Astrologian Speculations! How will it fit in?

[KisaiTenshi]

If it truly is a Data Cluster issue in terms of bad players, I feel sorry for all of you.

Reddit, 4chan, Something Awful are all on my (Legacy) server and therefor the Data Center. So maybe it's just tilted towards derpy trolls or something. Also just about everyone I know outside FFXIV who is playing FFXIV somehow managed to create their characters here.

Back on topic: I'll probably give AST a try, but I'm of the opinion that unless SE finds a way to give us more inventory space for the Armory, we're going to have some epic whine about not being able to to share gear between AST/SCH/WHM.

[Wizarus]

Gut feeling tells me Healing over Time focused with situational burst healing and standard Cure spell. Cant really see them risking gimmick stuff on a Healing class, you want Healers to be fairly simplistic.

[TheMunimai]

Gut feeling tells me Healing over Time focused with situational burst healing and standard Cure spell. Cant really see them risking gimmick stuff on a Healing class, you want Healers to be fairly simplistic.

They've confirmed how Astrologians will play - they will stance dance between "big" heals (whm) and damage mitigation (sch) effectively playing both of their roles.

They have said the stances won't be switchable easily...maybe a cast timer like a Scholar's pets? (easily changeable with a swiftcast).

They've also said that Astrologians can "draw" cards and either use them straight away or combine them.

[Wizarus]

They've confirmed how Astrologians will play - they will stance dance between "big" heals (whm) and damage mitigation (sch) effectively playing both of their roles.

They have said the stances won't be switchable easily...maybe a cast timer like a Scholar's pets? (easily changeable with a swiftcast).

They've also said that Astrologians can "draw" cards and either use them straight away or combine them.

Interesting. Going to assume they'll have lowest DPS to compensate? Hate to see Dual Astrologians being optimal.

[Kuwagami]

Interesting. Going to assume they'll have lowest DPS to compensate? Hate to see Dual Astrologians being optimal.

huh ? where would you see that ?

Even if they were to be as efficient as WHM/SCH in their proper stance in healing/shielding respectively, you'd still lose the fairy's healing by going 2 AST. Depending on the stance changing timer, it could go pretty bad for the group...

the most likely situation to happen is each stance being a bit weaker than the counterpart, the difference being made up by the stance change. IE, AST will have a bit less raw healing power than WHM in healing mode, and a bit less shielding power than SCH in shielding mode (or less heal for similar shielding, because the loss of the fairy is a slight nerf in potency by itself)

[LycorisSelunis]

[QUOTE=Kuwagami;2877061]can't play AST if you haven't finished 2.55 main scenario quest. this issue will NOT exist at all. [QUOTE]

How do you figure this? Everything I have seen only says that you must own the expansion and only be level 30 to be any of the new jobs. Completing story is only for accessing the post level 50 content.

If I am wrong though i'd love to know the source @_@ I thought I was as on top of the info I could get as possible.

Interesting. Going to assume they'll have lowest DPS to compensate? Hate to see Dual Astrologians being optimal.

I doubt that would be the case. Without either WHM or SCH you are going to be missing significant buffs, though we don't yet know how the card buffs will work. Those may be able to cover some of the differences but seemingly random, not so sure how that would be reliable for raids. And as many have said, with the power to switch between the two stances it is likely they will not be the BEST at either.

[Kuwagami]

can't play AST if you haven't finished 2.55 main scenario quest. this issue will NOT exist at all.

How do you figure this? Everything I have seen only says that you must own the expansion and only be level 30 to be any of the new jobs. Completing story is only for accessing the post level 50 content.

If I am wrong though i'd love to know the source @_@ I thought I was as on top of the info I could get as possible.

The info about being able to access Ishgard without 2.55 MSQ was a mistranslation, clarified a bit after by SE

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/...d-new-details/

@PlayStation Will we have to finish the main campaign or reach a certain level to access Heavensward's main content?

Editor’s Note: After publishing this story, we received clarification from Square Enix for this question. The updated answer follows, but we’ve left the original answer in the story for transparency’s sake.

Naoki Yoshida: You will have to already own A Realm Reborn, plus complete all of the main story quests up through Patch 2.55. After that, an introductory quest for Heavensward will become available; accepting that quest will then guide you through the gates of Ishgard. All of the job quests related to the new jobs will be in Ishgard as well, so the condition to access those will be the same. If a player had stopped playing around Patch 2.2 or 2.3, it would be best to revisit the A Realm Reborn main story quests to get back into the groove as you head towards Heavensward!

Original Answer: If you already own A Realm Reborn and you get Heavensward, you’ll be able to at least enter Ishgard. The new jobs added in Heavensward are not tied to the main story, so those are accessible as well. In terms of the story, if you want to enjoy the Heavensward story arc, since it’s tied to the upcoming 2.55 patch, it’s a prerequisite to have finished that content. If a player had stopped playing around patch 2.2 or 2.3, I’d recommend choosing one of the new jobs and leveling that up while catching up on the story, then transitioning into Heavensward.

[LycorisSelunis]

Thanks for clearing that up then! :< A bit sad though because if I ever make a character on another server I won't be able to play AST at 30 when leveling....

[Kuwagami]

Thanks for clearing that up then! :< A bit sad though because if I ever make a character on another server I won't be able to play AST at 30 when leveling....

they may ease that with time, but I wouldn't expect this right off the bat ;(

[KisaiTenshi]

The info about being able to access Ishgard without 2.55 MSQ was a mistranslation, clarified a bit after by SE

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/...d-new-details/

It sounds like
"You have to own Heavensward", point blank, as in you can't select those jobs without owning it. However it seems odd that there would be a requirement to complete the storyline first while still having a "level 30" requirement. This is probably incorrect. The level 30 requirement probably relates to having reached level 30 in one or both healer classes (eg the same point you would be told to continue onto a Job.) Eg they are mutually exclusive requirements. Since the quests to get AST would be in the Heavensward added areas, obviously you wouldn't be able to pick these Jobs as starting options. If there is an "unlocking" quest in the storyline to actually get into these areas, then that's probably to play the storyline, not actually enter the area. Think about what actually stops you from going into places in the game currently. If you don't play the storyline, the dungeons aren't added to the Duty Finder.

IMO, what this means if you own the expansion pack, and have (I assume one) of your classes at level 30, then you should be able to just find the NPC that hands it out (similar to how the Job NPC only appears after you hit that level,) since it's unlikely they are main storyline-unlocked. Without completing the main storyline, you probably will have to hike there on foot, or hitch a ride with someone who has.

Just speculating based on how everything else has worked so far.