SE, the concept of "Limited Jobs" is a really bad idea, turn back now

[Shougun]

The Gimmick for SMN is what? The ability to summon 'pets' and pets have special actions.
The Gimmick for BLM is what? The Hot/Cold system (I know thats a real stripped down version)
The Gimmick of RDM is what? Insta-cast, with some hybrid melee combat.

These three classes have 3 specific gimmicks that affect their playstyle outside of their actual skills. WHen you boil down what raw skills they have, theyre actually a lot more similar. They all have an AoE skill, a few damage dealers, a dot or two. So on so forth. its how these skills are used in a system that differentiate the classes. They all learn skills in a similar enough vein, but how they use them and when is different.

Now, what is the Gimmick of BLU? It is to learn monster skills. Unlike the other classes, the Gimmick for BLU is the means of how skills are acquired. Not the application of them. They may have some little 'minigame' system (resource management or something) involved, but at the end of the day, the goal of BLU is to LEARN exotic skills and then use those exotic skills as they are to accomplish a variety of tasks. This creates the inherent problem. It's not just raw numbers that matter. Its what those monster skills would do.

Not arguing that learning skill is not part of BLU's gimmick but just curious (in general) what the combat gimmick for BLU will be. I mean to say that imagine it's just monster abilities. Is it what.. 24 oGCD spells? lol, that can't be it. No combos? Rea..ally? There's got to be a system in place, and therefore there is probably a combat gimmick. That or it's very very straight forward job lol. We could make up some combat gimmicks in posts but I imagine it being so close to release there'd be not a huge point unless the system they used isn't exciting (but we don't know yet so.. yeh lol).

So I mean to say you have a piece of the gimmick but I can't imagine that's it, I feel there is very likely some combat gimmick. That or people who like complex / interactive jobs will likely not like BLU. (Obviously we'll have to wait and see)

I'd add though that I don't think the inherent problem you mentioned is unsolvable. There are thousands (probably literally) of monster skills, for SE not to be able to pick out skills from the list of available skills and turn it into a job would be.. talented lol. Not saying it'd be easy though.

Also any skills that are concerned for bosses should probably just have a rule attached to them. Like lets take level 5 death for example: If 5k potency attack would kill the target then the target is killed, otherwise deal 800 potency and do bla - 3 min cooldown. Now it won't be a boss killer but it could be a trash killer, and it's still useful even if it doesn't instant kill. imo Self destruct could avoid boss restrictions by something like being a dragoon ish skill "deals heavy aoe damage, reduce damage received by 35% while reforming for 2 seconds". Bad breath as you said would probably be brought down a bit but it doesn't have to be to the point of being boring/bad, like "inflicts 1 to 3 random status ailments per enemy in a target area" for 15 seconds and put the skill on a consuming system (like greased lighting) or add a long cooldown.

Anyway I don't think skills that are adjusted like above would be boring even if they're not exactly the same. Also i'm personally leaning to / hoping for a set of core skills you have to go learn that SE balances for duty finder/raid, but can be unlocked/buffed in open world content along with other side skills that SE wants to add. Particularly I think that when you equip the wacky unbalanced skills they can come with passive buffs to your character and skills, so that you mix the two together when doing outside content - like say stool pelt a non balanced skill (from gorilla) also adds 10% hp and unlocks bad breath's full potential when equipped - where bad breath was the balanced for duty finder skill. In this way the player gets to unbalance themselves how they see fit for open world/solo, and their core set is still valuable.

The worst part I know is that I'm just saying "give me both, what you (SE) wanted to make and what I hope to be able to do with Blue Mage" lol.. so I know it's a big ask, but even if I enjoy their version of blue mage (sounds like I will) I know I'll always want to be able to take him into other content too (and therefore it'll be a very bitter sweet pleasure). What would really be a bummer though is if I don't like their version and now we'll also never get a viable "main" job either, double whammy lol.