How to make Nocturnal Sect more interesting and compelling

[ChocoChick]

The general consensus is that Nocturnal sect is a bit underwhelming compared to Diurnal because it just seems the regen over time is just easier to use and seems to beat out on the shields.

But I got some interesting ideas to make Nocturnal sect a more interesting and cooler stance to use.

Firstly, nocturnal aspected benefic should only grant a shield instead of a heal+shield. The shield potency should be greater than the heal+shield potency combined. This creates a unique skill that rewards players for great timing as you'd have to make full use of the shield since there is no initial heal. By removing the heal, it further sets apart AST from other classes as well as differentiating Dirunal aspected benefic vs Nocturnal more.

[ChocoChick]

Secondly, it would be absolutely cool if nocturnal collective unconscious erected an actual shield with potency amount to reduce incoming damage.

Let's face it, 10% damage reduction is incredibly boring and is often under appreciated as its effects aren't readily visible. Make it so in nocturnal stance, our collective unconscious creates an umbrella of a shield, just like what Louisoix used in the calamity. Once the shield is broken, shattered pieces around the surface cracks then by choosing to continue to channel, the shield will slowly regain some potency up again.

This would make the skill so cool and again differentiates nocturnal sect from the scholar counterpart. It would feel great to feel like you are using an actual ability Louisoix have learnt, given he's Sharlayan and astrology comes from Sharlaya (my lore understanding may be off here however).

[Akyio]

I absolutely agree especially on the colective unconscious. since its a level 58 ability i would like it to actually be a level 58 ability, not a weaker version of sacred soil.
i think the range should be definitely increased and it should just erect a strong shield with a decent potency on everyone. in diurnal imo it should heal with a decent potency. a strong AoE heal or AoE shield with a longer cooldown.

[Parawill]

I personally always loved Ritualist type healing in Guild Wars as they both enhanced a target's weapon while adding some benefits such as +damage, +crit, +evasion, +lifesteal on hit. So perhaps adding something to that on Nocturnal would be fun. Maybe even a shield-heal that's similar to Galvanize, but heals when damage is taken (while nulls a certain amount).

Just shooting ideas and not thinking of practicality or its "brokenness" if introduced to FF, but here are some skills from the Ritualist Skill Set. I am a Link to the GW Wiki page.

[Sidra]

I love the current Aspected Benefic in Noct stance and would prefer no change. It gets beatdown in forums because it isn't Adloquium, but it costs less and more importantly is instant cast. The other stuff in Noct seems to be lacking, but Aspected Benefic isn't one of them.

[FoxyAreku]

It being interesting or cool isn't the issue. The shields are just too small. And Time dilation doesn't really help them at all like it does regens.

[Muahbec]

...

Your Collective unconscious idea is AWESOME. I absolutelly loved it.
I also loved how you managed to keep AST away from looking like SCH.
The Aspected Benefic idea is also very interesting.

[ckc22]

Absolutely any change that ends with your shield being better than a sch will irritate me.

Basically everything in this thread is "our nocturnal benefic should be better than adlo" "our unconcious should be better than sacred soil" - this is how every Ast thread goes "why isn't my xyz as good as/better than whm/sch?"

Puhlease.

[Muahbec]

...

Nope, its not "our stuff must be better than adlo" it is "our stuff must be good AND different from SCH" don't be ignorant. ALSO it was SE who started comparing AST to WHM and SCH from the very beginning so don't blame the players who only want their main job to be useful and powerful so it won't be thrown away only because the other healers can do a better job.

Puhlease.

[basketofseals]

Absolutely any change that ends with your shield being better than a sch will irritate me.

Basically everything in this thread is "our nocturnal benefic should be better than adlo" "our unconcious should be better than sacred soil" - this is how every Ast thread goes "why isn't my xyz as good as/better than whm/sch?"

Puhlease.

The shield proposed is definitely not strictly better than aldo. Adlo with a crit is a 450 potency heal with a 900 potency shield. If this skill crits, it's just a 750 shield. Not to mention you have tons of supporting tools such as deployment tactics. I mean currently our aspected helios in nocturnal is actually worse than just regular helios. Making it just a shield would give it a niche.