correct AoE effect is only best with spear as it gives 10% cd reduction to everyone but this require preptime to do.... but yes other then that u should not be wasting ur cards on getting AoE effect u need to be using ur cards as much as possible hence the change to arrow/spear for Ewer/Spire... we basically turned into a bard with healing

Royal Road is not ment to be used contently it is only used for preperation time and the strongest uptime is double duration which is like using 2 cards at once but for 1 person.... u can get 45sec of Bole , Balance, Ewer, Spire if used with Time Dilation which is a large increase especially if u line them up with players buffs

you should be only Spreading 3 cards which should be Bole, Balance, Spear... (spear is for tank cooldown vs tank busters)

so by right u should always be using Ewer,Spire,
Royal Road Arrow (if no blm) or Spear (no ninja / tank busters)
Spread Balance, Bole, Spear (tank busters only)

if u gain double bole/balance lucky u just throw them on the dps or tank