Your thoughts on Astrolgian so far?

[KisaiTenshi]

The AST's Luminiferous Aether appears to be exactly the same as Shroud of Saints, but it's available in all dungeons since it's level 8. At potency 60 it recovers at the same base MP rate that WHM's SoS does at 60 ~ 25% over 5 ticks.

It gets an enhanced LA at level 48, which makes it potency 80, which at this point will do the same 33% of base MP over 5 ticks.

Base MP changes per level (based on PIE) without taking into account any gear, race bonus or buffs.

[vRoad]

Get to level 57/58, go heal The Vault last boss and open your eyes people. Your lightspeed 'fast heals' which is on a 150sec cooldown ain't gonna cut it.

The party takes so much AOE damage (during last phase every 3-5 secs he AOES on top of smashing the tank) that what you need is raw healing/mitigation. At that point your priority is to keep everyone alive, not to have your fancy cards reduce TP cost.

This was actually one of the first times Ive felt weak as a healer playing AST.

[Seryl199]

The AST's Luminiferous Aether appears to be exactly the same as Shroud of Saints, but it's available in all dungeons since it's level 8. At potency 60 it recovers at the same base MP rate that WHM's SoS does at 60 ~ 25% over 5 ticks.

It gets an enhanced LA at level 48, which makes it potency 80, which at this point will do the same 33% of base MP over 5 ticks.

Base MP changes per level (based on PIE) without taking into account any gear, race bonus or buffs.

LA does not dump aggro, it reduces aggro for actions taken while the buff is up.

I find AST to be sufficient for standard content so far, but my thoughts are tempered by the concerns voiced here. High level AST healing seems like it will require precise, finessed healing, and will probably have difficulty helping the party recover from serious mistakes.

[Aphel]

Despite being a little disappointed with AST at the moment, there are some moments in which they shine. Take this one for example:

Tank gets Aspect Benefic regen (18secs) + Aspected Helios regen (30secs) + RRed Bole 15%damage reduction (15secs)

Immediately smack a Time Dilation on him to skyrocket the regen to 33secs (Benefic) 45secs (Helios) 30secs (Bole). It's pretty massive but the major drawback is that it requires a very long set up time and luck. Whereas Scholars just have to bust out 2 lustrates and Whitemages just have to click on Tetragrammaton (700 potency instant heal, +Divine Seal for overkill).

[Ghishlain]

It has a shorter CD than shroud, 120 secs iirc.

Just an FYI, both Shroud of Saints and Luminous Aether have 120s cooldowns - aside from the enmity effect they are completely identical (I think they even get the traits at the same level)

[Kiaris]

Despite being a little disappointed with AST at the moment, there are some moments in which they shine. Take this one for example:

Tank gets Aspect Benefic regen (18secs) + Aspected Helios regen (30secs) + RRed Bole 15%damage reduction (15secs)

Immediately smack a Time Dilation on him to skyrocket the regen to 33secs (Benefic) 45secs (Helios) 30secs (Bole). It's pretty massive but the major drawback is that it requires a very long set up time and luck. Whereas Scholars just have to bust out 2 lustrates and Whitemages just have to click on Tetragrammaton (700 potency instant heal, +Divine Seal for overkill).

Yea it all sounds great on paper. But as you have said..

Id rather Cast Eye for an Eye, Divine seal, Tetra

For AST, when you need those cards... its going to be Ewer.. Re draw.. Spire... Damnit... Tank dead

[Seryl199]

Just an FYI, both Shroud of Saints and Luminous Aether have 120s cooldowns - aside from the enmity effect they are completely identical (I think they even get the traits at the same level)

D'oh, hence my disclaimer. I suppose an AST could Spear themselves to LA faster and fluff a bit more MP for themselves, but a DPS could make far better use of the card. That does put AST in a bit of a tight spot when it comes to burst heals, requiring MP intensive spam casting. WHM can Divine Seal and burst for less MP, or a SCH can WD, and an AST doesn't have a superior way to regain MP in return for spending more. Only the Ewer card, and I can't say I'd be fond of sitting pretty for an RNG based mechanic while neck deep in a raid.

I feel as though determining when to use Diurnal Aspect versus Nocturnal Aspect on a per battle basis will be vital to maximizing the efficacy of astrologian. While true that you can't switch during battle, it's a snap to toggle between fights, with a negligible CD and instant cast. While Nocturnal Aspected Benefic is really good, Nocturnal Aspected Helios is only good if you can stay ahead. Once you fall behind, you need to resort to Helios, whereas a Diurnal Aspected Helios will continue to assist you while AoE healing

[Mhikail]

Tooltips are there, it has both diurnal and nocturnal effects explained on aspected Benefic and Helios read the entire tooltip.

I wasn't talking about the tooltip in game.
I meant on that site I linked. >_>; I wasn't even 50, that's why I asked if it does it or not but I see it.


Edit: In the end, I feel like AST is a support type and mainly played for back-up heals. I think that's how they will mainly have to be played end-game.
Use your cards to back up the other healer and try to help out some heals.
Hope you have a BRD who sings. I'm worried though, really am.
Some of these posts have me really concerned.

You guys thinking buffs are needed?

[jars]

Honestly what AST to me needs, the buffs all need to last 30 seconds.


100% uptime on at least some type of buff. Would go farther in making up for lack of healing.

I don't think this would help because cards do not stack. any sort of duration change would need to allow cards to stack. I think the numbers on the cards are where the problems lie.

[Kiaris]

Cards don't need to stack, you use redraw or save the card if you get 2x in a row

Not like anyone would want more than 1 AST ina group anyway.

either way, they need a buff.


Ill be deciding today to

#1 Play my WHM
#2 Play a DPS for the first time (never DPS'd in a mmo besides for abilities from them...... before always tank or heals)
#3 Deal with AST's shortcomings and hope for buffs