BLM Buffs Inc!

[Kitru]

1. Having Firestarter stack to 3 as previously mentioned.

I have to wonder where people are getting the 3 stacks from. The problem with Firestarter is that it procs when you're already casting your next spell, which means that, when it procs, you end up wasting a chance at a Firestarter proc with that Fire spell you're currently casting. 3 stacks on Firestarter is less about preventing wasted procs and more about building up a stockpile so that you can nuke the living crap out of something all at once. BLM already has insane burst (the only class that can even get close to the same level of burst is a BRD with all of its CDs active); it doesn't need any more.

If the devs want to allow Firestarter to stack, all they need to do is allow for 2, which would force you to choose between stockpiling for burst DPS or not wasting Firestarter procs.

The more effective solution, imo, would be to simply reduce the cast time on Fire (I think 2.0 seconds would be enough) while leaving the GCD alone. It would prevent proc-loss on Firestarter without increasing burst and have no other effect upon DPS because you're still only getting 1 cast per GCD.

[Kitru]

Everyone is asking for retarded surecast buffs, and I'm just sitting here wishing Firestarter and Thundercloud procs were off GCD like Bloodletter and Misery's End.

Bloodletter and Misery's End are off-GCD by default and lower potency because of it (150 and 190, respectively, and the 190 has no CD reset and can only be used sub-20%). Physical potency is also worth significantly less, on a point-for-point basis, than magic potency. Allowing Firestarter and Thundercloud to put their relative spells off-GCD would be completely and totally absurd since it would be a significant DPS increase (basically getting an extra 150 potency per proc that you currently get because you'd be getting in extra Fire casts) while simultaneously creating an entirely static and predictable rotation (the procs are the only thing that stop it from being Fire III>Fire spam>BlizzIII>Thunder>repeat).

[Xlree]

Bloodletter and Misery's End are off-GCD by default and lower potency because of it (150 and 190, respectively, and the 190 has no CD reset and can only be used sub-20%). Physical potency is also worth significantly less, on a point-for-point basis, than magic potency. Allowing Firestarter and Thundercloud to put their relative spells off-GCD would be completely and totally absurd since it would be a significant DPS increase (basically getting an extra 150 potency per proc that you currently get because you'd be getting in extra Fire casts) while simultaneously creating an entirely static and predictable rotation (the procs are the only thing that stop it from being Fire III>Fire spam>BlizzIII>Thunder>repeat).

So you're telling me the buff to Greased Lighting wasn't "totally absurd since it would be a significant DPS increase"

[Kitru]

So you're telling me the buff to Greased Lighting wasn't "totally absurd since it would be a significant DPS increase"

No, I'm telling you that BLM don't need a significant increase to their DPS because they're already incredible DPS in turret scenarios while having the best burst DPS in the game. They need QoL fixes to address the fact that, when they're not turret DPSing, they're basically worthless while also addressing the problem with Firestarter procs getting wasted when they're back-to-back.

MNKs and DRGs needed the massive buffs to GL and HT, respectively, because they were incapable of achieving their intended level of DPS with the movement requirements of many fights as well as the enforced downtime when swapping between targets that aren't right next to each other (even with the gap closers, they still have to run back). The only way to fix their DPS was to give them better DPS while they *are* in melee (and they're supposed to have the best DPS because they're in the highest risk position amongst DPS). BLM, on the other hand, can have its issues addressed without having to beef up its baseline performance.

Also, it's not as if taking Thundercloud and Firestarter procs off of the GCD would actually help out BLM DPS on the move because they already make those attacks instant. You're asking for an arbitrary DPS increase that doesn't even address the problems that BLM actually *does* have.

[Kenji1134]

The idea behind the 3 FS stacks is simple.

1 Stack = 16% chance to waste a 2nd stack due to proc timing.
2 Stacks = No wasted stacks, QoL fix, wont really help dps in the long run, small burst benefit.
3 Stacks = No wasted stacks, buff, would give us the option to save stacks and just run for 7 seconds without losing dps... OR to save the 3 stacks for when we have to burst down 1 target... and uh... ya know, BURST.

At this point, after the UI3 -> F3 = no mana tick nerf, and the Scathe nerf... we need a solid buff, and we need to address just HOW much dps we lose when we have to move.

Bringing up FS stacks to 2 is a small fix.
Another option would be to adjust the cast times of pretty much everything as follows:

1. F1/B1 = 1.25s cast time, regular GCD.
2. F2/B2/Freeze = 2.5s cast time, regular GCD.
3. F3/B3/Flare = 3.5s cast time, regular GCD.

BLM's problem with movement is that we have to be 100% stationary... ALL THE TIME... Or we can pray to the proc gods... almost never happens... and we can always poke with Scathe... /poke

For a melee dps, you need to be in range and/or in position long enough to hit that button... and THATS IT... Trust me, Ive played DRG and MNK in T1-T5, you can do most of your dps while running controlled half-circles around mobs. (Which is where a chunk of your dps comes from)

So here's the compromise.
Cut the cast time of the rank 1 spells in half, now we need to be perfectly still 50% of the time, not practically 100%.
Let the FS proc calculation occur the moment the Fire spell FINISHES casting, not when it lands. This, combined with an extra 1.25s to make a decision, would by itself mean NO WASTED FS PROCS!
Then we thrown in the ability to stack 2... just TWO... FS procs to allow for either 5 seconds of effective movement, OR to frontload some burst when needed.

[Deathscythe343]

Another option could be to change the Firestarter proc entirely. Instead of making it an instant cast DD, change it to a dot that gets applied when you crit. Dot ticks for 8secs for x, where x is the amount you crit for.

[Kenji1134]

But but but... then the Summoners would be sad... We'd be "infringing on their turf"

[Deathscythe343]

Ya, not really worried about them. However, I suppose, they could also change it so that firestarter procs another fireball. So instead of having to worry about hitting the F3 button and how long you have left on your firestarter proc before you need to get it off, it just launches another fireball at the target.

[Kenji1134]

Though if we do that, then we lose the benefit of having a FS in the bank for when we have to move... If we cant bank instant F3's, then we lose THAT much more dps when moving.

[Deathscythe343]

Though if we do that, then we lose the benefit of having a FS in the bank for when we have to move... If we cant bank instant F3's, then we lose THAT much more dps when moving.

Perhaps. Another idea may be to make the fire spells act like WoW's mages. The spell hits the target and puts a small dot on it. Firestarter ( keeping the crit idea I mentioned before) would work like the mage's ignite skill> Perhaps that would allow for BLm damage to be buffed in such a way that it is evened out in higher movement related fights.