Possible AST nerf

[Reilyn]

Then what do you suggest? There's already a WHM and a SCH. Should AST then not be a healer and more of a supportive role?
I don't see the problem being a bit of both.

AST has COPIES of other healer's basic tools, but better in multiple cases, AND brings buffs to the party neither healer competes with at all. If you don't see a problem, you might be blind. This is ironically the problem they wanted to avoid when AST came out in 3.0 which is why AST potencies were lower across the board back then.

A simple suggestion would be make it so at least SCHs are better in the shielding role they are stuck in than the healer that can shift in and out of that role on a whim out of combat, or completely change AST's healing kit to something a bit more original than 'I have your spells, but better in x, y, and z ways'

Right now, SCH has an identity crisis outside of its OGCD healing in actual practice (while being inferior in almost every other category), and a major part of why they still have relevance is the fact AST cards don't stack, and SCH at least helps group dps more than a WHM. If AST cards DID stack, well they may as well be the only healing job in the game at that point, and it's sad that technicality is the only thing stopping that. The combo is still very workable with communication of who has what cards and when since the new job specific UI elements ironically makes it harder to coordinate that without talking.

While they're at it, WHM may need some sort of party dps buff, because they've been facing the problem of being benched for years because their AOE, and powerhealing tends to be overkill outside of the odd solo-healer strats for something on farm.

Oddly enough, if they were to revert all of the heal potency buffs they gave AST since 3.0, but kept the mechanic changes they gave to the card system, lightspeed, etc the same, AST would still be a preferred healer to choose over WHM because of AOE 10% balance, and enough healing.

I'm referring to their 3.0 versions - Synastry was basically the same as it is now in Stormblood (no healing % buff), and Lightspeed during 3.0 also reduced your HEALING magic potency during its effect, not just DPS. Both moves received hefty buffs in 3.2.

My overarching point was more that I hate seeing people use the term "crappy AST healing" in regards to its launch status without providing any context whatsoever. AST's problem wasn't just "weak heals" - those were actually only 5% lower in the highest case than their WHM/SCH counterparts - it was crappy cooldowns and less control over procuring AOE Balance that made it shunned for Gordias. The devs didn't seem to understand the problem, so they just buffed all those aspects, and now AST is the problematic powerhouse it is today.

Exactly. Back then:

Balance was 10%
Shuffle could give you the same card again.
Shuffle had at least a minute long CD, if not, longer.
Spread had at least a 90 second CD, if not, longer.
Some cards had a shorter duration than they do now.

(yes, yes, i know its been renamed 'redraw'. I call it shuffle out of habit from when I suffered through playing 3.0 AST before I thankfully dropped it before burning tomes on their AF in gordias)

Back then, SCH's Selene was actually better at buffering the party dps on a consistent basis than the ASTs card system which was why I dropped AST early in 3.0 and went back to SCH. I'm not joking, or exaggerating when I say Selene was better at buffing the party damage than ASTs. That is why ASTs got benched.

For a time, it was weaker healing, and a terribly inconsistent buffing system that a damn fairy could outdo that didn't make up for it.
Now it's stronger in both categories at the same time.
It should be one or the other.

If AST's card system was as good as it is now back in Gordias with lower healing potencies, I would put money on WHM warming the bench.

So no, AST healing potencies don't need to be as high as they are relative to the other healers. Their card system is just that strong now. WHM needs to bring something more to the table.