Yoshi-P's Interview with Famitsu includes a few comments about AST

[Geardagas]

You know, that's an excellent point that I haven't thought of. If they gave us full control over the cards, I would literally pick nothing but balance. There is no reason to pick anything else. As silly as it sounds, shorter fights = increased healing.

Even if they reworked the cards, you would still only pick one or two at all times. There is always going to be a 'best' card. Four or five of the cards would be rendered useless just because you can pick the best one at will.

The RNG must stay. There is no choice. Unfortunately, this means that we are most likely going to get what i've been fearing: spread 1, spread 2, and spread 3. Three slots for holding cards, and button bloat gets two bigger.

[Alahra]

The RNG must stay. There is no choice. Unfortunately, this means that we are most likely going to get what i've been fearing: spread 1, spread 2, and spread 3. Three slots for holding cards, and button bloat gets two bigger.

That's highly unlikely, as they are not generally in the habit of handing out multiple abilities per level, and they also seem pretty set on making sure all of the classes have the exact same number of abilities. They are also presumably aware of the tight squeeze people are dealing with because of the additional abilities in Heavesward.