Incredibly Annoying Black Mage Issue Regarding Thundercloud

[RemoveMateria]

You're in your Umbral Ice form and about to hit Thunder 1, because that's the one you use to reapply the DoT since it's low MP and a quick cast time.

SUDDENLY

You get a Thundercloud proc on the last few seconds of the DoT already on the boss. It's already happening AS YOU'RE QUEUING UP Thunder 1.

So what happens? Does it apply a Thunder 3 level DoT as well as the really strong Thunder 3 damage? Even if you hit Thunder 1 (or Thunder 2 for whatever reason) it should apply the Thunder 3 damage, right?

Wrong. You just applied some wimpy Thunder 1 base damage and DoT. Pure RNG messed you up simply for queuing an ability beforehand.

ALL THUNDERCLOUDS should apply Thunder 3 damage, since there is no reason you'd ever want to waste a free, instant cast on a weaker version of Thunder. I shouldn't be punished because of insanely bad timing as I'm pushing a button that is a core part of my rotation.

Please. I look forward to it.

[Rongway]

It comes with the job, and is, at best, a minor annoyance.

The difference between Thunderclouding a Thunder and a Thunder III is 200 potency plus spell speed modified damage, and that's assuming you don't short the two extra ticks at 40+ss / tick with your next lightning spell. That's barely a Blizzard 1.

[Claire_Pendragon]

Funny thing is, i have NEVER seen this happen, until recently where it happened at least once on every boss in World of Darkness.
Its was quite annoying when I was never expecting that to happen before.

[RemoveMateria]

It's still a damage loss for something that wasn't the player's fault. If it's so minor, it should be a quick fix. It's completely senseless as to why anybody would want to waste Thundercloud on Thunder 1 or 2. There's no reason that Thundercloud shouldn't default to Thunder 3 damage even if 1 or 2 is pressed.

Also why is Thunder 2 a thing?

[Rongway]

It's completely senseless as to why anybody would want to waste Thundercloud on Thunder 1 or 2. There's no reason that Thundercloud shouldn't default to Thunder 3 damage even if 1 or 2 is pressed.

That you can use it on Thunder 1 or 2, and have to decide consciously not to use 1 or 2 when you could use it on 3 instead, is as much a part of the job as being able to activate forty mudras before pushing the Ninjutsu button is for Ninja. You have to make a decision as to which one to use. Game design isn't at fault if the one you choose isn't always the right one.

[Roda]

But their point isn't that they're not choosing to spend their thundercloud on the wrong one, it's that it's proccing near mid button press and is being wasted on a skill you meant to cast normally. ._.

[randysquirrel]

You have to make a decision as to which one to use

That decision is "Do I use the proc that hits for 510 potency, or the proc that hits for 710 potency?"
There is literally never any time it would be a benefit to using the lesser proc. It's not as if they do different things and there is a decision process where you must decide which one fits the situation better, they literally do the same thing, except one hits harder and lasts longer

[Feidam]

I fully expect some of the thunder spells to be pruned come 4.0. I suspect this will sort itself out soon.

[ADVSS]

For real and its not like they stack like bio, bio2. Just glad enochian didnt come with a Thunder 4 as well

[Rongway]

it's proccing near mid button press and is being wasted on a skill you meant to cast normally. ._.

That decision is "Do I use the proc that hits for 510 potency, or the proc that hits for 710 potency?"
There is literally never any time it would be a benefit to using the lesser proc.

The problem here wasn't choosing the wrong ability, but choosing any ability too early. If there was time for it to proc before initiating the weaker spell, there was time to wait to see if it would proc before choosing which spell to cast.

We're BLMs. We know that RNGebus is a cruel master, and that he may spite us at any moment. If there isn't already a Thundercloud proc in advance of Thunder 1 time, then play Chicken with the Thunder 1 button. Press it at the last possible instant that lets you start casting without delaying your GCD.