Improvements for Caster Classes (buffsystem, skill activation))

[Wynn]

Why not just use the ability? They give it to us for a reason. This whole mages shouldn't attack thing was bull in XI and its even more so bull here.

[Tonkra]

Why not just use the ability? They give it to us for a reason. This whole mages shouldn't attack thing was bull in XI and its even more so bull here.

well the Weapon skills for mages are really sensless since patch 1.19 they do make MUCH less damage than before. its a joke and no one uses them anymore.

It would be nice to have a real buff system.

Each buff should be a toggle (instant, no CD, saved on loggout) and, when up, automatically applied to the whole group until canceled. EQ 2 did that, why can't we have the same here?

well but this wouldnt be final fantasy anymore. protect and shell have been tactic skills even in offline Final Fantasys.. and in offline FF's they do not last very long for a reason.. its a part of the strategy of a battle if they are up all the time, you dont need buffs.

i think it would be enough to increase the bufftime... i think in FF11 it was 10-15 mins? dont know anymore. and the bard job is going to be a supporting class like you described.

[Nipa]

well but this wouldnt be final fantasy anymore. protect and shell have been tactic skills even in offline Final Fantasys.. and in offline FF's they do not last very long for a reason.. its a part of the strategy of a battle if they are up all the time, you dont need buffs.

i think it would be enough to increase the bufftime... i think in FF11 it was 10-15 mins? dont know anymore. and the bard job is going to be a supporting class like you described.

Ah, it's a different story if they want to make them tactical then. In that case a few minutes timer seems way more comfortable (or even less, some games have classes with only 30 second buffs). But I really see that as a specific class gameplay, instead of the basic buff style. I could really see the THM with that kind of gameplay.

[Roll]

i think in FF11 it was 10-15 mins? dont know anymore.

In FFXI Protect and Shell lasted 30 minutes and the other buffs lasted a good while too. Protect and Shell also had a short recast timer too like 5-10 secs? I really hope they make CNJ AoE bigger and increase the duration for AT LEAST Protect and Shell.

[northernsky]

Not being able to target people or mobs higher or lower than you is annoying for other ranged attacks as well.

I would not have a problem if they removed the vertical distance between targets from the horizontal theoretical range, but being unable to heal/attack a target that is literally a stair below or above you is frustrating.

[Misteyes]

Actually it is what I'm doing. I'm only using the first line of the keybind bar and I'm setting anything that goes on lines 2 or 3 and making macros out of them. Except the awkward spot I have raise set to on my lancer right now.

But it's just why should I have to move around this one skill that's currently not required to really play a class efficiently? I can understand archers still needing light shot, but there's nothing worthwhile going for mages and melee skills now that they weapon damage for next to nothing and they don't even need to draw their weapon to cast now.

"/eaction 30 Spirit Dart"

That will move Spirit Dart to the last spot on your third action bar. I was frustrated by it for a long time as well, before I realized it could be moved, even if it can't be removed.

Why not just use the ability? They give it to us for a reason. This whole mages shouldn't attack thing was bull in XI and its even more so bull here.

Because it makes us draw our weapon, which kills our MP regeneration completely until we put it away. 2 seconds of MP regeneration is about a million times better than the 3-15 damage it'll do. The only non-spell attack mages can justify using is Elemental Shroud/Silhoette, because those reduce enmity (slightly). Even those should only be used if you accidentally pull enmity, because you don't regenerate MP while under attack.

[Wynn]

Because it makes us draw our weapon, which kills our MP regeneration completely until we put it away. 2 seconds of MP regeneration is about a million times better than the 3-15 damage it'll do. The only non-spell attack mages can justify using is Elemental Shroud/Silhoette, because those reduce enmity (slightly). Even those should only be used if you accidentally pull enmity, because you don't regenerate MP while under attack.

On what? Are we talking Ifrit here or regular mobs cause that's not my experience in regular mob killing post update. If we're talking Ifrit well... my ARC does about 15 damage per unbuffed light shot arrow to Ifrit too, guess I shouldn't pew-pew.