[dev1052] Group 1/Group 2 Merit Point refinements SCh edition

[brayen]

i will get the ball rolling here, try to keep it neat and to the point guys!

group 1:
light/dark arts recast: this would be better if it added to the benefits/penalty for the respected arts such as 1% less mp 1% less cast/recast per merit
helix dmg: with the regen and helix changes, could we add regen into this merit as to boost both our "over time" spells?
mod verita: this JA still fails 99% of the time, till it is fixed this is worthless
sublimation: not sure what could be done for this, maybe increase the total amount restores from 10 per merit to 20? (...not really sure on this one, not a big fan of this merit)

group 2:
sotrmsurge: either boost the effect or add to it such as +1% atk boost per merit to firestorm or even adding to resist would be nice(example: 10 resist per stat gained, so firestorem with max merit = 70 fire res)...maybe even upping the stat to 2 per merit for total of 10 would be nice. Sad to say this is our best merit for group 2 so would not mind any improvements.
Enlightment: this is a useful ability, however it retains the penalty of the arts you are under, would like to see this fixed so you are given both light and dark art bonuses for the duration of this ability(which is one spell)
the other 4 stratagems merits: to be frank these are all very bad merits in my opinion. to start off drop needing 2 stratagems and make it 1. the -enmity stratagem doesn't even stack with our pax spell. The macc stratagem is fairly low. (someone else feel free to tackle these 4 merits, i rly think they need to completely redo these to be worth even considering)

(note: not sure refinement encompasses new merits for the category so i will refrain from adding any random ideas)

[Zhronne]

group 1:
light/dark arts recast: this would be better if it added to the benefits/penalty for the respected arts such as 1% less mp 1% less cast/recast per merit
Uhm... that would be good, maybe too good, and it's not like we can cap every category, so I guess leave them as they are.


helix dmg: with the regen and helix changes, could we add regen into this merit as to boost both our "over time" spells?
Awesome idea!


mod verita: this JA still fails 99% of the time, till it is fixed this is worthless
This talent would be even more awesome than ever with a 3 mins MV...
...if only MV sticked on something.
I mean, with that kind of miss rate I'd be much happier with a 10 or even 15 mins recast but the old pre-nerf accuracy >__>
They need to do something about MV to make this merit look interesting once again.
Maybe allow magic accuracy gear to count? I can understand MV having a chance to miss, I'm fine with the idea, but here we're talking about MV having a chance to hit which doesn't sound very balanced to me...


sublimation: not sure what could be done for this, maybe increase the total amount restores from 10 per merit to 20? (...not really sure on this one, not a big fan of this merit)
Why not? Doesn't look bad to me. Altough yes, 10>20 is probably needed for level 99.


sotrmsurge: either boost the effect or add to it such as +1% atk boost per merit to firestorm or even adding to resist would be nice(example: 10 resist per stat gained, so firestorem with max merit = 70 fire res)...maybe even upping the stat to 2 per merit for total of 10 would be nice. Sad to say this is our best merit for group 2 so would not mind any improvements.
Cool ideas but too complicated, I say they should just boost the stats bonus given. Currently it's 7 if I recall? Should go to 10 at least, possibly even more.
Weather spells are nice, only think I whine about is that I can't AoE them without going into Light Arts =/ And the lenght yeah, 5 mins would be much better :D


Enlightment: this is a useful ability, however it retains the penalty of the arts you are under, would like to see this fixed so you are given both light and dark art bonuses for the duration of this ability(which is one spell)
Your idea is the best, but I'd be happy enough with the ability of being able to use at least 1 stratagem from the opposite grimorie before casting a spell.
Taking for example the Weather spells issue I was talking about earlier:
1) Make weather spells last 5 mins (it's currently 3 if I Recall?)
2) Make Enlightenment allow you to use one Stratagem
3) Pop Enlightenment, use Accession, use the weather of your choice

BAM! AoE your BLM pt with Ice weather! :D
Altough yeah... I guess nobody uses BLM pts anymore >_>

And yeah, I agree the special stratagems are kinda moot, especially with the 2 charges required.
Speaking of which... I really hope we're getting another charge at level 99 <_<

[Sotek]

Grimoire Recast: -1 second on Stratagem recast per merit. Or any reasonable number really, personally I'd like to see 40 second recast but eh.
Modus Veritas: Exactly the same as it is currently plus increased accuracy since SE refuses to except how idiotic their choice in adjustments have been with Modus.
Sublimation: Increase the total amount it will charge by a percent rather than a flat number.
Helix: Changed to enhances Light/Dark Arts in line with the current changes. Pretty much the same as OP.

Enlightenment: Changed to swapping Light Arts to Dark Arts and Addendum: White to Addendum: Black and so on. I find it next to useless as it currently is, I probably wouldn't find this much better but it's better than having a 5/5 merit ability solely for casting Reraise.
Stormsurge: Change the stats increase to mimic the Gain spell line (increases based on Enhancing skill) and add +2% weather effect per merit to effectively double their effect at 5/5. Having Scholars best merit option as nothing more than 7INT is pathetic.
Stratagems: A complete overhaul would be nice, but since I doubt that will happen: drop their cost to 1 Stratagem and combine all four into two merit options; so Altruism and Focalization are both one option, etc.


(note: not sure refinement encompasses new merits for the category so i will refrain from adding any random ideas)

Sadly I wont. Well, I'll just copy/paste from another post anyway.

-Geminus (JA, 10 minutes)
Allows next spell to be cast without using up current Stratagems, while still gaining their effect.
Additional merits -1.15 recast.
-Geomancer (JA, 10 minutes)
Enhances the effect of the next Storm spell cast. Sandstorm = Stoneskin, Voidstorm = Refresh, etc.
Additional merits enhance bonus further.
-Fusion Helix (spell)
Deals Light and Fire damage that gradually reduces target's HP. Duration affected by Elemental magic skill. Fusion elemental properties for Immanence.
+3MAB and +5MACC per additional merit.
-Distortion Helix (spell)
Deals Water and Ice damage that gradually reduces target's HP. Duration affected by Elemental magic skill. Distortion elemental properties for Immanence.
+3MAB and +5MACC per additional merit.
-Gravitation Helix (spell)
Deals Darkness and Earth damage that gradually reduces target's HP. Duration affected by Elemental magic skill. Gravitation elemental properties for Immanence.
+3MAB and +5MACC per additional merit.
-Fragmentation Helix (spell)
Deals Lightning and Wind damage that gradually reduces target's HP. Duration affected by Elemental magic skill. Fragmentation elemental properties for Immanence.
+3MAB and +5MACC per additional merit.

Call it group 3 merits if you want, I call it "What Scholar should have got post 75". Actual group 3 merits will comprise of "-Libra recast" and "Enhances Animus effect".

Oh, and semi-related to the topic, I'd like to see Magic Critical Hit rate added to misc merits.

[Zhronne]

I love the special helix ones, similar to the fusion magic of another thread.
That would be way too much work for them though, not going to happen and we all know it :(

[Einalem]

For Group 1:
Grimoire Recast: This would need to be markedly better or change to Stratagem Recast. If they keep it in the same vein though, reduction would need to at LEAST be on par with Stratagem Recharge, which is currently 48 seconds (40 if they add a sixth stratagem) so max capping at 50 second recharge doesn't quite cut it. At least -4 seconds/Merit to be safe.
Simply the addition of Tabula Rasa 0 recast negates this merit group in extreme cases.

Modus Veritas Duration: Modus Veritas is junk currently and we all know it. I still think that if they are wanting to dissuade mass stacking, they should make Modus Veritas Duration merits linked to Modus Veritas Accuracy. Someone with 0/5 Merits = 100 % Accuracy, someone with 5/5 Merits = 65% Accuracy. (also, should be usable on a friendly target with Regen for symmetry)

Helix Mag Atk/Acc: Works for what it is, might need a re-adjustment for proper atk/acc with lvl 99 in mind.

Max Sublimation: I would only make this scale more by making it a %HP increase rather than a flat number. Like a 5% HP cap addition making the stored total 50% Max HP at full. Might be OP, but better to err on the side of power at the suggestion stage.

For Group 2:
Altruism/Focalization: I would also combine these as one merit and make the stratagem cost 1 instead of two.

Tranquility/Equanimity: I would also combine these as one merit and make the stratagem cost 1 instead of two.

Enlightenment: I would make this mini Tabula Rasa for a single cast. All arts Bonuses applied with a full post-addendum spell list. I understand limitations on stratagem use and having to be in a Specific Arts and have hear a lot of complaints about having to swap with Addendums, etc. So I propose keeping it a 10 min recast, but the merits refresh a Stratagem at the end of the spell cast. 5 Merits, Get 5 Stratagem recharged. This way you can go back to Arts with addendum, or use it to clutch refresh Stratagems in a pinch, kind of like how Tabula Rasa leaves you with all stratagems in place at duration's end.

Stormsurge: I would change the scaling to 10 (5 Voidstorm) and as SCH has no Bar- spells have it add a damage reduction percent from element. This would add more to SCH healing tools as it would lower cure burden.

[Laxedrane]

They need to do something about MV to make this merit look interesting once again.
Maybe allow magic accuracy gear to count? I can understand MV having a chance to miss, I'm fine with the idea, but here we're talking about MV having a chance to hit which doesn't sound very balanced to me...

I always thought they should do one of two things. Either:

A. Make it so that modus vertas always land but if a second scholar goes to do it then the accuracy would go to crap.
or
B. Just make it so you can't stack it.

Although I am guessing both be hard to program sense it's adjusting an enfeeble already on it. Does MV even count as a status effect?

The only reason it needed to be nerfed was becuase a group of scholars could boost a helix to take out huge chunks of hnm mobs hp. The base effect of it however was not particularly over powering. So the solution to the problem should of limited the chance of the problem happening or completely avoiding it. Not just completely turn the ability to shit.

[Zhronne]

That wasn't really the way to nerf it... they should have just gone for B, altough the fact they didn't probably makes me think it would have been an hassle for them to program it, while "nerfing it" was much faster/easier.

[Sotek]

Modus never made sense from the very start. It stacks? What possible application could that have had? I don't even want to think about the fact that one of the developers (who has hopefully moved to FFXIV) didn't see the glaring exploit to be had in having it stack infinitely. Seriously, I'm sure we can all agree on how many Scholars one would expect in a party or alliance, how did SE fail to do that when making the damn job and cap the number of times Modus stacks at say, three times? In most situations I don't even think it would ever be stacked. At this point it most certainly never will be, everything is either low manned so there is only one Scholar present, or people are in an alliance trying to fill as many different jobs in to optimize stagger procs in which case no Scholar is present because White Mage gets Helices and the two abilities don't even work last I checked. Oh wait Embrava until everyone gets that, one Scholar again then.

But you know what? SE doesn't give a rats ass. Everyone, myself more so, has detailed the great big fallacy in Modus and SE turns around with "It's working as expected". They don't care that no one is ever going to stack it, or maybe they do. It's only a matter of time until they realize that there will only ever be one Scholar in an alliance and thus only one Modus, but then they'll realize there are plenty of /Scholars about and well, they've already pushed Helices down there so why not Modus? I can honestly see this happening at some point. If it doesn't I'll eat my hat (jokes on you I don't own a hat, plus its going to happen).

Call it childishness, but at this point I think SE should either do absolutely nothing regarding Scholar or simply do exactly as I say. Are my ideas brilliant? Of course not, most of them are idiotic, but at least they offer some sort of damn benefit for those of use unfortunate enough to have leveled Scholar to the level cap and I at least have an idea of what Scholar should be, unlike the development team (actually serious here, I'm fairly sure the development team has absolutely no direction for Scholar, considering its changed twice in the past year, if not three times). Leave it to SE and they'll decide low level Scholars could do with feeling even more Scholar-like by having some enmity control. Screw Voidwatch, Scholar doesn't need any unique procs - it worked in Abyssea after all. Leveled Scholar to Lv.99 expecting something unique? Silly you, all these low level Scholars are demanding Scholars merits all be dropped to Lv.5 and theres apparently enough of them to outweigh both the English speaking and Japanese Scholar communities combined. To hell with the fact that leveling up is a purely transitional state and monsters don't even live long enough for Helices to do anything, it damages Scholar in the long run and benefits absolutely nobody, so SE is honor bound to do it.

I'll try to be serious and on topic for a moment, no promises though:

Sooooo, kind of more of a Light/Dark Arts adjustment, but it effects the merits as well.
Arts give a -10% MP cost and -10% cast time, with Stratagems mirroring that but not stacking. I figure the same thing is in line for Rapture/Ebullience and the merit Stratagems.
So, naturally on Arts we get 20% of whatever Stratagems we have.
Rapture and Ebullience mean we get a natural +10% and +4% on Light and Dark Arts.
Altruism and Focalization give a +1 Magic Accuracy per merit to their respective Arts.
Tranquility and Equanimity give -2 Enmity per merit to their respective Arts.

Could apply it to Perpetuance and Immanence but since SE decided to blow all sense of duality away with those (extended duration buffs for Light and extended duration enfeebles/Helix for Dark, seriously SE, why do you do this?) I see no reason to include them, not to mention its probably impossible. I mostly just want a native +4 Magic Accuracy for those four worthless merits I spent, if they're going to stay at 2 charges forever might as well seek some use out of them.

[Pebe]

The reason I believe SE didn't enhance SCH enfeebles is because of what I posted before regarding SCH = Enhancer role and RDM = enfeebler role. It would have come far to close to Rdm's Saboteur and that is a big no-no considering the sorry state RDM is in as well. Got to leave them with something right?

[Daniel_Hatcher]

The reason I believe SE didn't enhance SCH enfeebles is because of what I posted before regarding SCH = Enhancer role and RDM = enfeebler role. It would have come far to close to Rdm's Saboteur and that is a big no-no considering the sorry state RDM is in as well. Got to leave them with something right?

Enhancer with no real, relevant enhancing magic.

[Delvish]

Enhancer with no real, relevant enhancing magic.

*snort*Crackbrava*snort*

[Daniel_Hatcher]

*snort*Crackbrava*snort*

Really... a 2-hour spell.

[Sotek]

Sch
Trial 5049: Argute Mortarboard +2: Adds "Enh. 'Altruism' and 'Focalization'"
Trial 5050: Argute Gown +2: Adds "Enhances 'Enlightenment' effect"
Trial 5051: Argute Bracers +2: Adds "Enh. 'Tranquility' and 'Equanimity'"
Trial 5052: Argute +2: Adds "Enhances 'Tabula Rasa' effect"
Trial 5053: Argute Loafers +2: Adds "Enhances 'Stormsurge' effect"

I do hope that's not the limit of their merit adjustments...
Seems kind of stupid in a lot of ways, what exactly is going to happen if you don't have the merits? Hope that means they'll just remove the cap on Group 2 (and 1) merits. "Enhances 'Altruism' and 'Focalization' effect" on the Mortarboard and not on my enfeebling hands sure is odd, too. Though I guess it doesn't matter since unless the enhancement is "Only costs 1 Stratagem like they damn well should have since the beginning" I won't be using any of them ever, anyway.

Guess I should wait for confirmation that "Enhances 'Stormsurge' effect" only adds an additional 1 Stat to it before I start insulting the development team though, but where's the fun in that?

[Daniel_Hatcher]

I hear, you gain an extra 1 point for each level of tier you have in StormSurge so +6 for Dark, +12 for any other.

[Zhronne]

Yai inventory+1! A piece to bring with you to enhance Stormsurge by a whole 5 more attribute points! xD
I mean, that's good, but is it just me who's having more and more inventory issues with each day passing by?

They should have just fixed the merits themselves as they promised us. +7 was an interesting amount at level75, it's pretty laughable at level 99, especially in light of the other buffs we got from other sources.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

Yai inventory+1! A piece to bring with you to enhance Stormsurge by a whole 5 more attribute points! xD
I mean, that's good, but is it just me who's having more and more inventory issues with each day passing by?

They should have just fixed the merits themselves as they promised us. +7 was an interesting amount at level75, it's pretty laughable at level 99, especially in light of the other buffs we got from other sources.

Yeah, but it's a decent enough buff. Could be like RDM and a 8 second duration increase.. Stupid SE.

[Sotek]

Well, there go my hopes of them ever changing Stormsurge to work like Gain/Boost spells.

Any truth to what I've been hearing, +15 seconds duration on the rest? If so. Go fuck a dead trout, SE. Pretty damn worthless on Enlightenment and Stratagems.

Given past experiences, I don't expect their "Group 1/2 merit point refinements" to be anything more than an increase to the cap and nothing more. Finally we can merit all those worthless Stratagems while they fail to take into account that no one is ever going to use them while they cost two charges.

Guess I have Group 3 merits to look forward to now. Animus Recast, Animus Effect, Libra recast and Adloquium Effect. Shame they can't actually do that now I've suggested it, maybe they'll add something useful for a change. Though no doubt this will be the one thing they see me post and decide to introduce.

[Zhronne]

You can test things yourself on test server, I sure will once I get home, altough not being able to use windower usually puts me off from trying stuff on the test server >_>
Was wondering what the augment would do to Tabula Rasa (??) and to Enlightenment, but I Stopped hoping for something big (like being able to use stratagems of the opposite book), it's probably gonna be just a uhm -20 recasts or something, so 4:40 instead of 5:00. WOOOW! Totally gonna chance everything! xD

Altough in light of what they said for new merits... Enlightenment should become 5 minutes with just 1/5 after the january patch where they'll fix group #2 merits.
If this is gonna happen I wonder what will happen with the remaining 4 points? Enlightenment isn't exactely an ability that you can increase in "potency", can you? And you can't increase it's lasting time... so Either they find an original way to augment it (more than just one spell? able to use stratagems?) or they furtherly reduce the timers.
I wouldn't really bet on the first, but the second is likely maybe?
Think I'd keep 5/5 Enlightenment anyway, the stratagems kinda suck imho.



Given past experiences, I don't expect their "Group 1/2 merit point refinements" to be anything more than an increase to the cap and nothing more. Finally we can merit all those worthless Stratagems while they fail to take into account that no one is ever going to use them while they cost two charges.
Uh... definitely not for SCH, but I would be REALLY glad for other jobs if they increased the max cap in group2 from 10 to 15, reaaaally really glad.
I honestly don't see that coming though, seems too good to happen :(



Guess I have Group 3 merits to look forward to now. Animus Recast, Animus Effect, Libra recast and Adloquium Effect.
I wouldn't be so sure on group#3 merits tbh.
They never confirmed they were coming, just gave very generic hints or am I forgetting something?
Let's not be too hasty dreaming about group#3 because we might get disappointed.
What we know is coming it's a 2nd two hour ability for each job, will be meritable and there will be enhancements you can get through merits (altough it's unclear wether these upgrades will be for the current 2hrs, for the new ones or for both).
I think I already know where these 2hrs will be placed in the merit menu. On the test server the WS menu option had a group line above saying "Group 1", hinting that inside that category there will be a "group 2 in the future, and that group 2 might as well be the 2hr thing.
Bet they'll limit us like they did on the WSs as well, allowing us only to choose a couple of additional 2hrs >__>

Oh and btw, they said many times that Adloquium will be enhanced with new gear (yai! Even more inventory+1! xD) and for Animus I dunno what to say, augments wouldn't be bad but in my opinion they really need to re-do the effects from zero. Static -/+ enmity that doesn't go above caps just isn't worth, period.

[Sotek]

Last I checked I can't use the test server since I never bought those abortions of addons that were added before Abyssea.

Also where is 5 minute Enlightenment coming from? That's the first I've heard of it.

[Zhronne]

Ehr... I dunno, maybe I'm just about to embarass myself since I'm not home right now and I can't check, but isn't the recast of 5/5 Enlightenment 5 minutes?
Did I smoke too much and it's 10 insteady? I seemed to recall it being 5 honestly... sorry if I went wrong.

[Sotek]

Enlightenment should become 5 minutes with just 1/5 after the january patch where they'll fix group #2 merits.

Was referring to this, first I'm hearing of it. Damned amazing if they're actually going to do something with group 2 merits, Enlightenment is nothing more than an ability for applying Reraise for me at the moment. Only added effect I can imagine it getting with extra merits is lasting for extra spells, but that's questionable since I doubt they'd adjust the duration.

Oh snap, suddenly Argute Gown +2 has a purpose.

[Zhronne]

I use enlightenment for Reraise and occasional erase atm, but I suck at SCH so I wouldn't consider my way of doing things a term of paragon.
Anyway, you probably missed THIS (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/16870-dev1040-Merit-points-adjustments?p=241053#post241053) post from Bayohne.

Basically a lot of the group#2 JAs are 20 or 15 mins JAs, getting more than 1/5 helps you reduce the cooldown from 20/15 mins to 10/5. Then there's another group of JAs who already have fixed recast timer and getting more merits increases the potency/effect of the JA. These ones are staying as they are, whereas the first ones are getting changed to work like the second group.
This means that stuff like Shikikoyo for SAM will be 5 mins with 1/5, but probably will transfer only 50tp, each additional merit adds up to 25tp to the max transferable amount.

This works very well for the original 15 jobs, a bit less for the ToAU and WotG jobs since they have kinda "special" group#2 merits... so I dunno what they'll do with Scholar, in my previous post I was wondering if they'll apply this new approach to these 5 new jobs or not (probably not?), but if they do then probably Enlightenment will become 5 mins with 1/5, and... and I dunno what they could ever do with additional merits tbh.

[Economizer]

I almost posted a new thread, as I was originally thinking of suggesting it as a new Stratagem, but adding it under Enlightenment / and two-hour fits a bit more for balance purposes unless it was another x2 stratagem cost stratagem.

Under two hour Scholar currently gets two more spells to use. Based on that, Scholar, much like Blue Mage, should get more spell access under Enlightenment then what they get currently. Now obviously, and sadly, being able to use Embrava under Enlightenment every ten minutes would defeat the purpose of its two hour restriction so no, that's not one of the spells. But the spells would be spells considered "too powerful" for Scholar to wield normally, and more to the point in game, would be things a Scholar wouldn't be able to learn due to lack of specialization, or lack of utility on the field.

List of suggested spells, only available to Scholars under Enlightenment or Tabula Rasa - a few of the suggestions might be a bit extreme or out of line, but this is just a baseline. Keep in mind that any spells that would be made compatible with certain stratagems would be compatible with /SCH as well (however, since Haste is an exception already, more exceptions can be allowed, so a spell added here wouldn't necessarily work with certain stratagems). The levels are also just a base suggestion.


Sacrifice - 75
Tractor - 76
Phalanx - 77
Haste - 80
Warp - 81
Drain II - 85
Stun - 90
Retrace - 91
Freeze - 93
Tornado - 94
Quake - 95
Flood - 96
Burst - 97
Flare - 98
Comet - 99
Cure V - 99


Personally, I'm not really sure about Comet. As per the ancient magic spells, aside from being procs, I think they could pull level 2 skillchains if used with Immanence if one of the other hundred suggestions about Immanence aren't implemented (for example, I've suggested that if you have a different weather spell up then the element of the spell you are casting, it could count as the second element for skillchain purposes).

Perhaps this idea wouldn't really work, but I got it stuck in my head when thinking about the game, and I think it would be a cool mechanic.

[Sotek]

Anyway, you probably missed THIS (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/16870-dev1040-Merit-points-adjustments?p=241053#post241053) post from Bayohne.

I'm not sure if I'm happy with that, they're basically only changing merits with -recast on successive merits. Enlightenment being changed is great (I'm willing to bet it will last for extra spells with added merits), but they basically stamped a big "NO" on any sort of adjustment for those god awful Stratagems and Stormsurge. The merit Stratagems would actually be alright if they just reduced the stupid cost of them (and, like with Relic +2, bound like merits up into one option), why does Stormsurge have to be Scholars best merit option when it's nothing more than +7INT?

As for Enlightenment, having it last for extra spells would certainly be useful, but I'd still rather it just swap me to the opposite Arts, Addendum: Black to Addendum: White and so on. We have these things call Stratagems, they're fairly useful SE. If I'm in dire need of casting Paralyna or Erase from Addendum: Black, I'd benefit far more with Accession handy. I'm glad I only sunk one merit into Enlightenment (because as awful as the Stratagems are, I actually used Tabula Rasa before they added Embrava), I'll probably continue using it for nothing more than Reraise unless they surprise me and do something completely different with it (SE surprising me usually results in something like Lv.30 Helices).

If I was optimistic (again, Lv.30 Helices), I'd hope SE makes Enlightenment swap your Addendum for a set duration with added merits increasing the duration, or even keep it as lasting for 1~5 spells. Key point is it would grant us Stratagems should we need them. They're too lazy to copy the programming from Tabula Rasa that grants all the Arts bonuses with none of the penalties and paste it onto Enlightenment, I've no idea why but this would completely get around whatever brick wall they hit there, too.
Sadly, it's a good suggestion - one posted after the community reps have gone for the Holidays no less - so SE will never even consider it.


I almost posted a new thread, as I was originally thinking of suggesting it as a new Stratagem, but adding it under Enlightenment / and two-hour fits a bit more for balance purposes unless it was another x2 stratagem cost stratagem.


Sacrifice - 75
Tractor - 76
Phalanx - 77
Haste - 80
Warp - 81
Drain II - 85
Stun - 90
Retrace - 91
Freeze - 93
Tornado - 94
Quake - 95
Flood - 96
Burst - 97
Flare - 98
Comet - 99
Cure V - 99



This has been suggested before if my memory serves me correctly, well, a similar concept anyway.

Just a nit-pick, in bold are spells I think Scholar should have natively anyway (except Drain II, Black Mage doesn't even have that last I checked and if they do we have Aspir II now, so Drain II sure be purely native as well).

Haste, we have it at Lv.5 with Embrava, we should have it natively too. Again, I'll never grow tired of saying this, it's almost flawlessly logical.
Phalanx, why the hell not when we're already better than Red Mage with it, they just need to make Phalanx II not an abysmal waste of programming. I'd also throw Gravity in there despite it being a completely irrelevant spell, Red Mage has Gravity II after all (Cruel and tasteless joke or dead serious, you decide).
Stun, because I see it as an earlier (and better) version of Break, if Black Mage has it, so should Scholar. Along with Blind, Bind, Bio, Bio II and all the White magic enfeebles, since White Mage has those.
Sacrifice is a tactical spell if ever I saw one. Scholar should have got this, not White Mage. I'd throw in Auspice as well to be honest. They're both far more suited to Scholar than White Mage in my opinion.

[Economizer]

First, I know many of my Scholar ideas aren't original. Few are for Scholar. We just have to keep suggesting them and making them better and better. Personally, my most favorite suggestion currently is the one with different weather counting as a second element for Immanence (if its a balance issue, it could consume the weather spell too).

I disagree with Scholar getting Stun natively, unless Red Mage gets it first. Phalanx and Haste are spells that require you to sub something anyways, so basically it forces the Scholar to choose between Haste/Phalanx or Stun. Like a lot of these spells, others get better access because they actually have a greater understanding of their respective fields of magic, instead of just pulling it out of a book whenever you need it. The idea here is that Scholar would get many of these when they pull it out of a book once every ten or so minutes.



Sacrifice is a tactical spell if ever I saw one. Scholar should have got this, not White Mage. I'd throw in Auspice as well to be honest. They're both far more suited to Scholar than White Mage in my opinion.


There is not a healing magic spell White Mage doesn't know, and Sacrifice works better under Afflatus Solace. That said, perhaps Scholars should get it natively under Add. White, especially since it isn't AoE, and being able to Accession it would help both classes. The only weird thing about it I'd think is how it would affect the caster given that it is other target only and not AoE.

On Auspice, it is an AoE, and was made exclusively for White Mage, and like Sacrifice, works better under Afflatus Misery (although not much since the nerf). If anything, Auspice should be a Divine Magic spell, but that's another point for me to add when I eventually compile a "revamp Afflatus stances" thread (spoiler: it is mostly going to be about Misery, with a side point of giving a weakened version of both to /WHM).

Scholar shouldn't get certain spells period, despite what many Scholars may think, but I think that having some they shouldn't have be time limited to ten minutes would allow for more interesting gameplay while keeping an eye towards class balance.

[Sonshou]

All those Strategems Merits should be roll into 1. Simply a waste of merit points to get them one by one and they're not particularly desirable.

Probally can add ability to copy buffs to party member like the empathy merit of DRG. number of buff transfer depend on merit level. Too bad if you transfer your SUblimation to a warrior.

[Zhronne]

but they basically stamped a big "NO" on any sort of adjustment for those god awful Stratagems and Stormsurge.
For the new stratagems maybe they'll make them cost just one charge, don't see them going any further than that.
As for Stormsurge uhm... I'm afraid their "way of fixing it" was through the augment on AF2+2 feet. (yai for more inventory+1! As if we didn't have too many items to carry around already...)


As for Enlightenment, having it last for extra spells would certainly be useful, but I'd still rather it just swap me to the opposite Arts, Addendum: Black to Addendum: White and so on.
What I'd love is being able to use stratagems of the "other side" until you cast one spell affected by one or more of those stratagems, but we all know that's not goin to happen.
They're either:
1) Leaving Enlightenment unaffacted, as an "exception", from the new merit approach
2) Make so Enlightenment lasts more spellcasts

If 2) is what's gonna happen, I'd probably still go 5/5 Enlight, mainly because even with just one stratagem charge cost, I still don't see the special stratagems being any use (accuracy one maybe to land some debuffs? But I'd rather change my storm element with klimaform up to do that, honestly. I actually wonder if the macc special stratagems work with Klimaform up, I bet they don't!)

[Zhronne]

All those Strategems Merits should be roll into 1.
The way they handled AF2+2 augments makes it pretty clear that this will NEVER happen :(

[Jamesy]

to expand on sotek's posts cura is a sch only spell in old ff games and yet whm has it? whaaaaa.....

[Zhronne]

Did anybody sort out the "Augments Enlightenment" effect on the AF2+2 body?

[Sotek]

Did anybody sort out the "Augments Enlightenment" effect on the AF2+2 body?

I heard that is was +2 to all magic skills per merit.

As good of a bonus that is, haven't they kind of killed the whole purpose behind Enlightenment now? Before it was meant to let us cast from the opposite Addendum, something that lacked utility mainly because most of the spells you'd want were subjob spells and the rest would be far more beneficial to just swap Arts (nukes and -nas since you never need just one, even sleep since you may need to sleep multiple enemies with Manifestation). Rather than it having some sense in being able to recast Reraise from Addendum: Black, I'm far more likely to use it in Light Arts to enhance Light Arts spells like Phalanx and Embrava. The whole concept of casting from the opposite Addendum is almost completely dead to me with this. I really have to wonder what they're going to adjust with it now, I hope it's completely revamped at this point.

[Daniel_Hatcher]

to expand on sotek's posts cura is a sch only spell in old ff games and yet whm has it? whaaaaa.....

http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cura

No it wasn't.

Cura - Final Fantasy I - WHM

Cura - Final Fantasy III - Red Mage, a White Mage, a Devout, a Sage, an Onion Knight, and a Scholar.

[Zhronne]

I heard that is was +2 to all magic skills per merit.
...
No words, really.

[Eric]

Not really sure what point you're trying to make, but here you go: http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Argute_Gown_%2B2

EDIT:
I'm more curious to see what the "Enhances Tabula Rasa" effect does. Does anyone know? http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Argute_Pants_%2B2

[Einalem]

I AM NOT POSITIVE, but testing on other pieces it is a duration extension to the 2 hour effect that seems to vary job to job.

[Zhronne]

EDIT:
I'm more curious to see what the "Enhances Tabula Rasa" effect does. Does anyone know? http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Argute_Pants_%2B2
The same thing Enhances Astral Flow does, +30 seconds of Tabula Rasa.
The majority of 2hr enhancements have an effect like that, the amount of + seconds you get varies according to the base duration. The more it lasts normally, the more +seconds you get.
Or at least that's the pattern.

[Eric]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm guessing that you don't have to keep the piece equipped the entire time to extend the duration, right? Most other gear that enhances duration like that doesn't require this.

[Zhronne]

Nope, just equip it when you use it