DT AST is Unpleasant to Play Now

[Supersnow845]

Was that the AST rework we were supposed to get in EW?

Four play buttons. FOUR. PLAY. BUTTONS. What is UP with you guys??

This rework definitely feels like the mid expansion ShB MNK rework that basically amounted to deleting greased lightning stacks and making riddle of earth a tank level mitigation with the promise the actual rework is coming soon but at least it’s now in a “semi functioning state” (it’s not but we can pretend like it is)

But since it’s a healer we know the actual rework isn’t coming

[Tunda]

This rework definitely feels like the mid expansion ShB MNK rework that basically amounted to deleting greased lightning stacks and making riddle of earth a tank level mitigation with the promise the actual rework is coming soon but at least it’s now in a “semi functioning state” (it’s not but we can pretend like it is)

But since it’s a healer we know the actual rework isn’t coming

I disagree.. I don't think they will rework any healer.. idk why developers see that healer role currently *function* I see nothing but a disaster in identity and gameplay

[Dogempire]

This rework definitely feels like the mid expansion ShB MNK rework that basically amounted to deleting greased lightning stacks and making riddle of earth a tank level mitigation with the promise the actual rework is coming soon but at least it’s now in a “semi functioning state” (it’s not but we can pretend like it is)

But since it’s a healer we know the actual rework isn’t coming

To be fair, "rework" is synonymous with "Dumb down the job" recently, and I fail to see how they could even possibly do that unless they did something like make your 1 damage skill be an "All-in-one" partywide shield, regen, and mitigation.

...or they could just remove all healer DoTs, which honestly it's kinda scary to think that there's a good chance they could do that.

[Ayer2015]

Honestly I just want them to iterate on on the two dps cards. I don't like how they are roll specific still given the current draw mechanic. Make one flat dmg and the other crit rate perhaps.
Otherwise, for me, the new draw system is fine.

[Gullis]

I hate new Ast, which I suspected I would. Having 3 unique cards is cool and all, but as I suspected back then, why would I ever want anything but dps cards? (yea yea huehue healers are suppose to heal!!!)
the mitigation cards feel useful in low level content, where tanks and healers don't have their tools yet, but once you get to higher level stuff, they just feel pointless. I also miss astrodyne, and it was replaced with absolutely nothing. Synastry still being a mostly useless ability doesn't help much either

I just feel like a nerfed EW AST.

[Lotus_Greaves]

First time commenting in any of these forums just to agree with this - I didn't mind a lot of the AST changes through each expansion, I could work with what they gave me, but these changes are the worst so far, in my opinion. Healing only feels necessary "in an emergency" as it is, so having the DPS boosts via the cards felt like a nice way to be more of a support role for the team. It was fun stacking the cards with Div to get that satisfying burst, and then Astrodyne gave at least a little bit of DPS fun for myself. (Gravity go brrrrrr) I personally liked Lord/Lady being a separate draw, because now I'm constantly wasting a Lady by wanting to draw again just to get that DPS card. Draw being a whole minute cooldown feels brutal too. Everything just feels slowed down? I haven't needed The Arrow at ALL and all the other support cards don't feel useful in any situation - I never ever once thought "man, this class could really use MORE healing...." I catch myself just sitting on them. I'm heartbroken because AST felt like the most fun healing class for me.

In my mind, I always wanted the cards to be MORE supportive for the team, like a spell/skill speed boost, maybe even running speed boost... idk. Something interesting like that. Or even a sect change like there used to be, but instead of regen/shield, it's healing/DPS? Just ranting because I hope the devs read this and rework it. ):

[Rozeee]

Lightspeed still being 90s and still being mandatory for burst gives me all I need to know about the rework.

[Middie]

Been leveling it, as I did savages and most of EW as AST. I enjoyed the Job, it got a bit overwhelming when you had to multiple things to do in Savage content, but that was also an element of its fun. It could be a busy Job and I think people like the idea of that.

In DT, so far, the best word I think for the card changes is clunky. It doesn't mesh well with the play style I got used to, the cards don't feel useful, nor does it work with my UI layouts that handles healers in general.

Play style, in dungeons, feels like throw the damage boost on relevant Job, throw whatever else on the Tank. That's it. No thinking. 2 out of the 3 cards feel like they have little relevancy.
That might change in the Trials and endgame, and more thinking might be involved, but right now it's not feeling good.

It doesn't help there's no reward. The RNG and getting Astrodyne maxed out felt rewarding. Now it's just spam the cards, wait 55s... not very impactful.

UI layout is far more personal, but I had all four healers working with a semi-consistent layout. Dispel = Ctrl+Q, Cure = 1, Cure 2 = 2, AoE = Alt 1, etc. A good 60% of my layout was generic between the Healer Jobs.
The 3 new play abilities pretty much is destroying it for me. Finding a nice place for a 1-2-3 in my layout has again made things clunky and unfun.

I get what they were thinking, to a degree, but without reducing button bloat, it was always going to be messy. At least for me.

I've committed to AST for the MSQ leveling, although I really feel I made a mistake and should of gone WHM/SGE. I think AST will get benched once 100.

2. I actually prefer the old Draw animation over Sleeve Draw

Yes! Compared to the old, the new animation feels terrible. The fistbump just feels so out of place.

I really wish there was a way to select older animations; both retired like Draw and upgraded abilities (I like older version of the PLD final combo swing).

[elioaiko]

Tbh, I got excited when I saw that the cards are gonna have different effects on them only to realize that they're just....ST and weak.

What made Stormblood AST fun was the Royal Road system. Being able to Extend, Enhance or Spread was insanely fun.

This....is just boring. Say what you want about it being RNG, forcing long CDs between cards that aren't going to be used in the correct moments. "Could really use Bole for this tank but nope it's on the right draw yet."

Being able to manipulate what you were given felt good and using Sleeve Draw just hit like dopamine.

Hell even Shadowbringers AST felt good (in 4.5), the cards had meaning and flowed nicely with the Divination.

I want the cards to actually feel like a part of AST's kit, not just something to use if you want.

Not it's just there. The devs have all but turn AST in a shell of what it was. Just broken and unfun. AST probably has to be one of the only jobs that gives a major rework every xpac. The job has had its gimmick changed so many times.

I will die on the hill for the return of Stormblood or Shadowbringers AST.

[Arrius]

The card changes are weird.

From 6 of them, I would likely dump 4 onto the tank anyway as they make the most use of it.
Balance and Spear goes to the DPS, as always.

This is all needless click spam.