AST 5.3 Sleeve Draw and Controller Complaints

[Limonia]

Why exactly is it bad game design?

Why is it NOT bad game design if you have to put in a lot more effort to flawlessly execute the former AST opener on controller, compared to mouse and keyboard? Why is it NOT bad game design while one it overly clunky while the other is not? Why is it not bad game design when your APM rockets every time Sleeve Draw is up just because you choose to play on controller?

Playing with controller instead of mouse and keyboard should NOT be detrimental. There are already a few disadvantages, like in targeting players from other groups in Alliance Raids takes longer, but usually they're quite even. Playing one job on controller vs. mouse/keyboard shouldn't have an advantage or disadvantage.

[Shieky]

Because that its completely normal that different input types gives you specific advantages,literally ALL games have this kind of "problem" and dumbing down game mechanics just because they are harder to execute on input x is just as bad.

[KDSilver]

Controller users: " I dont want to git gud" just make the game easy af. Why not just using 5 skills so it would easily fit on a controller?

I'm not a controller player.
I like clicky AST
I prefer AST because it's more busy than the two other.
I like AST because of sheer amount of oGCD heal he has that, once properly timed over a long run, make this healer shine.
I'm all for the "git gud", that's what I also try to do every time I play.
I consider myself a good player. Not the very best, but a good average level.
I could manage Sleeve Draw, yet

I didn't like Sleeve Draw.
If you play correctly and align everything, you didn't only have sleeve draw. But Draw + Sleeve draw, which mean 4 cards to align on the 3/6/9 min burst.
I never played in mid/hardcore static with google spreadsheet for every single mitigation cooldown to use per min.
So I had to deal with what I had with the best I could.

180s Sleeve Draw was an absolute mess, even worse when you kept Lightspeed out of this window for mobility purpouse (such as Light Rampant on Shiva for example).
The Malefic => Card => Healing => Malefic felt stressful and too much at one precise time
Its window is reguraly when some heavy mechanic can happen, with mobility required or watching the arena for the safe spot/big raid wide aoe + another mechanic after
And as much as I somehow managed to it, rolling my eyes all over my screen felt tiring really.

So maybe in your eyes, that sounds to be bad. If so, so be it, I honestly don't care.
But I didn't like sleeve draw that much even if I like the clicky and complex aspect of AST.

And I honestly don't feel changing Sleeve made my AST less complex. Its essence is still there.

[AdamFyi]

Because that its completely normal that different input types gives you specific advantages,literally ALL games have this kind of "problem" and dumbing down game mechanics just because they are harder to execute on input x is just as bad.

Eh, I’d say it’s more QoL than what you’re saying. It would be in poor taste for the devs to release a new job for the next expansion that only functions properly well with Controllers, and then tell Keyboard and Mouse players to just deal with it. Less ‘git gud’ and ‘oversimplifying’, and more ‘how feasible is this in the long run?’ kind of matter.

Controller players have to potentially do 5 to 7 inputs between GCDs (~1.5s) per Card because of target switching (and soft-targeting). And that’s just one Card. Imagine having to do this 5 times in every opener within the first five GCDs. The recent change doesn’t really fix the issues, but it nonetheless reduced the amount of buttons to press because theres 2 less cards to Play with.

[MOZZYSTAR]

I use controller, I'd been playing AST since it first came out. Let me tell you that this "fix" does not help those who play on gamepad at all. In fact, I don't even see how it's connected to the actual issue at hand.

Devs: please stop killing AST. Enough is enough.


I just want to enjoy my main class again.

[Brandedblade]

I use controller, I'd been playing AST since it first came out. Let me tell you that this "fix" does not help those who play on gamepad at all. In fact, I don't even see how it's connected to the actual issue at hand.

Devs: please stop killing AST. Enough is enough.


I just want to enjoy my main class again.

AST is kinda thriving tho???

[Gravagar]

AST is kinda thriving tho???

If it's thriving now, then I can't wait to see how much better it does once its real issues get solved. It's got loads of room to improve still.

[LadyAkatsuki]

Don't post too much on here, but I had some input to this one. I too play with a controller. Prior to 5.3 and it is still useful now, I made macros for each member in my party for the play action. Like shown below.

/ac "Play" <2>

Each number is your party member. Meaning numbers 1-8 for full party. Helps alot since toggling can be hard on a controller.

As for Sleeve Draw, seems kinda lackluster for a 180 second cooldown. My thought would be to give it a 60 second cooldown, but maybe let it have 2 charges. I just feel the one card draw from Sleeve Draw is just blah. But that could just be me.

[Teraluna]

I'm not a controller player.
I like clicky AST
I prefer AST because it's more busy than the two other.
I like AST because of sheer amount of oGCD heal he has that, once properly timed over a long run, make this healer shine.
I'm all for the "git gud", that's what I also try to do every time I play.
I consider myself a good player. Not the very best, but a good average level.
I could manage Sleeve Draw, yet

I didn't like Sleeve Draw.
If you play correctly and align everything, you didn't only have sleeve draw. But Draw + Sleeve draw, which mean 4 cards to align on the 3/6/9 min burst.
I never played in mid/hardcore static with google spreadsheet for every single mitigation cooldown to use per min.
So I had to deal with what I had with the best I could.

180s Sleeve Draw was an absolute mess, even worse when you kept Lightspeed out of this window for mobility purpouse (such as Light Rampant on Shiva for example).
The Malefic => Card => Healing => Malefic felt stressful and too much at one precise time
Its window is reguraly when some heavy mechanic can happen, with mobility required or watching the arena for the safe spot/big raid wide aoe + another mechanic after
And as much as I somehow managed to it, rolling my eyes all over my screen felt tiring really.

So maybe in your eyes, that sounds to be bad. If so, so be it, I honestly don't care.
But I didn't like sleeve draw that much even if I like the clicky and complex aspect of AST.

And I honestly don't feel changing Sleeve made my AST less complex. Its essence is still there.

Thank you for this well thought out post. It gives an overall picture of the class play, and maybe one other thing:

SE can make a class more complex than others in the same category. That class will suit people who like the increased activity, the additional actions required.
But don't expect that class to be a popular as its' fellows.

There are two directions to take.
1. SE base their view on equalising playing numbers of each class - in which case the more complex class(es) will be simplified to increase numbers.
2. SE base their view on having wider variations/complexity in class play - in which case the more complex class(es) will always have lesser numbers.

But you cannot have both.