Blue Battlemage for raids.

[MaraD_]

Keep BLU as is, with the exception of one thing.

Remove the job stone.

Now, give them a quest at Lv50, unlocked a soul stone for the "Blue Battlemage" (I'll refer to it as BBM now.)

*BBM has reduced exp gains compared to other jobs/classes, making solo BLU the best way to gain exp. (edit at bottom)

*It does NOT use enemy magic, or any of the BLU spells directly in combat.
Instead, it requires x number of BLU spells to be learned, to learn unique preset BBM spells.
It doesnt matter WHICH spells, just the number. So 3 learned gives the 1st Lv1 spell, and 6 for the Lv5 spell, etc (or something along these lines)

This allows it to function in raids, while keeping EVERYTHING BLU already has. BLU players lose NOTHING.

possible additional ideas for "balance" purposes.
(1) all BLU spells have an iLv attached to them, which can be "equipped" as a passive INT boost. This replaces the need to farm weapons, by still farming the same content, for weapons of the same iLv. Such as doing alamigo will get u an i300 BLU spell, which equipped on BBM is adding INT based on an i300 weapon. But doing a Lv70 primal, will give a spell worth the same iLv as the weapons they drop.

(2) Maybe a "equip spells for passive bonuses" can still be possible, but thats if people really felt they needed it to feel closer to Blue Mage.

(3) Allow BBM to still learn spells, but only the iLv spells in dungeons/raids maybe? (Unable to solo, requiring them to go back and farm some solo off world mobs, but the ones for iLv are both farmable, and maybe even easier to learn, to equate the difficulty of getting a weapon to drop for your class. Though it would be harder, since primals give tokens, and you cant earn those tokens for BBM on another job.)

https://www.strawpoll.me/18204102/
Here is a poll for those who dont want to actually say much in the thread. But if you do vote either "No" or "Other" I'd like to hear your thoughts in this thread.

BBM can have a unique combat mechanic, or just be another reskinned mage, idc about which, just that there is a way to give BLU fans their current BLU, and the people who wanted a raid BLU, something similar.
EDIT: I should mention, BLU does gain WAY too much exp solo. Granted farming spells sort of makes up for it slightly, but if BBM is to be a real job, the EXP gains are a bit unreasonably high. This is probably the biggest issue with doing this, as its kinda unreasonable to make it level faster than other jobs, and still be able to raid like normal jobs. But I also know u cant remove content from BLU fans either. So this is the only thing Im not sure on. I'd personally lower the amount they get. (But still make it higher than normal jobs, just not the ridiculous amount it currently is.)