Astro in savage

[GideonHighmourn]

And that's actually BACKWARDS: the whole point of AST is that you should be making DPS checks faster because of the buffs, and if we're not, then there's NO point to AST at all. :\

I think it should at least be a viable alternative to the WHM/SCH DPS combo. WHM/SCH simply buys far more guaranteed DPS through Cleric Stance for pushing through content than AST/* can buy with minor, unreliable card buffs.

[Dyvid]

snip.

So I guess my question to you then is what actually needs to be buffed? Heals or dps/card buffs?

[RichardButte]

Someone had an idea in another thread which I loved...

Give AST a third stance that would behave like cleric stance, except that it cannot be turned off in combat (just like how Diurn/Noct behave).

With the stance off, AST's heals would be in line with SCH/WHM and the cards would be where they are now (ie not terribly effective for the overall fight).

With the stance ON, AST's heals would be weaker, but the card buffs would be EXTREMELY potent.

Then, ASTs can choose between being a vanilla healer with mild buffs and a risky healer with amazing buffs. Right now, they're closer to weaker healer with mild buffs, and that needs to CHANGE...

[NorthernLadMSP]

Ooh I really like that idea!

[technole]

The buffs where just not enough, will a savage progress raid bring an AST over WHM or Scholar? I honestly don't think so.

I didn't do it yet but IMO AST/SCH is bad combination because they don't give MND bonus. I still prefer one of the party have WHM.

Yeah, I can bring AST or WHM to savage, but there is no way I'm taking AST over WHM and risking not having the MND party buff for progression. Alex Normal, anything is fine. But big boy healing and weaving dps potency is needed here especially since everyone is really undergeared at this point of the raid cycle.

[Staris]

The problem is that if you're wiping to DPS checks, a WHM/SCH duo allows the SCH to do a hell of a lot more DPS and, as people have been saying in the thread, that's what their experience has been and the content becomes dramatically easier once they switched to this combo.

And that's actually BACKWARDS: the whole point of AST is that you should be making DPS checks faster because of the buffs, and if we're not, then there's NO point to AST at all. :\

I'm guessing that if you had a WHM/SCH combo you'd have just rolled right through it...

THe dps gain would have to be greater than that of using dps cards on a dreadworm tranced summoner who is multi dotting.
I think its close enough to be irrelevant.

We have another group about to clear it, using a WHM and their sch is doing nearly identical dps.

I think you are vastly overestimating the differences in actual heals cast and and underestimating the usefulness of synastry and disable

[SuzakuCMX]

We have another group about to clear it, using a WHM and their sch is doing nearly identical dps.

And that's actually BACKWARDS: the whole point of AST is that you should be making DPS checks faster because of the buffs, and if we're not, then there's NO point to AST at all. :\

If AST and SCH output the same DPS per raid but AST's cards are a random buff and it heals for less, how is that balanced?

Another question: is AST worth giving up Selene/Eos buffs, Lustrate, E4E, Supervirus, Adlo crit shields, Shadow Flare slow, and Emergency/Deployment tactics for the card buffs?

[RichardButte]

THe dps gain would have to be greater than that of using dps cards on a dreadworm tranced summoner who is multi dotting.
I think its close enough to be irrelevant.

I think the SCH multi-dotting is more reliable than the 17% chance of a balance.

We have another group about to clear it, using a WHM and their sch is doing nearly identical dps.

We also need to consider the parsing of every player in both groups. It'll only be a valid comparison if the DPS are putting out near identical numbers in both groups.

I think you are vastly overestimating the differences in actual heals cast and and underestimating the usefulness of synastry and disable

SCH/WHM healing capability is vastly superior, as is mana management. That's not even up for debate. SCH is no more than 60 seconds away from restoring 20% of its mana (and then even MORE mana if you burn Aetherflow stacks on recovering more as needed).

SCH also has 6 dots (both miasmas, both bios, Aero and Shadow flare). I'm not saying they can afford to use all of them all the time, but the option is definitely there if they have the spare mana.

But did they fix Disable so it doesn't get triggered by individual auto attacks?

Not trying to downplay your accomplishment. I think it's extremely impressive, but that's just it, it shouldn't be THAT impressive to do this with an AST.

When people are reporting trying with AST and failing then switching to SCH and steamrolling it (with the only thing changing in the group being them switching to SCH and having largely the same gear), then the problem seems clear...

[Grekumah]

Greetings,

Thanks for the feedback!

We'd like to share the dev. team's thoughts and approach in regards to the current balance of astrologians.

• Astrologian's healing potency and cards effects

  Astrologian's healing potency and card effects were set with a party's total offensive and defensive capabilities in mind, as they can increase various effects of other party members using their cards.
  
  The development team is observing player progression in raids and dungeons to ensure the game balance is set up appropriately for each piece of content. If they feel it needs further adjustments, they'll consider making adjustments based on player data and feedback.
  

• Future feedback

  The development team is constantly observing in-game data, but they're also using the feedback received on the forums when making future adjustments. Comments regarding how astrologians feel when healing throughout the various areas of content is very useful, so please continue to send us specific requests on each action's effect when battling through the different instances.

[RichardButte]

Greetings,

Thanks for the feedback!

Thanks for the update!

I feel like the recent changes were a step in the right direction, but overall I feel like ASTs healing potency is still just too weak. I can feel the difference even when healing dungeons on my SCH vs. AST: if the group is good and doesn't get hit, either will do fine. If the group is bad and gets hit by extra damage, the AST suffers while the SCH manages just fine in identical ilev.

Consider the following ideas:

-A switch like Diurnal and Noct that cannot be disabled in combat that will weaken the heals while boosting the card buff potency, allowing an AST to choose between the "reliable" or "risky but rewarding" playstyles before combat begins.

-An ability like Shuffle that, instead of drawing another card, sacrifices the drawn card to boost AST's healing potency for a duration or uses the card as a castable heal instead of a buff

-A shorter cool down on Luminerfous Aeither or more potency on its regen. The Ewer card should be a bonus to use on the party, not a necessity for AST to try to fix its mana issues.

AST isn't too far off from where it needs to be, but they just pale in comparison to what SCH and WHM bring to the table as healers.