I want to heal! ...but first...

[GideonHighmourn]

So what are AST's current issues/obstacles?

Without going into too much detail ... In normal content and leveling, I wouldn't say there really are any issues outside of when they gain skills. They do wait a long time to receive new single-target attacks and don't receive an AoE until 52. Outside of progression and "end game" content, there is really nothing wrong with AST. The problem at progression and endgame content is mostly their lack of healing cool downs compared to WHM/SCH and their lack of reliable, meaningful group utility. The card buffs are mostly just fluff, and really don't fill in the "hole" left by lower potency heals and lack of healing cool downs, as they're supposed to have traded healing potency for utility according to SE.

AST lacks its own unique healing mechanics, and is therefore pigeon-holed into being a WHM Jr or SCH Jr; since it doesn't (or hasn't yet) created a new "meta" healing game, it's lagging behind the other two healers in terms of performance in endgame progression.

By all means, if you enjoy the class, play it. I'm sure more changes and adjustments will come to AST over the following months.

[Causality]

AST lacks its own unique healing mechanics, and is therefore pigeon-holed into being a WHM Jr or SCH Jr; since it doesn't (or hasn't yet) created a new "meta" healing game, it's lagging behind the other two healers in terms of performance in endgame progression.

By all means, if you enjoy the class, play it. I'm sure more changes and adjustments will come to AST over the following months.

But they are no means nonviable for current endgame content. I saw this video thread a few minutes ago.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...strologian-PoV

[GideonHighmourn]

But they are no means nonviable for current endgame content. I saw this video thread a few minutes ago.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...strologian-PoV

Where did I claim it was non viable? In fact, I said it was lagging behind in performance compared to WHM/SCH in the current meta game, which has perhaps been the most common complaint about AST. Also, as stated by numerous others, the ability to clear content has nothing to do with balance or performance compared to SCH/WHM.

If you want a more detailed post about the previous meta game, and the problems AST has in fitting into it, there's a good read on reddit which can be found here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comme...ed_from_party/

The biggest obstacle for AST at the moment, I'd say, is that the majority of their utility is tied to RNG, which makes it unreliable. On top of this, the card effects are a little underwhelming and don't make up for the randomness of the cards, lack of healing cool downs, and lower potency heals overall.