Blue Mage Theories

[Snapdragyn]

I'm curious what level it will actually start at. A job that starts at level 1 (so unconnected to any class), or just starting at a higher level (like all of the xpac jobs)?

[Freyt]

The "unique solo experience" may very well be talking about the learning part and how the job feels outside of duties.

Looking at it again, it does seem like it might be referring to the monster carnival thing. My hopes are rekindled.

[Fynlar]

To see how you can break old content? It's not like there aren't a million reasons already to go screwing around in old stuff, wouldn't hurt to have a class built around the concept.

I think they stand to offend more players by releasing a neutered version of an iconic job that isn't actually good for anything other than "screwing around" in outdated content, than they would by just not releasing it at all.

[dinnertime]

To me, It being "limited" just means it's on beta test and we're testing the core elements of the job. The temporary level 50 cap, too. It just means we can't play this job in higher level content for a while. The solo content mentioned is just the skill-learning part of the job like Kiki said.

Not sure why people think a Job will only be exclusive to solo content. That would be extremely ridiculous.

[Dualblade]

To me, It being "limited" just means it's on beta test and we're testing the core elements of the job. The temporary level 50 cap, too. It just means we can't play this job in higher level content for a while. The solo content mentioned is just the skill-learning part of the job like Kiki said.

Not sure why people think a Job will only be exclusive to solo content. That would be extremely ridiculous.

If I remember right the devs said something about being exclusive to solo content back in HW, but it was mostly in the context that they knew the way BLU works and the way XIV's actions work don't quite mesh. They know BLU is a highly requested job, and probably have been thinking on what to do for a long time now.

[dinnertime]

If that's true, I still think that's crazy. Whatever they say or promise before does change over time and there's a possibility they've changed their minds. I'll bet it's not exclusive to solo content at all.
The only reason I can think of why that can be true is because it's for testing right now so it's only for solo content temporarily, or to prevent queues from breaking (because apparently that's what NIN did at release?) assuming it's another DPS. Also temporary.

[InkstainedGwyn]

If that's true, I still think that's crazy. Whatever they say or promise before does change over time and there's a possibility they've changed their minds. I'll bet it's not exclusive to solo content at all.
The only reason I can think of why that can be true is because it's for testing right now so it's only for solo content temporarily, or to prevent queues from breaking (because apparently that's what NIN did at release?) assuming it's another DPS. Also temporary.

The reason people are thinking that is because of the wording on the press release, which calls it "a unique solo gameplay experience" which, of course, can apply to either the method of skill attainment, or the job in general. Until we get the LL tomorrow, we won't know.

[Shurrikhan]

My main concern: that it will be released not in increments, but in excrements.

For theories, though... I want sorely for this just to be testing phase, and that it will eventually be incorporated as a real job alongside revisions for increased job-identity and versatility among the other jobs.

[NocturniaUzuki]

From what I saw in the video, it's possible to permanently learn skills, but also to copycat skills without learning them. In the video it shows "Action Learned" when you block certain skills with BLU. But other times it just causes you to turn around and mimic the skill.

What I'd like to see out of it is a class you can customize by which actions you learn, up to a cap. I mean, the fact that you have to get hit by the skill in the first place makes it something of a natural tank. Obviously, it's a "Limited Job", but that doesn't mean you couldn't use it's kit and build a BLU skillset with copied abilities that allows you to tank with it. Or you could use it as a DPS ot healer depending on the build you go with.

Anyways, I'm just happy they seem to be getting away from the role-locked gameplay, and that they're locking it at a lower level for now. Because it should help revitalize old content a bit. Though it might be an 8-BLU raid of course, but should still be fun.

[Beckett]

I had figured that Blue Mage would ultimately just get its spells through quests

Technically we don't know yet if this isn't the case. There very well could be an NPC telling you, "Okay, now go to Cutter's Cry and fight a cactuar to learn 1,000 Needles!" Seems unlikely, but we'll have to wait for confirmation.