Knowing when to switch your main class?

[Akiza]

I love BIG numbers and kill fast But I hate more boring rotation and slow movement, So that why I changed to SMN, I can move and dodge freely while doing dps via dot and pet.

Try SMN with same BLM gear u may like it like me.

Don't try Summoner until Heavensward otherwise you'll work harder for lower DPS.

[SpookyGhost]

Don't try Summoner until Heavensward otherwise you'll work harder for lower DPS.

Akiza, I don't know if you know this, but SMN's DPS is only detrimental in FCoB. It's fine everywhere else. Also some people play classes because they enjoy them more, not simply because they're higher DPS. Game isn't that strict. :V

[seekified]

Since it's a game and you're meant to have fun, that should be top priority. That said, if feeling like you're not doing well enough makes you have less fun, then that's a problem in itself.

Black Mages have one of the simplest overall rotations as it only uses a handful of skills in a fairly short, repeating order. The tradeoff is, like you say, that moving at all hurts your damage output quite a bit. I'd give Archer/Bard a go to see if you prefer that - it's a much more free job, not only in terms of movement but in that they don't really have a set rotation after their opener. They also have ridiculous burst damage when paired with a dragoon. The BLM in my static had to really rethink his play when he started doing Coil, but in the end it was very satisfying to see his numbers rise. But yeah, having fun - good thing.

[HexWeaver]

Don't try Summoner until Heavensward otherwise you'll work harder for lower DPS.

If moving and dealing DPS are more your thing I recommend BRD, as someone else has pointed out, may be worth trying SMN too since you pretty much have the right gear for it already.

As for you Akiza, let's NOT turn it into one of those threads ok? go vent in one of the many threads you already made.

[Tanthalus]

BLM is easy to learn and tough to master. You have to really abandon the notion that it's a rotation strict class in order to excel. The best BLMs out there realize this and can stay on top of their mana consumption while moving and keeping their IIIs up.
It's more like a weave when done right and don't go falling into those silly guides that tell you there's only one/two ways to play your class. Those are there to guide yours first steps on 50 but are ultimately limiting if you put too much faith in them.
If you want something fun and exciting I'd go WAR. They group aggro very easily and if you don't blow all your tp away right away holding mobs is simple as an overpower to the face.
And for the record no class is "easier" than any other. It's all about personal playstyles. Experiment til you find something that interests you and you'll excel no matter what.

[Cynfael]

BLM is easy to learn and tough to master. You have to really abandon the notion that it's a rotation strict class in order to excel. The best BLMs out there realize this and can stay on top of their mana consumption while moving and keeping their IIIs up.
It's more like a weave when done right and don't go falling into those silly guides that tell you there's only one/two ways to play your class. Those are there to guide yours first steps on 50 but are ultimately limiting if you put too much faith in them.

This is a very good point.

BLM appears from the outside to be a faceroll class that inflicts respectable damage with a simple rotation, has infinite resources, and has only one glaring weakness (movement).

In practice, the complexity of BLM play is not nearly so much in the buttons you press as in your own judgment, planning, sense of timing, and even "twitch" ability. Movement alone is rarely that big of a deal when you cast-clip, use defensive cooldowns, and AM properly.

The difference in DPS between a good BLM and an average BLM is HUGE even though they could both be doing basically the same rotation.

[ToasterMan]

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I'm gonna gear my bard up and try playing with it. It looks like it would be a lot of fun with a controller

[Arkenne]

Tanthalus already mentioned it but, yea keeping your IIIs up should help you keep the DPS high even while moving around, as in, if your AF3 has 3 seconds left, better use B3 to get UI3 for 10 seconds while you reposition yourself (and recover MP). Switch to AF3 if running low on UI3 and still havent found a good spot tho :v (pretty useful for speed runs actually).

[Akiza]

This is a very good point.

BLM appears from the outside to be a faceroll class that inflicts respectable damage with a simple rotation, has infinite resources, and has only one glaring weakness (movement).

In practice, the complexity of BLM play is not nearly so much in the buttons you press as in your own judgment, planning, sense of timing, and even "twitch" ability. Movement alone is rarely that big of a deal when you cast-clip, use defensive cooldowns, and AM properly.

The difference in DPS between a good BLM and an average BLM is HUGE even though they could both be doing basically the same rotation.

The difference in DPS between an average SMN and a good SMN is a insurmountable gulf

[Skeith-Adeline]

The difference in DPS between an average SMN and a good SMN is a insurmountable gulf

A real question, Akiza. What the heck do you seek to accomplish by spouting the same thing on every caster-related post?