Concerning BLM Buffs/Quality of Life (yes, you read that right)

[Llugen]

BLM is very strong right now, make no mistake. It has been streamlined a great deal, has great movement tools and more options in fluidity of rotation than it ever had. In fact, this might be the first expansion (including 2.0 proper) that the class really was designed properly at the very start, rather than needing 3-4 buffs over the course of months (if not an entire year, I'm looking at you Stormblood) to really get into the groove of its alleged identity.

However, in light of the recent MNK changes, [spoil]Seriously? 30 seconds of free positional requirements every minute ON TOP OF 2 charges of True North??? Jeez why don't you just remove the positionals from the job completely and call it a day then[/spoil] and looming on the horizon SAM and SMN buffs/changes, I am very concerned that it is going to lose its proper place on the top of the damage output. In fact, it already has.



Let me be extremely clear about it: In a game where "raw damage" is deemed to be an acceptable class identity, the classes that only contribute raw damage absolutely must be putting out the highest damage of all the classes. It is shameful that so little thought was put into MNK/DRG relative to poor SAM, and BLM is most likely about to witness the exact same dilemma.


No massive potency buff is needed at the moment, certainly, but I propose the following quality of life adjustments that will result in higher damage output for the job overall:

-The damage over time effect from Thunder III should be 30 seconds. It's a little absurd that it isn't already, especially with the increased length of the Astral phase. This will also give an additional 160 base potency to single target Thundercloud.

-BLM deserves stackable procs of Firestarter and Thundercloud that do not fall off. It definitely adds insult to injury that after years of asking for this, stackable Ruin IV procs were given to SMN. I would even suggest putting these indicators on the job gauge that is so beautifully designed, capping at 3 or 4.

-Sharpcast should charge to 2 uses if not 3. This is self-explanatory with my previous suggestion.

-Manafont is good for one Flare (and Thunder IV if necessary) or one Fire IV and one Despair. The 180 second recast on this is underwhelming. Consider just making it 90 to line up with Ley Lines, or consider allowing it to also give you one Umbral Heart and 33% MP, making it good for 2 Flares or 2 Fire IVs and one Despair

As far as area of effect damage is concerned, I feel like BLM is doing pretty darn well, but one thing that is frustrating at the moment is that it is a gain to forego Astral Fire III and just Flare straight out of Umbral Ice with the Umbral Heart(s). I would propose fixing this by letting Flare only utilize one Umbral Heart and letting Freeze give you two per cast. Furthermore, on paper SMN is stronger area of effect damage than BLM is, and as per our golden rule (damage-only classes should be the highest damage), this needs to be rectified.


I am fully braced for this thread to get a fair amount of heat, but the logic is undeniable. Power creep is a real thing, and I want to avoid it at all costs, so if taking heat for it is what is needed, then so be it.

[VileIves]

Thunder III increase would mean either more DoT clipping (making the extra duration less-useful save for buffing up the initial Thundercloud all-in-one hit) or turning back to using Sharpcast specifically for Firestarter and only ever refreshing it in Umbral.

Thundercloud is weird though, sharpcasting it is great for having it always be there for F1>T3, but feels bad when it procs again after using sharpcast on it. Likewise, feels bad if you neglect using Sharpcast on T3 to avoid wasting potential procs only for none to happen. Multiple charges of Sharpcast won't really help as much because it's usually "Every 30 seconds, hit B3>Xeno>SC>T3>B4 or if you have an excess of procs, instant T3/Xeno>SC>F1."

As for comparison against SMN, I don't know... Flare's 861 Potency + 322 for every target after the first is pretty spicy, then add in T4's 264 potency per target (471 with Thundercloud), then Foul for each 30 seconds (and some trash pulls you can start with two) for 747 with a falloff of (672>598>523>448>373 to all others). Freeze and Fire III's role in the AoE rotation are pretty basic, they serve just to boost the main damage spike as their own damage is neglible and since it is a constant flow of damage versus SMN's burst-windows of trances... I have yet to see a SMN maintain higher AOE damage than a BLM. They might be able to do a few quick bursts (Akh Morn, Death Flare, Revelation, Aerial Blast all have lower potency than Flare and Foul) but are effectively time-gated, their DoTs are weaker than T4 if they use Bane to spread them and their spammable AoE is a whopping... 90 Potency because of Ruination.

[Tulzscha]

People really will complain about anything, huh.

I am very concerned that it is going to lose its proper place on the top of the damage output.

Entitled much?

I get wanting to see improvements for your job but holy crap you come off as such a snowflake.

[Kabooa]

People should stop confusing quality of life with buffs.

To clarify: There is no QoL here. It's all pure buffing. Extending thunder is a buff because it no longer matters where you refresh it.

Stackable, non-expiring TCloud / Firestarter is not a QoL. It's a straight buff.

Sharpcast charges is a buff.

The manafont changes is a buff.

Please note that I am not disagreeing or agreeing with what Black Mage might need in light of Monks going Ultra Instinct, only that you shouldn't try and label these as QoL, because they certainly are not.

They're straight up buffs.

[Sequora]

-BLM deserves stackable procs of Firestarter and Thundercloud that do not fall off. It definitely adds insult to injury that after years of asking for this, stackable Ruin IV procs were given to SMN. I would even suggest putting these indicators on the job gauge that is so beautifully designed, capping at 3 or 4.

-Sharpcast should charge to 2 uses if not 3. This is self-explanatory with my previous suggestion.

-Manafont is good for one Flare (and Thunder IV if necessary) or one Fire IV and one Despair. The 180 second recast on this is underwhelming. Consider just making it 90 to line up with Ley Lines, or consider allowing it to also give you one Umbral Heart and 33% MP, making it good for 2 Flares or 2 Fire IVs and one Despair[/INDENT]
As far as area of effect damage is concerned, I feel like BLM is doing pretty darn well, but one thing that is frustrating at the moment is that it is a gain to forego Astral Fire III and just Flare straight out of Umbral Ice with the Umbral Heart(s). I would propose fixing this by letting Flare only utilize one Umbral Heart and letting Freeze give you two per cast. Furthermore, on paper SMN is stronger area of effect damage than BLM is, and as per our golden rule (damage-only classes should be the highest damage), this needs to be rectified.


I am fully braced for this thread to get a fair amount of heat, but the logic is undeniable. Power creep is a real thing, and I want to avoid it at all costs, so if taking heat for it is what is needed, then so be it.

SMN would like to have a word with you. When you have to use an ability (egi assault) just to use an ability we’ll talk. We also have to use our ruin IV procs just to weave in our oCDs

[Vendalwind]

This is very much the wrong time to be bringing this up and being entitled.

First off:

...I am very concerned that it is going to lose its proper place on the top of the damage output. In fact, it already has.

What in the heck? are you entitled to top dps? and why so butt hurt about a class receiving love? Also you haven't lost your place. Still very much the top caster. VERY MUCH.

Let me be extremely clear about it: In a game where "raw damage" is deemed to be an acceptable class identity, the classes that only contribute raw damage absolutely must be putting out the highest damage of all the classes. It is shameful that so little thought was put into MNK/DRG relative to poor SAM, and BLM is most likely about to witness the exact same dilemma.

...

but the logic is undeniable.

The logic is absolutely deniable. MNK is only dealing more dps with his rdps factored in. And I'll give you that its a bit high but the rhetoric everyone spouts about pure dps always needing to be the top is bullcrap
It just is.

to say with as much sternness as you do at full potential the raw dps classes absolutely must NOT put out the same cumulative dps as a dmg utility class. Really think about it. This misconception has always blown my mind.

If rDPS classes cant achieve at top percentile MORE than pure dps classes then they are useless. The gapping should be something like 75th percentile up rDPS classes outdo pure DPS classes by a small margin. 50th-75th they are about equivalent and sub 50th pure DPS classes begin to do significantly more.

If an rDPS class is in the best spot it still needs pure DPS classes to function at its best since its dmg is partially reliant upon them. if a pure DPS class holds the top spot and utility dps classes cant keep up even in a group with 3 other highly skilled pure dps that rDPS will just get replaced with another pure.

rDPS classes having the top spot gives them a job AND makes pure DPS classes more valuable.

Having pure dps classes unsurpassable no matter the team comp makes rdps classes worthless entirely.

BLM does not need a buff right now. not QoL wise compared to other classes, and definitely not DPS wise. There are so many people in line here before BLM right now. MNK may still need to be tuned a bit more sure, but it's potential outdoing BLM is in my opinion how it should be. SAM is being done far more dirty than BLM right now, and NIN/SUM/ the whole ranged physical class are still in front of you when it comes to the balance buff check.

you are honestly better off being quiet about your job and hoping it, MNK, and DRG all dont get hit with a nerf hammer than trying to ask for more.

[Kabooa]

If rDPS classes cant achieve at top percentile MORE than pure dps classes then they are useless. The gapping should be something like 75th percentile up rDPS classes outdo pure DPS classes by a small margin. 50th-75th they are about equivalent and sub 50th pure DPS classes begin to do significantly more..

No. What's the point of a glass cannon if -they aren't bringing the most of your Raw damage-?

[AbyssDarks]

No. What's the point of a glass cannon if -they aren't bringing the most of your Raw damage-?

I think he means in regards to rDPS, not pDPS. An rDPS char should have higher rDPS then a pDPS character, otherwise, whats the point in bringing rDPS characters?

[Aomine1992]

Well SMN sucks so yes it needs a lot of TLC we are currently being obliterated by BLM in every category except this gimmick they call Raise which is useless out side of prog. You do well over 2k more dps, much more mobile lol what more do you need. BLM is the only perfect job right now while everyone else in its caster dps role sucks in a bad way.

[Acidblood]

Thundercloud having storable charges (that don't expire) is long overdue, and now that there is a mechanic for doing exactly that there is really no excuse.

Fire II needs to be looked at, it is almost literally useless; a shorter cast time, higher damage, and a lower MP cost would not only make Fire II useful but smooth out BLMs AoE rotation.

Blizzard II... should probably just upgrade to Freeze.

Aetherial Manipulation would be more useable in more situations if it didn't require a target. Similar to DRG Dragon Sight it could work with (as it is now) or without a target (as a short forward teleport).

Ley Lines and Between the Lines should have been a single button from the start. You can do it SE, I believe in you!

Enochian should either be passive (as is it's just busy work and a punishment) or given a secondary function (e.g. your next spell costs 0 MP).

Other than that, and overall BLM is basically perfect (which knowing SE means it's going to get butchered come 6.0 :/)