Concerns with Astrologian in Endwalker

[lisaa]

Astrodyne isn't that awful, at this point it's pretty much a given that getting the 5% personal damage is going to play second fiddle to optimising cards on the group so I just see that as gravy. It's PoM for AST in my eyes. You'll probably know this better than me, but the bit that has me puzzling with Astrodyne is how the optimal Divination phase is actually going to play out. I get the feeling that we're going to be going back to needing to hold Lightspeed again if we want to avoid clipping?

Yeah idk what div windows will look like and obviously no one wants to figure that out until things are finalized.

And yeah that's probably the case that you try to play cards optimally and seals are not prioritized. But even then there are questions like, if you have AAA or AAB or ABA seals, would you hold for a fourth C seal to upgrade it? Since the fight doesnt always end perfectly with 3 cards, sometimes you have 1 or 2 extra, you have this choice. But then how would that change the alignment since now you are delayed by one card? I'm sure by release people will have calculated this and it might even have a simple answer, but I think the fact that its even something to think about is just insane.

Aligning astrodyne with raidbuffs is only 15% of 15% of 250 potency malefics, when you add up all of them it totals not even 50 potency, yet even that tiny amount is something to think about, more than healing and more than even casting malefics. I think that shows the absurdity of healer dps. Mulling over 50 potency. All because healers are healers yet told to dps.

[CrimsonGunner]

i think astrydine will be a more of a mana tool,if you miss the window you missed it so you will use it but then it will be more on personal achivement which is much better then divination not aligning i think which effects the entire party

[Halfgeeek]

An element of randomness can be a good thing, given how everything is strict scripted. More dynamism from encounters and or player skill, more opportunities for fun or frustration, which in the end, are both memorable.

AST changes in EW makes me want to dedicate time to playing more of the job.

[Kraniel]

I'm ok with Astrodyne, but i'm a bit disappointed we can't use it to buff other party members.
Its buffs can benefit anyone in the party, plus MP regen as it stands is quite useless for current AST. I'd rather use it on someone who just died and got rezzed with 0 MP (thinking about co-healers specifically).

[Gemina]

My thoughts on the Minor Arcana and the card system in general is that they are getting very close to finally getting this damn mechanic down. What was once just a convoluted cobweb of nonsense is likely just one more update away from finally being resolved. Just one obstacle remains, and it has been the bane on the card system from the get go. The name for this thorn is "Redraw". The biggest problem with the card system has always been making the player fight RNG along with the damn boss.

It's still in the game, giving AST one chance per draw to get a favorable card. Just let it go SE. For the love of all holy, just let it go. Minor Arcana is what should help the AST get three different seals, not redraw. All that needs to be done is Astrodyne remain 120s, and Draw is on a 20s timer. Draw also cannot be used outside combat. GONE. This gives the AST six chances to get their favorable seals while Astrodyne is on CD. Minor Arcana is used on unwanted cards, and at the end of two minutes, you play what you drew. Simple as that. With the AST card system played this way, you make a game where your first seal is given, and the chance of getting three different seals decreases the longer it takes to get the second seal. With the game played this way, you WILL NOT always get three different seals. A true card game mech within the game that is simple yet effective.

I do wonder though if the effects of Astrodyne should be reversed so the AST always gets the dmg and healing boosts, while the hast and refresh are added on top of those. Hmm.

Edit:

I thought of something else involving the cards that gives the player something else to think about. I might just start a new thread.

[ty_taurus]

I'm ok with Astrodyne, but i'm a bit disappointed we can't use it to buff other party members.
Its buffs can benefit anyone in the party, plus MP regen as it stands is quite useless for current AST. I'd rather use it on someone who just died and got rezzed with 0 MP (thinking about co-healers specifically).

Eh, the biggest issue with this concept is that game has ultimately evolved to revolve around specific burst windows which Haste can actually screw with more than help. Most DPS would rather you not give that to them, and the MP boost would largely go to waste on the DPS as well. RDM and SMN might appreciate it after a raise or if the RDM is raising a lot in a scrambling party, but otherwise you might end up doing more harm than good.

I think it's a clever ability in some ways, but I feel like it would've made more sense to have the buffs associated with specific seals rather than just collecting one of each. That way you could, at times, benefit from 3 solar seals or something like that. You'd need to replace the Haste effect with something else because then it would just be seen as a major DPS boost to stack 3 Haste seals, but I think conceptually this would feel more interesting for AST.

[Sani2341]

I think it's a clever ability in some ways, but I feel like it would've made more sense to have the buffs associated with specific seals rather than just collecting one of each. That way you could, at times, benefit from 3 solar seals or something like that. You'd need to replace the Haste effect with something else because then it would just be seen as a major DPS boost to stack 3 Haste seals, but I think conceptually this would feel more interesting for AST.

that's quite an interesting suggestion. as for not making people stack haste, what if they made multiple give diminishing returns. (i.e. first seal gets 100% of the normal buff, second identical gets 50& and a third would give only 25% the normal buff [numbers aren't meant to be acurate, just napkin math to illustrate the idea)
That could lead to a balance where in general you'd want three different one, but with the option to get two or three of a specific buff in situations where you'd need/want it.

[ty_taurus]

that's quite an interesting suggestion. as for not making people stack haste, what if they made multiple give diminishing returns. (i.e. first seal gets 100% of the normal buff, second identical gets 50& and a third would give only 25% the normal buff [numbers aren't meant to be acurate, just napkin math to illustrate the idea)
That could lead to a balance where in general you'd want three different one, but with the option to get two or three of a specific buff in situations where you'd need/want it.

Actually, I forgot that one of the buffs also increases your damage dealt by 5% in addition to the Haste. Both of those would need to go even with diminishing returns. MP is too safe these days to warrant building toward it if DPS is the alternative. Sure, it could ultimately benefit you more after you've been revived, but you're not really meant to be planning to be revived, after all, and it would take too long to build seals after your raise. By the time you got the seals, your MP would be back anyway. If it were contrasted against other forms of utility, then casual players might still appreciate it after they've burned themselves more than usual while experienced players might see value in going for more MP refresh making no piety equipment sets more forgiving.

If we leave in the Haste and the damage dealt up, then MP will never be taken and someone will math out whether the Haste or direct damage is a greater increase and that will become optimal. It's true that sometimes utility is more important, but that's incredibly rare, and as mentioned, very difficult to plan for. Regardless of anyone's stance, DPS is the king of this game because it's the only clear way to set yourself at a higher skill echelon than other healers.

[Shigure_A]

I am Japanese, so some of my English may be strange.

Japanese astrologers are
Whether the symbols can be arranged in triplicate
about the effects of the Minor Arcana.
There is some debate.

I am of the opinion that in order to maximize the effect of having three symbols in a row, the symbols should be lit without pushing them out.
I also believe that the Minor Arcana should be kept in one frame of draw and play.

I am glad to see that people overseas are taking astrologers seriously.

[ToodlesElNoodles]

I am Japanese, so some of my English may be strange.

Japanese astrologers are
Whether the symbols can be arranged in triplicate
about the effects of the Minor Arcana.
There is some debate.

I am of the opinion that in order to maximize the effect of having three symbols in a row, the symbols should be lit without pushing them out.
I also believe that the Minor Arcana should be kept in one frame of draw and play.

I am glad to see that people overseas are taking astrologers seriously.

Thank you for sharing!

The only other forum I can read is French and my devices refuse to translate the Japanese page.

It’s great to hear from our friends around!