speculation on BLU

[Hierro]

I want to start off by saying this is first and foremost an assumption that BLU could be implemented, and as a tank at that. Why? Because spider-man being a hint at blue mage is the simplest connection, guy bit by spider, earn spider powers, etc etc.

Since RDM was announced as DPS and BLU functions by being hit, I feel it's not crazy to think BLU would be a tank. This doesn't mean I'm outright shutting the idea that we could have two dps next expansion or that it won't be a healer, but learning by being hit, tank makes sense.

Now, this begs the question, where would it fit in a raid as a tank?

I feel it wouldn't be designed to compete with PLD or DRK. It's a gross oversimplification, but you already have a MT for physical damage and one for magic damage, so where could BLU fit? People often complain about WAR always having a guaranteed spot in any party, and maybe SE's taken notice, so I think it'd be designed to fill in that OT role.


What do you guys think?

[Legion88]

1) In most incarnations BLU gains his "monster skills" by using an item or special skill and not just by getting hit. I would prefer a way like studying the enemy and learn how he does things to advance with this new Knowledge.
2) Making the "getting hit to advance" theme not only a fluff thing and take it out of the "used only in job quest" corner you have to center his whole mechanics around this feature like getting procs or augmentations for skills/abilities by getting hit from magic/physical/unaspected attacks. This would force BLU in the MT spot and he has to be designed to be incomopatible with WAR or just negating his boni in comparsion with other tanks.

Just my 2 cent

[Sarcatica]

The more fundamental question is what would BLU (if any) bring instead of bringing WAR. Filling the OT role means that WAR has to be less desired as OT to warrant having BLU, be it having better utility or the 4.0 changes make WAR worse.

What if BLU adds more damage overall that it is better for NIN to apply slashing debuff instead? What if BLU does magical damage that bard-caster team is actually better? What if the currently best comp still the best in 4.x? What if next raid patches introduce T4 like raid turns where more casters are needed to kill certain bosses, albeit ofc not something they should do? There are a lot of what ifs and I would leave it until the top raiders figure out and we can have our spicily 'deep' discussion.

[Ilan]

And what if BLU is not a tank? What if BLU is a dps?

I think the 3 tanks that we have is enough at the moment.

[Legion88]

And what if BLU is not a tank? What if BLU is a dps?

I think the 3 tanks that we have is enough at the moment.

I think there will be never enough, independent of role...

For me "enough" is the weakest argument at the moment.

[Ilan]

I think there will be never enough, independent of role...

For me "enough" is the weakest argument at the moment.

Well i can state my oppinion the same way you can and i think 3 tanks are enough at the moment. The game could use more dps and if you don't share the same oppinion you don't have to point it out as a weak argument.