Changelist for ast ^_^

[Seoulstar]

I wonder how many people will this make return or have an interest in AST..I'm glad I stuck with the job from the start. These buffs look soooo nice.

[Teraluna]

OOF!
That's a substantial list. The stars have definitely aligned for the Ast in this patch.

Always liked the card rng......(ok I still don't believe it's right. But it's not changed so it's a case of fought the battle as best as I could, lost, live with it).

Now, what about the effect of these buffs to the Astro on the other healers.......?
I've said before that SE have painted themselves into a corner by making this third healer similar to the others in terms of a ranged healing class.

Balancing all three would be the target, but has the Astro leapt ahead to the detriment of the others, (particularly the WHM)?

Will be interesting to see the choices people make.

[basketofseals]

Man, remember when AST was released and the devs were worried about how overpowered it was going to be? Good times. Gooooood times.

[Fernosaur]

Now, what about the effect of these buffs to the Astro on the other healers.......?
I've said before that SE have painted themselves into a corner by making this third healer similar to the others in terms of a ranged healing class.

Balancing all three would be the target, but has the Astro leapt ahead to the detriment of the others, (particularly the WHM)?

AST + SCH is the new meta. Bye bye White Mage.

I don't really believe it's as simple as that, but I do think it's a little bit concerning how little utility WHM has now in comparison to AST+SCH. AST and SCH can now reduce the damage taken by the party by 25ish-30% with SS, CU and expanded Bole, not to mention the big boost to Bole's mitigation, and of course, to top it all off, the ridiculous buff to Balance.


I understand they made these changes to make NoctAST as desireable as SCH, but the nature of the DPS increase provided by AST (all of it being dependant on RNG) and its continouous inability to consistently DPS throughout a fight due to MP management problems are not solving anything. The bigger barriers are very nice (intimidatingly nice, if I say so myself as a Scholar player), but I'm afraid this isn't tipping the scales in favor of NoctAST, just in the detriment of WHM

I still don't think WHM will just disappear, cause it's a very, very convenient job for progression. But I can definitely see a lot main healers dropping WHM in favor of AST.

[Eisenhower]

I still don't think WHM will just disappear, cause it's a very, very convenient job for progression. But I can definitely see a lot main healers dropping WHM in favor of AST.

Aside from weapons, it's quite convenient that players can gear up all three healer roles at the same time with the use of savage or crafted gear. Tomestone gear depends a bit on the patch, I guess. Getting BiS is another matter, naturally. But with the changes listed, I get the feeling I can flex comfortably between WHM and AST during progression until I grab a weapon at least.

[Fernosaur]

Aside from weapons, it's quite convenient that players can gear up all three healer roles at the same time with the use of savage or crafted gear. Tomestone gear depends a bit on the patch, I guess. Getting BiS is another matter, naturally. But with the changes listed, I get the feeling I can flex comfortably between WHM and AST during progression until I grab a weapon at least.

I agree. This is also made more convenient by the lack of job-specific tome gear like it happened in 3.0.

Don't get me wrong, compared to PLD back then, WHM is in a much, MUCH better spot, since all the support AST now has is not needed like the extra damage from DRK was back then for Gordias progression. But I think WHM will slowly see less and less use as AST players become more reliable and efficient at playing the class.

[zuzu-bq]

I still don't think WHM will just disappear, cause it's a very, very convenient job for progression. But I can definitely see a lot main healers dropping WHM in favor of AST.

It won't, their playstyles are still very different even though people insist in comparing Diurnal with WHM.

As for changes:
Every AST should use Mind Potions now that you can extend them by 10s. Almost doubling their duration.
Also I did some math, Aspected Helios on Synastry will shield equivalent as Deployment Tactics. Can't use the Deployment Tactics argument anymore healer forums, I know thats your favorite.

[Rennies]

True, synastry will give us 297 potency on AoE shields, and that 3 potency is very slightly lessened by the traits which give Ast mind.

[Fernosaur]

If you pair that up with a MND potion, it's actually stronger than a deployed Adlo too, apparently?

I never really thought Deployment Tactics was what made Scholar better, though. Aetherflow and our fairy CDs are still too big of an obstacle for NoctAST, sadly.

[Rennies]

Well yes, but mind potions are not job specific.

On the bright side, Nocturnal Astrologian will now have the indisputable advantage of higher raid DPs through this disgustingly good balance card.