To the devs: Why won't you nerf Geomancer?

[OmnysValefor]

Thanks for all the feedback on this.

The development team is currently looking into overall adjustments to enfeebling magic as well as enhancing magic, and this also includes the stats that monsters possess. The team is in the midst of testing, so once there is some follow-up information we’ll be sure to share.

._. think you might consider buffing Flash's magic accuracy at some point? It's still bread-and-butter for enmity but I miss when it made things..miss. And to be honest, it doesn't even land half the time.

[Cabalabob]

Because Summon really needs more buffs right now?

Yeah? Our buffs and debuffs are still stuck in the 75 era, you think you've got it bad? At least your buffs and debuffs are worth a damn if they land. Our phalanx is still capped at 13 damage reduction.

[Zeargi]

Because Summon really needs more buffs right now?

There are quite few wards that are far under - Many of them coming from Fenrir and Diabolos. Noctoshield, Dream Shroud, Lunar Cry, Ecliptic Growl/Howl, Pavor Nocturnus, Earthen Ward, Eerie Eye, Sleepga, Slowga, Pacifying Ruby, Shining Ruby. Even some of the higher tiers like Shock Squall, Tidal Roar, and Diamond Storm miss. SMN's damage has gone up quite a bit, but most of wards have fallen to the wayside. Soothing Current, Crystal Blessing, Hastega II, and Earthen Armor. Those are usually all I really get to cast because Phalanx isn't much. Dream Shroud, Lunar Cry, Ecliptic Howl/Growl aren't always useful because a +1 to ACC or a -1 to EVA isn't going to really help anyone. Pavor Nocturnus isn't going to kill anything most of the time and it hella expensive for a dispel when Fenrir or Atomos are better options for removing buffs. Diamond Storm is blocked by Lunar Cry even though it has higher eva-. Shining Ruby can't be removed and has to time out, but can't be renewed by casting it again. Eerie Eye is the only source of silence SMN has and it's a gaze move that doesn't even last that long, and the amnesia effect is even shorter. Which is like a more costly version of Shock Squall and far less effective.

We want to give more options as to take other jobs for support, that's the goal right now.

[Jakuk]

Yeah? Our buffs and debuffs are still stuck in the 75 era, you think you've got it bad? At least your buffs and debuffs are worth a damn if they land. Our phalanx is still capped at 13 damage reduction.

Yes, but you're not a job intended to be an Enfeebler or Enhancer, it's just an additional benefit given. When you can't do your jobs function well like RDM or BRD then there is a problem.

SMN is useful now even without those two things, buff them for SMN as well and all you get is an even stronger job already used while the others stay dead. Basically another BLU. A job that can do it all.

[Zeargi]

Yes, but you're not a job intended to be an Enfeebler or Enhancer, it's just an additional benefit given. When you can't do your jobs function well like RDM or BRD then there is a problem.

SMN is useful now even without those two things, buff them for SMN as well and all you get is an even stronger job already used while the others stay dead. Basically another BLU. A job that can do it all.

But that's the thing, views and such shift. SMN never really had much of a focus in the start. We were a "Jack of All, Master of None" Class. Most of the time, SMN was asked to be a healer, and an extremely gimped one at that. It wasn't until they divided our Blood Pacts that we actually had a decent flow of what we could be. Don't get me wrong, I want RDM and BRD to be brought back up to have a strong role, but SMNs have been asking for equally as long to have their wards be remembered as well. Of course SMN is frail compared to BLU, and won't be nearly on that level. BLU's major strength is the vast number of DMG AoE spells/Speed in which it can cast. I don't know if it can get lower than 21s, but our BP timer is what slows us down as a DD/Support. Thunder Spark is the only consistent pact we have, outside of Astral Flows, that is AoE DMG (Level ? Holy can barely be counted as an AoE with how often it misses). All other of our AoE abilities are Wards: Nightmare, Lunar Cry, Ultimate Terror, Tidal Roar, Diamond Storm, Mewing Lullaby, Shock Squall, Slowga, Sleepga. SMN does really well against single targets

[Cabalabob]

Yes, but you're not a job intended to be an Enfeebler or Enhancer, it's just an additional benefit given. When you can't do your jobs function well like RDM or BRD then there is a problem.

SMN is useful now even without those two things, buff them for SMN as well and all you get is an even stronger job already used while the others stay dead. Basically another BLU. A job that can do it all.

But our buffs are SEVERELY underpowered. It's like saying ok we'll bring RDM up to par in their primary role of enfeebling. But for balance purposes we're nerfing your nukes back to the 75 days so your strongest nuke will be a 2k magic burst. What you think you need more buffs?!

[Jakuk]

But our buffs are SEVERELY underpowered. It's like saying ok we'll bring RDM up to par in their primary role of enfeebling. But for balance purposes we're nerfing your nukes back to the 75 days so your strongest nuke will be a 2k magic burst. What you think you need more buffs?!

It really is nowhere near the same, they buffed SMN's DD prowess and never touched anything else (as it's not the role they want SMN to fill), your example would buff one section while weakening another.

Fact: SMN is a DD (And has been from the day it was introduced to the FF Series) and as of a long time now has had buffs to that section of its job and is rather good at said role.

Fact: RDM is an enfeebler but is massively weak in the role compared to other jobs like GEO.

Fact: BRD is an enhancer with buffs still stuck at level 75 and weak compared to jobs like GEO and as such is lacklustre in it's intended role.

What you're basically asking for is the buff intended to allow BRD and RDM to be useful again to be passed onto a job already useful while not seeing how doing so will in turn then block those jobs again as all that will happen is an already good job will then have more use performing the roles of DD, Enhancer and Enfeebler. If anything you should be asking for more BP delay reduction or buffs to that aspect.

[Zeargi]

It really is nowhere near the same, they buffed SMN's DD prowess and never touched anything else (as it's not the role they want SMN to fill), your example would buff one section while weakening another.

Fact: SMN is a DD (And has been from the day it was introduced to the FF Series) and as of a long time now has had buffs to that section of its job and is rather good at said role.

This isn't 100% correct. While there are quite a few Offensive summons there has been equally just as many supportive ones: Carbuncle, Sylph, Seraph, Phoenix, Golem, Unicorn, Siren, Fenrir, Alexander, Lakshmi, Phantom, Queztalli, Catoblepas, Chocobo, Zona Seeker, Ragnarok, Cait Sith, Moogle, Magic Pot, Faerie. It took SMN an extremely long time to get to the DD status it has today, but the simple fact that we have wards means that they are intended to be used. No one is saying to screw RDM or BRD, but to simple not forget about SMN's supportive side as well.

Fact: RDM is an enfeebler but is massively weak in the role compared to other jobs like GEO.

Also incorrect, If you want to talk about conceptions of class creation from the series let's talk about how RDM isn't an enfeebler at all, nor was GEO a "support" class. GEO has actually been a DD class since its debut in FF3, Same as FF5, and Mog's Moogle Dances in FF6, and a DD in all FFT games. Like wise RDM was a Attacker class that could heal and cast black magic. It was only late in the stage that SE decided to make RDM an enfeebler in this game, but failed to give them the tools to do so, much like the problems that BST faced when they were nerfed.

Fact: BRD is an enhancer with buffs still stuck at level 75 and weak compared to jobs like GEO and as such is lacklustre in it's intended role.

What you're basically asking for is the buff intended to allow BRD and RDM to be useful again to be passed onto a job already useful while not seeing how doing so will in turn then block those jobs again as all that will happen is an already good job will then have more use performing the roles of DD, Enhancer and Enfeebler. If anything you should be asking for more BP delay reduction or buffs to that aspect.

I'll give you that BRD is a true support class and has fallen the hardest, but again, no one is asking that they not get buffed too, because they offer special status slots that can stack things with other buffs that can be given.

[Jin_Uzuki]

BRD and GEO are pure support classes in FFXI. Yeah, GEO can do some damage, even solo some T1, but not with actual hard content anyway, it's more of solo than anything.

RDM in FFXI was a jack of all trades, quite powerful really to the point it actually was preferable to WHM because /convert and refresh in a lot of situations. Alas, the game evolved, RDM didn't, and I'm not even sure better enfeebles would fix RDM situation.

[Jakuk]

BRD and GEO are pure support classes in FFXI. Yeah, GEO can do some damage, even solo some T1, but not with actual hard content anyway, it's more of solo than anything.

RDM in FFXI was a jack of all trades, quite powerful really to the point it actually was preferable to WHM because /convert and refresh in a lot of situations. Alas, the game evolved, RDM didn't, and I'm not even sure better enfeebles would fix RDM situation.

On of the biggest benefits of GEO is they have powerful enfeebles. Very rarely does anyone use the buff spells.

So better enfeebles and ones that aren't out and out resisted would indeed help RDM.