would this be OP?

[Ghishlain]

I think the dual sects represent a very good way of balancing three healers between two roles. There may be an issue with the game itself being set up with only two healer roles but AST fits into that incredibly well.
Its my favourite aspect about my second main class, and I'd be incredibly pissed off if it was removed.

It's not a really good way to balancing the roles because if the roles are too similar, it means the inferior option will always be kicked to the curb because why bring the inferior option to the fight? At least if the themes of the healing are different, it's easier to make arguments about why you should bring X healer to X situation and Y healer to Y situation.

Also the sects represent a balancing problem about AST itself as the developers have to balance between N.AST and D.AST.

*Points to Amelia's post on the previous page*

In my mind, the sects just represent a humongous blunder on the healer developers as it shows their inability to think outside of the already defined roles and choose to take the easy road in an attempt to not shake the balance. However, the balance is even more upset now due to the fact the kits between HoT healer and Shield healer are too similar.

I was personally hoping AST would be made into a dedicated HoT healer like Resto Druids were in WoW. Sad that didn't come to fruition .-.

If AST was changed into a vanilla healer with buffs as you say, those buffs would have to be very significant, and include both HoTs and shields.

I don't think you understand what I meant with "buffs" and my comment. If they turned AST into a vanilla healer, this means their heals would have very little frills. No HoTs, no shields, just raw healing. Their position as a healer role would be a buffing Healer in the sense that it would augment the team to do better - it already does this through the cards they use. Focus on the cards more and don't give them any special effects to their heals. There, now it's more unique from both WHM and SCH.