Geomancer: Maybe someday?

[Cidel]

...I don't know anything about Geomancer, but given the name, it sounds like it would do much like what a white mage does to cast spells. Didn't geomancer have something like attacks turn into certain types depending on the terrain they fought on? FFXIV doesn't actually use any type of elemental weakness system; makes me wonder what kind of changes would need to be done to the class to make it be its own thing for FFXIV...

Geomancers have had several iterations within the series where what type of ability/spell they would produce depended on the physical terrain (tactics) or at least the immediate environment (others). However this is not exactly their defining "end-all" requirement, but the Geomancer's trait people are most familiar with fall into this category- thus people assume the job will clash with FFXIV's lore. In truth though, Geomancer has been flexible enough throughout the series that it can be molded into whatever the game's setting demands (or allows). I've noted in some Geomancer threads before, but both FFXI and Explorers have Geomancers setting ground fields (like Sacred Soil, Fire arrow, whatever) that can either buff or debuff; no "earth elements" required. Since the job is fairly open to whatever style suits the game, and it literally can go either the "geo," feng shui or divination routes that are associated with it, it really does come off as something the developers can mold into what will work for their game.

[Jonah_Greymont]

Yes and no. -snip-

Thank you for expanding on that. I have some working knowledge of the magical nature of Eorzea, but not enough to explain it properly. As far as Geomancer goes, it could be anything from heretical conjurers to what Cidel mentions, a take from previous iterations of the class that could utilize Aether via other means. That's not far from what they did with Astrologian, which seems very similar to Oracle/Time Mage in the Tactics universe.

In addition to the magical abilities Cidel also mentioned, I would also like to see it wield a single handed axe or some other melee weapon (bo staff, perhaps?). Geomancer usually (but not always) falls into the hybrid melee/mage also occupied by Red Mage, and that's a niche I'd like to see them build up some. Just my opinion.

[Cidel]

I would also like to see it wield a single handed axe or some other melee weapon (bo staff, perhaps?). Geomancer usually (but not always) falls into the hybrid melee/mage also occupied by Red Mage, and that's a niche I'd like to see them build up some. Just my opinion.

I guess a Geomancer's weapon here is something that could be open to artistic liberties and interpretation, but I would like to think they would give them their signature "Bell" weapon that they are associated with and have used as makeshift maces. It would make the most sense to me.

[Kazrah]

The lore component could be tweaked or altered as needed. My guess would be something along the lines of aether can be channeled from the same source, but manipulated through different means.

What I think the major snag here is actually on the mechanical end. Whenever anyone thinks "geomancer", they think of a caster who either works off the environment or manipulates it to their own end, and neither of those options really work in a game where spells ought to be balanced no matter what the circumstances of the fight are and where the concept of "elemental" damages and resistances are incredibly outdated and genuinely pointless.

In order to make geomancer within FFXIV, one simple truth must be understood: it would be nothing like how it was once known.

[cheolsu]

"Geomancers harness the power of nature itself, manifested in their different terrain attacks. Their damage potential rises exponentially by job level."

I've been playing Geomancer in FF3 lately and they're stupid op. ^^

[Jonah_Greymont]

I guess a Geomancer's weapon here is something that could be open to artistic liberties and interpretation, but I would like to think they would give them their signature "Bell" weapon that they are associated with and have used as makeshift maces. It would make the most sense to me.

If geomancer ever does make it to FFXIV, I expect your hope would be the route they'd take; I just always remember geomancer from FFT wielding axes or swords, and I thoroughly enjoyed the class there. Assuming they played a similar style, though, I imagine I could grow accustomed to the bell.

[CaptainLagbeard]

I think the Conjurer class is technically a Geomancer... But since Square really doesn't seem to like the idea of the base classes and jobs, maybe Conjurer can get freed up.

[Duelle]

Conjurers use Aether from nature, geomancers manipulate nature itself. I could see them as antagonists with Gridanians or the elementals in that respect, but I don't believe conjurers really have the market cornered on nature magic per se. Plus, the aesthetic and combat possibilities in a Geomancer class are a realm as yet untouched in FFXIV.

This is how I see Geomancers as well. There is potential for using opposing views on the same topic; even something simple like "CNJs see GEOs as defilers of the elements, while GEOs see CNJs as slaves to the elements" would go a long way in creating a sort of story. One of my pet theories is that they'd be native to The New World (the Hydaelyn equivalent of the Americas); the elementals on that side of the planet being hostile to the point natives have their shaman sort of "tame" the elementals. If dealing with the elementals is a no go (someone brought up the great flood), dealing strictly with primal forces and weather would also be an option for GEO.

I can see GEO entering as a healer if you want a shaman-type healer, or a DPS if you want a caster that uses magma, air and weather effects on enemies.

[Brightshadow]

I've always felt geomancers would work perfectly in this game due to them fitting perfectly with the armory system (handbells) and the great lack of spellcasters in this game. Personally I like the "Wizard/Taoist" type geomancer than the physical one. And there are many niches they could fill. Perhaps a they can be a "channeled caster" with some unique weather spells.

[AmalonStar]

Geo for 14 would be interesting, could give them a combination of elemental aoe dots and weather spells for both dps as well as healing.

Tho on the stormblood page they list red Mage as one of the new jobs. As for the other new jobs personally from watching the teaser trailer I think they could be dancer and berserker. The way the girl was dressed and fought reminded me of the dancer job and the guy reminded me of a berserker with the way he was dressed and seemed to fight with more of a pure power and rage.