Quote Originally Posted by IceBlueNinja View Post
entitled raiders wanted only(balance card)
Hiya, entitled raider healer main from Entropy here (Hardcore FC with many world firsts).

Quote Originally Posted by Sebazy View Post
This. I used to use Bole on the Warrior in A12S as a means for them to tank their final large add safely in Deliverance whilst I solo healed at that stage. I don't think I ever remember a clear where I didn't open with Balance and then get a Bole in my pocket in time for those two adds.

I completely get why SE went with the new card system. It's undeniably more consistent and they've actually got a chance of balancing this setup unlike the old one. It just feels so stale in use to me though, the button bloat and APM requirements around Sleeve draw just put me right off it.
Quote Originally Posted by Sebazy View Post
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but in fights with high uptime and especially either with no ballad or if I was having to raise. I find myself running out of MP if I'm doing a good job of keeping the Malefics going. Seiryu was a good example where on many occasion I'd throw an Ewer on myself if it was going to align with my extended shroud. Doing that was borderline essential in pugs if I still wanted to aim for decent DPS output.

Bole? Meh, it was a fundamental part of my strategy in A12s (The latter part of the add phase) to the point where I'd actually save it for one of the tanks. I've never really found anywhere else where it was as impactful though.
Quote Originally Posted by Sebazy View Post
There's more to life than chasing Balance cards! Got a big multi mob pull coming up and you've just pulled a Bole? Consider throwing it on the tank to allow yourself a few more Gravity casts. Getting constant spears? Whilst it's the black sheep of cards, it's a dps gain for bards and worth throwing their way if you're at a loss. BLMs and Warriors still appreciate Arrow cards it seems. (Not so sure about arrow on Mnk/Nin tho, my static melees would be out of TP too quick).
I'll tell you what the actual culprit of the balance meta was: It was SE needlessly changing Balance (And bole) to 20%, case in point, notice my shift in opinion between above circa 2019 and below which was just before patch 3.4:

Quote Originally Posted by Sebazy View Post
.....personally I've never really seen or heard of bole getting use in Alex savage tho. ..... I really am sorry if you feel that spear is useful, have a scan over fflogs, it is by far the least used card.....
AST was 'fine' by 3.2-3.3, it just needed adjustments to get Noct to be competitive with SCH ( https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...=1#post3857974 ) and people to finally get over how much of a dumpster fire it was previously in 3.0.

Instead SE pulled the pin and wildly overtuned balance. Even Bole was a bonafide DPS gain in the right situation. 20% was absolute madness. It's no wonder people stuck to it like moths around a lamp.