Possible AST nerf

[Reilyn]

The problem with AST vs SCH shields isn't really the strength of them but that there's WAY too much overlap in healing styles for the three healing jobs. They need to distinguish WHM, SCH, and AST better or they will never actually solve the balancing issues - they'll simply end up making certain aspects of each job really crappy and pointless in an effort to not step on any toes.

I agree. Right now, AST is stepping on almost all of SCH's toes. with the exception of like... 2.

[Naunet]

I agree. Right now, AST is stepping on almost all of SCH's toes. with the exception of like... 2.

They need to focus healing styles. If they want SCH as a shield healer, really go all out - think Cata/MoP discipline priest levels of shield healing with not just a single target and aoe bubble but raid defensive shields, cooldowns to turn healing into more shields, shields on crit, etc. WHM's current focus of "raw throughput" isn't enough - they need to focus how they get that throughput. They could easily turn it into a powerful regen-based healer. AST could perhaps shine through (in addition to their cards) ground-based healing/buffs, delayed/triggered heals akin to Earthly Star (perhaps a single target version of it?), stuff that bounces between players... anything to get them away from the overly simple "single target button, aoe button".

[loreleidiangelo]

They need to focus healing styles. If they want SCH as a shield healer, really go all out - think Cata/MoP discipline priest levels of shield healing with not just a single target and aoe bubble but raid defensive shields, cooldowns to turn healing into more shields, shields on crit, etc. WHM's current focus of "raw throughput" isn't enough - they need to focus how they get that throughput. They could easily turn it into a powerful regen-based healer. AST could perhaps shine through (in addition to their cards) ground-based healing/buffs, delayed/triggered heals akin to Earthly Star (perhaps a single target version of it?), stuff that bounces between players... anything to get them away from the overly simple "single target button, aoe button".

AST's entire design is hot garbage, tbh, and I say this as someone who mains it and was so excited for it prior to Heavensward. It's just basically impossible to balance in it's current state without glaring homogenization of its card system. Heals like a WHM or heals like a SCH, but has utility that neither of them can hope to match. Obviously I'd prefer if they didn't give our card utility away to the other two healers, so that leaves the only things the developers can really target as the "heals like a..." part.

My most fervent wish is for a remake of this job already come 5.0. The card system sans the OP-ness of Balance is a great system with decent versatility, decision-making, and flow, and I'd prefer not to have that gutted in any way. Just let it contribute to healing in a different way and then players can make the choice about whether AST's heals fit in with their comp enough to make it worth the card buffs, or if WHM and SCH healing work better with the encounter or group design.

I would give up my left buttocks for Prayer of Mending. Actually, give me WotLK era disc Priest, and I'd probably give up playing BLM this instant.

WoW gets crapped on a lot in these forums, but I still maintain that their healer design is leaps and bounds ahead of XIV. Playing a Resto Shaman feels nothing like playing a Holy Priest, even though they both fill the same niche in a raid. A Mistweaver Monk is nothing like a Holy Pally, which is nothing like a Disc Priest. They're all diverse, and as of Nighthold raid in Legion at least they're all fairly well-balanced against one another.