BLU for Duty Finder and Raids! Show your support!

[jon041065]

At least we know that the check to learn the actions is done for the entire group instead of being done only one per BLU in the group.
Which means that no matter how you look at it, it'll always be better to learn skills in group. And since some skills can only be learned in dungeons, people should expect to see a lot of PF and group play around Blue Mages parties.

While that's not DF, it's a really big incentive for group play, as going solo is objectively the less effective way (and won't let you learn skills from dungeons anyway).

They said it's the same single % chance to learn a given spell for all blu in the party so having more or less won't alter the learn rate. One "coin" is flipped and either the blu(s) learn the spell or not.

[Fyce]

This is the one thing that has me completely confused. They explicitly stated that this job was intended for solo play and then... offer benefits for partying up with other players?
Are we supposed to be partying up to unlock primal abilities like Glacial Arrow as well then? If that's the case then how is this class designed for solo play?

People complained about BLU being designed for solo in a MMORPG...
Now people complain about us having options not to stricly have to play solo?

Besides, Masked Carnivale is solo, and nothing prevents you from learning skills from field monsters alone.

Being "mostly designed for solo play" doesn't mean "strictly designed for solo play".

They said it's the same single % chance to learn a given spell for all blu in the party so having more or less won't alter the learn rate. One "coin" is flipped and either the blu(s) learn the spell or not.

I know that. But playing in party means killing stuff faster, which itself means more dice throw to try and learn the skill.

[jon041065]

I know that. But playing in party means killing stuff faster, which itself means more dice throw to try and learn the skill.

True but could also have one of them kill the mob before it has used the ability. lol

[Shougun]

People complained about BLU being designed for solo in a MMORPG...
Now people complain about us having options not to stricly have to play solo?

Besides, Masked Carnivale is solo, and nothing prevents you from learning skills from field monsters alone.

Except if content can't be completed by yourself of course (like having only a specific type of difficulty monster drop a spell). Also the complaint is if you're going to make a job unable to take part in current content cause they're so OP then the thought is they're going to be so great you can solo with them. If they can neither solo nor take part in end game content it begs a table flipping lol.

Being able to solo in the overworld is not an achievement so that certainly doesn't count, we can do that with any job - even our chocobo can do that alone XD.

At least that's my thought on it. Besides having to beg for a party finder to learn a skill from content that drops things that are no longer valuable to your main... Sounds like a great way to be shouting and begging for hours to receive help later down the line once the excitement train is out.

Of course Blue Mage could be capable of soloing everything, once certain spells are learned at least. Just a bit underwhelming to see the bow attack for example does not melt faces like it does normally (as that makes me think they're going "balance'd" and more likely needing a party route, in which case the above "can't solo, and can't current content party?" sentiment arises).

[Fyce]

Except if content can't be completed by yourself of course (like having only a specific type of difficulty monster drop a spell). Also the complaint is if you're going to make a job unable to take part in current content cause they're so OP then the thought is they're going to be so great you can solo with them. If they can neither solo nor take part in end game content it begs a table flipping lol.

That's not the main reason why BLU cannot join the rest of the cast. It's because it is simply not designed like the rest of the cast. Being OP or not isn't really the point (it's just part of it, in the sense that BLU isn't balanced like regular job).

Being able to solo in the overworld is not an achievement so that certainly doesn't count, we can do that with any job - even our chocobo can do that alone XD.

Never said it was an achievement. Just that overworld content can be done in solo, which goes in line with BLU design focus.
Since overworld content is solo friendly, and that BLU has a strong gameplay revolving around overworld content, it's fair to say that BLU was designed for solo play. But this doesn't mean that you can't party up, since that's also part of what's possible in overworld content.

At least that's my thought on it. Besides having to beg for a party finder to learn a skill from content that drops things that are no longer valuable to your main... Sounds like a great wait to be shouting and begging for help later down the line once the excitement train is out.

So? There's a bunch of content where new comers have to ask for help. Just make friends or join a FC that is willing to help you out. It isn't -that- hard. Especially since people have been talking about "but this is a MMORPG!" so much.

Of course Blue Mage could be capable of soloing everything, once certain spells are learned at least. Just a bit underwhelming to see the bow attack for example not melt faces like it does normally (as that makes me think they're going "balance'd" and more likely needing a party route, in which case the above "can't solo, can't current content party sentiment" arises).

Keep in mind that they said the power of skills for BLU isn't calculated out of your weapon damage like other jobs. So, we actually have no idea how powerful these skill will actually be under real play. We didn't see Yoshida's gear. So far,we only know that Shiva's Ice Bow will be a 90s cooldown skill that has a high potency. Maybe it's just an oGCD like Fleche/Contre Sixte.

[jon041065]

That's not the main reason why BLU cannot join the rest of the cast. It's because it is simply not designed like the rest of the cast. Being OP or not isn't really the point (it's just part of it, in the sense that BLU isn't balanced like regular job).

It does look like they were working on making it a full job before changing their mind. I already thought it sounded close and now it looks like it was even closer than I thought. BLU being too OP/broken was one of the reasons given by SE to not allow the job into all content and it's starting to look like that isn't the case. We don't know for sure though.

It seems less of a ordeal to make BLU into a full job with the info we got now than it did before. They just need to have their minds changed. I'm even more sure now that it can be done AND still have the side content still be there.

Keep in mind that they said the power of skills for BLU isn't calculated out of your weapon damage like other jobs. So, we actually have no idea how powerful these skill will actually be under real play. We didn't see Yoshida's gear. So far,we only know that Shiva's Ice Bow will be a 90s cooldown skill that has a high potency. Maybe it's just an oGCD like Fleche/Contre Sixte.

I agree with this. We don't know for sure how strong some of these moves will be or if BLU will just be OP because of a few spells. Either way, things could be changed in the future.

[Shougun]

That's not the main reason why BLU cannot join the rest of the cast. It's because it is simply not designed like the rest of the cast. Being OP or not isn't really the point (it's just part of it, in the sense that BLU isn't balanced like regular job).

Never said it was an achievement. Just that overworld content can be done in solo, which goes in line with BLU design focus.
Since overworld content is solo friendly, and that BLU has a strong gameplay revolving around overworld content, it's fair to say that BLU was designed for solo play. But this doesn't mean that you can't party up, since that's also part of what's possible in overworld content.

That sounds horrible lol, I mean if Blue Mage was designed so you could enjoy casual overworld solo. I can do that casually on any job... :P. Obviously we have a strong (and easily obtainable) wait and see, so we'll see there. I was thinking SE's version of Blue Mage sounded fun because of the OP element, if "casual balanced open world content" is the sole selling point then I'd lose all interest in it.

In the thread I've been asking for SE's (what I assumed, and may very well still be) OP version for solo/party finder and then a tame version for duty finder/current content.

So? There's a bunch of content where new comers have to ask for help. Just make friends or join a FC that is willing to help you out. It isn't -that- hard. Especially since people have been talking about "but this is a MMORPG!" so much.

Except we're seeing a whole system (trust) designed so people don't have to wait because most people don't like waiting for a group, myself strongly included. I suppose you can say so for yourself, but that also sounds awful if that's what will happen (wait and see yes I know lol).

Keep in mind that they said the power of skills for BLU isn't calculated out of your weapon damage like other jobs. So, we actually have no idea how powerful these skill will actually be under real play. We didn't see Yoshida's gear. So far,we only know that Shiva's Ice Bow will be a 90s cooldown skill that has a high potency. Maybe it's just an oGCD like Fleche/Contre Sixte.

100% fair, it's totally possible that the bow can be awesome but they just weren't (gear) prepared for it - or even temporarily nerfed it just so they could show it a few times. Get yourself proper gear and it slaps around stuff as if its 1,500 potency.. Oh okay that's better.

If it was 90 second, oGCD, 200 potency spell then my eyes are going to roll really slow like though lol. But I agree that it's possible that there are many compontents we didn't see. For example once you get mighty guard it might be something where your solo ability just increases 10 fold, but before that somethings are a bit harder.

[BillyKaplan]

People complained about BLU being designed for solo in a MMORPG...
Now people complain about us having options not to stricly have to play solo?

Because no one picks up a job to run FATEs and outdated content. And you rely on the good will of others while you're at it.

field monsters

And then there's the Shiva ex bow skill. From the very beginning this "solo experience" job was dependent on other people because when capped at 50, you likely can't run Shiva Ex alone the once, let alone the numerous times required until RNG is kind to you and you actually learn it.

Being "mostly designed for solo play" doesn't mean "strictly designed for solo play".

I don't see any "mostly" in here. This feels like they're already semi backpedaling, honestly.

playing in party

I don't even really have much of a point here other than to point out how ridiculous this is so far.

[Fyce]

Because no one picks up a job to run FATEs and outdated content. And you rely on the good will of others while you're at it.

They explicitely said that FATEs wouldn't give you much EXP, and that you will be better off killing regular enemies for EXP. If you pick BLU and go do FATEs for leveling, you're doing it wrong, according to today's liveletter.
Edit: Some clarification on this: the experience given by the FATE itself isn't the main drawing point. FATEs will still be relevant because of the enemies that appear. So, supposedly, you might want to do the FATEs that spawns the most enemies. The FATE's exp is only a bonus.

And then there's the Shiva ex bow skill. From the very beginning this "solo experience" job was dependent on other people because when capped at 50, you likely can't run Shiva Ex alone the once, let alone the numerous times required until RNG is kind to you and you actually learn it.


I don't see any "mostly" in here. This feels like they're already semi backpedaling, honestly.

I'm taking it as "not suited for regular party play like we had in the game for 5 years now,because it's absolutly not balanced for that, but that doesn't mean that you can't party up with some other people. Besides, here, have some skills that you'll learn in instances."

That'd be a bit long for a powerpoint slide though.

I don't even really have much of a point here other than to point out how ridiculous this is so far.

I too can play the screenshot game:

Notice the smiley face on "By forming parties and untertaking instanced duties". And notice how they didn't say "By defeating enemies in public areas while playing exclusively solo" next to the big smile face.
They never completly ruled out party play. But don't worry, I'm used to people only seeing what they want to see while completly ignoring proofs that contradict their statements. Even when the proofs comes from the very same source they are using.

[BillyKaplan]

They never completly ruled out party play.

Which leads to the question of why lock it in the first place? That's the point that doesn't add up here.

But don't worry, I'm used to people only seeing what they want to see while completly ignoring proofs that contradict their statements. Even when the proofs comes from the very same source they are using.

I have a tiny violin to play for you, if you wanna