Please return AST card gameplay.

[Miziliti]

I'm not sure I'm following you. Cards in 4.X had the same 30s cooldown for everything, so you would still rotate around 30seconds cycles, which is the timeframe of most raid buffs. If anything, AST's current opener introduces some RNG to the timing/efficiency of Divination.

The only thing I prefer in 5.X system is having Draw's CD always cycling because it does not rely on you spreading, burning or playing the card anymore.

In fact, the only good thing about 5.0 is the separation of Draw and Play. The rest are down right nerfs.

Older cards have 30s duration along with 30s draw cd, which aligns perfectly. The new cards are 15s duration, which is pretty meaningless for an already weak buff.
At this point, people who think their 15s single target cards are good buff to the teammates are delusional. DPS players DON'T FEEL A THING in those tiny buff window with that pitiful percentage buff. Some of that 15s is often wasted to do mechanics.

The noticeable buff is the AoE Divination that effects the entire party. Even though it's still a 15s tiny window, but at least 8 people adds up.

I will continue not give a single damn about single target card chores. I usually throw cards to 3 of 4 DPS players randomly to quickly gather my seals to get Divination ready. Like I have time to see what card I got or who to give to. My Malefics kill things faster than those single target cards could benefit a single person.

[Kuwago]

In fact, the only good thing about 5.0 is the separation of Draw and Play. The rest are down right nerfs.

Older cards have 30s duration along with 30s draw cd, which aligns perfectly. The new cards are 15s duration, which is pretty meaningless for an already weak buff.
At this point, people who think their 15s single target cards are good buff to the teammates are delusional. DPS players DON'T FEEL A THING in those tiny buff window with that pitiful percentage buff. Some of that 15s is often wasted to do mechanics.

The noticeable buff is the AoE Divination that effects the entire party. Even though it's still a 15s tiny window, but at least 8 people adds up.

I will continue not give a single damn about single target card chores. I usually throw cards to 3 of 4 DPS players randomly to quickly gather my seals to get Divination ready. Like I have time to see what card I got or who to give to. My Malefics kill things faster than those single target cards could benefit a single person.

I feel like this would've been prevented had they kept either Time Dilation and/or CO's Time extension. Also, if they're going to keep ignoring Divination such as now where it only gives DPS Increase, I'd like to see Divination's recast to go down to 90 seconds, if not, make the Duration for Divination into 30 seconds or make regular cards last 20 seconds minimum.

[Side-Eye]

IMO, a tiny percentage bump in an already tiny buff, is not interesting, nor a great incentive to aim for 3 seals. (Well, IMO the whole seals game will be wonky anyway until they change Redraw to always pick a different seal card than currently drawn.) So assuming we're stuck with this boring card system ....

At the current loooooong cooldown, I'd say boost Divination to 25%, and allow seals to increase duration, e.g. base 15 sec, 2 different seals +5 sec, 3 different seals +10 sec. It would be nice if people got a little excited when they saw that buff pop up. I've never heard a single comment one way or the other.

[Brandedblade]

IMO, a tiny percentage bump in an already tiny buff, is not interesting, nor a great incentive to aim for 3 seals. (Well, IMO the whole seals game will be wonky anyway until they change Redraw to always pick a different seal card than currently drawn.) So assuming we're stuck with this boring card system ....

At the current loooooong cooldown, I'd say boost Divination to 25%, and allow seals to increase duration, e.g. base 15 sec, 2 different seals +5 sec, 3 different seals +10 sec. It would be nice if people got a little excited when they saw that buff pop up. I've never heard a single comment one way or the other.

...why is it that whenever people make suggestions for how to "fix" classes they always want to just completely break the games' balance in the process?

[Nanami_Naniwa]

Personally I like the new system much more. It still is RNG but I feel I have more use for the cards that I draw - no matter what I draw - instead of just getting annoyed and dump them.

[Seoulstar]

Personally I like the new system much more. It still is RNG but I feel I have more use for the cards that I draw - no matter what I draw - instead of just getting annoyed and dump them.

I mean it doesn't matter what you draw. They're all balance and that's the part where it's not fun. There is no making strategies. It's great that you personally enjoy it, but it's so bad that it has made a lot of AST mains actually drop the class.

[Doozer]

At first I was upset with the changes, but after trying 5.0 AST it's actually not that bad. The buffs from the cards aren't that great, but with Sleeve Draw + Draw you can buff a full light party and then buff them even more with Divination. Before, it was one card every little while, but if done correctly you can be throwing them around left and right.

I hope they make some amount of buff to the potency of the card effect, but I really don't think it's as bad as people are making it. And this is coming from someone that mained AST from HW up until ShB.

[Esmoire]

I somewhat agree with you when it comes to having multiple ways to "manipulate" the cards with RR and MA but now using MA to a card feels nothing as it just increases potency. It doesn't even feel like an upgrade considering how it measly increases the potency by one 2%. I personally think that RR and MA could've been combined now that they replaced all cards with DPS buffs and MA brings back the old effects or something.

I'd rather have MA begone and RR stay because I can feel as though I can do something else with my cards than just increasing the DPS buff I give to my party.

That is true. Honestly that's kind of just the rub with the cards as a whole. MA exists mostly to not mess up our seals between Divinations which feels shallow. Before when playing cards you could immediately feel the impact of, say, 25% DR, or a BLM with faster casts. Now these buffs I feel like you need to be looking at charts and graphs to appreciate which is just boring and not sexy. Being able to unlock the old card effects would be amazing.

[Haxaan]

The new card system feels like playing the lottery, but instead of having the option to lose or win big, you always win but you don't really make any money. There is no excitement, there is no drama, no character if you will. It has become a bare bones numbers gain aimed at end gamers who bitched about "MAH DPS" while the rest of us are left playing a hollow shell of a "RNG" mechanic that always has the same result with no added flavor or personality. They may as well just strip the entire card system and just give us single button buffs on a cd. At least then there wouldn't be so much busy work for such little payout.

[Jkap_Goat]

I absolutely hate the new card system, it's very confusing, not fun and straight up boring. I loved what card was handled to you in stormblood and that you had to make a decision on what to do with that card for example , " Should I save this Ewer card or royal road it for AoE affect? Should I save this Bold card for the tank or Royal road it to increase the Potency of another card? Maybe I will just Minor Arcana and heal the tank if I get a Lady or the Crowns or damage an enemy if I get a Lord of the Crowns."

You had lots of options, you so many choices and the RNG was the fun part of old AST, you also had great tools to play with like time dilation to increase whatever buff you had, whether it's increase Regen time, a buff or both.

This new card system forces you to use on what job, lost all of unique abilities, and divination offer so little and it's so unrewarding; just get all three seals that really do nothing except a small DPS buff.

Please bring back the old AST