Disparity at End Game: BLU needs an update.

Hello, I am posting this because it is time to update BLU. They have been left off a lot of gear options for almost 3 years now until miraculously they were added to Malignance (except the earring for some reason.)

I would like to see some upgrades to BLU similar to what RDM has gotten to place it so high up on the desired jobs list these days.

-Equipment that enhances Blue Magic duration and potency

If we had equipment that increased the potency of our Blue Magic, it would open new spell setups with older spells. Some examples would be Infrasonics giving a potent EVA down for an ACC boost, Warm-up giving a good deal of self ACC (or diffusion'd), etc. Possibly a problem for Haste spells but that isn't an issue these days as most setups comprise a BRD or GEO. Additional effects benefiting from the potency of said equipment would also increase our utility in parties for content like Omen, Ambuscade, etc. A decent Plague, Paralyze, Slow, etc would benefit small groups greatly and its already done via other jobs like MNK or RDM. Historically, BLU was given spells to compare to the utility of these jobs and it has fallen far behind what they are currently capable of.

The duration of most of our buff spells barely surpass 1m30s. This is too short when jobs like RDM have self buffs that last over 20 minutes. The BLU is constantly casting buffs spells and it lowers their DPS and leaves them open to damage/interruption in most cases. Juggling 2-4 different buffs these days with these durations is incredibly frustrating (Cocoon, Nat. Meditation, Barrier Tusk being what the majority cast.) Not having to cast them would indirectly increase our damage potential.

An update to BLU so that we ACTUALLY cast Blue Magic, seems like a logical choice to me. Currently BLU end-game consists of getting buffs and spamming a singular WS. In content like Dyna D we don't even use our utility spells and only AOE nuke or spam said WS. BLU has fallen behind in a lot of content in comparison to other DD jobs and even RDM. We have jobs like MNK that clear battles safer and faster than a BLU casting all kinds of defensive spells and debuffs. The job is stuck with older mechanics when everyone else has gone into ridiculous levels of damage and utility.

-Change to our job abilities

We currently use Unbridled Learning for one spell, Mighty Guard. Rarely ever are the others cast unless we have the 1hr up and even then its limited. This design seems really short sighted and maybe it should be reworked to be made so that we have the ability to cast the other spells without having to choose only one.

Abilities like Chain Affinity and Burst Affinity seem really outdated. They would better be served as a stance in my opinion. Something like Convergence is almost entirely useless these days. A lot of the concept of the job seems to still be rooted in 75 cap days. Our Dynamis JSE weapon was almost entirely useless outside of a MACC increase when other jobs got weapons that literally changed the meta.

In closing, I would strongly enjoy if BLU got equipment that enhances our spell casting so that we can close the gap in the disparty at end game. Right now there are jobs putting out ridiculous numbers of DMG buffed up in content like Dyna D and Omen, and it just seems like BLU has been left behind as all these jobs have gotten updates directly or indirectly. While Malignance gear was a big upgrade for BLU, I would like to see some unique equipment that would enhance our gameplay.

Some ideas.

Chain Affinity: Allows next blue magic skill to be used in skill chain & increases physical blue magic potency. (Doesn't consume TP when used.)
Burst Affinity: Allows all magical blue magic to be used in a magic burst and increasing damage potency.
Convergence: Increases all Blue magic attack/acc potency for 3mins.
Diffusion: Allows you to use any of the "Diffusion" based blue magic spells.

Diffusion Spells (Same basic spells but they effect the whole party and buff duration increased. However these spells can only be used when Diffusion is on)
(These spells you don't need to set.)

- Animating Wail 5mins to 10mins (Aoe version of Haste 2)
- Magic Barrier 5mins to 10mins
- Reactor Cool 2mins to 5mins (Increased Defense & Ice spikes)
- Triumphant Roar 90s to 3mins (Increased Attack)
- Warm up 3mins to 6mins. (Increased Acc & eva)
- Zephyr Mantle 4 blink shadows to 12 blink shadows. (Blink)
- Memento Mori 30secs to 90secs (Increased MAB)
- Plasma Charge 50s to 130s (Thunder spikes + Refresh+1)

Efflux: TP gained when using physical blue magic spells.

Unbridled Wisdom: All spells cost 0MP for 1min.

- Refueling upgraded to Haste II. (Self haste 2)

Wouldn't it be better to just have equipment that gives a boost to BLU spells across the board? It is less DEV work for them and serves the same purpose for us. They would also have to consider the fact that those spells have level caps of 50~75 etc, so even though its silly people would be OP at those levels.

Bump, I hope we can get an update

Just had a thought, if you're working on the revamped AF3 it would be a great time to use it to create the new stats of "Blue magic potency/duration increase +%"

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Originally Posted by Typral

Just had a thought, if you're working on the revamped AF3 it would be a great time to use it to create the new stats of "Blue magic potency/duration increase +%"

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I don't believe they would do anything gear wise going forward that would make blue magic very potent outside the usual stats

I would rather them doing adjustments to the potency / duration spells themselves.
Change up the formulas of certain spells, lower recast delay of Magic Hammer and boost its base damage, increase the duration of Cocoon and Nature's Meditation, increase the potency of healing blue magic spells such as Magic Fruit and make blue magic skill influence more into the potency.

There are several Blue Magic spells they could do to adjust.

Give us Job Trait Bonus III.

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Originally Posted by Zuidar

I don't believe they would do anything gear wise going forward that would make blue magic very potent outside the usual stats

I would rather them doing adjustments to the potency / duration spells themselves.
Change up the formulas of certain spells, lower recast delay of Magic Hammer and boost its base damage, increase the duration of Cocoon and Nature's Meditation, increase the potency of healing blue magic spells such as Magic Fruit and make blue magic skill influence more into the potency.

There are several Blue Magic spells they could do to adjust.

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Yes I agree with you and I would love that too. The reason I suggest using the gear is because RDM got to where its at right now due to gear upgrades for the most part. They have so much gear that is "enhancing dur+" "enfeebling dur+, potency+" its really done a number for their spells. What you're asking for is a complete revamp of literally every single blue magic spell, with such a small DEV team it wouldn't be realtistic. If they were to place the new stats on gear, it would even revamp older spells like Infrasonics for a nice EVA down (acc boost) among other old spells we never use.

BUMP, BLU POWER

Hello DEV, please consider adding Blue magic duration/potency equipment, via AF3 would be nice when you revamp it. thnx

I think you'll find most blue mages like how it is right now, if they make spells stronger they will most likely nerf our melee damage to offset it.

Every BLU i've talked to is in favor of a buff, its possible you don't know the BLU players very well then.

You won't get a straight buff, you'll get a buff and a nerf to go with it if it happens. If they make blue spells stronger, they will nerf passive abilities to offset it.

While I respect your opinion, I just simply disagree. The recent string of jobs have gotten direct and indirect buffs and not nerfs. Just as an example, RDM has gotten Crocea Mors, Daybreak and tons of individual job adjustments and 0 nerfs. Well, I think it worked out quite well for them as they are soloing every hard fight in the game and are one of the most desired jobs atm. MNK received similar treatment and no nerfs.

There is no evidence to support what you're claiming. Just let people have updates to their favorite jobs and don't try to impede. There is nothing harmful with letting our weak debuffs get improvements when a RDMs debuffs completely eclipses BLU these days. Even a MNK with penance renders most of BLUs utility moot. BLU is stuck in lv75 days in terms of potency for spells. I primarily want potency adjustments to additional effects and enfeebles, not direct damage upgrades. There is also no harm in increasing the duration of our buffs that barely last a minute when most of RDMs self buffs last over 20 minutes. It just reduces tedium and is a indirect dmg increase like many other jobs got, it also is a QoL adjustment.

Hello DEV, lets show BLU some love.

All BLU needs is 5-10 more slots in the UI to add more spells. (More blue magic points or blue magic duration would be nice too).

Blue Mage is currently great in end-game with top-tier gear. Nothing NEEDS to change.

It does need an update actually, blue magic duration is one of the things you've said that needs changing. There isn't anything wrong with giving a job QoL updates when people are asking for them. I don't get the benefit by saying "nothing needs to change."

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Originally Posted by Inem

It does need an update actually, blue magic duration is one of the things you've said that needs changing. There isn't anything wrong with giving a job QoL updates when people are asking for them. I don't get the benefit by saying "nothing needs to change."

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The benefit is that development resources are scarce and other jobs (particularly Beastmaster) are literally in a broken, unfinished state.

SE spent that last 2-3 years doing job adjustments, which I'm grateful for ....but let SE finish BST and 1-2 other necessary jobs, if any are left ....AND THEN go back to creating MORE CONTENT for us!. That's what we need, folks. More. Content. (Odyssey and 4 year-old Dynamis/Omen, just isn't cutting it anymore.

Many jobs have been updated since you started doing the rounds. Can you include BLU plz

Bump, no updates and no word on this jobs future. We have tons of spells that are completely useless and outdated (Maelstrom, 162 MP and lower power than Subduction which is 25 MP...)

So many of our spells could use reworks or we need gear that improves spell potency (specifically additional effects and debuffs) and spell duration.

Blu, ehh so many issues to deal with just to tweak this class. First i feel it needs more weapons that are blu swords and maces starting at lower levers all the way to end game. Its a class that has a rare weapon set up. So it should have more job specified weapons right off the rip. As far as the spells go, They are pretty well balanced for the most part. So tweaking them may upset normal game balance. The spell list are split between several types of spells. So instead of tweaking the spells themselves. I suggest tweaking the idea of how spells are cast. So if you cast one blu spell that has affinity for say fire. Then you cast a spell with the affinity with wind. You should get a burst effect. all be it reduced compared to normal magic bursts. Unless its used in a skill chain and magic bursts. This would give minor boosts to battle without over tweaking the spell lists.

Since they said they will adjust each job, take a look at some suggestions here PLZ dev team.

Hello DEV team, please consider adding equipment to enhance Blue Magic duration and additional effect potency. Now with the wardrobes it would get people to buy them to fit these awesome additions ;)

I really don't like the idea of deliberately adding lots more swap gears to pressure players to buy into extra storage.

It is just a secondary benefit, RDM got the same treatment as they were given tons of duration+ and potency+ on JSE. BLU needs the same deal, and the added benefit for SE is people buying the wardrobes. In reality its not a big deal if this comes with the AF3 reforge because we can simply store them.

Bump, lets do it SE

bumping threads on a forum with this little activity is useless. It's already on the front page, it doesn't need to be bumped unless it isn't.

It wasn't on the front page actually, when you click "new posts" in the top left that is what is the front page.

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Originally Posted by Immortal

It wasn't on the front page actually, when you click "new posts" in the top left that is what is the front page.

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Except that it was, "new posts" is only just that, new posts. It was very much on the front page when you chose to type "bump." It was like two threads down from the very top, even.

Making it appear in "new posts" again still doesn't achieve the desired effect when it's just the same person.

The only thing it DOES do is draw the ire of people who look at the new posts, expecting to see new stuff to read, and all there is, is posts that say "bump." Bumping only has any actual value on highly active forums where threads will fall off the front page if no one posts in a short period of time. And the FFXI forums, unfortunately to say, do not fall into that category, much as I wish otherwise.

You don't need to keep telling people you want this. We know you wanted it when you posted it, you'll probably still want it tomorrow, and a week from now, and so on.

Sure, thanks for ur opinion.

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Originally Posted by Immortal

Sure, thanks for ur opinion.

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An opinion backed by observation of hundreds of internet forums over the last 20+ years. :)

But by all means, keep living in this fantasy land where "bumps" do anything.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

An opinion backed by observation of hundreds of internet forums over the last 20+ years. :)

But by all means, keep living in this fantasy land where "bumps" do anything.

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Will do, thanks for your permission. BUMP

↑↑ at least they're being nicely polite to each other, which is a refreshing thing to see nowadays :)

As I am a WHM, or PUP, or THF as main job person myself, and always admired and envied the variability and flexibility BLU has in it's job, I hope dev's do at least SOMETHING to appease everyone here.

Well by their own claims, something will happen as they plan to adjust all jobs in some way. Though nobody knows what.

Do they really need the innate auto refresh? I know I'm personally not begging for it. MP is so easy to come by these days on any other job.