Feedback on AST's Arcana Gauge

[Yellow]

I would like the card buff indicator to be easier to see, and I would like others to (at least) know what card I have, especially if I have another Astrologian in the party.

[Cyrocco]

Perhaps the inability to see another ASTs cards is to discourage AST/AST runs?

[Pomo]

Perhaps the inability to see another ASTs cards is to discourage AST/AST runs?

That would be a really dumb reason considering you can't control who you get in pugs and the regens and shields have never stacked.

I really would love the option to get our old UI back. Not being able to see your co-healer's cards is a real pita. There were issues before the change if your fellow Ast wasn't paying attention to what cards were up, but at least we had an idea of what they were going to do by seeing what they had available on their bar. For example, if they had an aoe bole saved up, I would wait until they fired it off before putting up my aoe arrow or balance if the extra damage resistance wasn't needed. This kept them from overwriting my buffs with their inferior buffs and vice versa.

[Cyrocco]

That would be a really dumb reason considering you can't control who you get in pugs and the regens and shields have never stacked.

I really would love the option to get our old UI back. Not being able to see your co-healer's cards is a real pita. There were issues before the change if your fellow Ast wasn't paying attention to what cards were up, but at least we had an idea of what they were going to do by seeing what they had available on their bar. For example, if they had an aoe bole saved up, I would wait until they fired it off before putting up my aoe arrow or balance if the extra damage resistance wasn't needed. This kept them from overwriting my buffs with their inferior buffs and vice versa.

I believe the only thing that hasn't stacked has always been Shields. (Unless you're referring to two ASTs being in the same stance, but who does that?) Furthermore, this issue is only really an issue with an AST/AST combo, hence my assumption.

[BillyKaplan]

Furthermore, this issue is only really an issue with an AST/AST combo, hence my assumption.

As said before, that is something that can happen and can't be controlled if you use the DF. The policy is that any and all combination of jobs that follows the role quota for that instance should be able to clear it - including certain handicapped combos like double SCH who, unlike AST, don't even get the option to compliment via sect. This is most likely an oversight rather than an intentional nerf, and one that doesn't do anything for the balance of the game as nerfs usually tend to be in this game (whether or not they serve their purpose is a different debate altogether). This isn't taking an OP AST/AST combo and making it as viable as the other combos, it's just breaking it.

[Cynfael]

I like the gauge, but I also want to see buff icons like many players have suggested. Being able to remove an unwanted RR or Spread would occasionally be helpful even now, and yes, I would like to see what other ASTs have in the pipeline.

[Cyrocco]

/snip

That depends on what you're defining as "OP," a SCH/SCH combo loses much in the way of raw healing power, and its AoE healing. A WHM/WHM combo has no mitigation, just raw healing output and a narrower toolkit. An AST/AST never runs into either issues because of the stance capabilities, so content is of course able to clear, even if SE decided to say "AST/AST combos can't use cards," all content would still be clearable by an AST/AST. So, given that AST/AST can do everything the other heals can and then some, I think it's entirely accurate to say that making the cards a little harder to use brings it a bit more in line with SCH/SCH and WHM/WHM.

AST/AST has never had a drawback before, and with the most recent buffs it certainly needed one. That drawback is harder card management.

[Maku]

That drawback is harder card management.

SCH/SCH loses because can't stack shields.
WHM/WHM have SO MUCH HOT that they have no need for mitigation.
AST/AST used to have weaker healing ability.

Drawbacks are based on power or ability to do a job. The issue of not being able to see another ASTs cards is just annoying and annoyance is not a drawback. You can try and pull at strings as much as you want but that was not their intended purpose for taking the cards off the status bar. If anything it was so we could no longer cancel RR.

[Cyrocco]

AST/AST used to have weaker healing ability.

You can try and pull at strings as much as you want but that was not their intended purpose for taking the cards off the status bar. If anything it was so we could no longer cancel RR.

Please don't speak so surely on the intended purpose of a job when you can see how it's very clearly changed now. AST was not intended to be a main healer at 3.0, it was by the end of 3.4, AST has been in such a state of flux since release that if you claim you know the direction AST is heading, you're just being arrogant. Not being able to see another ASTs card has very much to do with the ability to do ones job. Coordination becomes far more difficult. The reward for having two card buffers is "Wow, more buffs." and the drawback is "Wow, I don't know what the other buffer can cast."

However, if you think card management has nothing to do with the "ability to do a job," that's entirely your opinion.

[Olympus]

Just wanted to add my support to the OP.

I've been very frustrated by these changes, as well. I've gradually grown used to the gauge (though I don't find it helpful compared to card buffs--just using it out of necessity), but I really don't appreciate my inability to /statusoff cards that I don't want, never mind that my party can't see what I've drawn.

Please give us the option to turn on the old card buffs.