Concerning the PIE buff on SCH/AST, please do not remove it.

[Kaurie]

I can't tell if this is a joke post or not.

Two ASTs is probably the worst composition a raid group could possibly have with low DPS and cards not stacking as well as very few healing cooldowns. Scholar is OP and basically mandatory in every raid group at the moment, card buffs don't even make up for the DPS you're losing from scholar dots+consistent selene buff, so what you speak of would never happen.

haha yeah I was wondering the same

I'd say SCH/WHM > SCH/AST > WHM/AST > WHM/WHM > AST/AST > SCH/SCH

[Ghishlain]

Is there any reason they can't set it up so that

Having one healer = MND bonus
having two healers = MND + PIE bonus

I always found it silly that SCH + AST lacks for MND buff but taking PIE away from AST + WHM isn't the solution.

Agreed. I've seen (and have also made based on that original change request) the same suggestion in different threads in the past.

Why are you relying on a AST/SCH to give you Piety when you can meld it yourself? Let alone the fact that you virtually have an infinite MP pool.

I'm not sure what the optimal BLM rotation / stats are in 3.0, but I know in 2.0 you wanted a certain level of PIE to get an extra Fire into your Astral phase before you go into Umbral, giving you higher up time in Astral (and thus more DPS). I imagine the rationale may be similar here.

You know what would fix everything?

Diurnal sect=MND Bonus
Noct sect=PIE bonus

This may be hard to code however, I dunno.

If I would take a shot in the dark about coding, I would guess your party bonus is tied directly to your Class or Job and would probably be very hard to code it to something else. They seem to mention "Core functions" a few times in this particular live letter and the difficulty of modifying those core components. I wouldn't be surprised if the party bonus is considered one of these core functions. While changing the bonus is probably no issue changing how the bonus is determined is most likely a whole other ball game.

[ErryK]

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It's not a joke post, I'm 100% serious, the only reason AST+AST isn't viable at the moment is there's no reason to do it because PIE bonus only as well as cards not stacking. I honestly believe that people would jump to AST/AST once 2 ASTs can reward both party buffs, because then you can have MND+PIE buffs, and double the amount of Balance/Arrow/whatever cards.

Even if groups are running SCH/AST, it would be the last nail on the coffin for White Mage specifically, you would never have White Mage in the "main heal" spot anymore, it would run AST for MND buff + cards, then SCH for it's DPS. There is a balance issue at this point. What Eidolon mentioned is possibly the best setup you can get while also keeping balance. It would mean you can have the option to run AST/SCH, but it wouldn't be the only setup, especially in something like DF where you have a high chance of getting the same healer.

[Morningstar1337]

Why are you relying on a AST/SCH to give you Piety when you can meld it yourself? Let alone the fact that you virtually have an infinite MP pool.

While I agree with the melding, I must point out there there are higher priorities for that (In fact, I would be surprised if anyone but a Tank melded cyan materia to anything)

With that said, That "infinite" MP pool has a cap an no amount of Umbral ice will get past that, this means that BLM has a limit to Fire IV chains (5-6 is needed for the opener, and you need either that very buff or the body of a popoto with no pupils [Like me :P] to even reach 6). Additionally the extra PIE would help ensure the MP pool is fille faster by giving you enough MP for a Blizzard III cast, instead of using Transpose an waiting for 9 seconds to get it back

the short version is that losing the PIE buff would mean a potential DPS loss. Of course the buff is so minor that the effect of replacing a Savage Aim with a Piety might not be that noticeable.

Now the question is, why don't they just code it so that SCH+AST gives MIN an WHM+AST gives PIE (INB4 PS3 Limitations)

[Alistaire]

It's not a joke post, I'm 100% serious, the only reason AST+AST isn't viable at the moment is there's no reason to do it because PIE bonus only as well as cards not stacking. I honestly believe that people would jump to AST/AST once 2 ASTs can reward both party buffs, because then you can have MND+PIE buffs, and double the amount of Balance/Arrow/whatever cards.

Even if groups are running SCH/AST, it would be the last nail on the coffin for White Mage specifically, you would never have White Mage in the "main heal" spot anymore, it would run AST for MND buff + cards, then SCH for it's DPS. There is a balance issue at this point. What Eidolon mentioned is possibly the best setup you can get while also keeping balance. It would mean you can have the option to run AST/SCH, but it wouldn't be the only setup, especially in something like DF where you have a high chance of getting the same healer.

No, the reason AST/AST isn't viable is because nocturnal stance blows.

[Jacost]

I think many of us BLMs do need that piety buff to get over certain MP thresholds, such as an additional Fire cast or continuous cast after Blizzard 3.

Just go Dunesfolk Lala.

JOOOOOIIIIIINNNN UUUUUUSSSSSSS

[Kerrigen]

I'll reiterate here because it needs to be taken care of once and for all and we're being asked for feedback.

SCH and AST are currently the only jobs in the game that don't bring their main stat as a party bonus, and this feels like an oversight more than the devs' intent.

PIE is considered a main stat by the game buy really is a secondary now if you look at the way gear is done. They even got rid of PIE accessories with 3.0.

SCH and AST both need to provide a MND party bonus for balance's sake. If and when they introduce new MND-based healing jobs, they'll need to
provide a MND bonus as well.

Therefore, and to preserve current balance (especially with BLM) while future-proofing the game, the best way to do it would be first healer unlocks a MND bonus, second healer unlocks a PIE bonus.

[Morningstar1337]

Just go Dunesfolk Lala.

JOOOOOIIIIIINNNN UUUUUUSSSSSSS

Yes because putting up racial barriers to success in content in a game where one of the draws is to freely play other classes is totally the devs plan, just like in XI where all the good mages were Tarutaru and all the good tanks are Galka. Heavens forbid that a Lala Tank or Roe Caster can ever be competent in raids

[Selli]

I love how I made comment to the PIE/MND issue in the Live Letter after AST came out. .-. When AST was very new the lack of MND bonus actually had them shunned from Bismark/Ravana parties waaay back in the day. It has definitely balanced out now, mind you, but this issue isn't exactly new and I'm surprised it took so long to address.

The best solutions have already been said, but I'ma repost them anyway.
1) One healer = MND bonus. 2 healer = MND and PIE bonus.
2) One healer (applied to all healing jobs) = MND and PIE bonus (this would also impact dungeons, which may or may not be a good thing. But does need to be considered).

[Morningstar1337]

You know, I wonder if the bonus can be reworkedso that it would give PIE if a BLM+2 Healers is in the party, but MND if the BLM is exclued?