Not impressed with the skill changes

[Kaedan]

There was nothing "strategic" about AST. That's nothing but rose-colored glasses talking.

ASTs pulled for Balance. If it wasn't Balance, they used it for AoE enhance or feeding to Lord/Lady. Now it's easier to pull Balance, since they're all Balance... you just have to watch for the right seal and match with melee or ranged.

[TankHunter678]

There was nothing "strategic" about AST. That's nothing but rose-colored glasses talking.

ASTs pulled for Balance. If it wasn't Balance, they used it for AoE enhance or feeding to Lord/Lady. Now it's easier to pull Balance, since they're all Balance... you just have to watch for the right seal and match with melee or ranged.

In 24 man raids AST pulled aiming for Balance, Bole, or Ewer. Ewer because you often times wind up spending a lot of mana getting people back up, Bole to mitigate some of the large unavoidable AoE's hitting the party to reduce healing needs, and balance is a no duh. In 4 man Dungeons AST used their entire card kit, even if Spire was only good for large pulls to sustain physical DPS and their immense TP needs.

If a BLM was in the party then Arrow was also aimed for. If BRD/MNK was in the party Spear was aimed for. Every card may have been niche besides Balance but every card had its purpose and use. Which made AST have to think on their feet and plan ahead. Even if a card had no use then it could have use in the future, be it for the spread, for the royal road, or as a attack or heal in the crowns.

Now? The damage buffs are so minor and so short in duration its almost not worthwhile to use except as Lord/Lady fodder to get a damage buff that is close to old balance even if it has half the duration of the old balance. Seals only matter for the half (almost 1/3rd) duration AoE Balance.

[Millybonk]

There was nothing "strategic" about AST. That's nothing but rose-colored glasses talking.

ASTs pulled for Balance. If it wasn't Balance, they used it for AoE enhance or feeding to Lord/Lady. Now it's easier to pull Balance, since they're all Balance... you just have to watch for the right seal and match with melee or ranged.

If you try to use rose-colored glasses as an argument you should also uphold integrity + stay with facts.

Before AST had access to 6 unique card effects which offered you choice, even though some of them were heavily favored compared to others, but now every card does the same in granting a 6%/3% damage buff, except Lord/Lady.
Where do you see rose-colored glasses in effect?