My review of Black Mage

**Ryuko** · 03-17-2012 05:45 AM

I'm replying to this because of an earlier comment about CONVERT.

Yes! It has the potential to annoy WHM's like you wouldn't believe!

One minute, it's "Hey, Ryuko. I'm about to Convert. Don't heal me, okay!?" I didn't know why, but I assumed it had to do with damage... or something, as who would specifically tell a WHM not to heal them unless there was a reason? (My THM is only 40 so I wasn't aware of the reason.)

Now, another minute it's... "Okay, I'm gonna Convert. Heal me, okay!?" Or, they convert and die instantly. Or, they don't convert and their HP simply drops really low, but I think it's a convert, yet I'm not willing to take that chance, so I heal anyway even if they might get annoyed by it... but what if I was wrong? ...and blah blah blah.

Convert annoys the hell out of me as a WHM.... yet, I understand its place for a BLM, so I'm just going to have to deal with it. The comment I saw above about it specifically made me laugh, though.

My opinion (though I don't have it at 50 yet) is... Although the new abilities don't give crazy-raw damage like some are suggesting, they do have their place. As a comparison, lots of people thought Holy would be useless. Last night, while doing Cutter's Cry, myself and the WHM on the other side (when your group is split into two) simply ran in and Holy'd at the same time so that we wouldn't have to deal with timing. (I'm being specifically vague here as to not spoil anything for anyone... but y'all will know what I mean.) You just need to find a way to MAKE your abilities useful. The loss of healing, stoneskin, raise, etc hits pretty hard, but I am a big fan of Second Wind.

**Reaujien** · 03-17-2012 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Mychael

What do you want me to do, list off the names of party leaders who have preferred THM to BLM? That's not an opinion, that's an observation of my personal experience. I can't say with certainty that everyone on every server thinks that way, but I can say that the majority of pickups I've joined lately have been this way. Not specifically THM > BLM, but asking for classes over jobs in general. I'm not making up anything. Please avoid overusing the term "opinion," especially in a derogatory way. I have said nothing to offend you, to my knowledge.

I wasn't using it in a derogatory way. In fact, I'm going to actually retract my comment because after re-reading your post I've realized I misread part of it - my apologies. You're right, your observations about the parties that you have been in preferring you as THM vs. BLM isn't an opinion, it's simply an observation.

I think it was the,

Originally Posted by Mychael

BLM isn't "better for parties" at all.

statement that I incorrectly connected to what you were saying previously to it. However, even that sort of a statement is subjective itself - some people may think BLMs are in fact better for parties, while others may feel quite differently.

Originally Posted by Mychael

As for the suggestion that I prefer, more versatility, I'm not sure what you're going on about.

I'm not too sure what you're going on about either... the last two paragraphs of my post that you're quoting isn't directed specifically at what you prefer... I suppose I should have separated them from my first paragraph better *shrugs*

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Originally Posted by Mychael

That's the worst comparison I've ever heard.

That's too bad...

Originally Posted by Mychael

SE is more than capable of making a BLM to anyones' desires.

No, lol, actually they can't. We all have our own desires, and it's impossible to create one job that meets everyone's desires (including the desire to not be disappointed by anything in the job). Clearly this thread, and others, provide the proof.

Originally Posted by Mychael

The things you've listed are impossible.

Yes! That's the whole point - the "impossible" requests are themselves audacious; much like things such as always being top DD regardless of the situation, or a spell with 4k+ crit damage.

Originally Posted by Mychael

I'm not sure what you're going on about. If you walk up to a car manufacturer and they only stock cars in hot orange, and you don't like hot orange, then I suspect one of the first things out of your mouth would be "can you make this in any color other than orange?" And if they say no, I would express your discontent with that non-option.

Yes - I would certainly do the same thing too. And what I wouldn't do is sit there and lecture them about how they're "doing it wrong" by only making cars with hot-orange paint jobs, and that "it should be like this" or "it should be like that". I certainly wouldn't buy it and drive it despite the fact that it "irks" me so much... However, if you don't understand the analogy then, it's w/e...

**tachi** · 03-20-2012 02:54 AM

Someone asked about gear over AF so here goes:
Felt cavalier hat (double INT IV melds)
Lightning brand+1 (double INT IV melds) / lightning brand+1 (double mag.acc IV melds)*for boss's
Boarskin ringband of lightning (double crit IV melds)
Wool tights (double INT/MND IV melds)
mahogany pattens (lightning pot III>IV)
coral HQ's for boss/zircon HQ's for trash
zircon bracelet-hq
spinel neck hq

I'm not saying everyone should have absolute perfect gear but getting double melds is not a bank breaker, even buying the gear and materia from wards and paying ppl to do the melds is maybe a 5mil investment for the listed gear above (except the feet) which could easily be magic potency 3>4 and save a bunch.

If I wanted a great set of gear on the cheap I would:
lightning brand /w int IV
Felt cav hat /w int IV
boarskin ringband lightning /w HP IV
wool tights /w int-pie IV
mahogany pattens /w ele Potency IV
AF body
raptorskin belt /w HP
raptor targe /w HP
coral rings HQ(these are super easy and cheap even on wards now I see them for 50k and well worth HQ's)
zircon bracelet
spinel neck

**Kinseykinz** · 03-21-2012 01:57 AM

Okay first: BIS=Best In Slot

Convert, so it isn't that hard to make a macro'd tell and/or create a convert macro that includes a tell: Black Mage Convert Now. or something of the sort. Just keeps white mages in the know and keeps tanks from thinking they lost hate/blm got aggro.

I'm sorry but other than maybe Burst, if you think your BLM is weak, you are either doing it wrong or expecting WAY too much from the class. 2-3 BLM's in a party with access to Sleepga and Flare are a deadly force.

Sleep/Sleepga- while you can't do it forever as mobs resist quick, you can use sleep in some instances to 'stun' mobs. It's situational but very helpful at times.

Bosses shouldn't be able to be 3-shotted. Also, just a suggestion, maybe DON'T wear your blm -hp reducing gear on Ifrit. The BLM gear isn't usually too shabby, but the -HP stat on the BLM artifact doesn't help during primal astral flows. Crafted gear is probably better for most of the Primals. Although, once again, a good party setup/good positioning should solve this problem.

Also, you can eat food/use potions....maybe if you still have trouble surviving hellfire, use a +def/hp food and/or use a similar potion right before hellfire happens.

Lastly, BLM is a powerhouse, but comparing it to old thm is very unfair. The game battle system and mechanics have changed way too much. Not to mention how broken both mage classes use to be.

**Jinrya-Geki** · 03-22-2012 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Kinseykinz

Okay first: BIS=Best In Slot

Convert, so it isn't that hard to make a macro'd tell and/or create a convert macro that includes a tell: Black Mage Convert Now. or something of the sort. Just keeps white mages in the know and keeps tanks from thinking they lost hate/blm got aggro.

I'm sorry but other than maybe Burst, if you think your BLM is weak, you are either doing it wrong or expecting WAY too much from the class. 2-3 BLM's in a party with access to Sleepga and Flare are a deadly force.

Sleep/Sleepga- while you can't do it forever as mobs resist quick, you can use sleep in some instances to 'stun' mobs. It's situational but very helpful at times.

Bosses shouldn't be able to be 3-shotted. Also, just a suggestion, maybe DON'T wear your blm -hp reducing gear on Ifrit. The BLM gear isn't usually too shabby, but the -HP stat on the BLM artifact doesn't help during primal astral flows. Crafted gear is probably better for most of the Primals. Although, once again, a good party setup/good positioning should solve this problem.

Also, you can eat food/use potions....maybe if you still have trouble surviving hellfire, use a +def/hp food and/or use a similar potion right before hellfire happens.

Lastly, BLM is a powerhouse, but comparing it to old thm is very unfair. The game battle system and mechanics have changed way too much. Not to mention how broken both mage classes use to be.

I know what abilities do what, I know how to use them, when to use them.

Mostly the examples people use are with 2-3 black mages, I am talking when there is only one in the party which is myself, and everyone else is melee. Cutter's Cry, Aurum Vale, Darkhold, and Af quests, etc. I have not used flare and will most likely never use it.

Hellfire, must have been some bad luck or something with Sanguine rights, but whatever.

I look at White mage and think how greatly it outshines Cjn so easily, and think wow this is awesome. Chainspell alone makes it worth being white mage over conjurer. Esuna/Regen paired with Sacred Prism is amazing. Holy is great to use as a finisher, Benediction, haven't used it yet, heard it's range is bad but you know what oh well.

It's what every job should be to classes. There are hardly negatives I see to it.

But not stating again why I dislike black mage again, read the original post.

**Actus** · 03-22-2012 08:25 AM

If you're not using Flare, then you're not doing it right. My Flare is almost ALWAYS on CD.

The DoT is pretty beastly. As well as dmg/mp it's the most efficient AoE you have. I use it on all fights. Coincounter, Mistress (lol so awesome on her), & Chimera.

**Jinrya-Geki** · 03-22-2012 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Actus

If you're not using Flare, then you're not doing it right. My Flare is almost ALWAYS on CD.

The DoT is pretty beastly. As well as dmg/mp it's the most efficient AoE you have. I use it on all fights. Coincounter, Mistress (lol so awesome on her), & Chimera.

I play how casters are supposed to be played as, the ranged casters. The only worth while self-aoe is Blizzara. Flare should combo off of Fira, and combo effect should be high dot damage.

**Kinseykinz** · 03-22-2012 09:53 AM