BLM Mana tick, Solution and New Rotation

[NeoAmon]

I figured this needs it own thread to keep all information in one place. I will list the problems then the solutions I'm using atm to remedy it.

Problems:

1- Mana Ticks have been changed. Now, using Thunder I/II or Swiftcast Thunder III will only give you one mana tick before you start your Fire rotation.

2- Having SCH in the group will increase your piety and break your rotation unless you have 251 piety. To clarify, I don't have 251 piety, now from full mana fire rotation leaves me at 20 mana only and unable to cast Bliz III to switch back and have to use convert or Transpose. You may not have this problem and it is different from race to race but it is happening so please don't dismiss yet.

Current Solution:

Keep in mind this is my own solution and I will update it as other players offer a better one.

Mana ticks now require new rotation. I found two of them working up to 99%-100% of the time.

Rotation 1: Bliz III > Thunder 3 (hard cast) > Fire III > Fire I until low mana > repeat. 99% of the time full mana before fire rotation.

Rotation 2: Bliz III > Thunder II/I > Scathe > Fire III > Fire I until low mana > repeat. 100% full mana before fire rotation.

Rotation 3: Same as old rotation, you just have to wait a second or two more or less to get a second tick.

If you are asking why Bliz III first, it is because you want Thunder III/II & Scathe to cost 0 mana and Fire III to only cost 133 initially.

Now for the 20 mana problem at the end of fire rotation when you have SCH in group it may no longer be an option not to have 251 piety counting SCH 8 points increase. I have not tried anything to fix this yet because it is not constant and I might be doing something wrong to cause this.

I will update this post as players provide better solutions and we test more.

[Zerosix]

All I know is mana regen is screwed. I can understand changing double dipping, but they rocked the foundation of our class... We are having to try and throw fill in places to make up for it. All in all this results in a pretty big loss.

[Dale]

All I know is mana regen is screwed. I can understand changing double dipping, but they rocked the foundation of our class... We are having to try and throw fill in places to make up for it. All in all this results in a pretty big loss.

I don't understand what you and other black mages are talking about here. I seem to get my mana back just as fast while in umbral ice as I always have. So how did they nerf our mana regen? Because I can't seem to tell a difference.

And so far I have liked this patch. The freeze improvements are significant and actually makes it a decent AoE spell to use while in umbral ice. So I haven't noticed any pretty big losses, at least not as yet. It seems to be an improvement for the class.

[Zer0mr]

I don't understand what you and other black mages are talking about here. I seem to get my mana back just as fast while in umbral ice as I always have. So how did they nerf our mana regen? Because I can't seem to tell a difference.

And so far I have liked this patch. The freeze improvements are significant and actually makes it a decent AoE spell to use while in umbral ice. So I haven't noticed any pretty big losses, at least not as yet. It seems to be an improvement for the class.

I have to agree. My mana ticks are still as random as ever. Still going strong trying to DF this Garuda HM and craft it up.

[Sorax]

I don't understand what you and other black mages are talking about here. I seem to get my mana back just as fast while in umbral ice as I always have. So how did they nerf our mana regen? Because I can't seem to tell a difference.

And so far I have liked this patch. The freeze improvements are significant and actually makes it a decent AoE spell to use while in umbral ice. So I haven't noticed any pretty big losses, at least not as yet. It seems to be an improvement for the class.

How haven't you noticed? Trust me it's not gamebreaking or anything. What bugs people is that it's just been a certain way for 3 months and now it's different so we have to adjust. I used to be able to cast without watching my mana but now I have to watch it else I risk switching from UI3 to AF3 with no mana tick occuring.

[Dale]

How haven't you noticed? Trust me it's not gamebreaking or anything. What bugs people is that it's just been a certain way for 3 months and now it's different so we have to adjust. I used to be able to cast without watching my mana but now I have to watch it else I risk switching from UI3 to AF3 with no mana tick occuring.

No I haven't noticed.

I'm not saying it's not there. But if it is, it must not be that significant, and I certainly wouldn't say it has broken the class as I've seen some (not you) say.

[SirGazuntai]

No I haven't noticed.

I'm not saying it's not there. But if it is, it must not be that significant, and I certainly wouldn't say it has broken the class as I've seen some (not you) say.

It's noticeable depending on the rotations you do. Some rotations don't notice the change, however quite a few of them do. Though, plenty of BLM are saying the class is broken and pointless to play now, but they're wrong. They're just used to being overpowered is all.

[Kabooa]

After a little testing, it appears this is what happens.
-You'll notice a hiccup when using FireIII or BlizzIII (or any opposite element spell really). My best guess is the safeguard to prevent "Doubles" is a system that checks your stance to the spell your casting and adjusts accordingly. In layman's terms...
1) Your Spellspeed is as if elementally neutral.
2) It checks your stance; It then applies the haste. At this point, your mana is locked. You cannot gain ticks.
3) The spell completes. Your buff switches.
4) Mana resumes as normal.

You CAN still time it to receive a mana tick. However, you do not receive an Ice-stance mana tick, and it requires more waiting. (About 1 second after your tick, instead of immediately after). So with a base mana of 3670, if you time it right, you can start your session with 3610. For the extra time you have to wait, though, I don't think it's worth waiting or stressing over for timing.

[SirGazuntai]

I don't think it's a better solution than these, but when you make the transition from AF to UI, watch your MP bar until the first tick happens. As soon as that happens, cast Scathe and then spam Fire III to your hearts content. I usually get the tick just after Fire III starts casting, which is as close as I can get right now without timing down to split seconds, in which case I wouldn't need Scathe.

[Pinworms]

Just got done with coil and there is defiantly something going on with the ticks and rotations. I think we do need a new rotation and I think we gotta get the math nuts in on this.