Learning how to properly play AST

[TatoRazzino]

Now let's consider some things:

To reach these values in this specific situation you have to DPS for 2 minutes non-stop and 100% of the spells have to hit. In an actual healing situation, this probably won't happen. Considering that both AST and WHM usually act as main healers (since it's a general consensus that SCH is mandatory in a raid group), the chance of a situation like this happening is very low. So we have to consider stance dancing, healing context and also positioning. So let's think about some points:

- If the WHM is far away from the target, it will not be possible to use Fluid Aura (that is also the case if the enemy can be knocked back, which usually irritates tanks and DPS players); that alone reduces the WHM's potency by 600. AST's DPS wouldn't be affected;
- In a healing intense fight, a WHM may want to save Assize for healing. That alone will reduce WHM's DPS output. ASTs wouldn't be affected by this, since they don't have any spells/skills that work like Assize;
- If we consider the way that Cleric Stance works, we know that it's easier to activate/deactivate it when the GCD is running. WHMs only have one spell that keeps the GCD running, while ASTs may have two spells if they cross class Aero. In my opinion, if the AST knows how to do a proper rotation it is easier for ASTs to stance dance efficiently. This, however, is a personal opinion;
- If the targets do many ground AoEs and can't be stunned, using Holy is very dangerous and that may reduce the WHM's ability to do AoE DPS. ASTs can do it safely from afar;
- In a healing intensive fight, sometimes the main healer only has the time to put up DoTs every now and then. The total combined potency of DoTs for WHM is 820 [Edit: look at the previous post edit info], while the AST's DoTs have a combined potency of 890 (considering Aero). Also, all the DoT's from the WHM toolkit have an initial hit, which means they can miss; Combust and Combust II bypass the accuracy requirements, which allows the AST to land 690 combined potency DoTs with 100% hit chance. That's a big advantage if we're considering a situation in which the main healer can only add some DoTs;
- Finally, we have to consider the fact that ASTs can buff other party members and this can make up for the lower DPS numbers when compared to WHM in an ideal situation (just like BRDs and MCHs make up for lower DPS output). Even if you not Draw many Balances or Arrows, the utility in itself helps in overall DPS increase (e.g.: in A2S, drawing many TP/MP cards may allow your BRD/MCH to do more DPS since they may not need to play songs/set up turrets and also add more DPS from Foe/Overcharge). WHM’s can only contribute to DPS by adding it directly.

After this (very very very very) long (and boring) reasoning, I’m inclined to believe that in an actual PvE situation, the DPS output difference between WHM/AST becomes irrelevant (if not nullified). WHMs have a stronger toolkit, but it’s more complicated to use and it also involves some compromising (like burning Swiftcast, Presence of Mind and Assize for DPS instead of healing); AST’s toolkit is less strong, but it is also more flexible and easier to use. On top of that, they can increase the group's overall DPS even if they don't use any kind of DPS skill; that is not the case for WHM.
If any of you guys have any evidence that blows my reasoning, please say so. I’m really interested in this discussion