Quote Originally Posted by NorthernLadMSP View Post
While I want to keep a hopeful, open mind about AST (because I'm really excited for it), I keep reading about how their DPS is lower than WHM/SCH, that their healing mode is weaker than WHM and their shield mode is weaker than SCH. Makes me wonder if AST is going to be unwanted right from the get go. I mean if they're weaker in all three aspects (DPS, healing and shielding) their card buffs sure probably won't make up for those shortcomings.

I hope I'm wrong.
The things keeping me hopeful is.
An astrologian will have to be strong enough to do 4 man content or it won't even be viable as a healer at all so their healing must be at least that capable
and If their non-healing aspect, cards and other utility, is desirable in a group....

playing an astrologian exactly the opposite of what SE intends might actually be rather powerful in a full party.

If you use nocturnal sect while with a scholar you'll be applying the nocturnal shields and galvanize together. That should be a pretty considerable amount of mitigation
and if your playing diurnal sect with a white mage the diurnal regen coupled with the white mage regens should be a whole ton of regeneration. I mean I'm sure everyone has seen how strong a doubled up medica II works out to be

There is also the 2 spells that were mentioned that seem like they may be the astrologian's trump cards.
I saw nothing about a buff spreading skill for astrologian but they do have a buff extending skill and it was not said if it only applies to cards or everything. Imagine how powerful a skill that let's you extend every buff on a select person for 10s would be? But considering how strong that would be it likely is only for cards

and this 'stasis field' thing they get at 60. That sounds like the sort of thing that can let your entire group straight up skip a mechanic if they choose to, seems like it might be something very special