Aetherflow has got to change

[Witsun]

Unlike many others I am almost completely fine with the scholar changes. However something needs to change with Aetherflow. After running a good bit of content with it as it is there are some big problems with how the skill operates and it is even dangerous as is in respect to how players interact with content. Here are some scenarios I found...feel free to post your own:

* The button is not enabled until the character is in combat, not the party. This is a problem in dungeons either at the start or between encounters when the healer doesn't have any stacks up. If the tank runs ahead and pulls and takes a lot of damage, instead of just having to catch up and cast a lustrate/excog to get him back to full now it is a multi button press situation and because the scholar can only get into combat by casting a dps or healing spell it involves a slower time to first heal. So instead of just lustrate/excog now a scholar needs to do something like Bioalysis/Adlo, Aetherflow, Lustrate/excog.

* With the button not enabled I've found myself doing mental calculus of the best ways to end an encounter with aetherflow charges, including stopping dps to slow down the last kill or two if I have no stacks. Skill design should never be encouraging people to run content slower to keep a skill up.

* Aetherflow used to be an ok way to get a bit more mana in the long runs between encounters in some of the raids. Now if lucid dreaming is down there is really no way to speed up mp regen between encounters.

[Rivxkobe]

Aetherflow is only used for Healing abilities now and if the Tank is dying before you get into battle (maybe use Bio?) then something is going wrong. You also don't NEED stacks after a fight ends, and slowing things down is a weird thing to do imo.

And speeding up MP recovery between encounters? What's the difference between using it between an encounter and using it in the encounter? Its not like it takes that long to recover MP anyway.

Sure it still feels weird not using Aetherflow whenever I want but the thing is is that we don't need to use it on CD anymore. Why? Because it can't be used on a DPS skill anymore so "sitting" on stacks, or not having stack wight when you start a pull isn't hurting anyone if you are quick at getting into a fight.

[CaesarCV]

Hm...I still think that it also needs a way to burn off stacks for Damage purposes, or at least some powerful damage buffs. My main reasoning for this is that in any sort of solo/overworld content Aetherflow stacks are a completely useless mechanic. This is very odd since for DPS and Tanking classes they tried to make sure that whether one was in AOE mode or Single Target mode they would still get to interact with the core mechanics of the class (Dark Knight's Gauge, Warrior's Rage, etc). But for Scholars at the moment that's just...not the case for a large amount of content. Whenever we're in FATEs, Solo Duties, or a large amount of other content we have no reason to interact with one of our core mechanics. Aetherflow only being usable in combat is clunky and feels horrible, but there's wider issues with the mechanic as well at the moment.

[Lagomorph]

Aetherflow is only used for Healing abilities now and if the Tank is dying before you get into battle (maybe use Bio?) then something is going wrong. You also don't NEED stacks after a fight ends, and slowing things down is a weird thing to do imo.

And speeding up MP recovery between encounters? What's the difference between using it between an encounter and using it in the encounter? Its not like it takes that long to recover MP anyway.

Sure it still feels weird not using Aetherflow whenever I want but the thing is is that we don't need to use it on CD anymore. Why? Because it can't be used on a DPS skill anymore so "sitting" on stacks, or not having stack wight when you start a pull isn't hurting anyone if you are quick at getting into a fight.

Respectfully disagree with most of this post. In dungeons, not being able to use aetherflow out of combat is a major nuisance. I often find myself thinking to myself "well, if I stop using broil now, things will die a bit slower and maybe I can use aetherflow again on this trash pack rather than the next." Also MP is a major concern right now when we're using art of war, which also happens in dungeons a lot. Basically, I pretty much never want to run another dungeon as SCH in the state that it is in right now. Aetherflow being combat only is one of the many major reasons why.

[Ilenya]

I've started using Recogition-Excog on the initial pull. It helps cover the lack of aetherflow initially, provides the protection from the pull that you would want anyways, and if timed right, gets you into combat to get your aetherflow while still running to where ever the fight may end. Maybe not the best used, but I find it works out well enough for me.

[Deceptus]

Respectfully disagree with most of this post. In dungeons, not being able to use aetherflow out of combat is a major nuisance. I often find myself thinking to myself "well, if I stop using broil now, things will die a bit slower and maybe I can use aetherflow again on this trash pack rather than the next." Also MP is a major concern right now when we're using art of war, which also happens in dungeons a lot. Basically, I pretty much never want to run another dungeon as SCH in the state that it is in right now. Aetherflow being combat only is one of the many major reasons why.

I too have had this exact same thought. "10s left on Aetherflow? Mobs almost dead? Time to stop dps."

[Kabooa]

Just ruin 2 something while the pack is being gathered. There's zero excuse for tanks losing aggro.

[Nerfworthy]

Just ruin 2 something while the pack is being gathered. There's zero excuse for tanks losing aggro.

It's still beyond dumb that we have to do this in order to use Aetherflow.

[Gemina]

Just ruin 2 something while the pack is being gathered. There's zero excuse for tanks losing aggro.

I don't disagree with you, but this is a 'sweep it under the rug approach' to the problem. I will agree that not being able use aetherflow prior to enemy engagement isn't that big of an issue, but it's the result of another issue with the ability.

A problem I've always had with aetherflow that has been exacerbated by the changes is that most aetherflow skills have CD durations along with consuming stacks. I have always felt that if a skill, ANY skill has its own CD duration, then it needs to operate free of any other resource the job uses. In the case of SCH it's excog, indom, and sacred soil. These abilities either need to removed as aetherflow skills, or have their CDs reduced to reasonably short recast times like with lustrate.

If I had my way, I would remove both excog and sacred soil as aetherflow skills. They would remain as is and just not consume stacks of aetherflow. To replace, I would give SCHs back both bane or shadow flare and energy drain as aetherflow skills. Bane/shadow flare, energy drain, lustrate and indom will all operate off the GCD but share a 2.5s recast timer. With these changes, quickened aetherflow can also make a return.

What I know for certain is some changes need to happen with SCH because it can't keep going like this all the way through 5.0.

[Videra]

It's still beyond dumb that we have to do this in order to use Aetherflow.

This. Aetherflow was not broken.