Can we just scrap the idea of Conjurer already?
Short Version: I honestly think that the whole idea behind Conjurer is gone, and that we should just let it go. When I say idea, I'm only referring to the bit that cutscenes refer to often that we are somehow masters of the elements. If I'm not mistaken, the French name for conjurer is very similar to Elementalist in meaning. While the lore is beautiful, it really doesn't sit with the current class anymore. However, I don't want this to degrade into another "OMG SE YOU SCREWED UP THE LORE" thread, or a QQ about how I miss the full elemental wheel. I just want to say that it's time for SE to cut their losses (the beautiful lore that was written) and give Conjurer a background that makes sense.
Reasons:
I was just perusing over Gild's post of the Class actions, and was taken aback by the description of Conjurer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gildrein
Conjurer & White Mage Action List
Conjurers are a casting class known for their specialization in healing and defense-enhancing magic. They also possess some skill with elemental magic, granting them a degree of offensive ability, and can put single targets to sleep, providing a valuable source of control. White mages are powerful casters whose talents enable them to fully restore the HP of all party members in a mere instant. Beyond healing, they can also apply their MP towards attack magic, granting them extremely powerful offensive abilities.
What? I realized a lot's changed since launch, but that's kind of... not what the lore says. Quoting the official site,
Quote:
Conjury calls upon elemental forces present in nature and concentrates them to a potency at which spells can be weaved. Through practiced meditation on the essences of creation, conjurers draw forth and absorb aether from their immediate surroundings. A wand or cane made from unworked wood is then utilized to focus the aether until it manifests as the desired spell. The seat of the Conjurers' Guild lies at the Stillglade Fane in Gridania, where the voices of Eorzea's elementals are said to be most powerful.
Given Gild's post, it seems that Conjurers no longer command the elements, but simply "posses some skill with elemental magic" and devote their lives to healing and enhancing magic. Though this healing/defense magic could be created by the methods outlined above, I think we all know that wasn't the intention of the lore team pre-launch.
I'd hoped (and still do) that White Mage would only be one path that could be chosen from Conjurer, and that we could also choose to embrace our more elemental side--that could still happen, and I hope it does. The truth for now, though, is that Conjurer is no longer an elemental mage, but pre-White Mage. Aero was a White Magic spell early in the series, and I don't remember Stone being anything but Petrify before XI (correct me if I'm wrong, because I probably am). Giving those two spells to Conjurer hardly make it any different than, like I said, pre-White Mage.
I'm alright with Conjurer being the new WHM, because I realize that we needed a healing class. But they've made their choice. The problem is that my Conjurer quests don't involve erecting powerful wards around Gridania (though my GC quests do...) or healing the sick. They instead focus on learning to listen to the elementals and wildings. Apparently only earth/wind/water(?) elementals will talk to me anymore, though.. We're supposed to draw in energy around us, not the energy inside people. That was supposed to be Thaumaturge. I don't care what happens, I just think we can all agree that something needs done for 2.0