What does everyone think about those AST buffs?

[TraeSnow]

Maybe WHM will get its Stoneskin Trait back that we lost when AST came around and a better one to replace our Protect trait. That would be nice.

I'm actually very happy with the new Stoneskin trait. Before, SS had such a long cast time it made it hard to use it in combat, sure it is amazing pre-combat to put on everyone, but there are very very few instances in which you can use in combat, and even get it casted in time due to the long cast time on it. The new trait makes it pretty fast to cast in combat. I use it a lot more as a WHM in combat.

I'm not particuarly fond of the new medica trait they added to replace the protect trait...it just adds even more RNG to WHM toolkit.

[Ghishlain]

Changes to AST were needed, absolutely. However, I feel like they went a bit over board with them and buffed every aspect of AST (baseline heals, cooldowns, and buffs). I feel that AST+AST might be a very likely thing; Synastry is likely the most powerful tank CD (+60%~ healing on a single target), CU has become a better/more potent version of Asylum/Sacred Soil, Nocturnal shields are now more powerful than SCH's (combined with having a more powerful Cure II and Medica in Nocturnal, and access to +60% healing makes A Bene a much safer option than Adlo), and longer DPS buffs from cards.

I think the changes were 100% needed, but I have a feeling they went a little overboard with buffing baseline potency, cooldowns, and card buffs.

I feel I would be a lot happier if they didn't touch the potency on Benefic / Benefic II / Helios. I feel like this takes away the identity Diurnal and Nocturnal gave AST since the sects noramlized their baseline heals. That's my only gripe about all the changes. I like everything else that was put on the table.

[Khyan]

SCH ilvl 183, same gear than my AST, ilvl 183.

SCH MND = 916.
DET = 344.

ADLO = ~2075

AST MND = 928
AST DET = 344

AST shield = ~1825 +30 % = ~ 2372

SCH : 2075 + 2075 = 4150 ehp
AST : 1825 + 2372 = 4197 ehp

AST aspected benefic > adloquium when non-crit

[TraeSnow]

I feel I would be a lot happier if they didn't touch the potency on Benefic / Benefic II / Helios. I feel like this takes away the identity Diurnal and Nocturnal gave AST since the sects noramlized their baseline heals. That's my only gripe about all the changes. I like everything else that was put on the table.

While I do not main Astro (Or even have it lvl'd for that matter), the main healer for my raid is an Astro and has been since the start of the expansion, the only downfall I've seen with them was their CU and their AoE heal range...Their range is 5 ylms lower than WHM, which to me is their biggest issue.
Astro didn't need more potency. They do just fine in the single target heal department. They lack in AoE, and that is mostly due to the range reduction they have. If they were just given 20 ylms with their old healing values, I believe it would have been fine. But now that they have increased healing potency, they deserve lower AoE range~

[Tyla_Esmeraude]

Loving the changes. Though I would have prefered the cards to be more in synergy with the healing, these changes are well received by me. It seems like I can finally main AST for Savage. Can't wait to try it out tonight.

[Mimilu]

So i wonder, with the Balance card + extended + TD + CO are we looking at 1min30 10% damage buff lol?

30 secs x 2 from Extended + 15 seconds from Time Dilation + 5 from Celestial Opposition = 1 minute and 20 seconds of fun on the bun.

[NorthernLadMSP]

Honestly, it blows my mind, how many people in this thread I have seen whining and complaining about how AST sucked, and how it needed so many changes to make it viable. Now, they've made some great changes, and the same people are bitching and moaning because AST now has something that makes it a great healer - even while WHM and SCH are still as amazing (as they always were) and will never be replaced.

Seriously, grow up. Some of you are seriously acting like the jealous stepsisters in my Final Fantasy Fairytale (see page 17).

[technole]

I'm actually very happy with the new Stoneskin trait. Before, SS had such a long cast time it made it hard to use it in combat, sure it is amazing pre-combat to put on everyone, but there are very very few instances in which you can use in combat, and even get it casted in time due to the long cast time on it. The new trait makes it pretty fast to cast in combat. I use it a lot more as a WHM in combat.

I'm not particuarly fond of the new medica trait they added to replace the protect trait...it just adds even more RNG to WHM toolkit.

Well I wasn't happy with the trait change honestly, the previous casting time for Stoneskin was fine for when you actually needed to use it for certain tank buster mechanics like Turn 9 Ravensbeak and Turn 13 Flatten. Now the MP cost is higher for just 10% and less casting time, it's a lousy tradeoff. Although yoship apologized for hurting the identity a bit in-return they gave WHM pretty good healing options after 50.

My wish going forward is they add a new job skill that practically "replaces" Stoneskin for WHM only in the next expansion. That way the other jobs can still use Stoneskin and WHM has a newer one to address >100% mitigation in some more meaningful way.

[Niroken]

I'm actually very happy with the new Stoneskin trait. Before, SS had such a long cast time it made it hard to use it in combat, sure it is amazing pre-combat to put on everyone, but there are very very few instances in which you can use in combat, and even get it casted in time due to the long cast time on it. The new trait makes it pretty fast to cast in combat. I use it a lot more as a WHM in combat.

I'm not particuarly fond of the new medica trait they added to replace the protect trait...it just adds even more RNG to WHM toolkit.

The vast majority of mechanics are scripted so I never had a problem casting SS since you know when every attack comes. Now the amount gained is not even worth the MP, unless it's required to stop a 1HKO which is very few (mostly fresh raid content, sometimes) and is generally less dangerous with increases in gear. I have it on my third bar for PVP purposes, lol.

[lordparanoia]

Ok After trying AST in dungeons i can say that i'm happily surprised and yes, it is buffed as it should have been from the beginning.
I'm really considering to go AST in savage now.
Anyway: the only thing i think should be fixed is celestial opposition. Give some other effect, +5s buffs looks kinda silly