Astro in savage

[Cynfael]

Astro needs its own thing going on just like how sch is specialized with mitigation and whm with their heavy heals. Also why are astros' sects locked down in battle? I hope SE does something about astro very soon.

Although Sect-swapping on the fly wouldn't address AST's issue of mostly blah card buffs and missing healing cooldowns, it would certainly be a blast to have that kind of flexibility.

When AST was originally revealed, I rather imagined that its barrier stance would be stronger on the eHP side with fewer direct heals compared to the SCH's roughly equal healing/shield ratio, so I was disappointed to find that Noct AST's shielding was in most ways a weaker knock-off of SCH's. I had also hoped that Diurnal's HoT effects would have some mechanic like a detonation heal to separate them from those of WHM, but no dice there, either. Anyway, we'll see how SE continues to tweak AST to bring it past merely adequate and into competitive (hopefully).

[VanEinstein]

Astro needs its own thing going on just like how sch is specialized with mitigation and whm with their heavy heals. Also why are astros' sects locked down in battle? I hope SE does something about astro very soon.

I wholeheartedly agree. It sets a dangerous precedent for future healer introductions to ask that Astrologian poorly mimic the 2.0 healers, rather than have it's own fully fleshed out specialization.

I'm also presently putting off the purchase of any left side Esoterics gear because I'm unsure about making that kind of commitment to an ailing job, no matter what else I may feel about it. If I had any indication that additional adjustments were on the way I might feel differently, but as it stands there's no telling when that will happen, and what form they'll take.

[Arragomis]

I agree with you van I liove the astro andwant it to be my main.But the cost of left sided gear.. I dont see justifcation in a weapon/armor if the class remains in its current state. as other dps get their weapons astro may see more of a savage spot due to not "needing' sch dps however the healing aspect will only improve on the sch/whm but the astro though improving with gear, will still be a niche healer that nobody wants.

[DarkmoonVael]

I feel like Astrologian somehow suffered from a lack of ideas or time during its development.. almost like it was rushed to the finish without a great deal of thought as to what the implications of the chosen design was. The job still has an enjoyable *feel* to it (though describing that isn't exactly my forte), but the harsh realities of the design set in once you put it under pressure.

Nothing screams lack of ideas when being developed more than a new healer thats entire healing toolset is designed around one stance where its a weaker WHM and one stance where its a weaker SCH. It would have been nice to have a new healer thats entirely unique in its style, but we have AST instead. I think no one on the dev team actually plays a healer in game tbh.

[Miiu]

Currently in the same boat. Sadly I'll have to buy one esoteric piece next week (probably weapon) and start committing to one job (SCH or AST). I really wish it would be AST but at the moment I can't make that decision in hopes for 3.1 bringing AST on par with the other two healers.

In regards to sect swapping during combat I said it once and say it again. It needs to happen.

[luminaer]

I think AST problem is that AST is trying to fit both roles SCH and WHM.
What AST needs is their own identity as a healer.

I also found a big Reddit Thread i hope SE will read it https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ed_from_party/

[Assirra]

@ RaeyFonzur - I agree with so much of what you've said in your last couple posts. It seems like it's an uphill battle when trying to spell out the reality of the job versus it's potential outcomes, and in my opinion, you've done a good job of it.

I feel like Astrologian somehow suffered from a lack of ideas or time during its development.. almost like it was rushed to the finish without a great deal of thought as to what the implications of the chosen design was. The job still has an enjoyable *feel* to it (though describing that isn't exactly my forte), but the harsh realities of the design set in once you put it under pressure.

If anything it was a clash of ideas that made it what it has become.
They wanted a new healer but it has to work together with the other 2 so it got the sect system. However it also couldn't straight up replace the other healer so as result our heals are a bit less potent.
Then they wanted to have a random rng card system and for some reason also forced it into their new healing class. This not only creates a more support healer with less potency but also gives us a total of 4 spell slots that could (and should) be used to enhance our lack of healing.
They really should have given that rng system to a dps class but i assume with the whole bard not singing stuff they didn't want to do that.
The result? A less potency healer that has to rely on rng to give some utility.

[VanEinstein]

@ Assirra - Perhaps your way of saying it is better than what I hoped to get across. It's always nice to see when others are getting that same impression about the job though, because I feel like if enough people are coming to this conclusion, then surely it must have occurred to someone on the development team by now... well, maybe. I don't know if I'd be giving them too much credit or not.

[Minorinz]

I have another concern of how nocturnal field is overwriting galvanize. I know this is intended but doesn't that restrict astro when playing with a scholar? It feels like you can only diurnal sect so shields wouldn't clash. That's just sad to be honest.. I don't like the restrictions on the current playstyle and how it's obvious that astro's shields are a no match.

[VanEinstein]

I think AST problem is that AST is trying to fit both roles SCH and WHM.
What AST needs is their own identity as a healer.

I also found a big Reddit Thread i hope SE will read it https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ed_from_party/

Somehow I missed your post, but I'm glad I went back and spotted it. That Reddit thread does a wonderful job of summing up the plight of the Astrologian at present, and maintains a positive & productive tone throughout.