In the lead-up to 7.2, I was concerned about BLM losing the mechanics that made it intellectually stimulating. And I was so focused on that aspect that I never once thought about how the shorter cast times might impact the fundamental way it felt to cast these spells. But since the release of the update, I've had the opportunity to experience these impacts first-hand. So here's my feedback on that.
For a decade, a core part of Black Mage's game loop has involved chaining spell casts. Which is to say, you start charging a spell, and then when the spell finishes casting, you're already starting the cast of your next spell. It felt so smooth to seamlessly transition from one spell to the next, and that felt really good.
Now that smoothness is gone. When a BLM finishes casting Fire IV, there's this half-second gap until they can start casting another spell. And I can only speak for myself here, but it feels meaningfully worse than what we had before. For the first time in a decade, I finish casting a non-instant spell, and I want to cast another spell, and the game tells me, "Not yet, you've got to wait."
And that feels bad. The chained casts felt good.
Obviously there's utility in this forced gap. You could use it to move. You could use it to weave an OGCD.
But BLM doesn't need more utility of that nature. BLM already has plenty of instant cast spells to do this — many of which were DPS gains — along with 2 casts of Triple-cast and 1 Swiftcast. And for movement specifically, BLM even has multiple ways to teleport 25 yalms near-instantly, giving them access to some of the fastest movement in the game.
And if for some reason a BLM were to exhaust all of the above resources...can you imagine how horrible it would be to cast Scathe, of all things? That would mean casting a less damaging spell in exchange for the utility of being able to freely move and weave. I can understand how making that kind of strategic trade-off would be unwelcome in an RPG.
Regardless, I dislike the way it feels to cast Fire IV now, and I don't think what BLM got in return was worth sacrificing this aspect of what made the moment-to-moment gameplay of BLM feel the way it did.
Not being able to chain back-to-back Fire IV's feels bad
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03-31-2025, 01:30 AMLilimoLimomoNot being able to chain back-to-back Fire IV's feels bad
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03-31-2025, 03:02 AMdairymoose
They added this spellcasting gap so that BLMs are given a chance to contemplate switching to another class between Fire IV casts. Previously, the class was so engaging you had no time to consider this option.
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03-31-2025, 03:42 AMRithy255Thank you! I was wondering why they made these changes myself I used this trick and switched to Red mage!Quote:
Originally Posted by dairymoose
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03-31-2025, 05:28 AMEreAsha
I feel you there. I kept missing every 3rd spell I tried to cast because of the gap. It's an added frustration and along with the lack of fail states, it means I no longer want to play black mage.
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03-31-2025, 06:10 AMRithy255
I think in all seriousness they should revert these changes but with scathe being buffed to basically be a "movement fire 4 that can also reset astral gauge timer" would make it a good button for that, make it a slight damage loss and now we got black mage who can be hyper mobile in situations they need to be with a panic button, but it doesn't ruin the entire class identity.
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04-01-2025, 01:25 AMValkyrie_Little do they know any class they switch to will soon be gutted and simplified too, I mean I wonder which classes are even left that can match the engagement of old BLM...?Quote:
Originally Posted by dairymoose
Even if there is a class that can, it will be mostly rotation based skill and not the unique style that BLM had where the skill was based more heavily on fight knowledge and proper use of movement cooldowns.
The turret style gameplay is what we all loved, now it's gone forever....such devastation, this was certainly the develepor's intent. -
04-01-2025, 06:26 AMHikariKurosawaChronomancer with hastaga raid buff, pretty simple. There are thousands of concepts that would fit the niche just as well. Maybe you should put more effort into creative thinking.Quote:
Originally Posted by Valkyrie_
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04-01-2025, 09:18 AMOwyn_AddensWow, I didn't realize that they'd added a 3rd job in Dawntrail that I can play right now. Where's the unlock quest?Quote:
Originally Posted by HikariKurosawa
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04-01-2025, 09:35 AMHikariKurosawaWow, I didn't realize they would never add a new job. You're like "ME ME ME NOW NOW NOW MAKE MY IDEAL NICHE JOB FANTASY RIGHT NOW OR I UNSUB".Quote:
Originally Posted by Owyn_Addens
With your attitude I honestly hope they never give you what you want and just continue to pander to the majority hahaha. -
04-01-2025, 12:01 PMSupersnow845
They have ripped out haste from every class that has ever been able to generate haste (AND YOU HAVE PRAISED THOSE JOB CHANGES)
Why would you ever think they would bring back haste. By your own logic removed haste was the majority opinion -
04-01-2025, 12:04 PMRithy255By their logical they are always majority opinion so anything they say is right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supersnow845
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04-01-2025, 01:09 PMHikariKurosawaI doubt you can point out a post of mine that praises removal of haste.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supersnow845
Whole point of my chronomancer idea too is for it to appeal to the minority that cares about weird gameplay like pre-7.2 BLM players and pre-rework SMN players. Not many would play it and it would likely never fit into the meta outside of statics, so it's fine for hastaga to exist. It's a very iconic FF spell too and it's crazy that it doesn't exist in the game.
But honestly, I've never once said haste was a bad thing so that's kinda weird mate. I'm starting to think you made up that you're a doctor too. -
04-01-2025, 01:28 PMSupersnow845
Haste was an important part of old AST and old SCH. You have directly supported the simplification of those two jobs
Are you really gonna tell me you supported those being simplified but you would have preferred they retain the haste effects, yeah I’m sure
Also why would you even imply I’m lying about my career, like that’s just pointlessly vindictive for absolutely no reason. You don’t have to like me but why stoop to that level. It’s just pointlessly rude -
04-01-2025, 01:41 PMHikariKurosawaWhen did I ever say SCH should be simplified? Or AST? I don't think it's good to get in a habit of making stuff up. Nor did I ever specifically criticize haste, very weird.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supersnow845
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04-01-2025, 01:54 PMSupersnow845Do you want me to link you the 5000 posts you’ve made saying that the vast majority of the playerbase hates DOT’s or the 20 posts you made saying that the playerbase hates Pets from the WOW discussion a little while ago or the support for the healer kits being simplified as they distinguish based on heals (spoiler alert fey wind was a damage CD not a healing CD as was arrow) or just the general opinion you have that any job getting easier is good as you have directly praised BLM’s changes, DRG’s changes and the movement of the net encounter design towards simplicityQuote:
Originally Posted by HikariKurosawa
Like please tell me what in your repertoire of general opinions would lead ANYONE to believe you are wouldn’t have supported the ShB healer changes had they been released today given you have espoused your dislike for everything old SCH was -
04-01-2025, 02:56 PMOwyn_AddensSomeone asked "what job currently in the game has the engagement that BLM had before" and you said "the one that doesn't exist". Are you just stupid or something?Quote:
Originally Posted by HikariKurosawa
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04-01-2025, 03:17 PMTaraShiro6
This is by far the most intelligent criticism of Black Mage I've read and I want more discussions like this please!
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04-01-2025, 03:17 PMTaraShiro6This is referring the OG poster btw not the rest of the replies, the replies are hurting my headQuote:
Originally Posted by TaraShiro6
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04-01-2025, 04:28 PMThurinTurambar
To counter this, having time between your casts is a huge thing in content that is not raids, especially when you got the aggro.
In the extreme example of soloing deep dungeons, the new blm changes are like godsent. Not only you dont have to switch to ice every time u kill a mob, but also you can do stagger kiting now. Add to it that there is less chance your spell gets interrupted by incoming damage. -
04-01-2025, 10:58 PMValkyrie_Me? why should I put effort into creative thinking? I'm just a player of the game, what power do I have?Quote:
Originally Posted by HikariKurosawa
Shouldn't you be asking the devs to put more effort into creative thinking?, instead of just gutting all the uniqueness and complexity out of every class to appease players like yourself who want any and all classes to be lobotomized.
Creative thinking would be idk...fixing healers to make them more engaging than 1 button spam across 4 classes?, and keeping the unique BLM style as it was out of respect for the loyal customers who have been playing the turret style BLM for 12 years, especially considering we have SMN who already has been simplified, and now Picto too.
Do you want them to butcher RDM next or are we allowed to at least keep that? Are players who wan't more complexity even allowed to have a class we enjoy playing or must everything revolve around the players like you?
Personally I think we can all share and have different levels of complexity between the classes, but I guess some people just want it all, reminds me how some little kids act when they hog all the toys for themselves and get upset when other kids just want at least 1 toy to play with.