Scholar Rework Idea

[Pandatwin]

We mostly agree EaMett, and I believe if you read more closely you'll find the rework actually does fit what you're saying.

Your proposed solution to replace Aetherflow with something to build gauge will be the same, actually even worse because you moved some heals to timers only so you don't even need gauge for that. In other words a "non-DPS tool to prevent overcapping" would be as useless as stormblood lilies were on whm. There are barely any scenarios where it would be optimized play to lose dps in order to hit that button.

My non-DPS tool to prevent overcapping has 0 DPS cost whatsoever, and without Aetherflow to return 10% MP every minute and Energy Drain to give you 5% MP, an MP regeneration tool needed to be present. This was my solution, but there might be better ways to implement this.

There's a subtle nuance there that makes up a huge chunk of the fun factor for SCH gameplay. "do I have enough stacks for this next mechanic?" "whoops I used one stack too many, how am I going to cover the healing here", "maybe I should save a stack here for movement later", "maybe I can move healing around to keep an extra stack for ED?"

I believe my Fairy Gauge maintains this gameplay. Where can I spend my gauge without overhealing that will leave me with enough for when I need it? Do I have time to let the fairy channel skills heal them to full, or do I need the HP now? Planning when and where to use which healing move and best maneuver the gauge would feel like a more rewarding system rather than "How am I going to use these 3 stacks in the next minute?"

I think Adlo needs some love as well. Outside of prog really early into the tier it barely has any uses, simply because the opportunity cost is often higher than the value you get out of it.

The problem with shielding is general is that it's too expensive for too little and almost impossible to use 100% effectively. Removing the healing aspect and making Adlo and Succor only shield makes it so much easier to use them effectively. Take a look at Recitation, I think it would give shielding a lot of much-needed love.

make the fairy the old stormblood fairy again

Basically a given haha.