Astrologians were fine the way they were!

[Fevelle]

The moment WHM ceases to be the most powerful healer in raw-healing power aspect, the game needs to rethink its jobs, but that's just my feelings talking. I'm ok with AST changes, but I really like to feel unique when I play a class or job, and AST took the uniqueness from SCH and WHM both, while adding buffs. I really hope the next healer job is an all-unique one, not a class who can sect-change to play like a SCH or a WHM.

[Muahbec]

AST took the uniqueness from SCH and WHM both, while adding buffs. I really hope the next healer job is an all-unique one, not a class who can sect-change to play like a SCH or a WHM.

My feels exactly.
as much as i love AST it was not well designed, hybrids are a no no.
so...
first: SE reworks AST
second: SE will take an eternity to balance it.
third: SE will keep it the way it is, and the next expansion will bring a whole new healer with actual unique capabilities.
ugh

[Galgarion]

You're pissed over that? You'd rather that example never happen. That's how you come off. You don't want AST to exist.

She's on to us. TAKE HER OUT!

[Luvbunny]

I think on next expansion, they should bring pet based job, Puppetmaster + Beastmaster. And another magic based attacker to complement Black Mage. Perhaps evasion based tank. And maybe turn Geomancer as a healer, now that would be interesting. This way we could have at least 2 pet based DPS, 2 magical DPS, and maybe another healer or tank. Runefencer would be great if we don't already have Dark Knight.

[Fevelle]

I think on next expansion, they should bring pet based job, Puppetmaster + Beastmaster. And another magic based attacker to complement Black Mage. Perhaps evasion based tank. And maybe turn Geomancer as a healer, now that would be interesting. This way we could have at least 2 pet based DPS, 2 magical DPS, and maybe another healer or tank. Runefencer would be great if we don't already have Dark Knight.

That's another problem with WHM I have. Why only Stone III, Aero III and no more water skills? Conjurers are supposed to have mastery over these 3 elements, so why is water being left behind with only the Fluid Aura? I know this doesn't really affect gameplay, but they could have created more water spells/dots instead of going for the THIRD earth and wind magic on our skillset.

[Rydiah]

It was doing what it was supposed to. Again AST was meant to be weaker at healing to trade off for the party buffs.

Eh, I don't remember hearing this from the devs at all. Only from a few people on here and Reddit. I don't buy it either. I'm sorry, I just don't think the buffs were good enough to warrant weaker heals and practically no good CD's.

I only hit 60 on Ast a few days ago, so I haven't really been able to try it out on anything more challenging than the leveling dungeons...But it sure felt quite a bit weaker than Whm and Sch. In fact, I could tell it was weaker in the first dungeon I ran at 30. I main Whm, and I'm really happy about the buffs. Don't really understand why a few people are so mad. Maybe because there will be more Asts running around now?

[Cynfael]

Eh, I don't remember hearing this from the devs at all. Only from a few people on here and Reddit. I don't buy it either. I'm sorry, I just don't think the buffs were good enough to warrant weaker heals and practically no good CD's.

I only hit 60 on Ast a few days ago, so I haven't really been able to try it out on anything more challenging than the leveling dungeons...But it sure felt quite a bit weaker than Whm and Sch. In fact, I could tell it was weaker in the first dungeon I ran at 30. I main Whm, and I'm really happy about the buffs. Don't really understand why a few people are so mad. Maybe because there will be more Asts running around now?

AST still is weaker at healing, but the gap is no longer crippling. People comparing raw potencies and declaring that AST suddenly has the best healing kit are not really on point, here.

The point appears to have been to bring them close to what the other Jobs offer while increasing the appeal of their special utility (i.e. cards).

[Tizzy_Tormentor]

I'm happy with the buff, despite AST getting slightly stronger shields, its not going to matter since any AST with half a brain will switch over to Diurnal with a SCH in the party (if they don't, its their fault and you can point this out) No one should feel threatened, AST has gone from being a class universally regarded as "inferior" to WHM/SCH to being a class that can stand with both in any situation, this is something to be celebrated.

AST will bring unique card buffs and not piddle behind on healing, they fit in with WHM/SCH without stepping on their toes (use Noct with WHM, Diurn with SCH) and use card buffs that can assist the raid in various ways. I am interested in how this develops.

If anyone starts excluding certain healers, ignore em, they don't know what they are talking bout.

[Anova]

Well, we'll see how they work out in the Alex Savage runs this week. I think most of these fears will settle as the week goes on though.

As far as I'm concerned, the 3 healers have almost identical healing ability now. What's different is:
WHM: healing buffs and aoe damage
SCH: damage mitigation, single target damage, and MP efficiency
AST: damage buffs and mobile healing

btw, great line from the OP.

[PetiteMalFleur]

A Healer who can do what both speacialized jobs can AND buff/support with their unique system and abilities. Great.

It just amazes me how the people who haven't leveled these jobs or done any endgame have the strongest opinions about the buffs.