How should they address the disparity within the role?

[IDontPetLalas]

That sounds about right. You inevitably still have to do some casted heals in prog or with lower item levels, which is personal dps lost, and buffs scale better on the other end with parties with better gearing and practice as well, so SGE/WHM should have significantly higher personal dps than the other two to make up for both cases.

I've also been thinking lately that AST's buffs being as good as they are should've only been allowed with the RNG. Have less consistency than WHM but higher output when the RNG's good, and have ways to minimize the lows of bad RNG with more effort.

So, think about what you just said, and then think about how you would feel about doing anything when levelling or solo content as an AST. Would it sound like an improvement, or even more painful.

Because after having several (less than successful) reworks, this is one question that people often don't ask themselves- and before you may step in and say' well, you can always do those things on another job"- my answer to that is - yes, I can and sometimes do- but it shouldn't be necessary because it's miserable otherwise.

[Azurarok]

So, think about what you just said, and then think about how you would feel about doing anything when levelling or solo content as an AST. Would it sound like an improvement, or even more painful.

Because after having several (less than successful) reworks, this is one question that people often don't ask themselves- and before you may step in and say' well, you can always do those things on another job"- my answer to that is - yes, I can and sometimes do- but it shouldn't be necessary because it's miserable otherwise.

I mean that problem is because of the 2 minute meta and the no nerfs balancing. It's shifting more and more of AST's damage output to its buffs and away from their personal dps.

Also they had to add multipliers to it, BRD, and DNC for them to be able to clear Criterion dungeons, so if it really starts to become a problem that's an option, though a terrible bandaid fix imo.

[IDontPetLalas]

I mean that problem is because of the 2 minute meta and the no nerfs balancing. It's shifting more and more of AST's damage output to its buffs and away from their personal dps.

Also they had to add multipliers to it, BRD, and DNC for them to be able to clear Criterion dungeons, so if it really starts to become a problem that's an option, though a terrible bandaid fix imo.

I see your point now, and I would agree. Thanks.