Weird/random idea for AST to make one ability actually...have a point:

[Renathras]

Undraw: Increases damage done by the caster by 25% for 30 seconds.

I'm sure this would end up being some kind of newb trap, but it could be useful for AST in things like Deep Dungeons and solo instances...and it's not like people are using the button for anything right now!

Not sure how much it would need to be, but the idea would be where AST could, by Undrawing all cards, make itself roughly damage equal to WHM or SGE, while still being a damage loss vs using the cards on DPS party members.

Anyway, it was just a REALLY random idea I had while reading other people's comments about stuff on Reddit and the FFXIV Job Guide page. I'm sure it would be a terrible idea for all kinds of reasons, but...I dunno. /shrug

[AmiableApkallu]

I... just... how does this make sense thematically / aesthetically / lore-wise?

It's the same question that comes to mind whenever I see the suggestion that SCH's Dissipation shouldn't actually dismiss the fairy: the entire point is that you're dissipating your fairy's aether so that you can do... something else with it.

[vetch]

'Undraw' the card by throwing it, dealing 50 potency to all enemies in a straight line. Damage scales off of your STR stat.

[Sebazy]

Undraw: Increases damage done by the caster by 25% for 30 seconds.

I'm sure this would end up being some kind of newb trap, but it could be useful for AST in things like Deep Dungeons and solo instances...and it's not like people are using the button for anything right now!

Not sure how much it would need to be, but the idea would be where AST could, by Undrawing all cards, make itself roughly damage equal to WHM or SGE, while still being a damage loss vs using the cards on DPS party members.

Anyway, it was just a REALLY random idea I had while reading other people's comments about stuff on Reddit and the FFXIV Job Guide page. I'm sure it would be a terrible idea for all kinds of reasons, but...I dunno. /shrug

The end result is decent but personally given AST's button bloat issues, I think it could be done more elegantly whilst also allowing Undraw to go the way of the dodo in the process.

It could be something as simple as adding a trait that enhances cards when played on yourself or perhaps something more interesting as allowing the AST to play a card on something like Earthy Star to boost it's damage.

[Renathras]

The end result is decent but personally given AST's button bloat issues, I think it could be done more elegantly whilst also allowing Undraw to go the way of the dodo in the process.

It could be something as simple as adding a trait that enhances cards when played on yourself or perhaps something more interesting as allowing the AST to play a card on something like Earthy Star to boost it's damage.

Fair enough. I made that proposal before and I think people didn't like it, lol

This was more a REALLY random thought and I was curious how people would think of it.

Using Undraw means "you don't get the benefit of the card being played, so no Astrodyne either, and you don't buff anyone else", which seems a sufficient punishment to boost AST to doing WHM personal damage, doesn't it? Basically it fixes the balance issue of the foregone card use (why AST does less damage with WHM) by sort of being a shoe-horned "stance" to remove AST's buffing (effectively) while boosting its damage to equal that of its buff-less peer.

That was the thought, anyway.

As I've said before, I have no idea what to do with AST, but from time to time I have thoughts like this and just wonder how they would work with other people's thinking/analysis to help consider the implications, usability, and fun-factor (if any).

[AmiableApkallu]

'Undraw' the card by throwing it, dealing 50 potency to all enemies in a straight line. Damage scales off of your STR stat.

Ah! The Gambit school of cards. I could get behind that.

[Seraphor]

I'd rather Undraw remain utterly useless so that I don't need to bind it at all and can save the hotbar space.

[vetch]

My actual idea is to change Undraw to 'Shuffle', an out-of-combat non-spell ability with a cast time that removes all active card buffs but refreshes the Astro's card charges, similar to NIN's Hide skill resetting its mudras. It lets you deploy cards more freely in dungeons and also fixes the Astro's enormous 20-second optimal pre-pull.

[AnotherPerson]

'Undraw' the card by throwing it, dealing 50 potency to all enemies in a straight line. Damage scales off of your STR stat.

I see you started taking lessons from Kaiba. Who needs a weapon when you can use your cards to disable the enemy?

[VictorSpoils]

Replace it with Royal Road, another ability that would never get used but would still be less useless.