Regarding AST

[KDSilver]

I guess I personally feel that the only way forward for AST's identity to stand on its own is to focus more on the card system. It could mean an entire redesign of how it works, but it is their unique mechanic, and finding some way to make it work better to support their toolkit as a whole (not just to be buffs you toss out whenever you can) could seriously help their identity.

That, but I think they could also go deeper with the time spells such as Time Dilatation and Celestial Opposition.
Those 2 are very unique and totally an Ast skill. It has a good synergy with his HoTs and every other buff he can provides.