RIP WHM/SCH

[LycorisSelunis]

the reviewers said the actual healing output is lesser than whm and sch but the regen or shield effects are constantly applied, said effects are also weaker than the pure counterparts

This is why I think we may actually use cure as a cross class action. The regen or shield component getting recast if you are in a spam-heal situation won't be doing much, since I'm sure they won't stack. Sch alternates adlo and physick for a spamheal now for this very reason. We also don't know mp costs or regen mechanics- cure could be cheaper than benefic, helping your mana last in long encounters.

I do wonder though if the stance-effect buff is the same on EVERY heal? example whm regen and the regen from medica2 are different and thus stack from the same whm. Will one of AST aoe heals have a different buff form the stance? heck, maybe even benefic and benefic2 could have a different buff. Just speculation of course.

[zuzu-bq]

I'm not that hyped to play astrologian. As a scholar, I'm really looking foward to play with an astrologian partner!

I really think about the Astrologian buffs like weakened versions of buffs that already exists in game. The real power of astrologian is to fit with any healer partner and to keep the party buffed constantly.

My Selene has had haste for ages.

Thats what I'm talking with my friends since the haste-like action was revealed.

I think we may actually use cure as a cross class action.

This would be interesting.
But I think they'll just have their own "cure"/"physick"

[LycorisSelunis]

snip

I agree about the Selene/haste thing. Everyone was like 'we don't have haste!" I was like.....Selene does WHAT now? You don't call that haste? Hehe.

I would hope they do have a baseline 400 potency heal with no effect as well, but we have not heard anything about it so only time will tell, cross class slots are few after all. As for cohealing with ast/sch I can't help but wonder if their shields will stack or not. Either way ast has hot stance and sch is getting a lot of new raw healing tools too.

Honestly though I am hype for all 3 healers! I played all 5 healers in WoW and I plan to do the same here in FF. I enjoy both whm and sch now, and I like having the flexibility to bring whatever the group needs in 8man, or just whichever one I feel like for a 4man.

Speaking of WoW comparisons... Sounds like sch gets grimoire of sacrifice and the change adlo to straight heal reminds me a bit of some druid/monk stuff like detonate chi and genesis where you can force your effects into burst healing, whm is getting holy nova and healing rain, ast gets beacon of light....

There is ONE niche spell I loved in WoW sometimes that I would have loved to see on ast when I first heard about it. The 'ticking shield' effect- like a hot absorb. I first encountered this when they rehauled shaman totems in the end of Cata. Stone bulwark totem- this thing saved my hide SO many times. Also paladins got sacred shield, so the same thing only you could cast it on someone else. Seemed fitting for the time-based ast.

[NorthernLadMSP]

While I want to keep a hopeful, open mind about AST (because I'm really excited for it), I keep reading about how their DPS is lower than WHM/SCH, that their healing mode is weaker than WHM and their shield mode is weaker than SCH. Makes me wonder if AST is going to be unwanted right from the get go. I mean if they're weaker in all three aspects (DPS, healing and shielding) their card buffs sure probably won't make up for those shortcomings.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Arcana]

While I want to keep a hopeful, open mind about AST (because I'm really excited for it), I keep reading about how their DPS is lower than WHM/SCH, that their healing mode is weaker than WHM and their shield mode is weaker than SCH. Makes me wonder if AST is going to be unwanted right from the get go. I mean if they're weaker in all three aspects (DPS, healing and shielding) their card buffs sure probably won't make up for those shortcomings.

I hope I'm wrong.

I have the same concerns. I really want to know more about this job because atm doesnt feel awesome.

[Cynfael]

I have the same concerns. I really want to know more about this job because atm doesnt feel awesome.

To be fair, it's not going to feel like anything until we actually get to play it. The first impressions of a handful of people who got to dink around on a test client don't hold a great deal of weight with me; I like to read their opinions, but I'm not expecting any definitive evaluations.

When it all goes live, I'll start finding things about which to be concerned.

[LycorisSelunis]

When it all goes live, I'll start finding things about which to be concerned.

Or things to be happy with :3 Optimism!

Either way I find it hilarious that what people originally touted as the death of the existing healers in this game, seems to have turned into the potentially underpowered healer. I still think all 3 will be viable and fun, but that may just be me.

[xxhieixx]

To be fair, it's not going to feel like anything until we actually get to play it. The first impressions of a handful of people who got to dink around on a test client don't hold a great deal of weight with me; I like to read their opinions, but I'm not expecting any definitive evaluations.

When it all goes live, I'll start finding things about which to be concerned.

Right. I love how everyone freaks out before they even get to play any of the classes or content.

[Nihility]

While I want to keep a hopeful, open mind about AST (because I'm really excited for it), I keep reading about how their DPS is lower than WHM/SCH, that their healing mode is weaker than WHM and their shield mode is weaker than SCH. Makes me wonder if AST is going to be unwanted right from the get go. I mean if they're weaker in all three aspects (DPS, healing and shielding) their card buffs sure probably won't make up for those shortcomings.

I hope I'm wrong.

The things keeping me hopeful is.
An astrologian will have to be strong enough to do 4 man content or it won't even be viable as a healer at all so their healing must be at least that capable
and If their non-healing aspect, cards and other utility, is desirable in a group....

playing an astrologian exactly the opposite of what SE intends might actually be rather powerful in a full party.

If you use nocturnal sect while with a scholar you'll be applying the nocturnal shields and galvanize together. That should be a pretty considerable amount of mitigation
and if your playing diurnal sect with a white mage the diurnal regen coupled with the white mage regens should be a whole ton of regeneration. I mean I'm sure everyone has seen how strong a doubled up medica II works out to be

There is also the 2 spells that were mentioned that seem like they may be the astrologian's trump cards.
I saw nothing about a buff spreading skill for astrologian but they do have a buff extending skill and it was not said if it only applies to cards or everything. Imagine how powerful a skill that let's you extend every buff on a select person for 10s would be? But considering how strong that would be it likely is only for cards

and this 'stasis field' thing they get at 60. That sounds like the sort of thing that can let your entire group straight up skip a mechanic if they choose to, seems like it might be something very special

[LycorisSelunis]

If you use nocturnal sect while with a scholar you'll be applying the nocturnal shields and galvanize together. That should be a pretty considerable amount of mitigation
and if your playing diurnal sect with a white mage the diurnal regen coupled with the white mage regens should be a whole ton of regeneration. I mean I'm sure everyone has seen how strong a doubled up medica II works out to be

Sadly though we have no way of being sure that the shields will stack, although I would love it if they did. :/ the fact that 2 whms can stack regens but sch cannot stack shields right now is rather inconsistent imo. And if they thought 2 sch stacking shields might have been OP I can't help but wonder if ast shields will stack. Though I do agree that it seems likely the regens will.