WHM Vs AST Healing Comparison at 50

[Aphel]

And I hate to say it, but I think this is about right: AST is a support/buff style healer that can seriously swing the tide of battle with the right card combo. We can save a tank with a 25% damage reduction for 15 seconds (or a 10% for 30). We can give the whole group 15% more damage for 15 seconds, eeking out that last bit of damage in a DPS race or give them 10% damage reduction, effectively throwing another bubble on the group.

Our 40 sec cooldown "OH SH*T" button is probably the best I've ever seen in a healing class in an MMO: "You just dropped to 10% HP? Here, have a completely full instant refill!"

If AST's heals were on par with WHM and SCH, there'd literally be no reason to play anything but AST for a healer...

Yeah, our heals are going to be weaker, but we have a number of other strengths to compensate.

Sorry but your numbers are all wrong. The most we can afford is 15% damage reduction, and that is with a RRed Bole. We can reach 25% with Collective but we would be UNABLE TO CAST OR MOVE for that entire duration.

Sure we get a 40sec CD IWIN button but hey, Scholars get 3 lustrates. They can use all 3, sacrifice their pet and immediately use all 3 again with increased potency. We get 1! Yay! On a 40sec CD! NICE! Whitemages get Benediction/Tetra, and Divine Seal + Medica II/Cure III is almost overkill. When your entire party gets smacked to 20% health, pray tell what tools do ASTs have to get everyone up quickly?

I understand we can never replace Whm and Scholars, they are the kings at what they do. But please look carefully at the level 50+ AST skills and tell me that some of them aren't almost borderline rubbish.

[GideonHighmourn]

Sorry but your numbers are all wrong. The most we can afford is 15% damage reduction, and that is with a RRed Bole. We can reach 25% but we would be unable to cast or move for that entire duration.

Sure we can a 40sec CD IWIN button but hey, Scholars get 3 lustrates. They can use all 3, sacrifice their pet and immediately use all 3 again with increased potency. We get 1! Yay! On a 40sec CD! NICE!

I think it's primarily people who don't play SCH/WHM normally who think Dignity is super OP. Myself and my WHM friend both find it underwhelming, due to it's 40s cooldown; better hope no one fudges up more than once a minute or so!

Another thing to consider is that Essential Dignity is a lower-level skill than Lustrate, Tetragrammaton, and Benediction; I'd think it was the best skill ever if I got it before level 30, as well. WHM/SCH lack the insta-cast emergency heal until around 50. So, at level 30, doing Brayflox, it's gonna seem amazing. Then you'll get to level 60 and start doing more challenging content where dropping below 60% (the point where Dignity>Benefic II) happens more than once every 40 seconds ... It won't be so awesome.