My Idea For Fixing Blue Mage

[SoleilAlphi]

1) can't fix something that is not delivered yet

2) don't fix something that is not broken

BLU is not broken. Just because you don't like the way the devs developed it doesn't mean it is broken, because in fact it isn't

[SilverObi]

This suggestion was already floated across several of the previous BLU posts so nothing revolutionary here. I still disagree with the reasoning that BLU is meant to be overpowered since that was never a core feature in any game they were present in (even in XI, BLU's strength was flexibility and only got considered OP in certain content in the post-99 era), so that it can never work in normal content but that's also been discussed to death. Unfortunately at this point the way the job works is set in stone and barring a massive overhaul will remain in its planned state. Nothing to do but try and enjoy it for what it is (especially if its spells are as OP as people keep saying they'll be).

[Lambdafish]

BLU is meant to be overpowered since that was never a core feature in any game they were present in

I think people are misunderstanding the difference between unbalanced and overpowered. In all single player games, BLU is presented in a way that would never work in an MMO, with its identity being around gimmicky enemy skills (Lvl X skills, RNG skills, elemental affinity skills, debuff skills etc.). In short, BLU isn't overpowered, it's not suited, and that's before you even take into account skill acquisition.

The current implementation of BLU allows the job to be developed in an environment where it is suited.



Edit: Before you bring up XI, its not a fair comparison because all jobs in XI are unbalanced.

[SenorPatty]

How to fix blue:

-That hat piece is boring. Gimme something with pizzaz.

-Again with the Sharlayan style getup. I'm gonna get up spit on, slapped, kicked, stabbed, burned, frozen and possibly maimed to learn some spells. I'm going on a literal field trip. Gimme some field trip clothes.

-Ok the rod looks fine, I'll give em that.







I'm half joking. Please do not respond seriously to this because glam prism exists, mmkay?

[CaptainLagbeard]

-That hat piece is boring. Gimme something with pizzaz.

...I want a top hat.

[Skos]

BLU = FSH

This is a hot take I never expected to see.
But holy shit I resonate with your entire description so much. I've never thought about it this way.
Thank you for this.

[DBriggs304]

I think we should wait until the job is even available before trying to fix it.

[Fawkes]

- Make Blue Mage queable for any of the three roles.
- Categorize each ability by its role typings.
- Require enough abilities in a certain role to go into instanced content. I.e. basic healing abilities, aggro abilities, and dps abilities. The number required would go up by the content level.
- Further categorize the abilities by labeling each one for its power. Extremely OP skills that are abusable in duty finder would be banned, or limited in the number that they can be used.
- When you choose a role, your icon color changes to reflect that role.
- By the time you reach level 60-80 you would have enough varied abilities for each role. It would still be a highly customizable job.
- Obviously in undersized instances, and non instanced content, you could do whatever you wanted with what is available to you.

Thoughts?

BLU has like one heal and 2 defensive CDs, the vast majority of it's spells are offensive magic. It would be impossible to make the current design into a tank or healer without adding a ton more spells to learn.

I don't think anything we've seen of BLU is remotely OP, all the stuff that would be OP never has any effect on enemies higher level than you.

[RitsukoSonoda]

IMO currently the only things with BLU I think I would change would be having development to level cap and the ability to do solo MSQ instances with it. And maybe Diadem and Eureka if it were able to reach the same level cap as other jobs.

Anything else I'd say wait a bit to see if players find ways to break the game with it using certain spell combinations.

Also I'm interested to see if BLU follows suit with what happened in FFXI when it was added. It was highly anticipated and large amounts of people went to it when it was released. However you rapidly saw less and less BLU at higher levels as many players became annoyed with the process of getting spells that were often key parts of a character build or considered a necessity. Why go through the nightmare of trying to balance all the things the OP "thinks" will "fix" a job that isn't even released yet if the percentage of players taking it to its current cap is miniscule?

[Kazrah]

How to fix blue:

-That hat piece is boring. Gimme something with pizzaz.

I think the hat is only boring because of that godawful velour-looking suit, like they're some two-bit magician or--

A so-called mage of rather questionable character claims to have mastered an outlandish form of spellcasting that resembles neither black nor white magic during his voyage to the New World. Allegedly, anyone who purchases one of his soul crystals can learn to mimic the aetherial magicks of wild creatures. But can he be trusted, or is he merely a con artist looking to make a quick gil?

....OH FOR #$&% SAKE!!