Your thoughts on Astrolgian so far?

Leveling a Astrologian, but their damage is in my opinion very weak, atleast if you compare it to a Scholar or a White Mage. At first I thought that maybe I sucked, but alot of players are sharing with me that they too, feel that their Astrologian does low damage. I am level 41, so I do hope this improves fast, but from what I have read online, people still have issues killing in a good pace at level 55.

I have only played it a few times but I quite enjoyed it. The heals felt somewhat weaker than WHM but that may have been as I was not yet equipped properly with right side gear. I look forward to playing it more. I am focusing on my main story quest, side quests and unlocking HW content for now.

I got complimented on my healing last night playing Astrologian. That hasn't happened since I first run Scholar when I started the game. I'm finding Astrologian a very powerful healer when used right with all the correct actions set in motion. This is what I'm finding anyway. That to heal off the bat it's quite mediocre at healing but once you pop some actions the healing capabilities are scary.

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Originally Posted by Yumi_umi

Its like they expect asts to play at a WAY higher level than whm/ sch.

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I think it is ok to have a technical healer in the game, which means a lot of people will steer away from the class (which makes it more interesting to me :p) - but the ast is just lacking in the "healer" category.

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Originally Posted by Miiu

I feel what most likely happened was that AST was too strong during development and they toned it down too much for release.

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^^ this is what I am thinking too, but people seem to be complaing about drk and mch too. So I am wondering if SE erred too much on the side of caution with the new jobs? Perhaps they thought it better to buff later than to over nerf later? Please let there be some buffs (plural) later for ast :p - solo healing is just so impractical right now.

Edit: Even full party healing is impractical - wait until you are in the situation where the other healer dies and a few dps drop - the strain on ast in this scenario is insane (res healer = little mp). You dont have the tools to bring the party hp back up quickly and efficiently.

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Originally Posted by Miiu

Nocturnal Sect at the moment at least in 4 player content seems like a surefire way to get your party killed. The 5% increased healing potency is nice but pray to god RNG won't bite you in the behind when everyone in the PT is low hp.
I feel what most likely happened was that AST was too strong during development and they toned it down too much for release.

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I only healed up to and including Vault, but maybe because I was a SCH main, I find Nocturnal Sect gives me more breathing space, so I am not in constant fear of next hit killing the person (either tank or dps). I feel like your last statement is true, they might have thought oh wait we cant have their heals as strong as WHMs along with all the shield utility SCH brings.

I think in a way Whms and Schs became so robust that there wasn't much room for a hybrid class. They had to design something that won't overpower these two and make them useless.

The card system is cool and unique. When players make very little mistakes, the cards will really shine. But when you're in a party where people are either learning mechanics or taking hits from avoidable AOEs, the focus shifts from buffing your allies to getting them up and healthy asap. That's where the AST is lacking at the moment.

I have no idea why people struggle with healing as AST at dungeons now.. I'm 56 AST and so far at dungeons i managed to hold my party very well, even at times with big damage on everyone.

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Originally Posted by Superlol

I have no idea why people struggle with healing as AST at dungeons now.. I'm 56 AST and so far at dungeons i managed to hold my party very well, even at times with big damage on everyone.

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I am not struggling, it just feels way less powerful than sch or whm. It's harder to get out of hard situations, where I know if i was on my sch or whm it would be a breeze (even with only the old lvl50 skill kit). I am still giving it benefit of the doubt, hoping I get more used to it, see more actual use in cards, I will decide after I level all the healers to 60.

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Originally Posted by Lilita

I find Nocturnal Sect gives me more breathing space

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I think what is nice about nocturnal sect is the blanket 5% increase in heal potency. This means that most of your heals are on par with some of the whm heals? or am I wrong with this?
benefic = 380 potency +5% = 399.
helios = 290 potency +5% = 304.5
benefic II = 620 potency +5% = 651

So they kind of sort of benefit from sch barriers and, dare I say, whm healing potential. i.e. scholar just has succor (not taking into account their new heals) as aoe heal but as nocturnal sect ast you have aspected helios and regular helios. I think this helps - not to mention the barrier from aspected benefic is an instant cast.

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Originally Posted by Violet_Magenta

I think what is nice about nocturnal sect is the blanket 5% increase in heal potency. This means that most of your heals are on par with some of the whm heals? or am I wrong with this?
benefic = 380 potency +5% = 399.
helios = 290 potency +5% = 304.5
benefic II = 620 potency +5% = 651

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I would honestly use Nocturnal anyway, 5% heals increase is so minor, it wont save most awkward situations and people will die with or without that 5% potency. I do love it because of shields, cause it gives me time to cast a big heal towards tank. When I use the other stance I don't feel like HOTs are helping keeping the bars full, the damage cuts through and they don't really have time to do their thing, unless its a minor damage fight (where I prefer shields yet again, cause i feel safer dpsing).
I doubt they are on par, but I will check today with my co-healer (whm). We already checked that my spells cost less mana.