BLM

[Sandkat]

If you can only pull from two classes for additional abilities... Lancer and Archer seem to be where it's at... combining their abilities gives you 40% extra damage (Blood for Blood and Raging strikes, respectively ((if they stack)), on a three minute cool down and an emnity mitigation ability (Quelling strikes) that will prevent the 25% extra damage taken from "Blood for Blood" from making you a drooling puddle of arcane punching bag.

For THM (or any base class): You can pull from ANY other base class.

For BLM (or any JOB): You can only pull from 2 specific classes.

I don't understand why you would start with B3 under any circumstance except starting a fight OOM.

B3 kicks in immediate Umbral 3 followed up by Thunder 3 for dot ticks (Thundercloud proc chances) while keeping your MP at full. Then its into the Fire 3 (Full Astral) -> Fire 1

[Mugaaz]

Why do you need UI3 ticks at full mana? B3 takes 3.5s to cast, during which time you could be casting other spells that deal more damage. If you had infinite mana you'd never use Blizzard spells for DPS. They're only good to DPS with while your UI3, and Ui3 is only good because it restores your mana, and that's only useful because it allows you to go back to your prime DPS spell, Fire 1.

I understand T3 ticks to trigger TC, but T3 including TC procs is still less dps than F1 w/ firestarter procs under AF3 (*This statement is wrong if the T3 cast off TC doesn't trigger a GCD, if it doesn't then disregard). . There is plenty of time to cast the Thunder spells while you're under the effect of UI3. Also, since the Thunder spells do more DPS than Blizzard spells under UI3, its great to be casting those then instead of spamming Blizzard.

[Sandkat]

You dont spam Blizzard. You cast it 1 time to simply get the buff. Then you cast 1 T3 for dot and then cast 1 F3 at 50% reduced mana cost to get AF3. Then its into F1 spam until FireStarter.

This way is more mana + more damage than you would just starting F3 and going.

[Fawnlin]

B3 kicks in immediate Umbral 3 followed up by Thunder 3 for dot ticks (Thundercloud proc chances) while keeping your MP at full. Then its into the Fire 3 (Full Astral) -> Fire 1

I, too, am confused by this. It's been awhile since I played, so please be gentle (hehe). What use is Umbral3 at the beginning of a fight when you are at full mana? Is there another benefit to Umbral3 other than the mana regen?