[AST]: A Healthier Card System

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Originally Posted by TankHunter678

change sleeve draw to toss a card on every party member.

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Wait, this sounds really fun... that feels like it would have been so much more iconically "AST raid tool" than Divination, which is now just a mindless button you slap as soon as it lights up.

It may achieve the same end effect of just buffing damage, but it would feel so much cooler to use. There's something to be appreciated about the psychology of Job actions, above and beyond their raw numeric balance, and getting to "break the rules" every 2 or 3 minutes and throw out 8 cards simultaneously is just fantastic visual spectacle and fantasy satisfaction.

It also still fits the idea / theme of "Sleeve Draw".

I really want this now...

Honestly I'm fine with the card system as it is. I like the fast pace of analyzing my team and quickly deciding which buff would be best on who, and the self buffs are a nice little bit of flair that makes cards satisfying to use.

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Originally Posted by KikiTia

Honestly I'm fine with the card system as it is. I like the fast pace of analyzing my team and quickly deciding which buff would be best on who, and the self buffs are a nice little bit of flair that makes cards satisfying to use.

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I imagine you'd probably be content with any card system then if you find this iteration to have any satisfying amount of decision-making and payoff.

This thread gives me hope that AST can actually have an engaging Card System again.The only thing that stands out to me, in a good way mind you, is that entire concept could actually be three buttons. You only need Draw, Play, and Divination to accommodate Solar Draw, Lunar Draw, Celestial Draw, Redraw, Minor Arcana, Play, Divination, and Sleeve Draw (I fell in love with the flavor mentioned previously)

Divination- Analyze the heavens to determine the nature of the next card drawn. This action cycles the Draw Action between Solar, Lunar, and Celestial. This ability ideally operates on a separate GCD. (Basically the card type for Draw can be chosen while casting another action like Malefic much like fairy actions where independent for Scholar on their own GCD in Heavensward)
When three seals are obtained this action becomes Sleeve Draw granting a raid buff as your proposed Divination but flavored as mentioned before as applying a card to every party member.

Draw- Functions as Solar, Lunar, or Celestial Draw after using Divination to cycle to the desired type. Once a card is drawn it becomes Redraw like proposed.

Play- Functions exactly as proposed holding the drawn or redrawn card and then Minor Arcana once the card is used.

This let's your system exist on three buttons with seals being meaningful. Divination and Sleeve Draw have uses that make more sense for the naming convention this way as well.

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Originally Posted by ty_taurus

I imagine you'd probably be content with any card system then if you find this iteration to have any satisfying amount of decision-making and payoff.

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It's just my opinion, I hated cards in SHB fyi. And I do miss the pre SHB cards, I thought the old RNG system with a variety of effects was really cool and unique and I still wish they'd bring it back.

Updated the original post with my more recent take on AST

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Originally Posted by ty_taurus

Updated the original post with my more recent take on AST

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My immediate no is to the cards on GCD. Part of why I like AST as it is is the weaving and the oGCD cards.

I don't think it would turn me away from the class entirely especially with the new cards but it would diminish what little I like about AST as is.

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Originally Posted by ASkellington

My immediate no is to the cards on GCD. Part of why I like AST as it is is the weaving and the oGCD cards.

I don't think it would turn me away from the class entirely especially with the new cards but it would diminish what little I like about AST as is.

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This is just the cards alone. I imagine AST would still have a fair amount of weaving, but the shear volume of burst window weaving is a hot point against AST right now that's turning many players away from it. That said, it can still have plenty of weaving outside of buff windows.

The burst window weaving is apparently being addressed in the next patch anyway so i wouldn't get too attached to it. Not sure how they plan to adress it though as it probably would require a complete overhaul of the system and not just number tweaks like WHM's lily system.

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Originally Posted by ty_taurus

The Spire, when activated grants a 5% critical damage increase for 15 seconds.

The Spear, when activated increases max HP by 10% for 15 seconds and heals for that amount.

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You have the effects of these two cards out of alignment with their themes within the lore of AST. Spire originally restored TP because it invigorated the body, so if you are going to throw on a card effect to increase max HP it would go onto Spire due to Spire's theme. Meanwhile Spear thematically is about being guided to victory as the Spear as a constellation is wielded by Halone. This is why the Spear increased Crit rate, because your strikes would be guided to the enemies weak points allowing you to land critical blows.