SUGGESTION: Turn Bluemage into a regular job - Limited Job>Advanced Job (An Approach)

[Deceptus]

Playing off the ST vs AOE categories in the OP, they could even have chains.

The Knife > Blood Drain > Final sting combo is a good one. Thematic and logically goes together.

or AoE

Bomb Toss > Fire Agnon > Flamethrower (or Self Destruct)

And then they could change on some sort of elemental attunement.

[JiSH]

Playing off the ST vs AOE categories in the OP, they could even have chains.

The Knife > Blood Drain > Final sting combo is a good one. Thematic and logically goes together.

or AoE

Bomb Toss > Fire Agnon > Flamethrower (or Self Destruct)

And then they could change on some sort of elemental attunement.

in my mind if they ever rework Blue Mage to be a normal job i want them to have combo based MELEE spells, and it can work out like this, and this way they won't have to go out of their way to make new spells. though they probably have to rework the potencies and what not, as it stands BLU's Bread and Butter spells are Sonic Boom (210 potency) and for melee Sharpened Knife (220 potency), i think they have to be more distinct and has tradeoffs.

[Volsungr]

Playing off the ST vs AOE categories in the OP, they could even have chains.

The Knife > Blood Drain > Final sting combo is a good one. Thematic and logically goes together.

or AoE

Bomb Toss > Fire Agnon > Flamethrower (or Self Destruct)

And then they could change on some sort of elemental attunement.

Since i can't reply on all the FF11 matters as i didnt have much experience on it, i'll just try to highlight the thing i find interesting :P

i don't remember where i said my piece about combo system for caster but i agree because we don't have a caster that have combo-mechanic as its core yet. as for the melee combo.. the concern is will blue mage in that case take over a melee slot? but if that's the case do we still need a melee for the extra 1% dps boost in party bonus? or will it count as caster?.