Overriding Ast Cards.

[AlphaFox]

I don't get the hate for spear, letting you use all your skills sooner after you used em is a good time for any class to (almost) go crazy with popping buffs.

I don't fully grasp the hatred for Noct stance. Or, at least, I don't see why Diurnal is so vastly superior. The only explanation I've seen delves into the need for DPS or Regen having a higher potency after all the ticks are added.

But that takes TIME, something you don't always have! I'd rather be a SCH-lite with muh cards and prevent damage in the first place, and Noct boosts your heals just by being in the sect, giving you a better stand AS healer. Stronger heals=more chances to DPS and use cards.

Nocturnal isn't garbage by any means. You still have that same synergy with a WHM if you utelize the sheilds correctly.


Really, the only reason I diurnal is if I'm paired with a Scholar. Otherwise, we nerf each other, and it's not worth it!

I ment to reply to this yesterday, but the I think its more because the shield is a one and done where as dirunal you can but two HoTs, Collecting Unconscious and then boost it all to a max of 20secs more and it will keep going, throw an enhanced bole and that tank aint going down even if he tries. The noct shield only has so much defense on it before it shatters, can't apply a 2nd and would need to be reapplied in a few secs. Least that is how I see it. I do enjoy Noct myself and will jump into it if I am paired with a 2nd but for the most part Diurnal seems to be my go to even with a WHM.

[Morningstar1337]

I don't get the hate for spear, letting you use all your skills sooner after you used em is a good time for any class to (almost) go crazy with popping buffs.

2 words, rigid rotation. Some of Jobs have rotations that require use of cooldowns at specific times, as well as with other people's cooldown. The only people with rotations more freeform rotations are Healers, and SMN, while those that benefit becuase of liberal use of coodowns would be Tanks, MCH and maybe NIN.

Its not a bad card, just the epitomie of the strategic requirements needed for AST

[Saseal]

Its not a bad card, just the epitomie of the strategic requirements needed for AST

^ this
Just very specific, narrow times and use, as Morningstar said. Half the time I get one, it's already in mid battle and everyone's got their CDs used already. Spear doesn't effect CDs already on cool down, only ones that haven't been used yet.... and are most are not going to know which ones are/aren't already on cool down and on whom. It's only real use in a party that is communicating via TS/etc or is used at the beginning, before a pull. :/

Last time I used a spear, mid battle, was me being extremely frustrated to be mixed with the combo of... Draw (Ewer) -> *royal roaded* -> Draw (Spear) -> Shuffle -> Ewer -> ROyal ROad.... -> Draw (Spear) -> Shuffle -> Spire -> Royal Road.......-> Draw -> Spire -> Shuffle -> Spear -> FLIP TABLES -> Rage-Use Expanded Spear
(and if it actually caught someone at the right time, then 'yay! \o/' - but I doubt it)

[Fynlar]

If we really wanna argue over RNG, I think MCH is the worst offender of all (least pre 50, didn't level past 52) when your just spamming your first combo hoping for the proc while your shots are down.

Yes, definitely. MCH felt weaker to me at the starting levels than DRK did, which sure doesn't seem right.

Don't know if that still applies post-3.1 tank adjustments and such.

I don't get the hate for spear, letting you use all your skills sooner after you used em is a good time for any class to (almost) go crazy with popping buffs.

That there is the problem. How do you know they aren't already on cooldown? Hell, why would they be sitting there with their cooldowns ready to begin with? If they are that inattentive with their cooldowns in the first place, do you really think they're going to notice you giving them Spear?

[LineageRazor]

Even if you do manage to land it on someone just before they use their cooldowns, you have to take a look at the benefits. Balance is straightforward: a 10% boost to damage. Arrow is almost the same since it lets you use GCDs more quickly, and has the added benefit that it assists non-dps GDSs as well (cures). With Spear, you have to ask yourself: even if someone pops all their buffs at the right time, is it really going to measure up to the benefits of an Arrow or Balance? Perhaps in some cases, for some jobs. But that's a WHOLE lot of variables: you need to catch the right job, at such a time that they have a lot of job abilities that are going to come due in that narrow 20 second window Spear provides.

Spear could be much improved by extending its duration to a minute (two minutes with Royal Road duration extension). You have a reasonably good chance that a targeted player will use multiple Job abilities in that timeframe. Why they chose to make this card have a SHORTER duration than the much-easier to use Balance or Arrow, I have no idea. It does make it an easy choice for Royal Road, though!

[Fynlar]

Spear could be much improved by extending its duration to a minute (two minutes with Royal Road duration extension). You have a reasonably good chance that a targeted player will use multiple Job abilities in that timeframe. Why they chose to make this card have a SHORTER duration than the much-easier to use Balance or Arrow, I have no idea. It does make it an easy choice for Royal Road, though!

That change would be hampered by the whole "can only have one card buff active at a time" thing, though.

If they got rid of that silly rule at the same time, then yeah, it might serve more of a purpose.

[Masekase_Hurricane]

That change would be hampered by the whole "can only have one card buff active at a time" thing, though.

If they got rid of that silly rule at the same time, then yeah, it might serve more of a purpose.

Id rather they just got rid and replaced it with an accuracy buff :P

[Fynlar]

Id rather they just got rid and replaced it with an accuracy buff :P

That would be even more worthless of an effect than what Spear has already...

[Saseal]

Id rather they just got rid and replaced it with an accuracy buff :P

I'd rather a crit buff

[FoxyAreku]

That would be even more worthless of an effect than what Spear has already...

Not for the healers who don't meld accuracy, but there shouldn't be a buff specifically for them...especially since they can just meld accuracy.