New 2-hour Abilities

[Arcon]

This could be done in one of two ways. If you have a SP icon, trying to use the other job ability would have no effect but not use the timer. (Like in the olden days when you had to have an avatar out in order to use Astral Flow, trying to trigger the JA without one would just not work.) The other option would be that when you use a SP ability, the other SP ability goes on a slight delay if it is ready or close to ready; note the use of the word "slight," perhaps varying on the duration of the special ability. (For example, if a Bard uses Soul Voice which has a 3-minute duration, he/she wouldn't be able to use the other SP ability for 5 minutes; for Benediction or Eagle Eye Shot a two minute delay for the other SP ability since they do not have durations. Or maybe a set 5 minute delay for all SP abilities.)

Another way would be to make them overwrite each other. That way you can always use them, but never have both effects up at the same time. And it won't bite you in the ass if you used it one second too early to get the "no effect" message.

We've run into problems with SMN's actually surviving to use SS. Our SMNs tend to be outside of the melee party where their vulnerable to all his stupid moves. The 15 foot range on pet commands further screws with us.

Just pointing out that it's 20' (assuming you meant yalms), but still agree with you.

[Insaniac]

Another way would be to make them overwrite each other. That way you can always use them, but never have both effects up at the same time. And it won't bite you in the ass if you used it one second too early to get the "no effect" message.

It also worries me that they seem to want to make the 2 abilities synergistic. I think to myself, "What kind of terrible ability would stack with perfect dodge?" and "What kind of pathetic excuse for an ability will they give jobs with good 2hrs like WAR?" I think it would be much better to make them mutually exclusive and for the most part unrelated to each other. There's also kind of no point to making them separate abilities if they are going to compliment each other. No one will ever use them separately.

[Sekhmet]

I just thought of a new Sp ability for bst, since it's pretty unanimous that the pet absorbing one is undesirable to the player base. How about the SP ability calls a random jug pet at normal power levels according to the bsts' current lvl. This pet would only stay for 5 mins, otherwise the bst would have a free pet constantly. This would be a kind of 'oh crap' button for bst if they lose their pet in the middle of a fight, and call beast isn't up yet. this fits with the player base idea that without a pet, bst is helpless.

[Zhronne]

FANTASTIC NEWS.

Nobody can know how this will play out on the long run and if they will really be able to keep their promises, but so far it's looking good and looks like Matsui REALLY knows this game, what's going on, what's working and what's broken.

[Caketime]

I just thought of a new Sp ability for bst, since it's pretty unanimous that the pet absorbing one is undesirable to the player base. How about the SP ability calls a random jug pet at normal power levels according to the bsts' current lvl. This pet would only stay for 5 mins, otherwise the bst would have a free pet constantly. This would be a kind of 'oh crap' button for bst if they lose their pet in the middle of a fight, and call beast isn't up yet. this fits with the player base idea that without a pet, bst is helpless.

It's not an idea that BST is helpless without a pet, it's a fact. Next time you get a chance, use Leave during an NM fight and tank with your chin. Also, I anticipate an ability like this consistently summoning the most useless pet possible in nearly every situation.

[Calatilla]

It's not an idea that BST is helpless without a pet, it's a fact. Next time you get a chance, use Leave during an NM fight and tank with your chin. Also, I anticipate an ability like this consistently summoning the most useless pet possible in nearly every situation.

Not to mention, if Charm was relevant BST wouldn't need an ability to summon a useless pet every 5 mins

[Secondplanet]

Here's an idea, cut down bloodpact timers to 30seconds with the ability to cut down to 15seconds. Outside of abyssea this can't be all that bad, we'll be out of MP before anyone can really say its unbalanced. Or you can just give our avatars a power boost and defense boost so their not out in 3 seconds once they get hate and can actually be on the mob without people screaming like children that we're feeding it TP.

Also GIVE US OUR DAMN CAIT SITH YOU PROMISED US.

[Mahoro]

Have your PD smn bring a vile elixir/+1. Your non-PDed smns should be able to recover from the first volley by the time the PD SMNs Shock Squall wears.

We do this too. Another strategy to use in tandem is to have a non-PD'd SMN run 30-40 yalms away on pop, and then after split rush in to Squall as the mob is being brought down to ~30%. Usually the PD'd SMN Squalls first because he/she was able to survive the AOE, and the non-PD'd SMN takes care of the second Squall.

[Insaniac]

We tried putting people out of range and on our 1st try one of the ADL clones went running off into the distance. It looked like they picked a random target after the split so we never tried that again.

[Sekhmet]

It's not an idea that BST is helpless without a pet, it's a fact. Next time you get a chance, use Leave during an NM fight and tank with your chin. Also, I anticipate an ability like this consistently summoning the most useless pet possible in nearly every situation.

I appreciate your opinion, but I do not appreciate your tone. If my use of the word apparently offended you, I apologize. I simply believe that everyone should be aware that there are people who think differently, and their opinions should not be dismissed out of hand. If everyone who thought differently was dismissed, none of us would be using these wonderful computers, or talking on cell phones, or using electric lighting.

I was merely suggesting an alternative ability because the ones suggested by the developers were apparently underwelming to the player base. The ability I suggested is not supposed to replace call beast or the jug pets, It is meant as a temporary measure until the bst can use call beast again. It is more in the vein of a defensive ability then an offensive ability. Look on it like a bst version of the pup ability Deus Ex Automata. As for the pet having a high chance of being inappropriate to the danger at hand, how many bsts carry a full compliment of jugs for every situation? In my experience, the only pet I see being used on a regular basis is Falcorr. However, if the random aspect is too disappointing for you, make it so the last pet called with call beast is called by this ability. Also, Catatilla, This ability would have an hour recast, 30 mins with merits, So the pet would only be around for 5 mins out of 30, maximum.