I made my own post about this but figured i'd copy/past here just to join the Discussion.

Its the changes to the 'non-healing' side of Astro that i feel was butchered. The Entire card system for Astro has been 98% gutted.

For instance, take below:


On the left, you have Astro's options as of Heavensward and Stormblood 'purely' on the side of how their card system worked. On the right, you have what i could best do to describe what the 'new' card system is based off the media build you let people record their gameplay of. And this is from a person who has PLAYED Astro, and LIKES Astro. (its the one and only healer in FFXIV i enjoy playing). That is how i 'visually' feel you turned Astro's card system into.

The 'new' Card system is only Damage % buff. Nothing else. Just Damage % bonus.
1 card that gives 8% damage bonus to mele dps and 4% damage bonus to ranged dps.
And a 2nd card that does the opposite, 8% damage bonus to ranged dps, and 4% damage bonus to melee dps.
Then you have 3 signs that are randomly assigned to these 2 cards.

Using cards with 3 different signs in a row, unlocks.... get this... a 'better' Damage % buff.

They have taken a 'fun' Card system that used 6 different cards, and turned it into a 2 card + 3 sign system.

You dont even NEED 6 cards anymore.. in fact i can only guess they left it as 6 cards to make it 'seem' as if there were more options than there actually is. At its 'core', the current changes to Astro = a 50% chance on if we get the Mele or Ranged DPS card, and a 33% Chance on if we get 1 of the 3 signs.

6 cards, down to 2. With 3 'signs' for the sake of the new 'bonus % damage buff' mechanic.

Thats it.. thats the entirety of the Astro card system as of ShadowBringers if they go through with the changes that were in the Media preview build.

1. pull card
2. Check the sign, have you used it yet? yes/no
2.a if yes, cycle.
2.b If no, what class? ranged or mele?
3. Cast card on friend of appropriate clsss ranged/mele.
4. return to step 1.

Thats it.

ALL of the diversity that many of us Astro players LIKED about the class.. is gone.

When I am currently playing as my Astro, i get to make on the fly choices. Do i want to give this Ninja a Skill-speed Buff... or give him Crit chance?. Do i want to give the Crit-Chance to the bard and instead give the Skill-Speed to the BLM? Or do i want to cycle Balance and get a more powerfull version of the Crit-chance buff and throw that on the ninja?

In ShadowBringers?..... 2 choices. Is my target Ranged or Mele? And have i used this sign before? Thats it.... thats not fun.. thats Dull, thats boring.

The people in the party may as well just bring + Damage % food items with them rather than us. As WHM's will still have better (more potent) 'healing' abilities than we will have.