I wish AST never had a DPS buff

[Haxaan]

There was a recent post in the forums (sorry, at work and don't have time to link it atm) about changing the cards to hard press gcd buttons with cds which offers the freedom of allowing for differing buffs that can alleviate the "best card" scenario. I felt like this was a fantastic compromise. It would take away the need for draw and still offer the lore flavor that many AST mains are wanting back, but also taking away the RNG aspects that end gamers hate so much.

If they mixed this with a different style of healing, like "set and forget" style of "heal bombs", I think AST would take a huge step away from WHM and SCH in terms of play style and really offer something familiar yet different from the HoT/Shield dynamic. We already have a few abilities like this now with Horoscope and Earthly Star. If they changed Aspected Helios to a timed "pop" mechanic aoe it could (and this is purely speculative) change the way AST is played all together.

[ZeroFool]

There was a recent post in the forums (sorry, at work and don't have time to link it atm) about changing the cards to hard press gcd buttons with cds which offers the freedom of allowing for differing buffs that can alleviate the "best card" scenario. I felt like this was a fantastic compromise. It would take away the need for draw and still offer the lore flavor that many AST mains are wanting back, but also taking away the RNG aspects that end gamers hate so much.

If they mixed this with a different style of healing, like "set and forget" style of "heal bombs", I think AST would take a huge step away from WHM and SCH in terms of play style and really offer something familiar yet different from the HoT/Shield dynamic. We already have a few abilities like this now with Horoscope and Earthly Star. If they changed Aspected Helios to a timed "pop" mechanic aoe it could (and this is purely speculative) change the way AST is played all together.

I saw that thread and while it isn't exactly what I want, I agree that it is a decent compromise as it keeps individual card flavor while minimizing RNG (I'm still very much pro-RNG, but this is a step in the direction that consolidates the old and the new). I also liked the idea of delayed healing and I feel like it would go a long way to differentiating AST's healing style.

Really I'd be happy with anything that is less of the monotony of the current system where the only difference between placing every card appropriately while securing a three-seal Divination and eating every card to eject a Divination on cooldown is a few seconds off the Duty Complete timer, IF that at all.