A Blue Mage Beastiary

[Asheilin]

thoughts I've had and since it could work with your though, wanted to share; will either be a massive post or wrapped post. This is copied from my blog so some is listed as before the No Class is possible revelation.

I've been toying with some ideas for Blue Mage and had an idea I wanted to share.
BLU should be one soul, DPS, with a few healing/defensive abilities it can set if sedired.
I think they should have a "whatever the class is called" special hunt log, that lists ALL learnable abilities (and the level they're usable as well as the earliest you can learn it [ie can only be 3 levels below the level to learn it, can learn it any level higher but if you're closer to the creature's level you'll have a better chance to learn it])
below is my take on level skill/trait unlocks (and yes I realize its a bit light on traits)
Ability Slots can have any type of ability in it, be it defensive, healing, or damaging.

Level 1 [weapon ability] and {trait} can learn abilities from your foes
level 3 [ability slot 1] (level 6 and below abilities)
level 6 [ability slot 2] (level 9 and below abilities)
Level 8 {trait} stat +
Level 10 [Ability slot 3] (level 13 and below)
level 14 [ability slot 4] (level 17 and below)
level 15 (quest) [weapon ability]
level 17 {trait} (can set abilities 1 additional level higher)
level 20 [ability 5] (level 24 and below)
Level 23 {trait}
level 25 [ability 6] (level 29 and below)
level 28 {trait} stat+
Level 30 (class Q) [weapon skill]
level 30 (Job Q) [Ability Buff] the next ability is guaranteed to crit 300s CD |or something CD wise|
level 32 {trait}
level 34 [Ability 7] (level 38 and below)
Level 35 (job) [Special Ability slot 1] (kinda the higher abilities that we dont want linked to base class)
level 37 {trait} can set abilities 4 levels higher
Level 40 (job) [some CD ability]
Level 42 [Ability 8] (level 50 and below)
level 45 (job) [special ability slot 2]
level 47 {trait} stat+
level 50 (job) [Azure Lore] (not sure, but that has to be the name ;p)

The traits that increase settable abilities will be what really gives the higher end BLU some flexibility, could even have another trait that increases it more for lower levels and have the 37 be something else (so long as the 42 skill can set level 50 (could even make it over so when cap ups, can set 51/52 abilities or whatnot)
I'm thinking LNC for main subclass, maybe ROG as other (depending on how that works skill wise--Just dont really see any of the others making sense to me)

*With some London FanFest info I'm ignoring the Class altogether and calling this BLUE MAGE without a class at all!

Background/numbers I figured:
In FFXI (www.bluspellguide.com/me/SpellList.aspx) 175 spells for 99 levels and expansions. ok, so lets cut that back 75 spells to cover the xpacs after its release; thats still 100 spells at level 75 (the cap it had on its start). By that, we could easily have 50-75 learnable abilities before 3.0, 75-100 before 4.0. Ok this is where some points to the ability bloat, but FFXI had its solution for MMOs.

When I stopped playing before the last xpac launched, I could set a maximum number of 20 spells and that was only if I minimized spell costs for the 55 points I had to set spells, which increased by level in XI. I think I only had 16/17 spells because I had several higher costing ones set!
so including weapon skills (non grind)I had 12 weapon skills and the Blu specials (not monster learned, 5 to be safe!).

So, at 99 a total of 34-38 abilities available to use at a time, including several Weapon Skills you stopped using after getting better ones.
With THAT in mind, base with no cross class skills used FFXIV has 33-36 abilities and that includes their traits with a cap of 50!

For my blog ideas, it makes it even easier as:
*my breakdown is a set number of settable abilities (no this spell costs x points to set against my z amount to set as in XI)
*They can have as many learned abilities as created but like x-class skills BLU can reset them on the fly. Potentially placing themselves on the short CD, if that's how its implemented (just like we can now if we change a x-class skill outside of cities)

*Maybe idea:
**Blu Skill sets (set your preferred ability set of to a "gear set like system" so you can change up abilities easily but not loosing your preferred) ie you set A B D J K Z T W and you run into a group that wants A B C F G H J T as spells you can go in and set those but be able to switch back quickly. This could also play into above point, making the CD smaller for Blue Set abilities then X-Class
This would alleviate some of the user trouble all those spells could cause; if you're using a certain set of abilities for a battle, solo, Off tanking, support, etc you can "save them" maybe give them 5 saveable sets at 50, 7 at 60 etc (giving lots of job customization as the game progresses higher) these numbers were 1 set per job quest (so you'd have several available at 50) Just am expanded thought though lol

I'd drop everything to play BLU as my main.


ps...can someone explain how to do the hide text/spoiler etc stuff ><

[siverstorm]

You're all forgetting the most important thing.

Blue mages should learn Fleece Butt.

I would immediately switch it to my main and fleece butt the shit out of things.

[shintashi]

Idea from Asheilin of having the word "Azure" used somewhere prominently, such as a core ability, a high level technique, or something related to their menus/logs. Also agree on using the word "Learning".

Agree with Atlaworks and siverstorm that some Enemy abilities = entertaining and worth taking just for laughs, Fleece Butt among them.

Working on a mockup for some ideas for next post. Blue Mage could function like a cross between a fisher, crafter, and a DoW. One of the key features could be use of Perception and Control (but not gathering or craftsmanship). Perception would be part of Fisher-like "are my stats high enough to find this fish" requirement, while Control would be like "this power I'm trying to learn is way too hard to control". Control is interesting because Enemies often have multiple powers, and some are much weaker than others.

Mahisha, has Void Fire II, Frightful Roar, and Mortal Ray. Void Fire II is definitely easier to control than Mortal Ray.

[shintashi]

Here is Image 1: Character Class Design:

Key Points: Perception and Control stats in place of Magic Attack/Healing Magic Potency.
Perception is used to detect powers of monsters (like Fishers)
A higher control stat makes it easier to cast newly learned spells without failure, possibly at much lower. The more often a new power is used, (ie Desynth), the closer to 100% success (Mastery) when using the spell becomes.

Here is Image 2: The Blue Mage Learning Log:

Key Points: Broken into Categories - Regional Map Areas (includes dungeons). Quests, FATEs, Primals, & Hunts. Similar to Crafting Log.
Some creatures have multiple powers, this system is set up for a max of 8 powers from a single monster. If monsters share the same power, the progress bar for that action will increase for all monsters.

[shintashi]

Here is Image 3: Blue Mage Actions

Key Points: Only 8 actions, similar to Fisher. This frees up 20 slots for learned abilities. Additional abilities might be Traits.
With few exceptions, these powers are all based on Previous editions of Final Fantasy.
Azure Lore: Depending on the Trait level,
I. Learn power by being hit by it
II. Learn power by having Enemy selected when they use it (Observe)
III. Learn power by having Party Member hit by it

Devour/Eat: This is an MP/HP drain at melee range, with a small chance of Learning Powers from the Monster, A Trait may allow the Blue Mage to consume a meal/ingredient coming from the Enemy, such as toad skin or tree sap, and have a small chance of Learning (tiny desynth increments of growth)

Mimic: The power to learn a power from another blue mage, using Azure Lore on a Party Member who is also a Blue Mage, like an Apprentice.

[Dyne_Fellpool]

Photoshop Sorcery

Blue Mage? You sir, are a Photoshop Mage.

[shintashi]

Blue Mage? You sir, are a Photoshop Mage.

Thanks!

Blue Mages have obvious Powers: Enemy Powers, no matter what edition of Final Fantasy with the class.
Where they differ is weapons: Swords, Shields, Knives, Rods (including the star dust rod), Whips, Lances, Forks, and Guns

I suggest giving most of these weapons to the item list for blue mages, with the following break down:
one hand weapons: Sword, Whip*
two hand weapons: Lance, Fork*
off hands: Knife, Gun*, Shield
* = best choices
Example Forks: Mancatcher, Pitchfork, Trident, Bident, Moogle's weapon, and liberator
This would make some new crafting options available for various classes:

Carpenter: Fork, Lancet (to avoid confusion with Lancer Weapons)
Armorer: Shield, Gun (as an offhand, to avoid confusion with Machinists)
Blacksmith: Sword, Knife
Leatherworker: Whip

I think the most promising is the Whip, in terms of crafting, followed by off hand guns.

[Cariborne]

I don't think we'll get Blue Mage as people are thinking, especially since FF14 is a much different MMO then FF11 so the standard Blue Mage wouldn't really work here. I imagine if and when we do get it, it'll be a mixture of Blue Mage and Beastmaster. As in we still use Monster Skills, but they aren't learned from the wild we learn similar moves from leveling and doing Job Quests, and our variety will actually come from beast companion that we tame in the wild. Like the Scholar and Summoner, they'll be our Combat Pet, and we can hold up to three different creatures with us.

We'll have creatures which offer support, some that work as Solo Tanks, some that just offer raw damage, and others that offer a debuff or some random status effect on enemies. (Obviously bosses would probably be immune to some of these)

[Cidel]

I do really hope for/look forward to the inclusion of a Bluemage in this game, but the devs will need to be very careful of how they implement them to fit in with the direction they decided to take XIV. I also remember there was some commentary about how the devs of XI felt like their BLU came out somewhat over-complicated (I agree, somewhat). In XI, there was so many seemingly useless or ineffective blue magic; in XIV, pretty much all abilities and spells have regular usage stemming from when they are acquired.

Learning blue magic would be another touchy subject that I feel could likely either end-up boring or frustrating. I really hope they don't rely on (yet another) RNG system (maybe you'll learn it, maybe you won't); we have enough of that and players ranting about it- I can see it now on the forums: "Broken Blue magic system: 0/225 on slumber breath." I am liking the progress bar idea in the concepts being posted.

[Wintersandman]

You're all forgetting the most important thing.

Blue mages should learn Butt Fleece.

Sounds like Blue Mages will have a lint problem.