Done with AST

[DarkmoonVael]

Also I don't want to be nit-picky yet, I did not see any other posts from you in this thread so talking in "we" is probably misplaced :X

Yet, I agree that there are still some flaws with AST. However (final) balancing is not done in a few weeks (or at least it should not be), therefore it is to be expected that AST will stay - let's say a bit - behind the other two heals for a while.
The most important thing for me is though, that I have fun with AST, and if I reach the endcontent one or two weeks after the "progression fanatics" is of no relevance to me.

Anyway, I guess I have to visit A1S some time soon to see it for myself, how bad/well AST fares there.

I refere to it as "we" since i am very prolific in posting in the healer forums referring to the AST topics that are currently being discussed.

The issues from AST healing really do stem from its inability to meet the same sort of healing checks as WHM and SCH do in end game content. They also put too much burden on the other healers in this content, thus making their ability to contribute to healing+dps lower.

I love the concept and the visulisation of AST, but currently it just doesnt cut it in end game content. It has to be balanced like all classes are: around end game content, in a top-down fashion.

[Yumi_umi]

Ast was made for pvp everything else is like meh lol.
That noct shield op as u can cast and cast it over again with 3 dps smashing ur face in and ur just like lel.
In PvE tho, u go oom and everyone dies lol.

[Xikaz]

I'm glad people are raising concerns with AST just in normal grouping situations as well. I feel it doesn't get enough attention with so many people running in premades where execution is always flawless and claiming AST can handle all content before savage Alex with ease.

If you get a bad group in DF as an AST you will easily start testing the limits of your job and seeing shortcomings without the need to step into the most challenging content of the game.

[416to305]

Can I just ask though to the people that defend AST so bad, like why do you? I mean what is so good about AST that you need to suffer through it and keep playing it? Just boredom of WHM and SCH or something and need change? There's just so many people complaining about it I don't get why people want to use it so badly unless you just like a big challenge or something I guess.

[Tyla_Esmeraude]

Can I just ask though to the people that defend AST so bad, like why do you? I mean what is so good about AST that you need to suffer through it and keep playing it? Just boredom of WHM and SCH or something and need change? There's just so many people complaining about it I don't get why people want to use it so badly unless you just like a big challenge or something I guess.

Personally, because I like cards. I like the core design (in theory, not so much in practice on its current state). It's a fast healer and a buffer (cards), at that. It's like a mix of RDM and COR, 2 jobs I mained in FFXI. :3 It's like I found my true love. When I use Lightpseed I feel like I'm Chainspelling on RDM.

WHM is okay, but I got bored of the same ol' aero spells and stones, I didn't like the Holy nerf #2 (the only spell that kept WHM fun for me) and the constant misses when trying to have a lil bit more fun by DPSing in raids (at least on AST I know Comb and Comb 2 will always hit). In fact, if RDM had been available from the start I probably would've picked that one instead. It's weird you know because I really liked WHM in FFXI, I leveled it to 99, geared it up and I just loved casting those huge Cure V, VI's, using Protectra and Shellra V, Raise III, Banish III, Haste, etc. =( I liked the noble's tunic so much and the puffy pants look on WHMs.

[YuiSasaki]

*snip*

I totally agree with Tyla. Perhaps, the "difficulty" in healing is what keeps me playing at AST.

Not to forget: Far too many people tend to QQ for nothing, only to balance either their e-peen or their inability to play a certain class (-> see them DD threads like "QQ BUFF CLASS X PLX ITS UNDERPOWERED BY FAR"). I agree AST still needs some tweaks, but especially regarding those buff-requests by some people here in the official forum...

And playing a class that got buffed to the max... is just plain boring...

[Kaizersan]

I had yesterday this in neverreap where tank pulled too much and died, i was unable to heal that fast and he died. He acknowledged that AST had some healing issues and will not pull that much. I was pretty sure that if i was SCH he wouldn't have died.

Your issue likely comes from not prepping your cards before hand generally for big pulls I have a extended Ewer on hold and use it with with LA and CD to extend both timers by 5 seconds so I rarely run out of mp.

[GeekMatt]

AST isn't for inexperienced healers due to it's low potency and dependency on mp management (as a duo those two factors make life especially hard when you aren't managing). Also the cards require you to understand how the party works.

BUT, it's low potency is what makes it so fun. I mean there are things that you can always be doing as a SCH/WHM but a lot of the times DPSing as a healer is really boring, and the extra stuff we can do is just unnecessary a lot of the time (extra Stoneskins in downtime etc). Basically the aspects that many people struggle with on AST are exactly what makes it enjoyable. Not saying it doesn't need to be reworked a bit, but I'd be voting for more utility that can put AST on par with WHM/SCH.

[Vlady]

The over the top dramatics in this thread is palpable. Astrology a few % weaker in this thread does not even compare to uselessness.

[Shyluv]

I can't comment about ast in savage, but in the expert dungeons or normal alex, I have not ran into the difficulty so many people are talking about even in such simple content. Even in full pug, where things go wrong. Especially since the recent buffs we got.

Synastry and Lightspeed actually saved us from wiping on a big pull in neverreap, where I know if I was on WHM it would have been a wipe.

But, I do still think ast does need a buff for nocturnal sect. I was talking to a friend about CO in noct sect, and his idea was that it should increase potency. Of both cards and shields.