Still a Bit Confused

[BlaiseLallaise]

After mulling it over for a good while, I'm starting to see the picture. I have no choice but to trust that the system works when used properly until I have a chance to try it out.

That sorta sends me off to another topic. Does it not seem like the new system is forcing a certain battle tactic, while punishing anything else? Meaning, it seems like I'm being faced with a decision to either always utilize self combos or become effectively worthless in battle. Hopefully those non TP-based abilities will flavor it up enough to keep combat from feeling so one-dimensional.

[Orophin]

That sorta sends me off to another topic. Does it not seem like the new system is forcing a certain battle tactic, while punishing anything else? Meaning, it seems like I'm being faced with a decision to either always utilize self combos or become effectively worthless in battle. Hopefully those non TP-based abilities will flavor it up enough to keep combat from feeling so one-dimensional.

That seems to be the case, because it doesn't make sense to use a 3000 TP ability on its own when you can use a 1500 TP ability in a shorter amount of time AND get a bonus out of it if you perform the requirements for it.

Now the thing I'm curious about is casters. Do their chained spells consume MP?

3. Sequence: Landing the specified weaponskill or spell on the enemy immediately beforehand.

Not only will a successful combo grant you the bonus indicated; TP cost will also be waived for the weaponskill used to execute it. For a combo to be valid, however, the weaponskill in question must be used with the class or job to which it belongs.

Their wording only seems to focus on weapon skills, so it's a bit hazy about spell chains.

I don't know if it'd be imbalanced or not if the chained spells didn't consume MP. The spell used to initiate the chain is going to be scaled for higher MP costs the higher you are in level. From a THM's perspective, Thundara is a 30s recast, Thundaga is a 45s recast. Fira is a 16s recast, Firaga is a 7s recast (typo???). So at the very least, there's going to be some down time between using chains, and the tier one nukes have to fill that void. I speculate that nukes are going to cost at least 100 MP per, and as of the current patch I haven't seen many people with mana pools over 1500.

In my eyes, it'd make sense that the chains didn't consume MP since you're going to have to do at least 2-3 filler spells until the chaining abilities come off cooldown.