When do the training wheels come off?

[Lmcgyver]

I find that the only reasons for people being in this situation is ignorance of how poorly the Recommended Gear button is implemented at low levels or how different stats affect them (in which case, elucidation of the feature is required), ignorance of the fact that they can get acceptable gear from a vendor (prompting a quick pointer to what vendor sells gear they can use; or if I'm feeling generous, a free, full HQ set for their job when the duty is finished that'll be good to last them 10 levels), or just outright laziness (which is not an acceptable excuse).

The recommended gear button is very appealing and I don’t think it’s a coincidence we’re discussing a level 44 tank. Yelling at that person, kicking them, isn’t going to help them realize the limitations of the recommended gear button.
For example, I once healed a dungeon where the tank wasn’t using grit, and this was a HW dungeon. I could have yelled at the tank, tried to initiate a kick, but instead I simply said “Are you aware you don’t have grit on?” – one second later, it was on and never left.
I find it’s more useful to interact with the other player rather than simply assuming they are dumb, lazy, and nothing will change no matter is said. Some people are just new, but willing to work, or they don’t realize they forgot to do something they normally do.

I'm not sure where all this talk of yelling/kicking etc. came from. I never assume a player is "dumb/lazy/unable to change" (at least, not until all other possibilities are exhausted), and do, in fact, quite often reach out when I see someone who may be in need of help. I am well aware of the appeal of the Recommended Gear button and how much of a trap it is, hence being ready and willing to explain to the player in question the pitfalls of the system. I can definitely agree that yelling at and/or kicking a player is neither a helpful nor constructive avenue for player growth.

I’m not attacking and is genuinely trying to get info on BLM. What exactly do BLM spam for aoe? I usually spam fire 2 while weaving in lightning, foul and then flare at the end and switch to freeze spam, while refreshing lighting and foul. So what do you guys do if not use fire 2?

I believe, from level 68, it's generally along the lines of Freeze > Thunder IV > Fire III > Flare > Flare > Transpose (skip if 72+) > Freeze > etc.. That being said, I'm not well versed in the ShB BLM AoE rotation; I know it doesn't use Fire II or Blizzard II though.

[AngeliouxRein]

I believe, from level 68, it's generally along the lines of Freeze > Thunder IV > Fire III > Flare > Flare > Transpose (skip if 72+) > Freeze > etc.. That being said, I'm not well versed in the ShB BLM AoE rotation; I know it doesn't use Fire II or Blizzard II though.

Wait..we can flare twice? Hm...I need to experiment. I was starting to have a sneaking thought on maybe I should use freeze more since it feels like it goes off faster but I wasn’t sure. Thanks!

[Lmcgyver]

Wait..we can flare twice? Hm...I need to experiment. I was starting to have a sneaking thought on maybe I should use freeze more since it feels like it goes off faster but I wasn’t sure. Thanks!

Starting from level 68, a Flare with any Umbral Hearts consumes them to leave enough MP for a second Flare (provided you had at least 2,400 MP); so yes, you can Flare twice.

[AngeliouxRein]

Starting from level 68, a Flare with any Umbral Hearts consumes them to leave enough MP for a second Flare (provided you had at least 2,400 MP); so yes, you can Flare twice.

MP, there’s my issue...by the time I would use flare I was usually completely out of mp. Yup, I got some practicing to do with trust...

[Lmcgyver]

MP, there’s my issue...by the time I would use flare I was usually completely out of mp. Yup, I got some practicing to do with trust...

Unlikely. It's far more likely that you used up your Umbral Heart (or hearts, plural; you say you used Freeze multiple times?). One of BLM's level 68 traits reduces the cost of Flare by 1/3rd when under the effect of Umbral Heart, and completely removes the status when cast. As a result, using Freeze once will be sufficient to use two Flares so long as you cast no other Fire spells in Astral Fire - one MP tick under Umbral Ice III is more than sufficient to cover the MP cost.

[AngeliouxRein]

Unlikely. It's far more likely that you used up your Umbral Heart (or hearts, plural; you say you used Freeze multiple times?). One of BLM's level 68 traits reduces the cost of Flare by 1/3rd when under the effect of Umbral Heart, and completely removes the status when cast. As a result, using Freeze once will be sufficient to use two Flares so long as you cast no other Fire spells in Astral Fire - one MP tick under Umbral Ice III is more than sufficient to cover the MP cost.

So it was the hearts? If that’s the case then, then I can only think it would be the fire 4 I would throw in to take out any mobs that were low on health. My rotation was like thunder>fire2>fire2>fire2(and maybe one more)>flare>Thunder(if needed refresh)>freeze >freeze>fire 2. In between that I would throw in foul and random fire 4 on low health mobs. Flare would always be completely grayed out until enough mp would show up. So maybe that was it?

[Lmcgyver]

So it was the hearts? If that’s the case then, then I can only think it would be the fire 4 I would throw in to take out any mobs that were low on health. My rotation was like thunder>fire2>fire2>fire2(and maybe one more)>flare>Thunder(if needed refresh)>freeze >freeze>fire 2. In between that I would throw in foul and random fire 4 on low health mobs. Flare would always be completely grayed out until enough mp would show up. So maybe that was it?

Wait... that makes no sense though. Fire/Blizzard I/II only grant 1 stack, and will outright drop your Astral/Umbral if cast from the other element; a straight Fire II from Umbral Ice would drop your Enochian, preventing Fire IV and Foul, along with dropping your Umbral Hearts. Were you using Transpose or a cast of Fire III to switch to Astral Fire? Assuming you were, that would in any case be three fire spells cast in Astral Fire before your first Flare, using up all your Hearts and thus preventing the use of a second Flare.