To Swing a Pendulum - An Astrologian Retooled

[AzureFlare]

Not sure what I'd like for Benefic 2. I'd probably make it duplicate some of the opposing sect's bonus to encourage the use of both sects, plus I'd like it if they would mesh both sects together more ("WHM regens? SCH shields? AST needs to be both? Fine, have it your way, we'll be a little of both, but we'll be the best at juggling both in that case"- kind of idea).

Then again, I was hoping for AST to be something super drastically different than it turned out to be. Healing cast times to be like 1.5s (2.5s base recast), weaving cards extensively OGCD or 2.5s casts while weaving cards wisely GCD and having a pretty mediocre filler (and a card sacrifice for damage in solo content/burst phases to compensate I guess). There's no way I'll see them do that kind of weaving for healers if they are already afraid of having a different third healer, though.

[Ghishlain]

My personal vision of AST after some information was brought toward was hoping it'd be a HoT healer to compliment the mitigation SCH provides and raw power WHM provides. At first I didn't mind what I saw from AST but as played it, thought about it, and read other player's opinions about it; I could see the ramifications this can hold with AST development as future expansions were released.

It's part of my motivation to make this post in the first place - just to see if I can spark some discussion and thought in that direction and encouraged more ideas to hit the table by presenting my own vision of an AST retool. I will openly admit it's a bit discouraging that so many of the healers the frequent these forums are "happy with AST" in its current iteration and feel it doesn't need a revamp.

From a performance standpoint, AST is fine. It can use some polish in Nocturnal to bring it closer to SCHs level.
From an identity standpoint, AST has very little that defines it and thus very little that can be cultivated for future expansions.

Not sure what I'd like for Benefic 2. I'd probably make it duplicate some of the opposing sect's bonus to encourage the use of both sects, plus I'd like it if they would mesh both sects together more ("WHM regens? SCH shields? AST needs to be both? Fine, have it your way, we'll be a little of both, but we'll be the best at juggling both in that case"- kind of idea).

I can see a 30% of the healed amount being a shield (in your case) or 30% more healing (to fit my own theme in this post) on the skill to be a suitable number, if we were looking at ways to enhance Enhanced Benefic thematically.