With all these astrologian complain threads

[Tranquil]

@Lycinder: Ahh, I missed that one. Well, I don't know if I am playing the same job as the guy who wrote that, then. When you micro everything and maximize your throughput, SCH definitely feels busiest of all of the healers. If anything, I think transitioning from SCH to AST is easier than WHM to AST, because of the fact you have to (or should) micromanage your fairy and also keep track of an interval-based resource without losing efficiency (Aetherflow stack usage). I'll withhold final judgment until I've actually experienced some level cap content on an AST, though.

I will, however, agree that SCH has the most lenient skill floor but that is hardly relevant here.

[Lycinder]

-snip-

Yep 100% agreed with everything you just said, problem with AST is their skill floor seems incredibly high and we need to really wait until Alexander comes to test us and other end game raiders before we can tell if we have been shafted as hard as MCH has apparently been (I doubt it)
AST probably only need a couple of tweaks to be right (I think no one has noticed spread has been tweaked slightly already so we can draw a card and move into battle and then cast it to spread, that was definitely not a thing until recently.)

[Veilqa]

Well it's a new class that has been out a week. Of course its going to be the more difficult class to play of the three

[Parawill]

I think transitioning from SCH to AST is easier than WHM to AST, because of the fact you have to (or should) micromanage your fairy and also keep track of an interval-based resource without losing efficiency (Aetherflow stack usage). I'll withhold final judgment until I've actually experienced some level cap content on an AST, though.

I think so too, but for some reason it was an easy transition for myself. Perhaps its because I keep an eye on all my member's buffs (especially Blood for Blood), since my raid group had several derp-deaths because DPS used it at inappropriate times in T13 pre-echo. I'm simply in love with AST right now though! With all the buttons to push and things to keep track of... So much fun. <3

[Seryl199]

(I think no one has noticed spread has been tweaked slightly already so we can draw a card and move into battle and then cast it to spread, that was definitely not a thing until recently.)

I've been doing this with AST since the beginning, it hasn't changed. I'd draw before the tank pulls, then, if it's a card I wanted to Spread, I'd Disable whatever target they Lob to get into combat without generating any significant aggro and Spread that card.

[Lycinder]

I've been doing this with AST since the beginning, it hasn't changed. I'd draw before the tank pulls, then, if it's a card I wanted to Spread, I'd Disable whatever target they Lob to get into combat without generating any significant aggro and Spread that card.

Could have sworn that back when I was in DD I would draw use auto attack on a mob the tank pulled and couldn't spread it, though DD exp runs were quite the blur anyway so I guess I remember different.

[RichardButte]

Does anyone else notice a trend here? Remember Scholar all the way back with 2.0? This is pretty much an iteration of Scholar's time of infancy. A lot of people complaining about the class, till a bunch of famous endgame raiders were utilising the class in a way that it became a new meta and suddenly became incredibly popular.

So rather than opening up a text book, flip to the page you need and claim "you don't get it" like some student, thoroughly test and trial the class. Astrologian can go into many directions, just find the right one suitable for you.

I've healed as both a SCH and an AST in dungeons at 50+. My take:

SCH heals better and more reliably, allowing me to do a ton of DPS (what with having 4 DoTs...). The AST's weaker healing potency means that I have to spend more time healing and cannot afford the time to DPS. The buffs given by cards, even when the best ones are drawn, are not significant enough to justify playing AST over SCH.

Haven't played WHM so I can't compare there.

[fanservice]

I've healed as both a SCH and an AST in dungeons at 50+. My take:

SCH heals better and more reliably, allowing me to do a ton of DPS (what with having 4 DoTs...). The AST's weaker healing potency means that I have to spend more time healing and cannot afford the time to DPS. The buffs given by cards, even when the best ones are drawn, are not significant enough to justify playing AST over SCH.

Haven't played WHM so I can't compare there.

Get outta my head.

Seriously though, I do think a diurnal sect AST is worth taking with a SCH for full party content. AST + WHM... less so.

[SuzakuCMX]

boop.

It's probably fine from a numbers standpoint, but from a gameplay standpoint some aspects of it are lacking, especially with some of the card buffs feeling astronomically less useful than others (ex: AoE Bole/Spear, Spear in most situations, long CD of some of it's higher level skills for minimal effects, lack of much damage, few emergency buttons, etc.) It's fun to play for sure. But it also seems to be lacking in fun in other areas.

[RichardButte]

Get outta my head.

Seriously though, I do think a diurnal sect AST is worth taking with a SCH for full party content. AST + WHM... less so.

I could see that. God help two ASTs though...

I think the buff I'd like to see the most (and I've seen this suggested often) is to lower the cooldown on all of the card abilities: draw, shuffle, etc.