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

[technole]

*Just another one-sided argument that lists all things AST doesn't have*

I'll just use A1S and AST replacing WHM. I could go further but I don't think I need to beat the point down, we all know it has less potency but it can still do the job and sometimes with additional utility if the cards work out.

When replacing the WHM with an AST in AS1

• No PoM. (You have lightspeed and a way to help MP management)
• No Div Seal. (Missle damage isn't that high where it's absolutely required, if partner is using Eos, it's more than enough as well)
• No Benediction. (Essential Dignity is fine here. You don't have to 100% top WAR on Holmgang as they are not going to die after going to 1 after buster)
• Weaker AoE HoTs with a smaller radius. (You mean it's equal to Succor at 15y. Plus not even Medica II may hit both tanks here, but thats ok. You got aspected benefic)
• No off-gcd raid Heal (Assize). (It's really for more oGCD DPS, MP, and top-off before jumps. Aether/Ewer/lightspeed/helios can work just fine.)
• No Asylum outside of CO which is severely limited. (CU works just as the same effect sacred soil would here before they come back down)
• No MND party buff. [I](Not a big deal as this is made to be especially for this instance, potency is equal to having nearly one ring)
• No E4E/Virus. (So? Disable works the same way for tank buster.)
• No Cure III. (Synastry is superior for the situation given with prey/cleave/buster.)
• Weaker DPS. (Lets not fool ourselves that WHM is going to be high in DPS in the first place here. Some less potent but also still has DoTs. Balance cards can make up in this area should RNG work out)

[FaizeD]

*AST fanboy delusions*

When replacing the WHM with an AST in AS1

• No PoM. (You have lightspeed and a way to help MP management)
  Lol. Lightspeed doesn't increase healing output. In frontloads your first heal, and gives you one for free.
• No Div Seal. (Missle damage isn't that high where it's absolutely required, if partner is using Eos, it's more than enough as well)
  Not required, but extremely efficient. What does AST have to compensate for the loss of Div Seal? And why would a SCH give up Fey Wind just to make up for your shortcomings?
• No Benediction. (Essential Dignity is fine here. You don't have to 100% top WAR on Holmgang as they are not going to die after going to 1 after buster)
  My point was that WHM has two off-gcd insta-heals and AST has one.
• Weaker AoE HoTs with a smaller radius. (You mean it's equal to Succor at 15y. Plus not even Medica II may hit both tanks here, but thats ok. You got aspected benefic)
  I don't even know what this means. I was comparing AoE HoTs. Medica II vs Aspected Helios in Diurnal. Medica II is superior. Whm has Regen for the tanks too, and *gasp* it's better than A. Benefic.
• No off-gcd raid Heal (Assize). (It's really for more oGCD DPS, MP, and top-off before jumps. Aether/Ewer/lightspeed/helios can work just fine.)
  Not the same potency as Assize. Does no damage. Assize is free. Ewer is RNG. I can swiftcast Medica too if I wanted. Woop.
• No Asylum outside of CO which is severely limited. (CU works just as the same effect sacred soil would here before they come back down)
  I was comparing it to Asylum. Can you read? Either way it's still objectively more limited than Sacred Soil too.
• No MND party buff. [I](Not a big deal as this is made to be especially for this instance, potency is equal to having nearly one ring)
  Why even bother upgrading any of your gear to i200 then? It's only a small potency boost.
• No E4E/Virus. (So? Disable works the same way for tank buster.)
  Except it only works for one attack and can be consumed by auto-attacks. And you ignored E4E.
• No Cure III. (Synastry is superior for the situation given with prey/cleave/buster.)
  I Cure III after the jump. Synastry is nice.
• Weaker DPS. (Lets not fool ourselves that WHM is going to be high in DPS in the first place here. Some less potent but also still has DoTs. Balance cards can make up in this area should RNG work out)
  *Should RNG work out* Oh, you're hilarious.

[Eudyptes]

-snip-

Ignoring the fact you seem grossly misinformed on many of your points, you did nothing to counter the argument that AST is underpowered. The argument isn't that AST can't do Savage, it's that it can't so Savage as well as the other two healers.

[Assirra]

Honestly i gave up his post at the second point.
Not required/rely on your teammate...

That is exactly what we have to do now, and in case you didn't notice it that is WRONG.

[technole]

That is exactly what we have to do now, and in case you didn't notice it that is WRONG.

The only thing that is wrong is the mindset. The reality today is Healer skill > Healer composition.

Not once did I not agree AST could use some changes to improve the job quality of life, the big boss even agrees.

[Eudyptes]

The reality today is Healer skill > Healer composition.

This isn't at all true unless you are talking about major skill gaps...

[carbonx]

AST v. WHM

While I can agree that healer skill is better than healer composition, most would rather have a WHM/SCH for their cohealer, because they wouldn't be expected to pick up the other person's slack, i.e., using Eos v. Selene because your cohealer lacks Divine Seal. There's a difference between compositions being "doable" and being "optimal".

With enough gear, the differences won't matter, but AST is a class that needs work to be brought up to the same standard as WHM/SCH. Lots of work.

[technole]

While I can agree that healer skill is better than healer composition, most would rather have a WHM/SCH for their cohealer, because they wouldn't be expected to pick up the other person's slack, i.e., using Eos v. Selene because your cohealer lacks Divine Seal. There's a difference between compositions being "doable" and being "optimal".

With enough gear, the differences won't matter, but AST is a class that needs work to be brought up to the same standard as WHM/SCH. Lots of work.

Most.

If a static is completely fine with one of the healers as AST, which there are plenty of, that doesn't matter what others think is optimal. It can be seen as more optimal to take DRK+WAR on some floors over PLD because of higher MT damage and magical cooldowns but maybe the static doesn't have a DRK main. That is not to say DRK is without its clunky drawbacks either, it's just in a better place than AST.

The fairy decision has always been Scholar judgement regardless of healer composition. Even with a WHM, a SCH may still use Eos regularly in savage so the SCH can stay in clerics more and still save resources between both healers. That is part of the synergy with raid healing. It's just grossly assumed lower potency = other healer has to make up for it. Not always true, you have to think differently and that why once again skill > composition.

Look I'll always prefer WHM/SCH because of min/max for progression raiding. Unless the AST buffs are more reliable, and the job gets some relief from the stringent cool down costs. The lesser potency isn't exactly the biggest issue of the job. It's the unreliable utility in that you are taking in less potency for risk RNG that may or may not work out to any advantage. No one disputes that.

[carbonx]

It can be seen as more optimal to take DRK+WAR on some floors over PLD because of higher MT damage and magical cooldowns but maybe the static doesn't have a DRK main.

Unfortunately, this is the reason no world first groups decided to take an AST. DRK has the benefit of more DPS at the cost of some physical mitigation, which can be made up by superior play. AST brings nothing to the table that a WHM/SCH duo cannot provide through more stability. You can say, "AST might lead to a DPS gain at the cost of a,b,c,d,e,f... with excellent RNG"

Not just lesser potency - we're talking about a class with only one emergency heal (ED), no reliable support, and could be replaced with a better version of either stance by taking another healing class. Anyone who would want AST over another healer on their team is putting themselves at a disadvantage.

[Assirra]

The only thing that is wrong is the mindset. The reality today is Healer skill > Healer composition.

Not once did I not agree AST could use some changes to improve the job quality of life, the big boss even agrees.

Like i said the previous time this crap argument got thrown around.

All the skill in the world is not going to give you magically very required healing cd's or will make you a true yogioh and get all the cards you want.