What do you want to see on Astrologian?

[GideonHighmourn]

Honestly being able to stance between a white mage in essence and scholar does seem a bit OP.

I disagree.

If the individual heals are inherently less potent than SCH or WHM individually, they should be able to switch stances in combat. Giving up potency should result in increased versatility, and would give the class a more interesting game play mechanic and higher potential skill ceiling. IMO, this would be a better option and give more flavor to the class, setting them apart from both SCH and WHM.

If they are unable to change between the two stances, the healing skills should be equal in potency to SCH or WHM individually; otherwise, we will see a large amount of "No AST" in parties at the beginning of 3.0. People did this to both DRG and SMN at the beginning of 2.0 (and still to a certain degree with SMN), so don't doubt that it won't happen. With this implementation, there's essentially no difference between WHM/SCH and AST, and it only sets itself apart with the card mechanic; however, it would make balancing the three healing classes much easier.

The card mechanic really needs to have significant weight if they intend to have AST be less potent healers than WHM or SCH individually. Especially since they won't be DPSing or healing while sorting/shuffling through cards, easily missing 2-3 GCDs in order to draw an appropriate card/buff.

[LycorisSelunis]

About the potency thing. I get the impression ast is designed to push out more heals in a smaller window, though each one may be individually weak they can just dump a sheer volume of them. The instant proc on benefic2, and lightspeed, play into perhaps an ability to 'play catch up' if you have to spend some gcds on cards.

[Nihility]

About the potency thing. I get the impression ast is designed to push out more heals in a smaller window, though each one may be individually weak they can just dump a sheer volume of them. The instant proc on benefic2, and lightspeed, play into perhaps an ability to 'play catch up' if you have to spend some gcds on cards.

unfortunately given the global cooldowns, things like the benefic 2 proc and lightspeed will just be making the heals frontloaded and mobile instead of higher quantity. Which does have it's benefits too of course

I'm actually thinking lightspeed will be more for things that have long cast times but no potency.
Like stoneskin and raise, maybe that aoe stun skill will have no damage component as well

[Arcana]

i like the lock stance in combat <3 more time to think in buff correctly and dps a bit if there is enough time for it.

[GideonHighmourn]

unfortunately given the global cooldowns, things like the benefic 2 proc and lightspeed will just be making the heals frontloaded and mobile instead of higher quantity. Which does have it's benefits too of course

That's kind of my theory, as well.

Most mechanic-based damage doesn't really leave room for spot-healing; you either get hit with the mechanic and die, or you're left with so little health that anything short of a full-heal will result in death if you're hit again. At the onset of new content, at least.

I think we will see a lot of "No AST" parties at the beginning of 3.0 in Bismark/Revana/Alexander due to the reduced potency of their healing spells/stance lock.

Of course, this is all conjecture and theory crafting. AST might be perfectly balanced right out-of-the-box; SE has done a really great job making sure SCH and WHM are balanced and compliment each other well, hopefully they can do the same with AST.

[loreleidiangelo]

The card mechanic really needs to have significant weight if they intend to have AST be less potent healers than WHM or SCH individually. Especially since they won't be DPSing or healing while sorting/shuffling through cards, easily missing 2-3 GCDs in order to draw an appropriate card/buff.

The card mechanic already has several key details revealed about it that show them to be pretty potent, significant buffs. In addition, with Draw on a 30-second CD ASTs will be expected to Draw, and Draw often. SCH and WHM don't get anything close to the amount of buffs, as well as buff uptime, that AST will have. If AST heals were equally as potent, I'd almost guarantee we'd start to see "no WHM" groups in PF instead. :P

I feel like only really bad Astrologians will struggle for "2-3 GCDs" to manage their cards properly.

[Eggnook24]

I'll try AST out, but I'll never give up SCH main.

[GideonHighmourn]

I feel like only really bad Astrologians will struggle for "2-3 GCDs" to manage their cards properly.

It will always take at least 2 GCDs to use a card from what I understand, and 3 if you need to exchange it for another, to empower it, or to save it.

Additionally, I'm curious to see if AST shields stack with SCH; if this is the case, I could see a lot more demand for AST over WHM.

[loreleidiangelo]

It will always take at least 2 GCDs to use a card from what I understand, and 3 if you need to exchange it for another, to empower it, or to save it.

Additionally, I'm curious to see is AST shields stack with SCH; if this is the case, I could see a lot more demand for AST over WHM.

I was of the impression that the actual act of DRAWING was on GCD, but that using a drawn card was oGCD. I guess we'll have to wait for the patch notes to see, but honestly, if Draw/use card/Shuffle/Road/Spread all are on GCD that's really inefficient and I can't imagine it staying that way for long. Imagine being a SCH and needing a GCD to control your fairy...yikes.

[GideonHighmourn]

I was of the impression that the actual act of DRAWING was on GCD, but that using a drawn card was oGCD.

Looking at the footage from Germany, there is no MP cost associated with drawing/Use/Shuffle/Road/Spread (assuming those are the correct icons), so they may be off the GCD; I don't know of any "free" MP cost skills that are on the GCD, so it's just assumption based on previous skills. However, if they work similar to Aetherflow-based abilities that SCH has, they still can't be used at the same time GCD skills are being used. So it might be possible to juggle them between casts, which seems to make more sense, but can't be used at the same time (like faerie heals).

I really like the AST animations; they did a great job on them based on the footage I saw.