Black Mage

[Llugen]

@Shiroe who is @Fan, this is semi-related, but Sfia (the author of this thread's OP) said these in the thread with regards to raise in particular, but really defensive utility:

I can understand the viewpoint that lore-wise, BLM should NOT get a raise. From a balance standpoint however, it requires it, OR something of equivalent value as a defensive utility. And because raise is so powerful a tool, any ability with a benefit that matches it would be very difficult to implement and balance.

There are always ways to work around that issue, put it on a timed cooldown and make it instant for example.
It depends what you're looking for. In speedruns defensive utility loses a lot of its value but very few groups operate at a level where that makes a big difference, whereas every raiding team WILL do progression - where defensive utility shines the brightest.
In my opinion, both offense and defense need to be increased. Not increasing defensive utility would lead to issues of its damage needing to be exorbitantly high (read: overpowered) to be in a form worth playing.

This is to reinforce what several of us have been trying to allude to for a while now: that there is no such thing as "raw damage" in FFXIV, particularly in the caster role. So hopefully 4.2 will see better mobility/damage and then later we can hope for/expect greater utility (I'm not getting my hopes up for defensive utility for 4.2).

[Ceallach]

This is to reinforce what several of us have been trying to allude to for a while now: that there is no such thing as "raw damage" in FFXIV, particularly in the caster role. So hopefully 4.2 will see better mobility/damage and then later we can hope for/expect greater utility (I'm not getting my hopes up for defensive utility for 4.2).

Could just make Manaward better. Strengthen it, lower its recast, something like that? But if people understand that black mage shouldn't get a Raise variant, people need to stop trying to ask for one and/or implement one. Lore is too important, whether you like it or not, and any argument that tries to make lore not matter is horribly misguided at best. This is an RPG, and one in a long-running series. How would you feel if you got FINAL FANTASY XVI after tons of hype, and it was just a Call of Duty ripoff? Because that's the level of idiocy you're embracing when you ask for black mages to get a Raise variant.

Now, this does not mean I think black mage is fine. I agree there need to be major adjustments. We have three DPS Disciple of Magic jobs, and the only one that offers only damage isn't doing enough damage to be justified next to the other two jobs, which bring both damage and utility. Ideally, either they make it so black mage does significantly more damage and red mage is strengthened to tie with summoner (this way you choose between either damage or one of two types of utility), or they give some form of utility to black mage that makes it comparable to red mage and summoner in terms of viability that is still appropriate to the lore of the series. This is why I suggested something like the Burn and Frost spells, though I realize not everyone wants to manage three damage-over-time effects on a job that's supposed to cast massive explosions. Temper itself doesn't really help the black mage (black mages don't do physical damage), while Embolden does help the red mage using it and the summoner's pet's Devotion, Radiant Shield, and Contagion do help the summoner as well.

The devs did say black mage's issues are going to be addressed in 4.2. We can hope. But if we're going to throw around suggestions, let's at least make them intelligent ones.

[Shiroe]

Could just make Manaward better. Strengthen it, lower its recast, something like that?

give Blm a "special" holmgang/hollowed ground of their own.., allowing them to eat ANY mechanic once every 4 min with out any risk (like not getting a bad debuff or killing dot).., so they can stay still during an aoe once or a certain mechanic; helping with their lack of mobility.. (or so they can stay out of healing range once too if needed and still survive..)

maybe just dont let it work, if they're on top of the agro list, so they cant cheat tank busters/mechanics (but can help "share" tank busters?)

eitherway, like in 2.x, where manaward could really help hard/death mechanics.. blm could use such again..maybe even be use as a "party utility" for mechanics