BLM Buffs Inc!

[Synovius]

So Yoshida confirmed yesterday that BLM buffs are in the works. With that said I wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

The issues holding BLM back versus SMN are as follows:

1) BLM takes a significant DPS hit when any movement is needed in the fight whereas the DPS loss for SMN when moving is much less noticeable.

2) BLM does not have the ability to simultaneously put damage out on multiple targets unless they are stacked up tightly whereas SMN can put DoTs out on many mobs at once. For example, the golem adds on Turn 9: a SMN can DoT all of them up and then focus on the one needing to die first whereas a BLM has to ignore the other two adds and just start on the first one.

So how do we fix BLM? Well, I don't propose the second point above needs any adjustments as I feel that it's perfectly fine for BLM to not have this particular strength. The first issue above, however, can be fixed with two simple changes:

1) Firestarter should stack to 3. As you know, the Firestarter proc doesn't come until a split second after Fire I has landed. For this reason, you either have to wait that time to see if you get a Firestarter proc and then cast Fire III with it or you have to continue on casting Fire I without waiting and use Firestarter after that next Fire I which could potentially result in a wasted Firestarter proc. If you let Firestarter stack to 3, then you solve two problems with one simple change. First of all, you give BLM a much needed DPS boost in that there will be no wasted Firestarters. Second of all, you allow for skillful gameplay by a BLM who knows some movement is coming up and therefore can save up three Firestarter procs to use while on the move so no DPS is lost.

2) Surecast should allow for certain spells to be cast while on the move for a short duration. Currently, Surecast may be the most worthless spell in the game. Outside of PvP uses, which is negligible as well as there's already a better spell of this type specifically for PvP, it gets no use. Why not put this on a longer CD but allow the BLM to cast on the run while it's up?

[Zencurse]

Sweet, excited to see it. There's been some talk about the stacking firestarter procs here on the forums but the surecast idea is something I've yet to see (though I've considered something that does something similar as a new ability). Do you have a link to where Yoshi P said this?

[Aikaal]

snips

For your movement issues you should be able to balance with Aetherial Manipulation. I do agree BLM are more turret DPS than anybody else.
/ac "Aetherial Manipulation" <mo>
Probably the best macro for your movement issues.

Flare. SMN can DoT all adds while you can thunder all adds. SMN can't bane where you can't flare.

Allowing BLM to stack 3 procs of Firestarter is OP and should never exist... for now. The burst would be too strong. I can easily see a trait that give that buff and stacks to 2 in a future expansion.

I like your idea about Surecast. Make sure only BLM benefits from it and no other casters. Surecast is useful in T5 on fireballs however, it's not completely useless.

[Yumi_umi]

The only thing tht would be kinda weird is that whole surecast = spells on the run " idea.
It's interesting but very unfair as if that was to happen then it'd make blm number 1 in dodging while casting stuff tht's like crazy strong cuz u know they are blms lol.
Imagine how much easier it'd make titan ex for blms.
Would be even funnier in pvp if it was allowed.
1st the blm would use swiftcast + sleep then sprint + surecast + sleep.

[saden]

The only thing tht would be kinda weird is that whole surecast = spells on the run " idea.
It's interesting but very unfair as if that was to happen then it'd make blm number 1 in dodging while casting stuff tht's like crazy strong cuz u know they are blms lol.
Imagine how much easier it'd make titan ex for blms.
Would be even funnier in pvp if it was allowed.
1st the blm would use swiftcast + sleep then sprint + surecast + sleep.

Umm...what? Please stop thinking about balancing classes around old-content. Also, please stop thinking about balancing classes around PvP. I don't even know why they keep trying to get people to do PvP. I have no inclination whatsoever to PvP in this game and I enjoy PvP in most games...

The biggest issue with BLM right now is that the new turns are very movement oriented (save for 8) and so the BLM is punished. I've been telling my static that I might just level a Dragoon because I could probably pull 50-60 more DPS on a dragoon than my BLM could pull on the new coil [including turn 8 even]. Old content like Titan EX is already laughably easier with the gear upgrades so again--you shouldn't look at balancing classes around it.

Really, if we could just cast on the move at the cost of some potency that'd be nice. Like 35% less damage if you cast while moving (save for scathe). The problem here is that I could see unintentional movement lowering DPS or the server isn't picking up on when you begin and end your movement quickly enough, but at least consistent 500-600 damage fire-1's are better than scathe spam...

[Akirakogami]

they should get a rebalance rather than a buff.

Their absolute dominance in terms of aoe is kinda crazy, maybe tone that down a bit with some better single target damage / damage acceleration

[Friske]

I guess it's confirmed, SE is gonna buff us. The question is how? SE could probably just straight up increase our damage to do this, or change how some of our skills work like uninterruptible cast while using surecast. I'm hoping for some of our skills to be reworked actually, like what SE did with holmgang. Buffing our damage like with monks? I guess this would accentuate our burst damage as well as increasing overall dps, but this would improve our aoe as well which, as we all know is the best in the game and has no reason to be buffed.

I support firestarter stacking to 3. 3 stacks of firestarter would essentially give us about 7.5 seconds of mobility. But in the end, I usually get about 1 or 2 firestarter procs out of 5 fire 1s I do, so you have to cycle between astral fire and umbral ice about 3 times before you reach 3 stacks. Stacking firestarter pretty much delays our hardest hitting spells to when we need them, which I fully support. It basically give us more freedom.
Surecast could be a stacking buff like manawall, say 2 stacks. Each spell used under it lets you move while casting, or it can be like how a cure 2 or cure 3 proc works. Where there's a set timer in which you can use the proc before it vanishes. I would probably support a stacking buff since with cure 2 procs, if you use cure 2 when there's 1 sec left on the timer the proc won't work since it's shorter than the cast time. SE could change this however.

I'll also add some of my ideas as well. With 3 stacks of firestarter you can also cast a flare that requires no mana and no cast time. This enables easy switching between aoe and single target. For example, you're focusing on the boss and you've got 3 stacks, a few adds pop up and it's time to aoe them. This basically gives gives more choice in how we use firestarter procs. Like what summoners can do with aetherflow stacks.
A few more could be blizzard 2 buffs from its incredibly low 50 potency to maybe 70 or 80. And the freeze spell could also be reworked again too.
I've also thought up my own buffs as well, which could be OP but I feel that it's required to fill a gap. Thunder spells to increase our movement speed for a set amount of time. Fire spells give astral fire, ice spells give umbral ice. Both buffs our damage and cast time, so why not thunder buff our movement speed?

[PuroStrider]

Knowing SE, they'd probably going to increase Firestarter proc to 50% and call it a day.

Buff is Buffz though.. looking forward to it.

[Danbo05]

Being able to move while in Sure-cast would be great. As of now, I don't even have a reason to use Sure-cast, ever.

[Horobi]

A good fix would be to allow the use of aetherial manipulation while casting, without interupting the cast. Seriously, it'd be great >.>;