AST, SCH, and 3.4: What stance do I use now?

[ZAZX]

Ever since 3.4 dropped I've noticed a large drop in the amount of WHMs in DF and usually get paired with a SCH on my AST main.

I used to run Diurnal almost constantly, but with Nocturnal actually being fantastic now and giving better shields than SCH (Critlo withstanding), what stance should I be in?

I usually ask the SCH if they want to be Main or Off Healer, and if they say OH I will stay in Noct Stance for the 10% Healing potency and stronger shields, giving the SCH more time to DPS, provide non-shield support, and spend the MP they save on any raising that is required.

Except a lot of the time when I do that, SCHs continue to shield, overwriting my shields with (usually) weaker ones while they're up or just wasting mana on it when I planned to shield.

The 10% Potency boost is incredibly nice when I'm covering the bulk of the healing and its equally as infuriating when I go to Diurnal and the SCH is in Cleric 90% of the time anyway.

Am I making a poor decision here or have people just not become used to there being a Non-Regen Main Healer now?

[Naria]

I'd still be using Durinal when paired with a SCH honestly, regardless of how much the SCH is in clerics or not. Look as it this way: As an AST you can choose to have shields or regen and still have access to your entire toolset, however if you use Noct then a SCH can't use part of their toolset optimally (Aldo, Succor, Deployment Tactics). It doesn't matter if Noct shields are better 90% of the time an AST in Durinal can provide something a SCH can't while and AST in Noct is denying SCH use of part of their toolset that they have no way to replace.

I play all three healers but as a SCH main I tend to get really annoyed if I get paired with an AST using Noct as it seems over all less efficient (I haven't run the numbers on this, just my gut reaction). Just my two cents.

[Fernosaur]

100% agree with Naria. I'd even say running NoctAST with a SCH in DF might even be seen as rude, tbh.

Think of it this way, on DF it's awfully hard to be in sync with your co-healer, and even if in theorycraft the numbers were better with NoctAST+SCH, good luck pulling that off with a PuG. Also, you say they usually overwrte your shields with a weaker one, but you might be doing the same if they deployed a crit and you used Aspected Helios without noticing. It's just inefficient to do that without proper communication.

[Kibby]

SCH and AST's shields don't stack, so I don't see the point of even going as Noct when paired with a SCH. There's a reason why ASTs have two sects...

As for scholars dpsing when you're in diurnal, that's pretty common. As diurnal, you're the main healer, so you're giving them more time to do more dps.

[Supersun]

What stance do you use now?

Clerics

[ty_taurus]

I still say use Nocturnal only when paired with a WHM or another AST, and use Diurnal in 4-man content. Nocturnal might've gotten its raw power boost, but it still doesn't synchronize nearly as well with the rest of the kit as Diurnal. Time Dilation and Celestial Opposition might increase the duration of shields, but that's pointless as the shields go away as soon as they deplete, whereas both time extension buffs extend the duration of your HoTs. Card buff -> Aspected Helios -> Aspected Benefic (on tank) -> Luminiferous Aether -> Celestial Opposition just sets you up so much better in Diurnal than it does in Nocturnal. You can even throw in Synastry and Collective Unconscious if you really want to go into overdrive, as both will get extended.

[Kamui_Argent]

As a SCH main, for the love of the Twelve, stick to Diurnal sect when paired with a SCH, especially if in Duty Finder. The first day 3.4 dropped, as I was running Alex Creator Normal, I was paired with an AST in A9 who stuck with Nocturnal Sect and it was a mess. She was MH but it really wasn't enough since the fight was new, people were not overgeared etc. etc. We kept wiping and even after we asked her to switch to Diurnal she kept insisting that Nocturnal Sect was better. After a few more wipes, the tank initiated a vote kick on her, it passed, and we got another AST who saw me and promptly switched to Diurnal. We cleared that run finally. Not saying that the first AST was bad, but please, we are gimping our heals if you stick to Nocturnal with a SCH. Sure the shields are super amazing now, but just like a SCH isn't all about the shields, AST are about so much more. In Diurnal you get strong regens, and you still get the great card effects as well.

[Yona87]

AST main heal when paired with SCH.
Stick with it.

[GeekMatt]

AST main heal when paired with SCH.
Stick with it.

Except in DF SCHs frequently stay out of Cleric even in portions of fights that require 0 healing from either healer. No sense in 2 main healers.

...But regardless AST in Diurnal when theres a sch, noct is inefficient and frustrating with one

[technole]

Diurnal always with a SCH.

Here is what I do when I see a random AST trying to use Noct stance with me as SCH. You overwrite their A.Helios with a Succor before the pull, they will change their tune. You do realize we SCHs have to use cooldowns to do AoE healing without shields? That is why we get annoyed.