What AST cards are you guys using on what roles in your party?

I'm really enjoying this job but I don't want to be a derp about it. I'd like to establish good habits early instead of getting to 50 and going "...d'oh. why wasn't I doing that?"
Thus, I'd like opinions on what you more experienced ASTs think should be used when/on who.

I've been using (I'm 39):

Bole (damage reduction) = Tank. Duh?
Balance (dps increase) = DPS, but maybe tank at beginning of pull to help establish hate if they're having issues.
Arrow (attack speed increase) = Been using it on dps but I had a tank demanding it in Qarn so now I'm confused.
Spear (recast reduction) = I feel like this one is more useful to RR than to use...But I guess it could be useful on tank if early in pull, before they blow their cooldowns?
Spire (TP cost reduction) = DPS or tank. Usually dps.
Ewer (MP cost reduction) = BLM, WHM, me, or Royal Road if I or the WHM is fine and there's no BLM. I don't see it being useful on SMN/SCH because of Aetherflow.

Bole: Tank. Or save it for later with spread if a boss is coming up. But I'd rather spread Balance/Arrow,
Balance: DPS. I sometimes use it on the tank. Or I save it with Spread.
Arrow: DPS. Or I save it for later with Spread.
Spear: Royal Road. The "Expanded Royal Road" buff in a party is great. I use it on myself when I'm soloing because the RR is useless. Spear is the "worst" card.
Spire: Tank or DPS, depending on who needs it. During trash I RR it.
Ewer: Myself if there is no BLM or SMN. When I start doing 8-man stuff I'll see how the other healer manages their MP and decide by that, if there is no BLM or SMN. BLM + Ewer is great. Otherwise I RR it.

This is just a generalization though, since it really depends on what RR buff I have currently, if I already have one saved and what the situation calls for. I'm almost level 45 and Shuffle will be great when I get a card I don't want/need.

Bole: Tank, easily.
Balance: Tank at the beginning. Most geared DPS after that though that depends on the situation. BLM or WAR getting first priority for big pulls.
Arrow: A DPS. Casters preferred.
Spear: Yep I usually Royal Road that too. It's too situational. it can be good on the tank if you get it before a major pull though.
Spire: Depends on what classes I'm working with. WAR gets first priority unless someone died and just got rezzed. WAR > PLD > everyone else
Ewer: Depends on the situation. Myself normally. Rezzed people, unless it's a BLM, gets a higher priority of course. If it's a situation where i know I can manage my MP then WHM gets the next priority. If the same applies to them then BLM/SMN. With big pulls the BLM gets more priority.

Agree with other the OP so far. I am told machinist is crazy hard on tp so I'd suggest using spire on them.

U mm your dps should be getting the non damage down debuffs. Why would a take need atk speed, or atk+? They need to learn to tank if they are having issues. As a Blm I love the mp cost down as it gives an additional fire in my rotation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Urielparadox

U mm your dps should be getting the non damage down debuffs. Why would a take need atk speed, or atk+? They need to learn to tank if they are having issues. As a Blm I love the mp cost down as it gives an additional fire in my rotation.

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I have to agree, the tank does not need balance at all that's strictly a dps card. Ewer is also good for DK tanks and any job that burns thru mp. The thing about astro is every card is useful people saying x card sucks and so on well yea. The thing is some cards may not be useful at that particular time. It's a game with in a game. I like to pull cards right after a fight RR it to see what buff I get, if it's spread then I fish for the card that the situation calls for.

This is what I've been doing, but I'm definitely still learning! :]

Bole = Tank or if hate is lost, I'll use it on the person the mobs go to.
Balance = DPS
Arrow = Usually DPS, sometimes tank when they're establishing hate.
Spear = Usually Royal Road..I like that aoe lol, but sometimes on someone before a boss fight starts. Also sometimes use it on myself to lower mp refresh cooldown sometimes.
Spire = DPS, sometimes tank. I'd say very good for WARs and aoeing melee/physical ranged dps.
Ewer = Myself, DRK tank, or mage dps. The dark knight tanks usually get it from me on trash pulls..it seems their mp goes down quick, but if I'm getting low I'll use it on myself and if neither of us need it, then I'll throw it to the mage. I haven't done any huge pulls yet, but I can see how this would help the BLM for that.

Can someone clarify something for me? When I use The Arrow, the buff that shows up on people basically says all their recast times are reduced. So wouldn't that make it the same thing as the Spear?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alindra

Can someone clarify something for me? When I use The Arrow, the buff that shows up on people basically says all their recast times are reduced. So wouldn't that make it the same thing as the Spear?

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Spear lowers your cooldown timers, but only if you have Spear on you when you use them. Arrow is like a haste for your attacks and such.

Bole (damage reduction) = Tank
Balance (dps increase) = DPS in order of Mnk>Nin>Mch>Brd ( I haven't been grouped up with a Smn or Blm yet)
Arrow (attack speed increase) = Dps or myself when I need a little haste in casting.
Spear (recast reduction) = Tank (I use voip with my tank so I let him know when I have spear up) or RR when he doesn't need it
Spire (TP cost reduction) = DPS or RR if I get it early
Ewer (MP cost reduction) = Myself or my Drk tank to help slow down his MP draining stance