The destruction of BLM

[Jeeqbit]

So, I knew how to play BLM just fine and was playing it before the changes. It was fun working with the timer as a challenging aspect to it and I was in the "RIP BLM" camp.

But I've also been playing it since the changes in Mentor Roulette. It's actually not as bad as I thought. In retrospect, it makes you realize the timers were just an annoyance. The planning aspect is still there due to Leylines and the changes to Fire IV don't really change that it has a long cast time and requires you to consider a solution for movement such as: Polygot use, Paradox, Thunder, Triple Cast, etc.

They did explain their reasoning which is that they felt it wouldn't handle the new raid mechanics well.

I thought that BLM would still be rough in M8 despite the changes but I just did it today and it's really quite easy to play BLM in there. The population of BLMs has definitely exploded since the patch. Any dungeon I get often has another BLM in. I've been in trials and raids in Mentor Roulette with 3 BLMs even today... the BLM population has really exploded in a way I've never seen before.

[XenaCircei]

So, I knew how to play BLM just fine and was playing it before the changes. It was fun working with the timer as a challenging aspect to it and I was in the "RIP BLM" camp.

But I've also been playing it since the changes in Mentor Roulette. It's actually not as bad as I thought. In retrospect, it makes you realize the timers were just an annoyance. The planning aspect is still there due to Leylines and the changes to Fire IV don't really change that it has a long cast time and requires you to consider a solution for movement such as: Polygot use, Paradox, Thunder, Triple Cast, etc.

They did explain their reasoning which is that they felt it wouldn't handle the new raid mechanics well.

I thought that BLM would still be rough in M8 despite the changes but I just did it today and it's really quite easy to play BLM in there. The population of BLMs has definitely exploded since the patch. Any dungeon I get often has another BLM in. I've been in trials and raids in Mentor Roulette with 3 BLMs even today... the BLM population has really exploded in a way I've never seen before.

I feel like the only reason behind the number of BLM players is either cause it's easier and cause it's the "meta" right now, with all the meta slaves and all, kinda what we had with the picto at launch

[Avoidy]

I feel like the only reason behind the number of BLM players is either cause it's easier and cause it's the "meta" right now, with all the meta slaves and all, kinda what we had with the picto at launch

There are a lot of people who had always wanted to try it because the job is sort of iconic, but had felt intimidated by all the memes about it being the big brain 5D chess job. Now that the memes have reversed course and BLM is the crayon eater job, everyone who was anxious about it can give it a shot without feeling like they're gonna get flamed in the chat for being garbo at it or whatever. I think a lot more people fall into this camp than the meta camp, but it's anyone's guess obviously.
Having tried the job since its change, I'll say this. It's a lot more relaxed (to me at least) than it felt before and way more forgiving. It used to be a job I felt like I had to lock in to be good with, but now I can just chill with it and it's my relax job. Sucks for the folks who liked the old ways though, I really feel for them.

[JohnConstantine]

the BLM population has really exploded in a way I've never seen before.

FF14 has finally reached terminal cancer when the jobs are all just fotm like in all the dying KMMOs.

[Quuoooote]

It's actually not as bad as I thought. In retrospect, it makes you realize the timers were just an annoyance.

No offense, but this line of thinking is exactly what's wrong with job design these days. Of course when you remove the timers they'll feel like an annoyance in retrospect; the job has objectively become "less annoying" due to the streamlining and simplification it got. We could theoretically keep trimming down every little annoyance in the entire game until we're left with nothing.

Damage oGCDs? Keeping the cooldowns rolling and avoiding drift is such an unnecessary exercise in tedium. Who really struggles with doing that? Why not remove them entirely and fold the potency per second into the basic 1-2-3 filler?

DoTs? How antiquated. Press once every 30 seconds and forget. Yawn. Such an annoyance. Let's remove them and buff the 1-2-3 filler rotation to compensate.

While we're at it, doing a 1-2-3 rotation is pretty dull too. We should really condense it down to a single button like PvP does!

I realize I'm being hyperbolic, but seriously, where does this line of thought end? Where do we draw the line between clunky/janky/annoying and actual gameplay that stimulates your brain?

I also logged in to try out the new Black Mage changes, and I largely felt the same way that you did. It was the most carefree experience I'd ever had on the job. The timers really did feel like a holdover, because why wouldn't they? It's strictly easier and smoother to play the job right now. You don't even have to think. But that's also exactly the problem; anyone who enjoyed the job because it was stimulating, even in casual content, has nothing. Anyone who enjoyed the job because it demanded on-the-fly decision making to try to greed or mitigate a failstate has nothing—Enochian will never fall off. Anyone who enjoyed the game feel of an actually long cast bar has nothing. There is no job left in the game to cater to these players' needs or desires, but at least they won't be annoyed any more. Thank goodness.

It's a really damning indictment of the state of the game when the prevailing opinion I see nowadays is that Bard is the hardest/most engaging job left, when even that job is a pale shadow of its former self. I'm glad that people can enjoy the Black Mage rework. I also hope these same people can understand what is wrong with it on a fundamental game design level, and why people are justifiably upset about it.

[Kohashi]

No offense, but this line of thinking is exactly what's wrong with job design these days. Of course when you remove the timers they'll feel like an annoyance in retrospect; the job has objectively become "less annoying" due to the streamlining and simplification it got. We could theoretically keep trimming down every little annoyance in the entire game until we're left with nothing.

bla bla bla

Statistics concerning BLM % in the new savage tier heavily increased compared to the previous tier. I call that a win. I get some people like complexity and to struggle, but it is what it is.. BLM shouldn't be the cool kid's club.

[MitsukiKimura]

bla bla bla

Statistics concerning BLM % in the new savage tier heavily increased compared to the previous tier. I call that a win. I get some people like complexity and to struggle, but it is what it is.. BLM shouldn't be the cool kid's club.

Apparently you don't with that kind of response

[Supersnow845]

bla bla bla

Statistics concerning BLM % in the new savage tier heavily increased compared to the previous tier. I call that a win. I get some people like complexity and to struggle, but it is what it is.. BLM shouldn't be the cool kid's club.

And PCT/SMN’s play rate went down. So…….absolutely nothing was actually achieved

Especially when they buff PCT in 7.3 and all the meta chasers go back to PCT

[Kohashi]

And PCT/SMN’s play rate went down. So…….absolutely nothing was actually achieved

Especially when they buff PCT in 7.3 and all the meta chasers go back to PCT

Did you become a fortune teller meanwhile? Is this your part-time job aside from full-time forum whiner?

Yes, PCT went down as it got re-balanced and put more in line with the rest. It will still remain popular because the class design is actually really good especially for ultimates.

Each role has a least one played class. This is true in every single MMO and FF14 is no exception. Equal distribution among all classes does not exist.

Look at statistics regarding the new tier. War is least played 10%, WHM sitting at 7%, reaper, 3.2%, smn 1.8%, MCH 4%. Where are my Reaper mains to complain? Or Ninja sitting at 3.1% from m6s? LOL.


Anyway...........

[Supersnow845]

Did you become a fortune teller meanwhile? Is this your part-time job aside from full-time forum whiner?

Yes, PCT went down as it got re-balanced and put more in line with the rest. It will still remain popular because the class design is actually really good especially for ultimates.

Each role has a least one played class. This is true in every single MMO and FF14 is no exception. Equal distribution among all classes does not exist.

Look at statistics regarding the new tier. War is least played 10%, WHM sitting at 7%, reaper, 3.2%, smn 1.8%, MCH 4%. Where are my Reaper mains to complain? Or Ninja sitting at 3.1% from m6s? LOL.


Anyway...........

So if every role has a least played class then what was the problem of casters being BLM considering you said that it suddenly shooting up because it was buffed and made easier is a good thing

Like you can’t argue out of both sides of your mouth here that BLM changes are good because it moved BLM’s play rate but also that you’ll never change that there is a least popular class

(Oh and side note they managed to ruin PCT’s class design so I wouldn’t be too hopeful on that front unfortunately)