Astrologian "BUFFS"

[Remilia_Nightfall]

What about a rework on Noct Stance all together?

The problem with this is that if you make AST card buffs too powerful, it will trivialize dps checks in progression fights. This means that fights will either be always cleared with a nocturnal AST, or dev will need to balance checks keeping into account AST buffs - basically making AST mandatory.

[Codek]

The problem with this is that if you make AST card buffs too powerful, it will trivialize dps checks in progression fights. This means that fights will either be always cleared with a nocturnal AST, or dev will need to balance checks keeping into account AST buffs - basically making AST mandatory.

I think it could be a perfectly fine trade to sacrifice the ability to pass heal checks to make a better (more risky) push for DPS checks. They would have to start making some content where pushing phases quickly is discouraged though...Which is kind of counter intuitive.

AST really needs some niche that they can fill. With the current tool kit, the only thing I can possibly see is mobility which is a good one but not stressed enough currently by the content.

This is an MMO built on being able to easily swap between classes freely. Even though it's heavily discouraged in other MMO's, I honestly believe that SE should build different end game fights with specific classes in mind. Create the requirement that players can cover different roles between encounters.

As it is now, it's nearly impossible for them to balance all end game content so that 3 healers will be equally desired for the 2 spots available for boss fights (at least, not without a complete re-work of all 3 classes).

[RichardButte]

The problem with this is that if you make AST card buffs too powerful, it will trivialize dps checks in progression fights. This means that fights will either be always cleared with a nocturnal AST, or dev will need to balance checks keeping into account AST buffs - basically making AST mandatory.

The biggest and saddest irony right now is that people in alex savage are reporting that the DPS rises with SCH/WHM over bringing an AST because the SCH can afford to put in so much more DPS, and more DPS is supposed to be the entire point of the AST.

I think they can do this one of two ways to fix AST:

-Bring all of its potencies in line with the other healing classes and call it a day.

-Go absolutely ham on the cards and make them good enough to at least justify bringing an AST along

Remember, the actual value of AST card buffs is divided by 6 to get the real average amount of extra whatever an AST will bring to a fight.

You're not getting 10% DPS for 15 seconds, because you're going to average drawing that card 17% of the time, so it's closer to 1.67% more DPS given to a single target over the course of the fight.

And as I said, groups bringing everything but AST are doing better in the DPS department.

If AST buffs are going to barely be significant, then the healing potency should be almost on par with SCH/WHM, and since ASTs are queuing as healers for DF, that's the much, MUCH safer way to go.

Either that or the AST's buffs need to be VERY significant, which will promote a more risky playstyle.

[jojober]

The problem with this is that if you make AST card buffs too powerful, it will trivialize dps checks in progression fights. This means that fights will either be always cleared with a nocturnal AST, or dev will need to balance checks keeping into account AST buffs - basically making AST mandatory.

Yeah I think it would be difficult to balance, and it would have to be done well. As much as I would love every group to want an AST, I of course want all to be desired.

[Miiu]

The problem with this is that if you make AST card buffs too powerful, it will trivialize dps checks in progression fights. This means that fights will either be always cleared with a nocturnal AST, or dev will need to balance checks keeping into account AST buffs - basically making AST mandatory.

Bottom line is they need to do something. AST have to become desirable by the community. As much as WHM and SCH are. And I don't think aligning the potencies to rival those of the other two healing jobs will actually do the trick. At least not without reworking a good chunk of the AST abilties. So I sincerely hope they'll concentrate on what makes the job unique.

[chumsy]

The problem with this is that if you make AST card buffs too powerful, it will trivialize dps checks in progression fights. This means that fights will either be always cleared with a nocturnal AST, or dev will need to balance checks keeping into account AST buffs - basically making AST mandatory.

I dont believe it will trivialize dps checks, because 1) you wont be drawing balance 100% of the time. 2) its percentage based, so if ilvl is lower dps increase is lower. 3) card buffs are not stackable ie. cannot have 10% dmg and 10% att speed. 150% of current card potency of all cards except spear would make it balance right now.