Scholar Rework Idea

[Pandatwin]

We mostly agree EaMett, and I believe if you read more closely you'll find the rework actually does fit what you're saying.

Your proposed solution to replace Aetherflow with something to build gauge will be the same, actually even worse because you moved some heals to timers only so you don't even need gauge for that. In other words a "non-DPS tool to prevent overcapping" would be as useless as stormblood lilies were on whm. There are barely any scenarios where it would be optimized play to lose dps in order to hit that button.

My non-DPS tool to prevent overcapping has 0 DPS cost whatsoever, and without Aetherflow to return 10% MP every minute and Energy Drain to give you 5% MP, an MP regeneration tool needed to be present. This was my solution, but there might be better ways to implement this.

There's a subtle nuance there that makes up a huge chunk of the fun factor for SCH gameplay. "do I have enough stacks for this next mechanic?" "whoops I used one stack too many, how am I going to cover the healing here", "maybe I should save a stack here for movement later", "maybe I can move healing around to keep an extra stack for ED?"

I believe my Fairy Gauge maintains this gameplay. Where can I spend my gauge without overhealing that will leave me with enough for when I need it? Do I have time to let the fairy channel skills heal them to full, or do I need the HP now? Planning when and where to use which healing move and best maneuver the gauge would feel like a more rewarding system rather than "How am I going to use these 3 stacks in the next minute?"

I think Adlo needs some love as well. Outside of prog really early into the tier it barely has any uses, simply because the opportunity cost is often higher than the value you get out of it.

The problem with shielding is general is that it's too expensive for too little and almost impossible to use 100% effectively. Removing the healing aspect and making Adlo and Succor only shield makes it so much easier to use them effectively. Take a look at Recitation, I think it would give shielding a lot of much-needed love.

make the fairy the old stormblood fairy again

Basically a given haha.

[EaMett]

I believe my Fairy Gauge maintains this gameplay. Where can I spend my gauge without overhealing that will leave me with enough for when I need it? Do I have time to let the fairy channel skills heal them to full, or do I need the HP now? Planning when and where to use which healing move and best maneuver the gauge would feel like a more rewarding system rather than "How am I going to use these 3 stacks in the next minute?"

Then it's on me and I promise to take a closer look when I have time.

For the gauge, what you're describing is just resource management and not resource tradeoff. It might seem pedantic of me to make the distinction but there's an immediate and obvious risk/reward mechanic involved in the latter. It's also easily quantifiable compared to a gauge. And again, this is really not any different from just having another mana bar or something. Can't exactly say I find that engaging.
The gauge also already feels like a tacked-on afterthought. I personally think they should go the other way. The next expansion would be a great time to limited gauge generation to ED and find a fine balance where we need to decide to build fairy gauge for lesser heals or use stacks for heavier heals.

[Absurdity]

The problem with shielding is general is that it's too expensive for too little and almost impossible to use 100% effectively. Removing the healing aspect and making Adlo and Succor only shield makes it so much easier to use them effectively. Take a look at Recitation, I think it would give shielding a lot of much-needed love.

Even with Recitation you're looking at the choice of 1. using it for a big single-target shield which still requires you to actually cast it or 2. using it on a free Excogitation or Indomitability which frees up 1 extra Aetherflow stack and doesn't cost you a GCD...if you ask me there isn't even really a choice.

And I would argue that there was an interesting aspect to Adlo before, being able to spread your big single-target shield to the whole group. You would essentially be gambling with your GCDs on whether or not Adlo crit so that you could completely negate the next or even several next raid-wide aoes and therefore save healing resources and potentially GCDs in the future. Obviously this is not an option as long as Recitation guarantees a crit on Adlo.