How Blue Mage Could Exist in FFXIV

[Gemu]

I too think that BLU would be most interesting as a tank class. As for a weapon, I feel that maces and hammers would be most interesting, as we basically have most iterations of swords already implemented, and it gives monk a buddy to share blunt damage with. As we once had a BLU who wields forks, the kind of weapon shouldn't matter much.

In order to make it tanky but not seem too much like a beefcake such as the existing tanks, I think a system where your MP bar functions as a "shield HP Bar" just like damage MP would be cool. You'd have to maintain your MP to maintain your mitigation like how BLMs regen their MP for consistent dps, albeit through a different mechanic. If that would seem to broken (as healers need to heal HP) it could be mitigation based rather than full damage substitution based.

(Also, as a tank the job icon would be blue. (>_o)b Very important.)

[Kazrah]

In order to make it tanky but not seem too much like a beefcake such as the existing tanks, I think a system where your MP bar functions as a "shield HP Bar" just like damage MP would be cool. You'd have to maintain your MP to maintain your mitigation like how BLMs regen their MP for consistent dps, albeit through a different mechanic.

So this was done before with Aion's Aethertech class, where it could reduce damage by a smaller amount, but most of that damage was dealt as MP damage. It also had many, many means of regenerating MP, most of which being either passive or oGCD. The only concern is if a such a dynamic gameplay system like that could work with the combat flow of this game, which could be rather tricky to pull off.

As for the weapon choice, BLU has had all sorts of weapons throughout its storied past, yet oddly no hammers. There might need to be a suitable lore reason for that as well.

[Claire_Pendragon]

So this was done before with Aion's Aethertech class, where it could reduce damage by a smaller amount, but most of that damage was dealt as MP damage. It also had many, many means of regenerating MP, most of which being either passive or oGCD. The only concern is if a such a dynamic gameplay system like that could work with the combat flow of this game, which could be rather tricky to pull off.

As for the weapon choice, BLU has had all sorts of weapons throughout its storied past, yet oddly no hammers. There might need to be a suitable lore reason for that as well.

Personally see BLu with swords in my own mind, but I wouldnt mind if their were BLus who used swords, and the job quest teacher and you didnt use a sword for lore reasons. As I would grow more accepting of it. (I also imagined Gun Blades as well.)

As for how to implement "Damage MP".
Id personally allow them access to PIE as a stat, and then have the caster gear, but I doubt SE would let them have PIE. (Also dont think they would be in caster gear instead of fending, but lets pretend they do.)

Looking at the 2 main tank stances;
-X% dmg taken
vs
+X%HP and +X% amount healed.

I think there is a sort of middle ground between them that works better for damage MP.

With your "Tank stance", You can now learn enemy magic.
While you have MP above, lets say 5%, you gain -10% damage taken.
If you're at full HP, any healing received will instead transfer to your MP pool. (A sort of Over healing benefit to regens etc)
As long as you have MP, 20% of the damage you take, is removed from your MP instead.

So this sort of acts liek both tank stances a bit, and since caster gear is lower defense/hp, it shouldnt be too broken. (Heck it may not be strong enough, to which we would need to raise some of the %'s)

Id also have a sort of "Gain all MP back, and if MP is above 95%, mitigate 25% of damage taken for X seconds" Resembles Thrill of Battle from WAR somewhat. Also helps the BLU get MP back for spells.

Id also imagine there are spells that are MP costly, and they wouldnt use while MTing, but would use when OTing.
With your DPS stance, you have more means to regenerate your MP, but you're now almost as squishy as a caster w/o damage MP. (This is probably unfair, due to other tanks being able to drop tank stance and still tank, so id have to think of a way to balance this.)

I'd also like to see more 0.5s cast spells, including tank stances, since this is a mage.