Greedy Astro = Best Astro

With all the threads about the fixed needed for astro I decided to give my idea on how to compete with astro as it is now.

We all no SE wanted Astro to be "support" and buff your party members. I think this is wrong as its current state. Lets do a run down on the cards and how they will buff you (as the astro)

{Bole}>[Tank] so you can save mp since they take less dmg
{Arrow} > [Self] increases our spell speed letting us cast faster and make up for less potency vs whm
{Spear} > [Self] Lowers our recast on our mp regen spells aswell as our free heal.
{Ewer} > [Self] MP regen

The only 2 spells that should be used on others is Balance and Spire and only if someone is in dire need of TP. Balance helps for a short while but it seems it helps little with overall dps on boss fights.

So reroll get yourself some buffs maximize astros abilitys use them cards on you!

What kind of content are you playing that you exclusively buff yourself? I confidently hand out buffs to other party members without fear of running dry, Luminiferous Aether with Celestial Opposition provides plenty of MP, and Lightspeed eases the costs of AoE healing. When I Bole, I use that opportunity to DPS if possible. Arrow is a great buff for melees that already have speed buffs going, though toss them a Spire later if you have the chance, or BLM to churn their spells out faster. Spear is really strong on DRG, Expanded Spear is great for DPS burn phases when everyone is popping CD's. Ewer's alright if you're in a pinch, but I'd rather Shuffle it or RR it if I've got Balance, Spear, or Arrow on Spread.

have you done savage? everybit to buff us is needed to compete. Im not sure you understood the OP. this is for everyone who is complaining about astro being bad compaired to other healers.

That was my question. I haven't done Savage, and it's the only content I could think of where you'd need to go to these kinds of extremes, but you didn't really specify that. I see no problem hoarding buffs if you're going to wipe without them, it's just unfortunate to not be able to provide support.

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Originally Posted by Seryl199

That was my question. I haven't done Savage, and it's the only content I could think of where you'd need to go to these kinds of extremes, but you didn't really specify that. I see no problem hoarding buffs if you're going to wipe without them, it's just unfortunate to not be able to provide support.

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I guess thats the point, to maximize astro you need to be greedy and not be the support they wanted us to be. sure you can share buffs and everything but it just makes us less of a healer than sch/whm whos buffs are built into there healing kit

This seems interesting. It also gives me an idea. What if our cards not only buffed our target, but also ourselves (sort of like how synastry works)

Other than that...

Spire goes directly to royal road for me.

Helps me, and the group as a whole when i can spread the next buff to everybody.

Balance goes to the spread, incase i get a spire next time (or if i get an ewer i don't need).

Edit: What are the opinions on saving Celestial Opposition for yourself as well, for when you need more MP from luminiferous aether/ewer

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Originally Posted by Averax

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Edit: What are the opinions on saving Celestial Opposition for yourself as well, for when you need more MP from luminiferous aether/ewer

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if i need MP and get a ewer I will always use CO on myself :D

I don't plan on doing any hardcore content like Alex Savage on my AST... but what the OP talks about is kind of the direction I've been shifting towards.

There have been a few times where a DPS (mostly often BRDs) will kindly request that I give them Spears or Arrows when I can, so I happily take on their request (I'm probably sympathetic because my main is BRD). And of course, Spire if someone desperately needs/asks for it. (Can't wait until SE implements that TP bar option!) I also typically try to not give Spear to tanks unless they specifically ask for it, because a tank in my FC told me to never give it to him. I think it screws up his rotation or something. Probably a muscle memory/reflex thing for him.

But aside from those special cases? Bole for tanks, Balance for DPS, everything else for myself -- as needed, that is. For most things, if you're smart about exactly when to use LA and keep an Ewer saved, you should be fine.