AST Card, between utility and optimisation

[Valmaxian]

I think the big misconception of the old card system is that it was “always fish for AoE Balance.” Back then, yes, you’d definitely want that setup for raids, but we can no longer set that up in advance anyway, so it’s no longer the “issue” it used to be. The reality is that players want VARIETY. AoE Balance doesn’t help when you’ve just rezzed another healer with no MP - in that situation I’d want an extended Ewer. That helped SO many times, and it felt really good. Also, Enhanced Bole for tankbusters, or an extended Arrow for Ninjas, Enhanced Spear for Bards…there was so much we could do, and it fit with the lore of the job. Now we get one flavor of card, which is still a useful effect, but I’m my opinion it’s considerably less satisfying.

[RobynDaBank]

I think the big misconception of the old card system is that it was “always fish for AoE Balance.” Back then, yes, you’d definitely want that setup for raids, but we can no longer set that up in advance anyway, so it’s no longer the “issue” it used to be. The reality is that players want VARIETY. AoE Balance doesn’t help when you’ve just rezzed another healer with no MP - in that situation I’d want an extended Ewer. That helped SO many times, and it felt really good. Also, Enhanced Bole for tankbusters, or an extended Arrow for Ninjas, Enhanced Spear for Bards…there was so much we could do, and it fit with the lore of the job. Now we get one flavor of card, which is still a useful effect, but I’m my opinion it’s considerably less satisfying.

Damn, that sounds so clever and fun.

[Gemina]

Damn, that sounds so clever and fun.

It was a disaster. The OP you quoted and other likeminded players look at this version of AST with rose tinted glasses. They fail to mention the illusion of choice, and the ridiculous amount of layers of RNG involved with the card mech back then. They will mention all of this utility they could bring to a party, and how they can heal and shield better than WHM and SCH when nobody couldn't care less. Their spot as a meta healer was and still is firmly solidified by their ability to increase the damage output of their party members. This is their identity. Don't be fooled into thinking anything otherwise. This will continue in EW based off of current tooltips, and both WHM and SGE will keep the bench warm in case one of the starters go down.

What I won't take from those ASTs is the fun they had playing that broken version of AST. Clever job design though? Not even close.

[Liam_Harper]

It was a disaster. The OP you quoted and other likeminded players look at this version of AST with rose tinted glasses. They fail to mention the illusion of choice, and the ridiculous amount of layers of RNG involved with the card mech back then. They will mention all of this utility they could bring to a party

Sadly that's how many players work. They don't care if they're actually useful, they just want to feel useful. They're perfectly happy with an illusion of choice and utility. They can throw out their damage reductions and mp regens and attack speed buffs and whatever else and pretend they're making a difference even when they aren't. They'll endlessly quote rare situations where the utility might have served a purpose while ignoring the fact these are rare situations, where dps is useful nearly all the time. In the end, they don't even want the utility to support the party. They want variety, useless or not, as a feel-good for themselves.

[RobynDaBank]

It was a disaster. The OP you quoted and other likeminded players look at this version of AST with rose tinted glasses. They fail to mention the illusion of choice, and the ridiculous amount of layers of RNG involved with the card mech back then. They will mention all of this utility they could bring to a party, and how they can heal and shield better than WHM and SCH when nobody couldn't care less. Their spot as a meta healer was and still is firmly solidified by their ability to increase the damage output of their party members. This is their identity. Don't be fooled into thinking anything otherwise. This will continue in EW based off of current tooltips, and both WHM and SGE will keep the bench warm in case one of the starters go down.

What I won't take from those ASTs is the fun they had playing that broken version of AST. Clever job design though? Not even close.

Fair fair, just sounded kinda clever in the moment to me. Perhaps if I was playing that version of AST I'd think differently.

[Haxaan]

It was a disaster. The OP you quoted and other likeminded players look at this version of AST with rose tinted glasses. They fail to mention the illusion of choice, and the ridiculous amount of layers of RNG involved with the card mech back then. They will mention all of this utility they could bring to a party, and how they can heal and shield better than WHM and SCH when nobody couldn't care less. Their spot as a meta healer was and still is firmly solidified by their ability to increase the damage output of their party members. This is their identity. Don't be fooled into thinking anything otherwise. This will continue in EW based off of current tooltips, and both WHM and SGE will keep the bench warm in case one of the starters go down.

What I won't take from those ASTs is the fun they had playing that broken version of AST. Clever job design though? Not even close.

I feel like you're right on one hand with this, but mostly from the perspective of the META, which only really effects people who do the hardest content. A lot of people, if not most who are not hardcore end game players don't care about the META. Yes Balance was the reason AST was top tier for endgame, however the "handful" of niche situations that people cite for uses of the other card abilities is what gave the job flavor. It was exciting to use a perfectly timed Bole, or assist a fellow healer gain mp back with Ewer after a death.

I can count on one hand how many times I've used Repose in endgame... 0, that is an ability that has a sure foothold in this game and yet it has an even finer niche than any of the old cards abilities had. At least those were useful periodically throughout the fight. You had to think on your feet and make snap decisions based on what you had in your hand so to speak. You don't just change the rules of Black Jack because you don't always get 21. Sometimes you have to stop being such a slave to "the META" and just have fun.