SCH or AST?

[IchiExorz]

I'm thinking about lvling a healer to 80 but i'm not really interested in WHM. Neither am I interested in high end raiding as a healer.

I already have some knowledge about SCH since I played it a bit in dungeons in SB (had it lvled coz of SMN & wanted a bit faster queues.)
But i've heard some bad things about both. So was wondering what the problems are with both of these healers?
Are they just underperforming? Is it the lack of "DPS"? or is it more their playstyles being overhauled & disliked?

Trying to make up my mind on which one I want to lvl in the end.

[Averax]

SCH is doing great right now. People are just mad because the DPS kit got gutted and equalized with the other healers.

AST is a bit weak right now, but will probably get buffed in the future

[ksuyen]

SCH has higher healing potency than AST so they are less frustrating. If you can deal with how the new Aetherflow works, pick SCH.

[Zolvolt]

Sch is the greatest dungeon healer of all time. In leveling dungeons, if you know what you're doing, you don't have to hard cast a single GCD heal. Its aoe is instant cast so you can still direct your fairy and aetherflow heal while doing dungeons and your damage reduction heals over time now to help you continue to dps big pulls.

Astro on the other hand feels better when doing trials/raids over dungeons. Their cards keep them busy and their OGCD's are plentiful so we're always doing something during all of our malefic casts. But not being able to OGCD weave during gravity spam (outside of light speed) makes sch feel a lot better during dungeons. Astro's new 80 ability also feels like it only really shines if things are going terrible or your other healer is dead, since utilizing it requires hard casting heals which everyone is trying to avoid as much as possible. Though it does just more use in Eden right now. Ast is still a good job but its ease of use and the way it feels is a little rougher than scholar. Sch flows really well and doesn't struggle with much at all, Ast just has a couple hiccups

[TankHunter678]

You are better off going with SCH. AST will be a pain to level due to weak potencies, weak dps, and butchered buffs. If you want to actually participate in EX Trials or Savage Raids but do not want to be WHM then SCH is the only option at current. As AST is unwanted due to being a deficit.

[Lagomorph]

You are better off going with SCH. AST will be a pain to level due to weak potencies, weak dps, and butchered buffs. If you want to actually participate in EX Trials or Savage Raids but do not want to be WHM then SCH is the only option at current. As AST is unwanted due to being a deficit.

This is an extreme exaggeration. Not once have I seen or heard of any group that declined entry to an ast solely on the grounds that they're playing ast. It's much more the case that players don't want to play ast, not that groups don't want an ast.

[glamazon]

The majority of outrage with ast is about the dumbing down of cards which makes the class less fun and basic and strips away the lore which some people care about. People invest their time for more than just mechanics.

[Alrin]

Between those two I will recommend SCH. Its more fun to play as it is now.

[FlareR]

You are better off going with SCH. AST will be a pain to level due to weak potencies, weak dps, and butchered buffs. If you want to actually participate in EX Trials or Savage Raids but do not want to be WHM then SCH is the only option at current. As AST is unwanted due to being a deficit.

AST has no problem keeping the party alive. I've had no issues in roulettes or trials. Even cleared Innocences EX on NOCT AST pretty much solo healing, since my co healer was a glare mage.
Do you have to work harder? Sure! But it's manageable and can clear all current content.

[Impurrrsive]

AST is unwanted due to being a deficit.

Typical meta situation, even if it have certain drawback doesn't mean its inadequate.