How's BLM looking?

[Vallhallix]

Even if release numbers for RDM truly aren't that competitive with those of BLM, I suppose it's possible that RDM might see some love as a raid progression helper since they can rez and fluff downed healers.

I suspect that BLM will be deliberately positioned to have a higher damage ceiling since RDM inherently has more mobility with constant Dual Cast procs, likely making it more forgiving to play. I suppose it also depends on how challenging SE deems its Black and White mana balancing act to be (emphasis on how difficult SE thinks it is, not necessarily on how difficult it actually is).

They'll definately get a lot of love. Plenty people are returning specifically for the new classes, and first impressions seem very good for RDM. Lots of primarily DoW players who were uninterested in the playstyle of the current casters say that RDM is fun. So that's a good sign atleast.

[Nezia]

It's just as shayuki said, BLM will deal more damage than RDM, period.

And it's supposed to, RDM only casts 2 secs spells and then has a instant cast skill, giving him a 3 seconds window to move around and reposition. RDM also has a physical buff for the PT, a pretty powerfull heal, and a ress who can be easily insta casted. If RDM having this level of mobility and utility, while also having damage at least on par with BLM then the RDM class would be completely broken.

[Silverquick]

Yeah its just unfortunate that at this point Summoner will not be competitive with either one of them post expansion.

Prior it could but its doubtful at this point.

With Fire IV no longer limited because of Enochian, and the insta teleport back to the Ley Lines... BLM has some mobility now, and has been unlocked per se.

At this point unless the Summoner nerfs are removed, I'll probably be moving to BLM as primary and RDM as a secondary.

Black Mage got Buffed... Summoner got mega nerfed... and Red Mage is an unknown, but with potential.

[Semmi]

From what we know about the media build, it's looking to be BLM > SMN > RDM as far as personal DPS. Whether or not SMN DPS raid utility (Contagion + Devotion) or RDM's raidwide Embolden effect can swing things when it comes to overall raid DPS remains to be seen.

I would be surprised if RDM doesn't get potency buffs between the media event and 4.0 being live because they are looking kind of weak compared to the other 2 casters.

[NovaLevossida]

BLM mobility never was much of an issue when you were familiar with the job and the fights. And with more spell speed, you could get away with finishing more casts at the last possible moment before dodging an attack. And it also helps if you stand on the edge of your leylines instead of in the center of it. I think the BLM mobility issues were always greatly overstated, but now with a leylines teleport and a triple swiftcast on top of swiftcast, mobility isn't even an issue.

As such, I don't think that's a good argument against RDM having good single target damage. And as it is now, BLM looks far and away one of the strongest AoE jobs period. Hopefully the potency numbers will be adjusted for RDM since the media build was old or the AoE will be less abysmal upon release.

[xNewbx]

While BLM is the strongest caster, it's not the right comparison to be making. The others have lowered damage for more utility.
The class that has as little utility , if not less, is Samurai. It's impossible to say right now because numbers can change, but Samurai has been calculated to do more damage all around.

But don't get me wrong, it looks good and fun to play. I don't think there's a class so bad no one should play it. Just play what you like.

[Len]

I like how nobody's trying to argue that Summoner won't lag behind both Black Mage & Red Mage. It's sad.

Who wants to be the inferior caster that makes everyone else's damage better?

[Waliel]

Who wants to be the inferior caster that makes everyone else's damage better?

You can imagine everyone is your pet while you're buffing them.

[Hagen]

I like how nobody's trying to argue that Summoner won't lag behind both Black Mage & Red Mage. It's sad.

Who wants to be the inferior caster that makes everyone else's damage better?

Because it won't be behind other casters. Seriously all these "SMN Nerf" are starting to get annoying. Go read Hai Hai piece on what SMN might actually be like in SB and wait for release so we can know the full potencies.

[Silverquick]

Go read Hai Hai piece on what SMN might actually be like in SB and wait for release so we can know the full potencies.

I did read it, and was unimpressed.

Still I am only waiting until launch to see if they undo the SMN nerfs... if they do not...

Well then the easy choice is BLM main. I will probably try Red Mage to see how it plays out, but SMN will not even be competitive at this point.