7.0 BLM Changes that wouldn't kill the job

[Hana_Monogatari]

I disagree with some of this.

I think all that needs to happen is:

• Astral Souls carry over between AF phases
  
  Flarestar refreshes AF
  
  Return Ice Paradox
  
  Blizzard 3 restores 2k MP upon entering UI
  
  Non-Fire GCDs restore 3k MP in UI
  
  B4 restores full MP in UI

This supports turret moments, doesn't invalidate short lines, and can create meaningful decisions on how to utilize Flarestar as a 0 MP, high potency, AF refresher.

If Astral Souls carry over across ice phases until used, then any Fire IV cast after obtaining x6 Astral Souls is a major potency loss. Flare Star would therefore not be as flexible as intended.

I honestly don't care about the thunder changes because Endwalker already killed thunder management.

I disagree. Any system works with the job's toolkit as a whole, not as individual pieces; taken in isolation, Thunder "management" isn't really management at all, true, but with Thunder vs Fire procs making certain non-standard lines possible, it definitely has its place. DoT management could be made *more* complex, sure, and I'm sure BLM mains would love that, but I am describing a set of ideas that would result in minimal changes to how the job currently exists in the devbuild—i.e., feasible changes that could be implemented in time for 7.0.

[Raikai]

If Astral Souls carry over across ice phases until used, then any Fire IV cast after obtaining x6 Astral Souls is a major potency loss. Flare Star would therefore not be as flexible as intended.

What, Flare Star is anything but flexible - it does have an extremely cemented place in the rotation, to the point that I even question the actual usefulness of a whole gauge dedicated to it. If it was a "Despair finisher" action the difference would be pretty small, other than not punishing people who forget to cast all 6 F4's.

[Kabooa]

If Astral Souls carry over across ice phases until used, then any Fire IV cast after obtaining x6 Astral Souls is a major potency loss. Flare Star would therefore not be as flexible as intended.

Because Flarestar requires all Souls and not partial, it's only a loss of DPS if you cast a total of 6 Fire 4s or more that overflow the gauge.

Much like how 30 Heat for the Machinist isn't a DPS loss, because they couldn't do anything with it anyways.

[Hana_Monogatari]

Because Flarestar requires all Souls and not partial, it's only a loss of DPS if you cast a total of 6 Fire 4s or more that overflow the gauge.

Much like how 30 Heat for the Machinist isn't a DPS loss, because they couldn't do anything with it anyways.

True, but if Flare Star is intended to do things like refresh the AF timer, then you would be chewing through several Fire IV casts before this became useful. For example, P11S kills see BLMs casting upwards of 90 Fire IVs, making overcapping Astral Soul stacks, even only once per AF cycle, fairly punishing.

I agree that Flare Star, as is, is limiting and is basically just a very weird forced follow-up to Despair, and so any flexibility would be an improvement. I am just not sure if carrying over Astral Souls would make that large of a difference (compared to the suggestion to make Astral Soul buff x6 Fire IVs total, or having Flare Star gain potency for each Astral Soul stack consumed upon cast).

[Kabooa]

True, but if Flare Star is intended to do things like refresh the AF timer, then you would be chewing through several Fire IV casts before this became useful. For example, P11S kills see BLMs casting upwards of 90 Fire IVs, making overcapping Astral Soul stacks, even only once per AF cycle, fairly punishing.

I agree that Flare Star, as is, is limiting and is basically just a very weird forced follow-up to Despair, and so any flexibility would be an improvement. I am just not sure if carrying over Astral Souls would make that large of a difference (compared to the suggestion to make Astral Soul buff x6 Fire IVs total, or having Flare Star gain potency for each Astral Soul stack consumed upon cast).

It wouldn't be "Intended" to refresh it. It would be an additional property that you can take into consideration for using it, much like allowing carryover doesn't mean you're intended to do it, it's an additional consideration for when you cut your lines short.

It is not a problem to have some restrictions on actions, because it is through restrictions that we can find ways to make creative use of an ability. The opposite is that we eventually boil down an ability so much that it can be used regardless and thus no longer has weight or consequence, and therefore it can be removed or ignored due to automated use.

While perhaps not developer intended, the appeal of Black Mage has always been about opportunity cost in a system where timers conflict with each other and change the relative value of one to the other.

I believe Astral Soul having carryover continues this spirit while addressing the major problem in that you are punished if you have to cut a line short. You can play standard and never worry about it, but in the inevitable event that the boss forces inopportune interruptions, you gain an additional element to play around, or ignore at your choice for a minor loss to reset back to standard.

That said, I am just one person, and acknowledge that both current and adjusted Astral Soul simply won't appeal to some. I just personally would rather not see it go the way of just a visual upgrade during the "2 minute" window.

[Hana_Monogatari]

It wouldn't be "Intended" to refresh it. It would be an additional property that you can take into consideration for using it, much like allowing carryover doesn't mean you're intended to do it, it's an additional consideration for when you cut your lines short.

It is not a problem to have some restrictions on actions, because it is through restrictions that we can find ways to make creative use of an ability. The opposite is that we eventually boil down an ability so much that it can be used regardless and thus no longer has weight or consequence, and therefore it can be removed or ignored due to automated use.

While perhaps not developer intended, the appeal of Black Mage has always been about opportunity cost in a system where timers conflict with each other and change the relative value of one to the other.

I believe Astral Soul having carryover continues this spirit while addressing the major problem in that you are punished if you have to cut a line short. You can play standard and never worry about it, but in the inevitable event that the boss forces inopportune interruptions, you gain an additional element to play around, or ignore at your choice for a minor loss to reset back to standard.

That said, I am just one person, and acknowledge that both current and adjusted Astral Soul simply won't appeal to some. I just personally would rather not see it go the way of just a visual upgrade during the "2 minute" window.

This is true, and would definitely be better than nothing (i.e., the current Flare Star system). It seems as if the devs are so intent on killing non-standard that they went out of their way to design all of BLM's new systems to be as non-standard-unfriendly as possible—chiefly, Astral Soul stacks not carrying over into ice phases.