AST QoL Changes

[DarkmoonVael]

That is true, but Ewer is also on RNG. Then you also have the RNG of whether or not that Ewer will be enhanced or extended based on what you do with other draws.

RNG is a slippery slope that I don't like getting into because there's too many variables to account for. Even at 20% there's been 5+ minute fights where I've only seen Freecure proc once or twice, and even at 17% there's been 5+ minute fights where I've seen Ewer drawn 6 times in a row.

Therefore I decided to do the math based purely on worse-case scenarios. Assuming a WHM gets no Freecure procs and a AST gets no Ewer draws. I feel that's a bit more fair too given I ignored other MP management buffs, like Lightspeed. I understand fights are a conglomeration of any and all spells and abilities, and any and all combinations of these. To do the math for every combination would be outrageously complicated and time-consuming.

Like in physics, sometimes it's best to lay out your assumptions to make the math simple, even when in the real world you can't ignore those assumptions.

There is one major thing thats being left out of here, and thats the reality of card usage in raids on AST with the analogy of ewer vs freecure procs. Ewer, when drawn, can be royal roaded (which it usually is) or if it is being used, can be used on targets other than the AST. Bards are prime targets for ewer if it has to be used. More mana = more foes. It can also be used on the other healer. The only time i activly use it on myself on AST is a2s where the ability to gravity spam mobs more leads to higher raid dps.

Freecure procs on the other hand are only used for cure II. This being the case they are only there for increased healing for less (no) mana. Freecure procs really has to be taken into account in the cost vs efficiency ratio when comparing AST and WHM, since it really is part and parcel of WHM selfcontained toolkit.

However i am of the opinion the difference in mana efficiency between ASt and WHM is negligible at best. Most of the times i come across people who do complain AST mana efficiency is terrible, it tends to come from someone playing AST who, until 3.0, had never played a healer in FF14 and has yet to learn how to play properly.

EDIT: thinking on this, even with ewers usage, one other thing that has to be taken into account is lightspeed and its 25% cost reduction in healing spells, which may push mana management in AST favour.