Anyone else feeling a hit to SCH?

[Arcana]

SCH was never OP, it was unique.

Ehm, excuse me but that's not true.

[Eloah]

Ehm, excuse me but that's not true.

SCH were considered OP maybe in ARR, but when HW was released they evened out what made them considered OP, without changing their core gameplay. The Devs just indicated that throughout HW SCH was considered the in demand healer because of its utility.

[LegoTechnic]

Ehm, excuse me but that's not true.

I guess before I go further I should specify they were never OP as in "over-powered". There was no content you couldn't do without a SCH save progression raiding, and that same content couldn't be done with double-SCH due to their lack of consistent large heals. And I'm speaking of low-ilvl progression raiding, because as gear increases restrictions on what healers you bring ease off.

If you're wanting to argue that they were "over-played", then I won't refute that. They had a strong off-healer niche with lots of powerful ogcd abilities and their competitors were shallow for the same role, but what can you expect when AST played like a clone of WHM and for much of HW had crippling mana issues if it tried to DPS like a SCH? However SCH DPS was actually quite lacking comparatively whenever burst was required with the weakest direct damage spell available, making them the worst DPS contributor during most add phases (since they rarely lived long enough for dots to tick fully). They excelled in sustained damage both because dots tick away while you're otherwise busy, but also because aetherize mana return and stack abilities allowed to do so safely without running out of juice, a luxury long envied by WHM/AST. That didn't make them overpowered as they have their fair share of weaknesses, but it certainly gave them a guaranteed raid spot.

[Valknut]

I guess before I go further I should specify they were never OP as in "over-powered".

They have been OP for all of ARR and 90% of HW, take off the WAR goggles.

[Dastev]

With plenty of skills getting changed and traited, one of my biggest wishes for SCH though is that Dissipation had the same effect Summon Bahamut has - in a way that *once the effect is over your Dissipated Fairy is automatically ressumoned*.

Let's face it, one of the biggest reasons nobody uses Dissipate as often as other skills is entirely because we have to waste a Swiftcast to recall our fairy (and that is completely disregarding the pretty high mana cost!).

If it was automatically so, it would certainly encourage us to, you know, use one more skill from our arsenal. Especially considering the aetherflow CDR trait we're getting, it would make it for amazing synergy.

[Alisane]

I was completely, totally satisfied with SCH when I first read the details. DPS nerf--expected. SCH has been top dog for a long time and something had to give. DPSing will be crazy boring now without stance dancing and like half a DOT to maintain but we\\'ll see.

Then I read the AST updates. Better at shields than SCH now! Assize on steroids. I enjoyed AST back in 3.0 and will continue to do so. BUT I am pretty bummed that on paper, aside from a party crit buff (that doesn\\'t even affect my chance to try and crit an adlo to deploy it, since AST can\\'t do that yet) there isn\\'t much reason to take a SCH over AST looking at shields only.

I think this all stemmed from them trying to make AST fill either role. In 2.0, both WHM and SCH had a totally separate identity. AST should have had its own as well. Instead they tried to make it a celestial clone instead of giving it a unique healing mechanic of its own.

[VraeliaValkyria]

I don't like how our Aetherflows was nerfed to 10% MP gain. And 30% MP cost was implemented. SCHs are supposed to be the kings of MP management. On top of that, Bane is totally nerfed to hell. And Shadow Flare supposedly took a hit as well. SMN/SCHs are AoEs masters when it comes to DoTs. SE really needs to stop nerfing all the jobs. And start looking at how ungodly they are making AST. AST is way too damn powerful. And I'm pissed about it. They are literally on the edge of taking over even an SCH's role. I mean, look at WHM. That job in itself was crushed. ASTs are supposed to be hybrids. Not the master of both SCH/WHM's worlds. I understand in HW, it needed buffed up. But this, is unjustly done.

SE, please wake up and realize the mistakes you are doing.

[Alkimi]

And Shadow Flare supposedly took a hit as well.

Because it's now off the GCD the Shadow Flare change is actually a dps boost. It's gone from 600 potency per minute to 250, but it's also freed up 2 GCDs which you can use on Broil II so it's an 80 potency gain.

It's a slight AoE nerf but if you were refreshing shadow flare for the AoE then your party has other problems.

[VraeliaValkyria]

Also, to add onto this. During the vids and information I have seen. I have not seen anything that allowed Aetherflow to give us more than 3 stacks. Most of us SCHs were expecting at least one more stack in Heavensward. Why aren't we getting more Stacks for SCH/SMN?

[Cynfael]

Also, to add onto this. During the vids and information I have seen. I have not seen anything that allowed Aetherflow to give us more than 3 stacks. Most of us SCHs were expecting at least one more stack in Heavensward. Why aren't we getting more Stacks for SCH/SMN?

To be fair, the trait that has a chance to proc Aetherflow CD reduction addresses this somewhat. Having a flat 4th stack would probably be preferable, but at least they gave some thought to upgrading the mechanic with level.