Thread: 5.0 AST is a failure

Hm.. personally I don’t feel like it was a failure this expansion. I can see why a lot of you would feel that way, don’t get me wrong.. I feel like the dev team knew what they wanted AST’s identity to be, and I don’t think it was the cards. In my eyes I think it was made clear this expansion. This is my humble opinion, but it seems the job’s true identity is between nocturnal and diurnal sect. I also feel like AST is a very in the moment healer. I feel it’s meant to be a free flowing class and I think that has always stayed true. I think organizing buffs do take careful planning to get the most out of Divination, but the job is highly capable when used to its max.

I play all three healers and a lot of the strategy is to plan when to use what cooldowns. For example, while playing WHM, when you see your Tetragrammaton come off cooldown, and you see your tank about to take a hit, you know Tetro is going to be used on that hit. As an Astrologian, our cooldowns aren’t so cut and dry. Essential dignity gains a potency increase based on how low your ally is. If your tank has 75% health, popping ED to stabilize damage is almost a waste.. if you see an ally has a stack marker on them, you can choose to use Celestial Opposition or Collective Unconscious for that incoming damage.

Playing Astro gives us the ability to play both reactively and proactively and the flow of the battle is almost controllable. I know the disagreements are coming, and that’s alright, I just wanted to throw my feelings out there. I’m currently half way through SHB(I know.. I’m really taking my time ^^’) but these dungeons and the 73 trial are giving me a good feel to the job and how to handle these changes. Also the savage raids from SB as well as the alliance raids feel different but overall just fine. Sorry this was a little long winded. I just wanted to get my feelings out there and see what others think.

I understand what you're taking about and yes they may go towards that playstyle for ShB AST and they might be fun the only issue most of us find is the low reward we get for the gameplay caused by the low potencies for both heals and cards, once they 'fix' that I think we might see most AST, for my part I'm taking refuge on SCH (or SMN) till they fix the potencies, hopefully til 5.05

I understand that point of view, but it would make more sense if we could change sect on the fly mid battle, and you know what, I really like that if it is indeed the new direction, I love Celestial Intersection and it would be great if Celestial Opposition was like that but on AOE, so maybe they can introduce in the future Celestial skills as the ones with effect of the opposite sect.

Originally Posted by KanameYuuki

I understand that point of view, but it would make more sense if we could change sect on the fly mid battle, and you know what, I really like that if it is indeed the new direction, I love Celestial Intersection and it would be great if Celestial Opposition was like that but on AOE, so maybe they can introduce in the future Celestial skills as the ones with effect of the opposite sect.

I totally agree! I don’t think there’s an all around good reason we cannot change our sect in the middle of a fight but maybe that would be OP? I don’t think so but I’m not a dev and it’s entirely possible that they tested it and it was. I personally am kinda glad that the cards are becoming less of the identity. I think a lot of people are angry that we’re just throwing out damage buffs now and I’m in total agreement. But that doesn’t have to be who we are as AST players. I personally am having a lot of fun playing in the moment. It feels really free.

Originally Posted by Wolfius

I understand what you're taking about and yes they may go towards that playstyle for ShB AST and they might be fun the only issue most of us find is the low reward we get for the gameplay caused by the low potencies for both heals and cards, once they 'fix' that I think we might see most AST, for my part I'm taking refuge on SCH (or SMN) till they fix the potencies, hopefully til 5.05

They are saying there are major balance changes in the next patch (is that this week btw?) so I am holding out hope!!

I still don't understand why collective was nerfed to the root. No healer sane of mind will use a skill with near-zero healing and requiring you become a stone turret while that is active.

Originally Posted by LalaRu

I still don't understand why collective was nerfed to the root. No healer sane of mind will use a skill with near-zero healing and requiring you become a stone turret while that is active.

You should never use CU longer than just for applying the regen and the initial hit of a upcoming aoe. That was always the case, even with ST CU.