Thoughts on AST changes and job designs moving forward

[Bourne_Endeavor]

I keep seeing people say this, but a Nocturnal AST and SCH can't play nice together as the sheilds cancel eachother out, and Diurnal heals are still the same as before.

If anything, the buffs mean Scholars need to worry, as their spot can be comfortably taken by an AST, and are no longer guaranteed a spot in higher level content.

Unless I missed the memo where we can stack sheilds now, I don't see White Mages getting "benched" anytime soom.

Except you'll never need them to stack. While neither Scholar or Astro have the raw aoe healing WHM does, they are both close enough to compensate. Coupled with their sheer versatility and WHM is decidedly third now in the healer battle. Scholar isn't afraid at all. Their DPS and infinite MP pet practically guarantee them a spot.

[File2ish]

Except you'll never need them to stack. While neither Scholar or Astro have the raw aoe healing WHM does, they are both close enough to compensate. Coupled with their sheer versatility and WHM is decidedly third now in the healer battle. Scholar isn't afraid at all. Their DPS and infinite MP pet practically guarantee them a spot.

AST has raw AoE healing like WHM, I think Helios and Medica are exactly the same. ASt is just not quite as powerful in the AoE HoT department (Aspected Helios is a bit weaker and shorter radius than Medica II if I recall). Aside from the card buffs, diurnal AST is untouched, leaving it in a slightly better position than before. Whether or not this means WHM will be at the bottom of the healer barrel now because of the card buffs we can't really say yet.

What we can say is Nocturnal Sect is much better than before, and going WHM/N.AST will probably be better overall compared to WHM/D.AST now. Not that many statics do that anyway (will be useful for solo duty queues at least).

And, as you said, that N.AST won't be replacing SCHs despite the 100% consistent AND instant 170% AST shield because of SCH's overall damage output + Eos/Selene.

[Rawrz]

Aside from the card buffs, diurnal AST is untouched, leaving it in a slightly better position than before.

For the second time, Diurnal AST got buffed with the Ben II proc changing to 100% crit rate, celestial opposition duration increased, qol to cards AND increases to card potencies.

The only changes that were noct only changes were to aspected ben and aspected helios.