Some concerns about Geomancer

[Quetzacoatl]

I understand that this may not receive answers from the Development Team right away, especially with the release of some details on the job just before release, but I feel nervous about the job's usability. Simply put, I'm excited to see another Mage Job that looks interesting. Some of these questions may already be answered, but lack of info compels me to ask anyway.

When it was confirmed that Luopan will take damage from AoE, what would the survivability of a Luopan be dependent on? One theory I have is the use of Geomancy skill to increase the health of Luopan, Would they be able to last long enough to withstand AoEs until another Luopan can be used again?

Similarly, will the recast of the ability that deploys Luopan be balanced so that the job doesn't find itself having to wait unnecessarily long times to use Colure Spells? I'm sure this issue might have been looked into already, since Geomancer will have to provide enhancements efficiently for parties and alliances.

With this new job coming to rise, I, like everyone else, would like seeing this job have a fair degree of desirability upon release.

[Karah]

The loupans will have next to zero health, be one shottable by every mob in the game (AoE), and thus completely useless.

There really isn't much to question about it, we all already know this is going to be the case.

[Alhanelem]

Great, expansion not out, job not out, and "concerns" already. Can't we wait til we actually play the job before we start complaining?

[Quetzacoatl]

Great, expansion not out, job not out, and "concerns" already. Can't we wait til we actually play the job before we start complaining?

I would be complaining if the job is next to useless, like Karah here is suggesting. And why not address these issues before the job is released, so we can suggest ideas to SE so that GEO becomes a strong job as early as possible? Unless you want the devs to spend months to years fine-tuning jobs on a quarterly basis, be my guest.

The fact that Luopan can even get hit by AoE is the sole reason I even question the Dev Team's plans for the job. My theory/speculation or suggestion is for Luopan health to be dependent on Geomancy skill, the higher the skill, the longer the Luopan will stay alive. Makes sense that way, imo.

[Rustic]

I would be complaining if the job is next to useless, like Karah here is suggesting. And why not address these issues before the job is released, so we can suggest ideas to SE so that GEO becomes a strong job as early as possible? Unless you want the devs to spend months to years fine-tuning jobs on a quarterly basis, be my guest.

The fact that Luopan can even get hit by AoE is the sole reason I even question the Dev Team's plans for the job. My theory/speculation or suggestion is for Luopan health to be dependent on Geomancy skill, the higher the skill, the longer the Luopan will stay alive. Makes sense that way, imo.

If there's anything Luopans remind me of, it's the shaman totems in WoW. I'd give them some protection vs. AoE in exchange for developing aggro just like any PC or pet would, meaning if left to their own devices, a mob will demolish the things if not distracted.

[Merton9999]

The loupans will have next to zero health, be one shottable by every mob in the game (AoE), and thus completely useless.

There really isn't much to question about it, we all already know this is going to be the case.

After the first six moths of SCH I expect this to be the case too. But like that job, I assume SE will be watching closely and make some very good adjustments. Some of the SCH stuff was terrible: storms that took 10 seconds to cast and lasted 60 seconds, no way to recover MP on a mage that serves two major functions, forcing /WHM to main heal, enspell accuracy based on the recipient's enhancing spell. All of that stuff was fixed relatively quickly... for SE.

I have concerns too, but for now I expect the worst with the full intention to post huge lists of suggestions for months starting in April.

For now my geek bone is happy with teasers of images and nomenclature. I'll enjoy that for a week or so before I get sick of the functional suckiness and demand changes!