Attention AST: Lightspeed is one of your better spells, not a bad spell.

[Risvertasashi]

Yes but how much content is going to require that? It's not like WHM can deal with constantly having to move since they only have....Benediction and Tetragrammation? And BLM would be screwed to all hell. So it's not like you can properly balance a fight around constant movement with the classees like they are right now.

There have been fights, right up through 2.4, that have been harsh on BLMs because of their movement requirements. WHMs also generally need to learn to preposition/conserve movement similar to a BLM as any time moving is time not spent moving, and when fights have both raid and tank hits while moving, it's a big deal.

Phoenix was also a bit kinder on SCH because, although it can't cast physick/adlo while moving, it does have shorter cast times (vs whm) and lustrate. WHM, if you where a target of certain mechanics, say goodbye to your HP/S until it's dealt with.

Now, required? No.. No, not required. Probably never. (You could also say the same of abilities like E4E or regen)

Advantage? In mechanics (which often = movement) heavy fights, definitely.

[jars]

I would hope the fact that ASTs can use their main and aoe heals and stoneskin while moving would evidence that Lightspeed isn't crap. Yes, there's a potency penalty that makes it a bit situational, but what's essentially a multi-swiftcast still has a lot of potential in movement heavy fights.

wouldn't that spend a tremendous amount of mana

[Risvertasashi]

wouldn't that spend a tremendous amount of mana

It spends the same amount of mana as standing still and casting any particular spell costs. The buff lets you do it on the move.

[GideonHighmourn]

It spends the same amount of mana as standing still and casting any particular spell costs. The buff lets you do it on the move.

But it's incredibly MP inefficient to spam SS on the party, especially on DPS with low-HP. SS costs nearly three times as much as Benefic (IIRC), and in turn only shields for a portion of what you could otherwise heal. So yes, it does waste a massive amount of MP, compared to just using Aspected Benefic in the first place, since it's instance as well.

[Risvertasashi]

But it's incredibly MP inefficient to spam SS on the party, especially on DPS with low-HP. SS costs nearly three times as much as Benefic (IIRC), and in turn only shields for a portion of what you could otherwise heal. So yes, it does waste a massive amount of MP, compared to just using Aspected Benefic in the first place, since it's instance as well.

I'm not sure why people are thinking I said spam stoneskin with it. I only listed it as an option among the spells you could use. Use it, or don't, as you feel the situation merits (or doesn't). Like the decision to use any other spell.

Lightspeed is not stoneskin only. It is cast spells on the move (as long as they are below a certain base cast time), including benefic, benefic II, aspected benefic, helios, and so on.

[Warlyx]

lightspeed , ascend spam :P (if only ) , feels like RDM in dynamis ...to bad u cant do that

[jars]

It spends the same amount of mana as standing still and casting any particular spell costs. The buff lets you do it on the move.

you referenced helios which would have a 25% potency hit. stoneskin I guess, but I went 2 years without stoneskin on sch because it looked useless. granted it's been changed a bit... I really don't want to level conj

[Nague]

stoneskin is like 10% HP for a million mana, i never use it.

[chumsy]

I almost never use it when i saw the 25% reduction of healing, I almost forgot i had this skill lol. Seems like only a dps skill to me. They should change it to something else, maybe something like your next three draws have no CD. Allowing you to Buff 3 targets.

[Parawill]

It's not necessarily a "better spell." It's just a nice utility spell to help you become a mobile healer. Like Risvertasashi has stated, the mobility is wonderful. Lightspeed isn't a cooldown used to catch up on healing, but to DO healing while dealing with mechanics. Though most arguments stem from the reduced potency (thus making spells very mana inefficient), Astrologians have many tools in conserving mana and regaining it. The Spear is one of my most favourite cards when using Luminous Aether as I shave off many seconds off it, and keeps my mana up at very healthy levels.

Plus, if you ever toggle Cleric Stance by accident, you can just Lightspeed a Stoneskin and toggle Cleric Stance off during the GCD and burn a Essential Dignity. It sucks that you have to burn two cooldowns, but it's a nice countermeasure for little mistakes. :-)

And lets not forget battle raising. 5 second raises! Wooh! Better than nothing, right?