Done with AST

[DarkmoonVael]

Also I don't want to be nit-picky yet, I did not see any other posts from you in this thread so talking in "we" is probably misplaced :X

Yet, I agree that there are still some flaws with AST. However (final) balancing is not done in a few weeks (or at least it should not be), therefore it is to be expected that AST will stay - let's say a bit - behind the other two heals for a while.
The most important thing for me is though, that I have fun with AST, and if I reach the endcontent one or two weeks after the "progression fanatics" is of no relevance to me.

Anyway, I guess I have to visit A1S some time soon to see it for myself, how bad/well AST fares there.

I refere to it as "we" since i am very prolific in posting in the healer forums referring to the AST topics that are currently being discussed.

The issues from AST healing really do stem from its inability to meet the same sort of healing checks as WHM and SCH do in end game content. They also put too much burden on the other healers in this content, thus making their ability to contribute to healing+dps lower.

I love the concept and the visulisation of AST, but currently it just doesnt cut it in end game content. It has to be balanced like all classes are: around end game content, in a top-down fashion.

[Seoulstar]

The class can heal fine. But I personally think it depends on RNG a little too much. Considering how unforgiving it can be.

[GeekMatt]

Have experienced low potency issues preventing me from keeping up for the full duration of the tanks large pull where my WHM and SCH never had issues.

Have not had mp issues outside of the last boss of The Aery where I abused my mp. Also, I use both stances

[Aeliott]

Well, I think they could make a start by removing the lower potency compared to WHM / SCH. Even if the potencies match, ASTs don't have the rest of a WHM/SCH kit that makes them what they are, so it's not like they'd be outclassed (especially given AST's lack of healing related cooldowns). Without the ability to freely switch between sects they may have shot themselves in the foot with ever making AST a desirable serious end-game healer. Instead of being the inferior middle-man of both existing jobs they should've given them a unique healing mechanic. The cards are great and refreshing, especially considering how streamlined they've tried to make other jobs (mch isn't that dissimilar to bard, every tank now has an enmity combo and a branching-finisher 2nd combo etc), but we don't have dedicated support roles in this game, it is a healer. It *can* heal all the current content, but not without considerably more stress than the others. Stress the entire party will feel.

Considering they're half-Time Mage anyway (Gravity, various timer-tinkering skills) I don't know why they didn't run with that theme in the healing department too. Maybe make them a primarily HoT class, with skills that can consume the remaining ticks for a quicker burst heal, extend them much as they can with Time Dilation / CO etc. A couple more intersting CDs like Synastry...

[Yumi_umi]

Ast was made for pvp everything else is like meh lol.
That noct shield op as u can cast and cast it over again with 3 dps smashing ur face in and ur just like lel.
In PvE tho, u go oom and everyone dies lol.

[Xikaz]

I'm glad people are raising concerns with AST just in normal grouping situations as well. I feel it doesn't get enough attention with so many people running in premades where execution is always flawless and claiming AST can handle all content before savage Alex with ease.

If you get a bad group in DF as an AST you will easily start testing the limits of your job and seeing shortcomings without the need to step into the most challenging content of the game.

[416to305]

Can I just ask though to the people that defend AST so bad, like why do you? I mean what is so good about AST that you need to suffer through it and keep playing it? Just boredom of WHM and SCH or something and need change? There's just so many people complaining about it I don't get why people want to use it so badly unless you just like a big challenge or something I guess.

[Tyla_Esmeraude]

Can I just ask though to the people that defend AST so bad, like why do you? I mean what is so good about AST that you need to suffer through it and keep playing it? Just boredom of WHM and SCH or something and need change? There's just so many people complaining about it I don't get why people want to use it so badly unless you just like a big challenge or something I guess.

Personally, because I like cards. I like the core design (in theory, not so much in practice on its current state). It's a fast healer and a buffer (cards), at that. It's like a mix of RDM and COR, 2 jobs I mained in FFXI. :3 It's like I found my true love. When I use Lightpseed I feel like I'm Chainspelling on RDM.

WHM is okay, but I got bored of the same ol' aero spells and stones, I didn't like the Holy nerf #2 (the only spell that kept WHM fun for me) and the constant misses when trying to have a lil bit more fun by DPSing in raids (at least on AST I know Comb and Comb 2 will always hit). In fact, if RDM had been available from the start I probably would've picked that one instead. It's weird you know because I really liked WHM in FFXI, I leveled it to 99, geared it up and I just loved casting those huge Cure V, VI's, using Protectra and Shellra V, Raise III, Banish III, Haste, etc. =( I liked the noble's tunic so much and the puffy pants look on WHMs.

[YuiSasaki]

*snip*

I totally agree with Tyla. Perhaps, the "difficulty" in healing is what keeps me playing at AST.

Not to forget: Far too many people tend to QQ for nothing, only to balance either their e-peen or their inability to play a certain class (-> see them DD threads like "QQ BUFF CLASS X PLX ITS UNDERPOWERED BY FAR"). I agree AST still needs some tweaks, but especially regarding those buff-requests by some people here in the official forum...

And playing a class that got buffed to the max... is just plain boring...

[Kaizersan]

I had yesterday this in neverreap where tank pulled too much and died, i was unable to heal that fast and he died. He acknowledged that AST had some healing issues and will not pull that much. I was pretty sure that if i was SCH he wouldn't have died.

Your issue likely comes from not prepping your cards before hand generally for big pulls I have a extended Ewer on hold and use it with with LA and CD to extend both timers by 5 seconds so I rarely run out of mp.