Geomancer vs Blue Mage

[Brightshadow]

Which do you think has a better chance between the two of these jobs of actually being added in this expansion or a future expansion.

Geomancer:

PROS:
1.) Handbells work with the armory system
2.) Need another DPS Caster
3.) Uses the elemental properties of CNJ for dpsing which is currently only available to White Mage (Healer)

CONS:
1.) Environment Based nukes would take a lot of programming effort since its a different mechanic similar to BLU monster learning mechanic.
2.) Cannot be a healer since that would make it pretty much identical to WHM. (and loltank)
3.) Needs a unique niche which would be difficult to find. (BLM: AOE/Burst Nukes & SMN: Pet/DOT)

Blue Mage:

PROS:
1.) Its awesome to use monsters ability against enemies.
2.) Need another DPS Caster
3.) Could potentially work as a tank or DPS
4.) A caster DPS that is sure to have a different aesthetic than the current choices.

CONS:
1.) Monster Spell Learning is a new concept to the game who knows how difficult it would be to add this into the game, but I have a feeling it'll be much easier than terrain mechanics.
2.) Tends to use a scimitar (sword) which is currently used by paladins/gladiators and we have too many sword wielders.
3.) Potentially unfair to those without certain spells. (While plausible it's kinda of a ridiculous issue because the whole point of playing a BLU is to hunt and use monster spells.)

Which do you think has a better chance of introducing their arts into eorzea, and which would you prefer?

[Cinno]

I honestly dont see either of these being added to the game, as much as I'd love them to..

Their combat just doesnt work with this type of gameplay.. :/ I mean Geomancer could much more easily fit into the game than Blue Mage, but I have a feeling that if either were added to the game the players would be upset because they wouldnt be able to implement them in a way that represents the original classes..

[AlphaFox]

When it comes to Geomancer, I always picture them in this game having something along the lines of Monk but instead with something like "Aura of _water/fire/earth/lightning_" or something like that which would allow them to cast that type of spell. Might be a bit much but a class based around constantly changing stances to allow spells to be cast or used? 1 spell with X effects based on which stance, I dunno.

[Averax]

When it comes to Geomancer, I always picture them in this game having something along the lines of Monk but instead with something like "Aura of _water/fire/earth/lightning_" or something like that which would allow them to cast that type of spell. Might be a bit much but a class based around constantly changing stances to allow spells to be cast or used? 1 spell with X effects based on which stance, I dunno.

It'd be kind of awkward for a geomancer to use water, fire, or lightning.

[Jandor]

Which do you think has a better chance of introducing their arts into eorzea, and which would you prefer?

I'd prefer BLU. I outlined an idea for it here http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post3904298. I assume said idea would be widely disliked were it ever implemented though .

[SessionZero]

Neither, honestly. Geomancer would just be a gimped CNJ/WHM and Blue Mage would only work if they acquired skills in scripted Job quests like how SMN gets their Egi's, which would defeat the entire purpose of the Job.

[AlphaFox]

It'd be kind of awkward for a geomancer to use water, fire, or lightning.

Was just an example, Fire/Lava in FFT, Water from Rivers, Earth being rocks or vines. Lightning I have no info on but once again, was just throwing it out.

Geomancer_(Tactics)

[Docent]

Q> Which do you think has a better chance between the two of these jobs of actually being added in this expansion or a future expansion.
I think both will make it in.

Many of your concerns are based on a single interpretation of the job.

Blue mage wasn't really known as a sword-wielding job until FFXI. (They could use them in V, but really, RDM have been the "sword-wielding" mage since FF1). Stragos in VI was mostly using rods. Quina is using forks and such. Khimari was using spears. Quistis whips. "Gun Mage" was the Blue mage of FFX-2.
Blue magic is often more useful for its unique support and healing abilities than its damage -- once again, a difference that comes mostly from FFXI.

Geomancer in the traditional FF have always been about attacking enemies with the land. Your spells were random, free, and based on the area of the fight. Which often meant attacking with the elements the monsters are made of, and would be healed with. Geomancer in FFXI was turned into a support-caster, which is a role we are missing in FFXIV and would make more sense that changing your attacks based on the area you're in. Not like elemental spells have actual elemental affinities anyway so far in XIV....

[Terrini]

I long dreamed of them making a Geomancer branch off Conjurer as a DPS job, but they aren't going to do that kind of thing anymore, it seems.

Either of these jobs will likely not be traditional interpretations of the jobs because those just won't work in FFXIV mechanics, unless their battle system changes make them more likely, and i would not put it past them to slowly implement changes that make different types of jobs more feasible. Of the two however, a reinterpretation of Geomancer that is not traditional would be more intriguing and less upsetting than a break in Blue Mage tradition. We already have people disappointed in Summoner for being so dumbed down, enough that it may not be unheard of to get a "Caller" class in the future, but even then, it would fall under the same jurisdiction of Blue Mage in How do you balance classes that have variant ability learning when every other class is so structured and controlled? How do you implement the variability in a system that doesn't allow a person to break from their set role?

[Talraen]

Not that I'm a big proponent of taking things from FFXI, but FFXI showed you could make an effective geomancer without having their powers based on specific terrain. I imagine if they ever implemented GEO in FFXIV, it would work similarly. I don't really see any reason why they couldn't make a workable geomancer in this game.

Blue mage wasn't really known as a sword-wielding job until FFXI. (They could use them in V, but really, RDM have been the "sword-wielding" mage since FF1). Stragos in VI was mostly using rods. Quina is using forks and such. Khimari was using spears. Quistis whips. "Gun Mage" was the Blue mage of FFX-2.
Blue magic is often more useful for its unique support and healing abilities than its damage -- once again, a difference that comes mostly from FFXI.

Except Quistis, Quina, and Kimahri aren't blue mages, they just use the blue magic mechanic. Strago may or may not have been a blue mage (honestly not sure of his official class) but he doesn't actually wear blue so :P to that. Plus given that this game already differentiates between swords (GLD), daggers (ROG), and greatswords (DRK), I think it can easily add rapiers (RDM) and scimitars (BLU). Frankly even if they implement BLU as a pure caster, I'd personally rather see them have swords than another generic rod class.

Also I'm not sure if you're saying FFXI made BLU a support or the opposite, but most blue magic in the series is just straight offense. A lot of the common and awesome blue magic is of a support nature (e.g., white wind and big guard), but in terms of pure numbers it's mostly non-standard attack mechanics (Lv. 5 Petrify, Roulette, Exploder), elemental attacks using non-standard elements (Aqua Rake, Aero), or alternative status attacks (Frog Song, Stone).