My review of Black Mage

[Umo]

How about the fact you can essentially double the damage you can do as a BLM via convert?

New abilities are what separates jobs and classes.

^This.
There are so many people focusing on big numbers when comparing THM and BLM, but IMHO you're not looking at the whole picture. BLMs can Convert, Freeze (damage + enmity down) and Flare (DoT) in order to maintain their DPS output. Furthermore, they get Sleepga allowing them to enhance THM's CC ability.
THM is a very good DPS, so what did you expect? BLM becoming an atom bomb? u.u'

[MariyaShidou]

Also think of it this way: You can always use Burst while Thundaga on CD. A lot of DoW new actions are supposed to be used while normal combo on CD.

[Mychael]

A lot of DoW new actions are supposed to be used while normal combo on CD.

But those new actions are not the 15m abilities.

[MariyaShidou]

But those new actions are not the 15m abilities.

And what's the point of it? It's not like you can only use Thundaga only or Burst only, there is nothing to stop you from using both. It can use some tweak, yes, but asking for 400% damage increase on it is not exactly "balancing".

Also Skyfire Dive is 15m ability, dealing about as much dmg as Thundaga or even less.

[Razen_Arghast]

And what's the point of it? It's not like you can only use Thundaga only or Burst only, there is nothing to stop you from using both. It can use some tweak, yes, but asking for 400% damage increase on it is not exactly "balancing".

Also Skyfire Dive is 15m ability, dealing about as much dmg as Thundaga or even less.

Skyfire Dive is actually lacking in every department. It has a general feeling of "MEH" all over it. That's for another thread though.

[Mychael]

And what's the point of it? It's not like you can only use Thundaga only or Burst only, there is nothing to stop you from using both. It can use some tweak, yes, but asking for 400% damage increase on it is not exactly "balancing".

I didn't ask for 400% damage; if it were up to me, I'd say the BLM 15m shouldn't do any damage; it should be something like...

Nald's Fury
Duration: 45 seconds. Recast: 900 seconds

• Increases Magic Accuracy by 20%
• Magic Attack increases increases as players %HP decreases.
• Decreases Enmity generated by offensive spells by 25%.
• Reduces MP cost of offensive spells by 25%.
• Reduces cast time of offensive spells by 25%.
• Player's HP decreases by 2% HP/second, down to 10% HP (when the effect will automatically wear). The player does not regenerate HP, regardless of active/passive mode. (2%hp for 45 seconds will be 10% HP anyway, but even if cured the effect will still wear after 45 seconds; being cured while using this ability would be detrimental because it would ruin the +Magic Attack effect. )

But they are going to leave it as Burst, probably, since they will want to keep all three AM

So how about something like:
Burst
MP Cost: 560. Recast: 900 seconds. Cast time: 8 seconds

• Deals moderate (less than Thundaga) lightning damage to target. Has a chance to inflict target and nearby enemies with a random ailment--paralyze (60s), sleep(15s), or stun(5s). Afflicted nearby enemies do not generate enmity toward the caster (and this will not claim unclaimed mobs).
• Combo Action: Thundara
• Combo Bonus: The spell's target can be afflicted with two or more of the status ailments. Inreases chances of afflicting the target with status ailments. Increases target's enmity gain toward caster. (No effect on the AoE)

tl;dr: I do not think Burst should be the "be all, end all" damage dealing spell in the game. Since it's an ability that has a long recast, it shouldn't just do the same thing as normal abilities (even with increased damage); it should offer benefits that no other ability offers--hence the AoE status ailments that don't generate enmity. The damage, in my second example, should be less than Thundaga.

Also Skyfire Dive is 15m ability, dealing about as much dmg as Thundaga or even less.

If two things are broken, I would hope we fix them both. Not use them to defend each other. I don't use DRG, so I can't and won't talk about Skyfire Dive.

[Jinrya-Geki]

THM is a very good DPS, so what did you expect? BLM becoming an atom bomb? u.u'

Yes I did expect that.

[Umo]

Yes I did expect that.

It was a rhetorical question, you know...
Welcome to the Balanced World. Hope you get used and comfortable.

[NoctisUmbra]

Yes I did expect that.

There's your problem.

[Jinrya-Geki]

It was a rhetorical question, you know...
Welcome to the Balanced World. Hope you get used and comfortable.

http://youtu.be/FxChP7oux1E?t=2m49s

lolbalanced my ass.