Hi. I am another controller player, and I so happen to main AST. I don’t want to invalidate your feelings and experience but I most wholeheartedly disagree with them.

Opinion: AST is already easier on controller than MKB because player cycling is more efficient on controller. Fact: AST is going to become easier on controller with the 7.0 changes because you are pressing fewer buttons by default, and even fewer if you and your party are playing efficiently.

Currently in 6.0, you press ≈3 Draws, 1 Minor Arcana, Play all 4 cards and sometimes use Astrodyne. That is up to 9 weaves for a 1-minute cycle. In 7.0, you will press 1 Draw and are required 1 Play (damage card). That’s 2 weaves for a one-minute cycle. The other cards in your hand will never count as a definite weave every minute as they are situational—do you need this heal or shield, is this minute the Lord or the Lady? You situational so much more room for activities.

Also, we are not getting new card buttons in AST, we are replacing some. Play, Redraw and Astrodyne are becoming Play I, II, and III. You will have the same amount of buttons in DT as you do in EW.

I do have a few suggestions for all trying to play AST on controller.
  1. oGCDs sometimes miss their target when you soft target on controller so it may be beneficial to macro certain emergency oGCDs to target only the tank (Essential Dignity, Benediction, etc)
  2. Learning the opener and card buff priority will help as you will already be thinking of how quickly to cycle to that correct player before you need to play the card
  3. An Earthly Star (Asylum, Lilybell, Sacred Soil) macro is a must-have because placement AOEs are toxic on controller
  4. Yes, some buttons will be less efficient to macro but don’t be afraid to use macros that will improve your performance: controller has more hotbar space for it
  5. You may change the order of your party members to reduce cycling for buffs. This may be done in or outside battle in the Social>Party Members menu by clicking and dragging players in the order you want. You may also change the default order of your party members in the Character Configurations>UI Settings>Party List menu