DPSing as AST

[Kabooa]

No variation is stale and boring to most people...sort of like eating Vanilla ice cream every single day of your life when there are over 100 other flavours you could try once in awhile.

You don't need the rest when you got the best.

[Sebazy]

I'd be interested if you have an idea for how it could be changed, because I've given it a considerable amount of thought and have come up empty.

Yeah it's tricky as the overall system is a bit of a mess now, I do think there is room to streamline things tho, but perhaps not as much as I'd like.

Draw, redraw, royal road and spread are pretty much unchangeable. Sleeve draw is a longer cooldown so that's a fair addition.

This leaves us with 4 hotkeys where I think work can be done (Undraw, Minor Arcana, Empty Road and Undraw Spread)

First up, I think Minor Arcana should have been rolled into Undraw's functionality whilst also streamlining the lord/lady cards into existing abilities.
So for example, undraw gets auto upgraded to minor arcana at 66 rather than being 2 separate hotkeys, pulling a lord card could double the damage potency of your next offensive ability whilst a lady card could reset the cooldown on Essential Dignity. That makes minor arcana a bunch more appealing and gets rid of one hotkey.

Secondly, for Undraw Spread and Empty RR, the easy solution there is to put the cards back on the buff bar as well as the new AST ui element and allow us to manipulate them with macros again. Another option that might be a step too far would be to have Empty RR and Undraw Spread's functionality on the same ability hotkey.

It could be something like a long or short press deciding which gets removed.

Even just a toggle that highlights each Card UI element in turn, leaving that element highlighted and then hitting undraw/minor arcana would chew that selected element instead of the middle drawn card adding further functionality whilst also streamlining 4 hotkeys down to a more palatable 2.

[Jollyy5]

All cards have uses, some just more niche than others.

Balance, Arrow and Spear are pretty much self explanatory.

As for Ewer, Spire and Bole, I'd rather have these cards for Royal Road than having a button that makes the DPS increase cards AoE or extends their duration, as it's more interesting to me that way, but also because they do have other uses:

Ewer: Can toss it on someone else or yourself after being resurrected to get some mana back, and can also work to increase BLM DPS, potentially giving them an extra Fire IV, or on yourself for more Gravity.

Spire: Same as above but on TP using classes, could also be used to allow a DPS to keep using TP heavy AoE skills such as a DRG, which is a DPS increase. (But pretty much only in dungeons.)

Bole: Good for progression when you are testing the waters, excellent in dungeons as it allows you to cast Gravity more often.

[Teraluna]

I actually prefer chocolate chip myself. I ordered it, but ended up with banana - damn that rng.

[Miste]

I actually prefer chocolate chip myself. I ordered it, but ended up with banana - damn that rng.

Hmm I like chocolate chip as well. Good stuff.

But you know....if you don't like RNG then don't walk into the ice cream shop that has the name "RNG Ice Cream Shop" in huge letters out front. You should probably look for an ice cream shop that isn't RNG.

[Jollyy5]

...

I would use "Redraw" and have the waiter switch it to what I ordered.

[Kabzy]

I'd use "Sleeve Draw" and get ALL THE ICE CREAMS!!

[EllieShadeflare]

Honestly, if it weren't for the "weak" damage (but that's mostly because AST lacks an AoE DoT and good burst attack vs SCH and WHM) of AST, I'd say it's utterly broken. Objectively, its healing potency is higher than a White Mage for Benefic II and Helios thanks to the persistent Sects (wait, why wouldn't you hold on to them?), powerful oGCD emergency heals (Essential Dignity and Earthly Star work wonders, especially with their lower Cooldowns versus White Mages (even with full Lillies, Tetragrammaton still only gets 48s as a cooldown and Plenary Indulgence not only doesn't benefit from Lillies but it also relies on buffs on party members to use properly (confessions)) and not being linked to your job's currency like Lustrate, Excog or Indom on Scholar.

Regarding that card debate, only two cards are really situational, but both of those can be used. Spear, Balance and Arrow are all of equal value now, with Spear boosting crits to be even more common (A Scholar would love you if you combo'd a Spear with their Chain Strat), Arrow making attacks all that much faster (Black Mages will love you for making their rotation more forgiving, and other classes won't mind the speed for the most part), Balance is flat damage (Which everyone loves). Bole is wonderful if you have it and need it, and is one of the better mitigation tools if you discount the randomness of getting it, and even Spire and Ewer have a good role in all parties (If you don't have melee DPS, give it to the tank(s) if they're getting low on TP. Use Bole on yourself or your co-healer if you don't have a RDM or SMN).

Having that "random" element to the Astrologian balances out its major strengths in healing and being good in support, I feel and removing the RNG would make it an auto-include at all times... not that it already isn't at times.

[Kaiten_kenbu]

The problem I have with AST DPS is that it is pitiful and pathetic.

I always feel I contribute more playing with cards than doing any actual DPS.

[Maku]

The problem I have with AST DPS is that it is pitiful and pathetic.

I always feel I contribute more playing with cards than doing any actual DPS.

You do contribute more with cards. You should never give DPSing priority over using your Card Cooldowns.