I think Square Enix and/or the DEVs hate mages! (Long post)

[Estellios]

FYI the primal weapons are already going to be altered so that their added effects activate on cast.

Stats also work fine IMO. Base stats like VIT/MND etc do multiple functions whereas the more specialized stats have more of an effect but don't spread around as much, so it's up to your discretion at how to use it. I'd just like enfeebling and enhancing magic materia, and maybe INT to do more than just magic attack.

I think not having an entirely dedicated support classes is probably better in the long run because you can avoid having a situation like Bard being required to even survive a fight or having it make a majority of fights trivial. Spreading around buffing/debuffing in some capacity to everybody increases their use in battle. A completely support class can't solo at all, too.

[Mikita]

My humble opinion... The devs may not hate mages, but things are more frustrating now.

Solo play
Solo has gotten quite a bit more difficult for mages due to MP and spell changes.

We quickly run out of MP and then can't do anything except run away, or stand there motionless and get pounded on while our MP slowly trickles back.

For example:
To complete the "Alive" quest, as a R50 Conjurer I had to fight R40 Garleans which should be really simple.

But despite using the disruptor, they would summon more soldiers and I quickly ran out of MP after defeating about 4 or 5 of them (only using the Fire based spells because they are the only AoE attack magic we have left).
- Sacred Prism's (AoE conversion) recast is too long for solo battles.
- Having a fully charged Blissful Mind ready also gives 1 or maybe 2 more attack spell casts.

Unless I'm missing something, what else can we do for MP management in this case?


Party play
In parties, MP management is possible... but it now means standing still, waiting, and praying that you don't get hate.

I am still trying to relearn how to best support my teammates.
But I used to find mage classes more dynamic because I could move around, heal, and even attack when the situation permitted.

Now I just kind of stand there and pray to Menphina that クープ the Moogle with the sword doesn't notice me. (sorry I don't know the English name)

[Meleena]

OP forgets that there will be instant casting spells for mages to use when they are running away.
As for the MP costs they are fine.

[DarkArchon]

I think the big diference is that we THM always were very active on spells. Casting enfeebling\enhancing and nuking maked us active and now we just have to nuke. Its just like that. Using spell to boost your damage and nuke it.
We can do more things but the THM base is like just that. If you wait and not spam abilities, you'll see your MP always on top.

Btw, when people say he can handle MP very well as CNJ, well...thats not a big deal lol

[Zeref]

Well, we even recover MP with weapon drawn now, so I don't see too much of an issue, what bothers me is that I was interested in playing a mage when i started this game in beta, I started Conjurer for the elemental spells, then they reshuffled all this crap so I had to start THM, no big deal, but then they went and they split some elemental spells off, why can't I cast tier 2 Wind and Stone spells without being on a ConJ? that makes zero sense, especially since CONj now is a dedicated healer.

[Chione]

The only thing that irritates me is that the Water spells are gone. Earth based mobs are now extremely annoying to obliterate properly. :|

I just got THM to 50 this evening. Most of it I leveled solo on GC leves. As far as I can tell, MP is a non issue in normal fights - solo or pt, IMO. All it takes is a half minute standing still to get a lot of that mp back even when it does bottom out (which it shouldn't on normal fights unless you're just spamming spells without a thought) And even then I find that I'm able to destroy things much faster than I could on solo melee. Just make sure you're using parsimony on your combo-ending spell every time its up.

[Jinko]

1.21 will bring convert for THM and BRD will have refresh so it will get easier.

They still need to fix itemisation for mages, healers especially.

[Mamba]

Well I do agree with some of the points OP makes...

Like for example, I am actually slighlty annoyed we don't have those low level cheap nukes that could finish a monster off if it was at 1% health... Instead now the options for me is to either cast a full blown nuke (overkill!) or draw out my staff and go hit it.

However... I think CON as it is, is actually fine. I dont know how it would play solo since all solo play I go as wannabee BLM (aka THM)

[Conradus]

Wow. You so thoroughly don't understand your own class that it's difficult to take any of your complaints seriously.

- Sacred Prism's (AoE conversion) recast is too long for solo battles

Sacred Prism only affects healing and enhancement spells, causing them to hit your entire party. It has no use in solo battles.

(only using the Fire based spells because they are the only AoE attack magic we have left).

Both Aerora and Stonera are AoE when not used in a combo.

[Jinko]

Wow. You so thoroughly don't understand your own class that it's difficult to take any of your complaints seriously.



Sacred Prism only affects healing and enhancement spells, causing them to hit your entire party. It has no use in solo battles.



Both Aerora and Stonera are AoE when not used in a combo.

You make some good points, although I'm not sure how used to those spells you want to get, its unclear if you will still have use of them as BLM.