Aetherflow has got to change

Unlike many others I am almost completely fine with the scholar changes. However something needs to change with Aetherflow. After running a good bit of content with it as it is there are some big problems with how the skill operates and it is even dangerous as is in respect to how players interact with content. Here are some scenarios I found...feel free to post your own:

* The button is not enabled until the character is in combat, not the party. This is a problem in dungeons either at the start or between encounters when the healer doesn't have any stacks up. If the tank runs ahead and pulls and takes a lot of damage, instead of just having to catch up and cast a lustrate/excog to get him back to full now it is a multi button press situation and because the scholar can only get into combat by casting a dps or healing spell it involves a slower time to first heal. So instead of just lustrate/excog now a scholar needs to do something like Bioalysis/Adlo, Aetherflow, Lustrate/excog.

* With the button not enabled I've found myself doing mental calculus of the best ways to end an encounter with aetherflow charges, including stopping dps to slow down the last kill or two if I have no stacks. Skill design should never be encouraging people to run content slower to keep a skill up.

* Aetherflow used to be an ok way to get a bit more mana in the long runs between encounters in some of the raids. Now if lucid dreaming is down there is really no way to speed up mp regen between encounters.

Aetherflow is only used for Healing abilities now and if the Tank is dying before you get into battle (maybe use Bio?) then something is going wrong. You also don't NEED stacks after a fight ends, and slowing things down is a weird thing to do imo.

And speeding up MP recovery between encounters? What's the difference between using it between an encounter and using it in the encounter? Its not like it takes that long to recover MP anyway.

Sure it still feels weird not using Aetherflow whenever I want but the thing is is that we don't need to use it on CD anymore. Why? Because it can't be used on a DPS skill anymore so "sitting" on stacks, or not having stack wight when you start a pull isn't hurting anyone if you are quick at getting into a fight.

Hm...I still think that it also needs a way to burn off stacks for Damage purposes, or at least some powerful damage buffs. My main reasoning for this is that in any sort of solo/overworld content Aetherflow stacks are a completely useless mechanic. This is very odd since for DPS and Tanking classes they tried to make sure that whether one was in AOE mode or Single Target mode they would still get to interact with the core mechanics of the class (Dark Knight's Gauge, Warrior's Rage, etc). But for Scholars at the moment that's just...not the case for a large amount of content. Whenever we're in FATEs, Solo Duties, or a large amount of other content we have no reason to interact with one of our core mechanics. Aetherflow only being usable in combat is clunky and feels horrible, but there's wider issues with the mechanic as well at the moment.

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Originally Posted by Rivxkobe

Aetherflow is only used for Healing abilities now and if the Tank is dying before you get into battle (maybe use Bio?) then something is going wrong. You also don't NEED stacks after a fight ends, and slowing things down is a weird thing to do imo.

And speeding up MP recovery between encounters? What's the difference between using it between an encounter and using it in the encounter? Its not like it takes that long to recover MP anyway.

Sure it still feels weird not using Aetherflow whenever I want but the thing is is that we don't need to use it on CD anymore. Why? Because it can't be used on a DPS skill anymore so "sitting" on stacks, or not having stack wight when you start a pull isn't hurting anyone if you are quick at getting into a fight.

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Respectfully disagree with most of this post. In dungeons, not being able to use aetherflow out of combat is a major nuisance. I often find myself thinking to myself "well, if I stop using broil now, things will die a bit slower and maybe I can use aetherflow again on this trash pack rather than the next." Also MP is a major concern right now when we're using art of war, which also happens in dungeons a lot. Basically, I pretty much never want to run another dungeon as SCH in the state that it is in right now. Aetherflow being combat only is one of the many major reasons why.

I've started using Recogition-Excog on the initial pull. It helps cover the lack of aetherflow initially, provides the protection from the pull that you would want anyways, and if timed right, gets you into combat to get your aetherflow while still running to where ever the fight may end. Maybe not the best used, but I find it works out well enough for me.

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Originally Posted by Lagomorph

Respectfully disagree with most of this post. In dungeons, not being able to use aetherflow out of combat is a major nuisance. I often find myself thinking to myself "well, if I stop using broil now, things will die a bit slower and maybe I can use aetherflow again on this trash pack rather than the next." Also MP is a major concern right now when we're using art of war, which also happens in dungeons a lot. Basically, I pretty much never want to run another dungeon as SCH in the state that it is in right now. Aetherflow being combat only is one of the many major reasons why.

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I too have had this exact same thought. "10s left on Aetherflow? Mobs almost dead? Time to stop dps."

Just ruin 2 something while the pack is being gathered. There's zero excuse for tanks losing aggro.

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Originally Posted by Kabooa

Just ruin 2 something while the pack is being gathered. There's zero excuse for tanks losing aggro.

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It's still beyond dumb that we have to do this in order to use Aetherflow.

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Originally Posted by Kabooa

Just ruin 2 something while the pack is being gathered. There's zero excuse for tanks losing aggro.

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I don't disagree with you, but this is a 'sweep it under the rug approach' to the problem. I will agree that not being able use aetherflow prior to enemy engagement isn't that big of an issue, but it's the result of another issue with the ability.

A problem I've always had with aetherflow that has been exacerbated by the changes is that most aetherflow skills have CD durations along with consuming stacks. I have always felt that if a skill, ANY skill has its own CD duration, then it needs to operate free of any other resource the job uses. In the case of SCH it's excog, indom, and sacred soil. These abilities either need to removed as aetherflow skills, or have their CDs reduced to reasonably short recast times like with lustrate.

If I had my way, I would remove both excog and sacred soil as aetherflow skills. They would remain as is and just not consume stacks of aetherflow. To replace, I would give SCHs back both bane or shadow flare and energy drain as aetherflow skills. Bane/shadow flare, energy drain, lustrate and indom will all operate off the GCD but share a 2.5s recast timer. With these changes, quickened aetherflow can also make a return.

What I know for certain is some changes need to happen with SCH because it can't keep going like this all the way through 5.0.

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Originally Posted by Nerfworthy

It's still beyond dumb that we have to do this in order to use Aetherflow.

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This. Aetherflow was not broken.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

A problem I've always had with aetherflow that has been exacerbated by the changes is that most aetherflow skills have CD durations along with consuming stacks. I have always felt that if a skill, ANY skill has its own CD duration, then it needs to operate free of any other resource the job uses. In the case of SCH it's excog, indom, and sacred soil. These abilities either need to removed as aetherflow skills, or have their CDs reduced to reasonably short recast times like with lustrate.

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Agreed. An ability should use a Resource or Cooldown. Pick one, not both.

I totally agree it’s ridiculous and makes me not want to play my SCH which was my favorite second class to play after BRD. Please change thanks.

While the combat restriction is annoying its not really an issue for me at this point. I just Biolysis something at the start.

On the other hand, not having an aetherstack dump is pretty discomforting. You either pool the stacks and not generate fairy gauge or waste them when aetherflow comes off cd (or use them liberally and risk not having a charge when you need it).

Even something minor would be fine like converting a stack into a minor MP return and the usual fairy gauge.

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Originally Posted by Deceptus

Agreed. An ability should use a Resource or Cooldown. Pick one, not both.

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With the DPS moves gone, what would SCHs still use stacks for then besides Lustrate?

EDIT: SCH CDs would also have to change for this to be even remotely balanced, IMO. 30-second 400 potency Indom with no stack cost? 30-second 500 potency regen Sacred Soil (the AST version is only 300 potency with triple the CD LMAO). These abilities currently are balanced by the fact that they cost dual resources, and honestly I like it that way. It makes the job more thought-provoking, but to each their own.

If it makes you feel better, most jobs got hit with this out of combat nerf. I know SMN I can't command Garuda to use her abilities until I strike and MCH I can't use barrel stabilizer for heat gauge until I'm in combat.

New SCH is pretty fun. It would be useful to have unused stacks on aetherflow go to the Faerie gauge on reuse. It would be interesting to give a 1% damage up per stack too as a mini cleric for a max of 3% although it could be too strong given its on a 60 second cd. Off topic but giving dissipation a light speed effect may make is useful in an optimization setting outside of just for extra stacks and healing up.

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Originally Posted by Dyvid

If it makes you feel better, most jobs got hit with this out of combat nerf. I know SMN I can't command Garuda to use her abilities until I strike and MCH I can't use barrel stabilizer for heat gauge until I'm in combat.

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This is exactly it. It was Square's clumsy attempt at "fixing" pre-pull buffing and waiting periods. Definitely hit some jobs worse than others though, including SCH.

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Originally Posted by Lersayil

While the combat restriction is annoying its not really an issue for me at this point. I just Biolysis something at the start.

On the other hand, not having an aetherstack dump is pretty discomforting. You either pool the stacks and not generate fairy gauge or waste them when aetherflow comes off cd (or use them liberally and risk not having a charge when you need it).

Even something minor would be fine like converting a stack into a minor MP return and the usual fairy gauge.

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This, i dont care about aetherflow not being used out of combat. Just hit something with bio or ruin 2 during the pull. You dont need instant stacks, you have access to 6 stacks as long as your cool downs are up second you get into combat. I am more concerned about not having a way to burn through them. Give us back energy drain. Thats the only thing i want them to add back to sch. Its still OP at healing and we can at least attack while on the run with ruin 2 unlike whm who can not while dodging aoe's.