm super disappointed, I honestly didn't expect any big changes to AST since the job seems perfect as is. They pretty much just ruined it and completely dumbed it down. I hadn't been playing for the past few months as I moved and haven't been as into it, so was waiting for the new expansion to get back into it but now I'm honestly so unmotivated to play that I can't really see myself subscribing for much longer. I preordered so I'll give it a try to see but the changes to the cards is just ridiculous especially as it feels like if they were creating this job today they'd never do it this way. Instead they had 6 cards they needed to change so they just basically made them all the same. What a disappointing day!

Cards are now fodder to throw out until you get to Minor Arcana it into a 8/4% AoE buff.

Originally Posted by Seraphor

Cards are now fodder to throw out until you get to Minor Arcana it into a 8/4% AoE buff.

Isn't it 6/3%? Either way my issue with that AoE buff as well is that there's no real strategy to going for it as it seems like you might as well just use any card and throw out the lower buff worst case, higher buff best case, vs trying to chase the higher buff.

AST is super brain dead now. There was a nuance to reading the cards and weaving abilities into the battle. Now every card and move is just attack up attack up attack up...the only thing to even kind of keep an eye out for is the mini seal game for what, an extra 3%? Lame...they seemed to just cave to everyone only wanting balance and nothing else. Bole was good for tank busters and ewer for our abysmal mp or after you raise etc... now we're just balance healers. Other moves are cool though, i'll still play but now can be a netflix mage.

Originally Posted by Seraphor

I... just don’t get it.

Cards are now pointless.
In addition, they gave WHM a rework to Lilies and Plenary Indulgence, meanwhile they adjusted AST with this ‘Horoscope’ thing which... is exactly the same as the new Plenary Indulgence… So AST is just a WHM with cards, again.

It seems like their attempt to rebalance healers involves a lot of homogenisation.
They basically boil down to pDPS and rDPS like all the DPS jobs now, AST gets flat damage buffs, WHM gets more personal DPS.

Because they wrecked Scholar, I had thought about playing an AST--but judging by the changes they hit you guys as well I've just determined that every healer will be a very boring, lame job to play in 5.0 and I'll just avoid the role entirely. What a waste; this will be the worst patch / expansion in a long while for healers...perhaps in any MMO ever.

Originally Posted by 416to305

Isn't it 6/3%? Either way my issue with that AoE buff as well is that there's no real strategy to going for it as it seems like you might as well just use any card and throw out the lower buff worst case, higher buff best case, vs trying to chase the higher buff.

I was mixing it up with Minor Arcana, but you mean Divination.

Just found the actual tooltips:



So basically, you can either Minor Arcana a card into an 8% single target buff, or you can use it as it is for 6%, gain a seal, then after three cards get an AoE 6/3% buff.

And as it relies on party composition, you'll want one ranged DPS and one melee DPS, otherwise half your cards will be 50% effective.

It feels like all healers are essentially the same except our “identity” is preserved by our aesthetics nothing else.

We all do the same except we draw cards that are pretty pointless while the other guy has a fairy. It’s pretty sad