Worried for SCH

[Newtt]

I absolutely loved Scholar in Stormblood, (when i started playing).
I didnt like most of the changes in Shadowbringers, but stuck with the job because of its visuals and I like using a book for a weapon.

But with Sage coming out, I'm worried SCH is going to get sorta left behind. Especially that Sage will be the shield healer without having to deal with the pet AI.

Im really hoping for a semi SCH rework, similiar to what they did with MCH.
And praying for some update to the pet AI. Also losing a 'Whispering Dawns' when transis
tioning between Seraph and fairy

Sorry for the rant but I'm just wondering if anyone else has the same feelings.

Thanks for your time

[Semirhage]

They've added two new jobs and as far as I'm aware hired zero new job designers. The signs point toward several of the jobs having... let's say noticeably less attention than others. If your job icon isn't red that chance doesn't improve.

What I'm saying is, get some really delicious popcorn for the job reveals. I fully expect AST remains "WHM...but with better output and cards".

[ItMe]

They've added two new jobs and as far as I'm aware hired zero new job designers.

Is there a way to know though outside of getting updated each credits sequence?

[Raminax]

What I'm saying is, get some really delicious popcorn for the job reveals.

Tsk tsk, haven't you learned yet that we need to wait until the actual expansion release before judging? And then patches? And then the next expansion?

[Semirhage]

Is there a way to know though outside of getting updated each credits sequence?

Not that I know of. Though I think they went from four in Heavensward to a manager, two team members, and an intern in Stormblood. That was the ratio right? Whatever it was, it went down. That's not a track record that inspires confidence.

Tsk tsk, haven't you learned yet that we need to wait until the actual expansion release before judging? And then patches? And then the next expansion?

My body is ready, baby.

[Doriann]

I fully expect AST remains "WHM...but with better output and cards".

Since Heavensward I'm trying to find reasons to play WHM instead of AST, and I've yet to see any too

[Hysterior]

SCH is still the job I will level first, simply because you get a DPS for free (SMN)
But I am also worried about SCH, some Pet AI issues have been there for more than 8 years now...
So I also feel like not having to deal with the fairy might be amazing... but let's wait and see
Nobody has tested Sage yet and we don't know anything about SCH changes, let's stay cautiously optimistic

[Saefinn]

My worry is that:
AST will basically become WHM with a thematic difference
SGE will basically become SCH with a thematic difference

I expect mechanical differences will only really feel different at high end content where they're pushed and those differences matter.

My other fear is that SGE will also be Noct AST reworked into another job.

And another fear is that SGE and SCH's pure healing aspect will be too good and therefore make any "shield" healer distinction meaningless. Except at the highest end of content.

And my final fear is that healing will still be balanced in such a way you're still doing DPS abilities 75% of the time and those DPS abilities still suck.

This is just because out of the above concerns that have been raised regarding healers during (and leading up to) Shadowbringers the only ones they've really address are to do with high-end content. They recognise our down time is too high, but have only made reference to resolving it in high end content.

Healing/Healers in general I think need a rework.
2.0 healers were designed to accommodate a dichotomy of pure & shield heal. It worked well.
3.0 healers were designed to fit a 3rd healer that does both and patching up SCH's to make it easier to get people to full health. Major balance issues.
4.0 all healers pure heal well enough, shield healing is a buffer, situational or a 'just in case'. Balance issues in a better place, but WHM needs more love. Downtime not that great, but you can break it up.
5.0 you have new shield healing related abilities to boost our shield healer, but with so many oGCD's and so little to heal you won't use shields much at all. It's dull and boring as heck & downtime is really noticeable.
6.0 we need to address balance to accommodate a 4th healer. What used to work? The dichotomy of pure and shield heal. Let's go with that.

Though for 6.0 that's the claim, but we'll see what it is in practice.

[Liam_Harper]

But with Sage coming out, I'm worried SCH is going to get sorta left behind. Especially that Sage will be the shield healer without having to deal with the pet AI.

That last part is rather important. Sage will not have pet AI to handle. No placing pet constantly, pet ghosting, waiting for embrace to finish, losing part of your toolkit during Dissipation and so on. Just clean unhindered oGCD's. That puts SCH at a disadvantage right from the start unless they make significant changes.

[Newtt]

Thanks for all your replies, glad to know I am not alone