Balance was balanced

[Reilyn]

The card changes were a step in the right direction in quite a few ways.

Really wish they'd do something about nocturnal aspected benefic/helios being better versions of adloquium and succor though, otherwise SCH's only remaining identity is being the OGCD healer tied to aetherflow stacks now that SCH can't get out of nocturnal sect ASTs' shadow in non-cooldown dependent aoe healing, mitigation, and support by any meaningful extent.

I feel the duplicate job restriction in deltascape savage is a testament to SE knowing full well AST/AST and multi-NIN would be very real possibilities/problems, so just in case they can't balance classes to be clearly optimal 100% of the time to not bring duplicates, just impose the limitation in endgame content instead!

How nice...

[MintnHoney]

From what I can see, considering the changes and keeping descriptions as basic as possible, the balance has shifted and the dynamic is as thus:

WHM: "Pure healers" with an exceptional MP upkeep, somewhat "excessive" healing capability, and high personal DPS, but with little to no party utility (almost all utility functions for the job itself).
SCH: "Tactical healers" with good MP upkeep (here's to you, Quickened Aetherflow), good direct healing capability, and average (at worst) personal DPS, with reliable but average party utility (keep in mind, though you may not like them as much any more, your faeries do add to your utility and healing capability).
AST: "Dynamic healers" with "fair" MP upkeep (keep in mind, our party utility is sacrificed for our only true innate mp restore, and that's not even guaranteed), with high healing effects, and low personal DPS, but with the highest capabilities for party utility due to a risk/reward system.


...which is how I'd always thought of the healers, tbh. Hopefully, with this update, more players will consider the same and be more respectful of each other's strengths and downfalls.
You might also ask, if the SCH has "good" direct healing capability, then who has "average" healing capability? RDM.

On the subject of Aspected Benefic/Helios, keep in mind that the raw power, imo, is directly linked to the idea that we have less mp management tools at our disposal now. Raw power does not mean refinement. SCH is still more refined in the shield department. But if it makes you feel better, I wouldn't be opposed to a buff on the potency.

[Casseya]

So is casting spear and arrow sufficient enough not to wait for balance right?

[Reilyn]

SCH: "Tactical healers" with good MP upkeep (here's to you, Quickened Aetherflow), good direct healing capability, and average (at worst) personal DPS, with reliable but average party utility (keep in mind, though you may not like them as much any more, your faeries do add to your utility and healing capability).

Personally, I'm seeing the fairy as less of an advantage, and more of a consolation for SCH's smaller list of basic heals as time goes on.
The fairy nerfs from HW release, and SB release sucked.
And the fact the cleric stance/mind change no longer shuts down healing for dps ironically takes away some of the appeal from the fairy since we don't have to worry about a source of healing while dpsing. I know it sounds weird, but "my fairy's healing isn't cut while I dps!" isn't a bragging point anymore, so... eh.

Here's hoping fey link will really rock people's socks off I guess.

[inhaledcorn]

I think Spear should have 20% Crit chance at 30s (to make AoE 10% crit), but this is certainly a step in the right direction, hallelujah! I still want to see the effects of Spire and Ewer also get bumped up to 30s, but I mean, these changes were 1000000% warranted.

[Enla]

I think Spear should have 20% Crit chance at 30s (to make AoE 10% crit), but this is certainly a step in the right direction, hallelujah! I still want to see the effects of Spire and Ewer also get bumped up to 30s, but I mean, these changes were 1000000% warranted.

Ehhh, they're never going to give ANY class that much of a crit chance and frankly it'd be way over powered if they did. It's fine as is, especially if stacked with Battle Litany and Chain Strategem.

[inhaledcorn]

Ehhh, they're never going to give ANY class that much of a crit chance and frankly it'd be way over powered if they did. It's fine as is, especially if stacked with Battle Litany and Chain Stratagem.

However, Balance is still 100% better than Spear. Balance and Spear have the same level of strength, but Balance is a flat damage buff, but Spear is a chance to get a chance at damage boosts. The Balance is more reliable, and it lasts longer. On top of that, while Spear and Litany and Stratagem can stack, so can Balance, Trick Attack, Foe's, and other Job-specific buffs. Your point is moot. This is to bring Spear's strength more in line to Balance's strength.

The increased duration for Ewer and Spire is more because their effects seem underwhelming straight up since they only seem good while under the effect of Extended.

[NocturniaUzuki]

Well, that most recent Spear thread is out the window.

I haven't had a chance to check the patch today, but if you're referring to mine and Spear got entirely changed to just be another cookie cutter DPS increases, then yes, I am hugely disappointed in SQEX. They don't seem to like making any of their mechanics have any depth to them. The WHM change as well, from what I gather, is just an extra AoE heal when it could have been the key to making the Lily system brilliant.

I relied on Spear a lot to pull off challenge runs.

[Furious]

However, Balance is still 100% better than Spear. Balance and Spear have the same level of strength, but Balance is a flat damage buff, but Spear is a chance to get a chance at damage boosts. The Balance is more reliable, and it lasts longer. On top of that, while Spear and Litany and Stratagem can stack, so can Balance, Trick Attack, Foe's, and other Job-specific buffs. Your point is moot. This is to bring Spear's strength more in line to Balance's strength.

The increased duration for Ewer and Spire is more because their effects seem underwhelming straight up since they only seem good while under the effect of Extended.

There is no way you will ever roll over a spear for a balance in the current strengths of each unless you have time to burn before a pull; balance is definitely better but not better enough to warrant ignoring the other options. It's not a problem that one is the best, it's a problem that one is unassailably better than the others.

So, you're right that balance is still the top draw, but it's not the only draw. This has the tandem effect of making it feel less bad to not get balance and reducing the overall percentage of cards used that are balance.

[Neela]

However, spear now gives 10%/5% crit~

Discuss!

Ast just got another buff which was exclusive to another healer cls (Sch) and Melees like Mnk/Drg (?) - thats just another hugh + for their pole position... They just should replace Ast cls with Mime cls and there would be an excuse why they can do everything what whm/sch can do (even better in some situations) .___.