Card potencies (class specific)

[Nekotee]

You Don't lose dps by adding à DoT
Plus under arrow casting the arrow will basicly make you as much time as waiting for the second tick
Plus having possible thundercloud proc give you more dps

And possibility to spread it even more

[FunkyBunch]

You Don't lose dps by adding à DoT
Plus under arrow casting the arrow will basicly make you as much time as waiting for the second tick
Plus having possible thundercloud proc give you more dps

And possibility to spread it even more

Every TC proc you spread is a NOT F2 and delays your Flare. Which when facing mobs of 3 or more is a DPS loss.
It's also a straight up DPS loss (without procs) because while casting T1 it delays your casting of F2s and Flare.

The ONLY time it would be a DPS increase is if you're doing your single target rotation on a group. Which is still worse than your AoE rotation.

Also, just to ensure people are aware, as I see people doing it wrong basically every time I'm in a dungeon, the AoE rotation is:
F3-F2-F2-F2-Flare
Transpose
B3-F3-F2-F2-Flare
Transpose
B3-F3-F2-F2-Flare

Add in Raging Strikes, Convert, Swiftcast, Flare as aggro allows.

Also in reference to the OP. Please don't give me an Arrow or Ewer as a BLM, it messes with my MP ticks and rotation. Especially if I'm under Ley Lines. It can make me literally miss a mana tick going into the next AF phase an F4+ short of MP even if I cast a T1.
Give it to someone else. I'll take a Balance card, but

[StouterTaru]

You Don't lose dps by adding à DoT

It will if that DoT extends the time for your rotation.

Optimal AoE (15 seconds ~170 Potency/sec with 3 mobs) - Transpose > Fire 3 > Fire 2 > Fire 2 > Flare > Repeat
Add in Thunder (18 seconds ~157 Potency/sec with 3 mobs) - Transpose > Thunder > Fire 3 > Fire 2 > Fire 2 > Flare > Repeat

It won't cast quick enough to not extend your rotation by 3 seconds. It won't take up enough time for you to get a 3rd tick of MP under UI (another Fire II).

[FunkyBunch]

It will if that DoT extends the time for your rotation.

Optimal AoE (15 seconds) - Transpose > Fire 3 > Fire 2 > Fire 2 > Repeat
Add in Thunder (18 seconds) - Transpose > Thunder > Fire 3 > Fire 2 > Fire 2 > Repeat

It won't cast quick enough to not extend your rotation by 3 seconds. It won't take up enough time for you to get a 3rd tick of MP under UI (another Fire II). Someone else can figure out the potency change, but I can tell you it is a substantial drop.

You forgot Flare...

[StouterTaru]

You forgot Flare...

Fixed it, and added in potency numbers, it's about an 8% drop in dps with only 3 mobs, larger with more mobs. That's before throwing in the thunderclouds, which won't make up the difference.

[Lilyth]

Arrow is not a DPS loss in any cirscunstance for a BLM, AoE or ST. Aimply put, Arrow means more fire IIs and more flares.

If you are annoyed that you wont get a second mana tick if you start casting fire III immediatly after flare, then just wait half a second before casting it. The timing is not that hard.

[StouterTaru]

Arrow is not a DPS loss in any cirscunstance for a BLM, AoE or ST. Aimply put, Arrow means more fire IIs and more flares.

If you are annoyed that you wont get a second mana tick if you start casting fire III immediatly after flare, then just wait half a second before casting it. The timing is not that hard.

I never said arrow was a dps loss, I said casting thunder because of arrow was a dps loss. It is not a dps gain because AoE rotation revolves around the 3 second server-side mp tick. It does not give you more Fire 2s or Flares, it's dps neutral. In an AoE situation, that arrow is much more useful on the tank keeping hate off me, or a MNK/DRG that knows how to AoE.

So you suggest that the AST annoys me for no gain instead of putting the card to actual use.

[FoxyAreku]

Fixed it, and added in potency numbers, it's about an 8% drop in dps with only 3 mobs, larger with more mobs. That's before throwing in the thunderclouds, which won't make up the difference.

The more spell speed the better as a black mage, arrow makes you cast faster with a lower GCD. There is nothing negative about it, telling someone to not arrow a black mage is silly.