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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yumi_umi

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

---

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

^^ 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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lilita

I find Nocturnal Sect gives me more breathing space

---

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.

Quote:

---

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

---

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.

I haven't had much time to play around with it yet, I've only gotten it to 33 but I noticed right away that the heals were a little weak. I'm still going to take it to 60, but after reading this thread, I can't help but feel a little disappointed. I hope they get some buffs soon, because I was SO excited for this class!

I was wondering though...In an intense healing situation, do you still have time to mess around with cards? Would it even be worth it?

Yes I'll still mess around with them if I can afford to, but priority is healing. A dead tank/dps will cost the party more than the benefit your buffs can provide.

Go ahead with leveling. In all honesty it's a fun/pretty class, just that the novelty has wore out a little thin for some of us and we're looking at practicality now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lilita

When I use the other stance I don't feel like HOTs are helping keeping the bars full

---

I agree. Only thing I find right now is that diurnal sect heals (aspected helios + benefic - which stack) give me a little more time to cleric stance and add dots and then cleric stance off. I envision I would not get the same benefit with nocturnal sect - for one thing we do not get the nice crit bonus that sch's get with adlo. edit: diurnal also gives 5% spell speed making it better if wanting to dps I think.

sad thing is even if we could alternate between sects in battle, I still think ast will struggle to bring a parties hp back up when it drops low - the alternating may help (i.e. nocturnal barrier then diurnal regen and swicth back to nocturnal for barrier + 5% increased helios).

I also just find that the ast's skills do not flow nicely togther like that of a sch or whm, it's like ast is inherently missing something.

Quote:

---

I also just find that the ast's skills do not flow nicely togther like that of a sch or whm, it's like ast is inherently missing something.

---

You couldn't describe the feeling I'm having better than this. I still can't decide if it's the job, or it's me missing something. Even with cards..
If we could alternate, it would help a bit I think but then, heals are no more potent. When playing around in Diurnal Sect, I sometimes double check if hot is even applied cause it feels so weak-.-

I can't remember the name of it but the skill that's like SCH's lustrate is such a blessing. It's got me out of so many bad situations already. It's my go to when tanks over pull.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexanderThorolund

I can't remember the name of it but the skill that's like SCH's lustrate is such a blessing. It's got me out of so many bad situations already. It's my go to when tanks over pull.

---

Yeah i know, but then compare it to actual lustrate.... we only get one charge, 40 sec cd... the number of times I said oh damn if this was lustrate, silly tank would be alive.. EDIT: except when it crits! then im happiest little astro in the world^^

1.4k heals at ilvl 125 using Benefic I. [i120 globe]
2.2k using Benefic II. [i120 globe]
2.3k with Faerie + myself. [i115 book]
1.3k with Cure I. [i110 staff]

I feel like a SCH without a faerie since I use to main SCH, that's how bad I feel with heals.
With Draw on CD, I can't have much fun doing anything else but using heal lol.
All my utility on card's when I use what the main thing of AST, on a very high cooldown.
Draw needs to be cut in half in CD.
Cards already held, need not be be held again in shuffle.
I had Spire 3 in a row, after pulling it, shuffling it, then held it...dunno why, I ended up wasting spread, then drew again, got it again.
It's taking the fun out of it when makes AST and AST take forever to use cards.
You're wasting 1 and a half minutes trying to play with cards at times. :/

How about we not compare healers, yea. Why does one play one DPS over the other? Not because Coils demand it, but because they prefer to. AST needs stronger heals... Maybe? At level 56, I'm content with it. I work with what I have and I make it work. So they can't heal through derps, okay... Why not ask for less derps and not for a buff one weekend into the expansion. Throw a pair of perfect Zeta full Dreadwrym WHMs in a Syrcus Tower run and try healing though the fail of an i100 Soldiery Bonus Alliance A during Scylla. No one's going to ask for WHM buffs after wiping when the i80 SCH in Alliance C carried the fight. I'd rather have a fun time healing than an easy one.

Just had to tank moggle hard mode as an Astrologian (one tank afk, the other new and couldn't tank WHM died twice and 3 dps new), old content I know but being able to heal on the move is a huge boon as I have mentioned before speed casting is Astrologians strong point but I didn't quite realise how strong it was. We are a reaction based healer who can absolutely pull out wipe saving skills we can save a tank so near death with just one OGCD skill we can stoneskin while sprinting with lightspeed for gods sake!

Astrologian is an incredibly powerful class in the right hands I am loving every moment of playing it.

Also Aspected Benefic as well as Benefic can proc Benefic II I learned that in Moggle since I normally benefic and then aspected after when I use aspected so I couldn't tell which proc'd the instant cast.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mhikail

Draw needs to be cut in half in CD.
Cards already held, need not be be held again in shuffle.

---

2nd point yes, holding a card should remove it from the deck and shuffle should also remove the chance of getting it.
1st point No, no and no again those kinds of buff on a 15 second cooldown is bordering on both overpowered and ridiculous, 30 seconds is generous enough as it is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kupokage

How about we not compare healers, yea. Why does one play one DPS over the other? Not because Coils demand it, but because they prefer to. AST needs stronger heals... Maybe? At level 56, I'm content with it. I work with what I have and I make it work. So they can't heal through derps, okay... Why not ask for less derps and not for a buff one weekend into the expansion. Throw a pair of perfect Zeta full Dreadwrym WHMs in a Syrcus Tower run and try healing though the fail of an i100 Soldiery Bonus Alliance A during Scylla. No one's going to ask for WHM buffs after wiping when the i80 SCH in Alliance C carried the fight. I'd rather have a fun time healing than an easy one.

---

U'd differ once u get smacked in the face in the vault. Its like the 1st dungeon to make u question if ast will do well in high aoe burst fights.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yumi_umi

U'd differ once u get smacked in the face in the vault. Its like the 1st dungeon to make u question if ast will do well in high aoe burst fights.

---

I haven't gotten to the Vault yet but if its like the T9 plus some of final coil level of burst damage - Aspected Helio before hit - Lightspeed - Go ham on that helios button.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lycinder

1st point No, no and no again those kinds of buff on a 15 second cooldown is bordering on both overpowered and ridiculous, 30 seconds is generous enough as it is.

---

I worded it wrong, as said in an older post, should be cut down to 25 seconds or 20.
Remember, the hook of AST was the cards, but it feels like forever to use them. :/
30 second is generous to you? Lol.
Something feels missing...I don't mind the low heals right now but def a change of pace when you mained other healers, I'm still 52 so I'll see later on.

The only validation to this AST bashing is for me to run it too and fail like others. Almost as if players are saying "I farm Final Coil and can't heal this as an AST. It's not me, it's the class." If I don't fail? Not a thing will change. The struggled will continue to struggle and therefore ask for buffs. SCH had a hard time once healing Aurum Vale, just saying.

Get to 60 and watch these tanks speedrun dungeons, pulling 2-3 packs of mobs. Their health spike like crazy and lightspeed on a 150sec CD Benefic II ain't gonna save your tank. Cool I manage to get a massive 30+sec Ben II and Regen and 15% damage reduction extended with time dilation + compression. He survives nicely with 7 mobs beating on him, but then goes on to pull another 2-3 packs. My most powerful CDs are all on cooldown, no cards that are RRed. Watch helplessly as the tank's health goes lower and lower even though you're doing absolutely everything you can. Of course it's partially the tanks fault but since almost every tank I've come across does it, I have a feeling the Schs and Whm are capable of it and that's why it's so rampant.

Just because you healed successfully in T9 doesn't mean it's smooth sailing here. Btw it's not only here, our JP brethren are pointing out some stuff on the AST too

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...E3%83%AC/page7

Yeah SCh had a hard time healing Aurum Vale because their fairies use to die to the dots...

AST healing is subpar. Lightspeed is a mana drain. Of course you can play what you prefer and you should... but you'll notice quite fast that if SE does not buff AST... you will not get taken in group (unless you play with a casual guild).

give the same potency as WHM to AST heals, take away the +5%power of nocturnal sect and give it +5% crit reduce the CD on the cards action make lightspeed remove the GCD aswell OR make the spell cost 50% less mana AST is viable.

I'm seriously thinking of taking Cure cross skill and heal with it only...

Odd. My gf is leveling AST and had no trouble healing The Vault multiple times. Of course, it helps if other people aren't dumb, but it is perfectly doable (especially if you are used to Savage Coil, admittedly).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Remilia_Nightfall

Odd. My gf is leveling AST and had no trouble healing The Vault multiple times. Of course, it helps if other people aren't dumb, but it is perfectly doable (especially if you are used to Savage Coil, admittedly).

---

I had no trouble aswell. The issue is balance. At this time, AST is clearly below the other two healers. Since you only take one or two healers... guess which one will be taken ? yeah.

Even the japanese players are saying the same.

Speed run with an AST, DRG and SUM and you'll wipe, but a team of WHM, BLM and BRD had a blast. Buff classes? No. Smaller pulls seems more logical. Players once beat T5 at i80 while i130s fail even today with echo. AST makes life harder, I suppose. But not impossible. Some farm groups run with 2 healers while some roll with only one. If one can run with just a single healer, why need a second one at all? It's doable obviously. But harder. One weekend in and it's all "Blerg! I can't heal this as an AST! Fail class. Rabble rabble." Give it a chance, jeebus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shamirah

I had no trouble aswell. The issue is balance. At this time, AST is clearly below the other two healers. Since you only take one or two healers... guess which one will be taken ? yeah.

Even the japanese players are saying the same.

---

I don't see it so clear cut as you paint it to be.

As a main SCH, I feel that at this stage SCH is borderline mandatory. The other two spots are debatable. WHM got some pretty noticeable nerfs, and the only big advantage it has is the MND buff it gives in raids.

I am sure AST is harder to play, but I think it is still viable. It relies a lot on other people not failing, but hey, that should be a given.

The issues I see with Astro, as far as speed runs / end game is concerned is the unreliable use of the buffs being pulled out. It's just not a viable tool to use end game when you need a specific buff right then. Getting the TP card 7 times in a row is BS and infuriating.

Also, Light Speed is garbage - it makes you insta-cast but you still have to wait 2.5 seconds to re-use and the mana drain is significant, the 25% reduction of potency is pointless - if it's insta cast, it should be insta cast including a lower cool down or no cool down on the spells you are spamming it with. They should decrease the length of time it's available and increase the cool-down time on Light Speed so it's not abused. There's too many negatives to use it as a oh crap button.

Personally, Astro should be something similar to COR in FFXI, where you picked a buff and depending on the roll you got, the potency of it was affected (lucky numbers, unlucky numbers, etc) Letting "Fate" lead the cards is so stressful and unecessary. You could use this job in raids, but it's unreliable the way it is now. It needs tweaking, a lot.

We need more control on the cards, buffs. The abilities from Royal Road / Shuffle should still work the same but something called "Fate" or some BS name to do a % of potency instead of juggling cards. It really takes away from healing when you have to look at cards and think what to do with them, if you should save it for later, etc.

At least if we can pick what card to draw and let fate decide the %potency it would still fit with the lore / class and give the player a little more control.

The lower healing potency is complete utter crap, not even sure why that's a thing when SCH and WHM are on par with each other on potency.

I'd rather have them concentrate on the Buffmechanics instead bringin us closer to whm/sch in terms of healing potency. I already exclusively played sch and whm in ARR, I don't need another one of those.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dayala

snip

---

Randomness is the main feature of AST, as well with adaptability with the Sects. We knew that since it was announced, yet everyone was hyped about it.

Also, what you ask of Lightspeed is not instant cast - is off cd infinite instant casts for 15 seconds. Really?

I just wish I could switch sects in combat. And that Shuffle would guaruntee not getting the exact same card you just drew xD. If I had a dime for the number of times I've drawn The Spire back-to-back with shuffle haha..

You still have to wait for the spell's GCD to go before you can use the insta cast again. If I need to spam a spell because something is going sideways, waiting 2.5 seconds for the cool down to go away before using again to "insta-cast" is really unecessary. I may insta cast this cure / helios, but I have to wait the normal GCD in between uses. It's pointless. Presence of Mind is more useful than that. At least it lowers the GCD unlike this.

AST is fun, I like it and I will most likely use it more often than not but it's "randomness" is far too random with buffs and with the lower healing capability makes it an unreliable healer when crap gets tight or goes sideways.

It needs tweaking.

I would be fine with the overall weaker healing output compared to other classes if it was possible to make it up through the use of the cards.

As it stands right now, the risk is just far to high for the reward this class can get.
Odd's of getting the card you want after a number of draws:
1 - 16.67% (0 sec.)
2 - 30.56% (0 sec w/ shuffle)
3 - 42.13% (30 sec. w/ shuffle)
4 - 51.77% (60 sec. w/ shuffle)
5 - 59.81% (90 sec. w/ shuffle)
6 - 66.51% (90 sec. w/ shuffle x2)

2 minutes of preparation in a fight and you still have 1:3 chance of not having the card you want for a specific mechanic. Toss in the desire to have it buffed by royal Road in a desired way and those odds will only go down more. It's just too un-reliable which only stresses more on the class having to rely on it's (somewhat weak) healing output to succeed.

I rather not be the person every 3rd fight going "Sorry guys, I ran out of mana because I drew too many spires".

Yea, honestly if they want to make them special compared to the other two healers then at least buff and revamp some of the cards so that the thing that makes them unique isn't so pale and unnoticeable.

Cards should not have been random.

One thing though, Synastry is very strong in a 8-player setting (primals so far). Pop it on the tank, Helios the raid and watch his health soar.

Ewer pairs very well together with Lightspeed, even more so when it's RRed. Without it, your Lightspeed heals are gonna drain you dry quick.

Celestial Opposition - 150sec CD instant cast with a Holy-sized AOE, stuns for 4 secs with no damage, extends the scholar's buffs for 5secs. If only it extended your allies' buffs too ugh then it'll be a better-tiered CD. One can only hope.

Also, do you guys remember that SE originally intended for a card in the draw to be +10% damage taken? It was a bad card and you'd have to replace it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aphel

snip.

---

1. Using lightspeed to heal does not make sense. You are nerfing you a 25% while you have to wait 2.5sec GCD to cas another heal. If you have to kite or run while healing its ok, but only in that case.

2. SE never wanted a bad card. It was always a mistranslation.

I love this job but i bet we will see some changes in 3.1 patch. I would like to see on next big patch:
- A %healing potency skill
- Spear Card affecting casted abilities too.
- Bole applied on magic damage too
- 2 x AST stacking aspected buffs (that sux atm)

They have to buff us in the next patch (the one in two weeks).