How a Blue Mage Could Work in FFXIV

[Brightshadow]

Blue Mage

Lore

On the Eastern Islands of Thavnair, lies the Jungles of Uznair. Deep within the Wildlands lays the city-state of Radz-at-Han which is said to occupy a clan of Azure Battlemages known as Blue Mages. It is said that those who have chosen this path have spent their whole life pursuing the secrets of monsters. Dressed in their iconic Blue Garbs, Blue Mages developed a peculiar new way of manipulating the aether with magical lamps that allow them to siphon the life force of fell foes to use the fallen monster techniques into a new form of magic known as Blue Magic. Legend says that the origin of their name came from how they dyed their gear which is said to be colored with the blood of voidsents. While not much is known about these mysterious Occultists, many in the Jungles of Uznair refer to them as the Azure Sentinels due to how they mysteriously show up to defend those in peril.

Role

Blue Mages are tanks and thus do not follow the path of their colored brethren. Over the years the brutal beatings of monsters have forged the Azure Sentinels into wild defenders of the Wildlands allowing them to pursue rare monsters, and to rescue endangered adventures from the Uznair Jungles.

Gear / Weaponry / Primary Stats

A.) Blue Mages typically are not bound to any weapon in the series; however, the iconic blue mage used swords but we have enough blade users as is. So I wanted to try something different that I think would fit in perfectly with Blue Mage; thus my version of Blue Mage will use magical lamps (genie lamps) as their weaponry of choice.

B.) As for their gear they will use fending gear to not clutter the gear distribution system, and they will be the only tank given the opportunity to glamour caster gear for those awkward gear sets that do not fit in with blue mage, but they cannot natively equip mage gear to prevent bad player decisions.

C.) And finally for their stats they will use vitality as their primary stat, with intellect being their secondary stat instead of strength. The reason for this is purely aesthetic; they are a mage after-all.

Mechanics

The Blue Mage has a single three-part gauge called the “Lore Gauge” represented as a genie lamp. The three components of the Gauge are “Soul Essence”, “Azure Lore”, and the “Beast Within” which are explained below.

A.) Soul Essence: Accumulated by blue magic and by getting hit with regular (5 points) or critical hits (8 points) and it increases up to a maximum of 100 points. This resource isn’t used for anything special it’s just built up so you can access either Azure Lore or the Beast Within. If you do not have any Soul Essence the genie lamp will appear grayed out, but when you start building Soul Essence it will be built up represented as the genie lamp being filled with a gold color.

B.) Azure Lore: This is a tracker that activates when your Soul Essence reaches 100 points; it is represented by the genie lamp blinking, it also changes the color of the lamp to a light blue color with a monster eye in the middle to signify unbridled learning can be used. Unbridled Learning basically makes the next blue magic used into a critical skill manifesting the soul of the monster represented as blue aether behind the Blue Mage. Every Blue Magic spell has an Unbridled Learning Version, for more details read up on the Unbridled Learning Skill, and the Unbridled Learning additional effects of spells.

C.) Beast Within: An alternative tracker to the Azure Lore, which only becomes available when your health is at 35% or less allowing you to use convergence to become a manticore for a short while. It is represented by the genie lamp blinking; it also changes the color of the lamp to a dark purple color with a monster eye in the middle to signify convergence can be used. When transformed into a manticore all defensive stats (VIT/Defense) are increased by 50%. And you have access to all of your blue magic; however, you cannot use any of your abilities (Unbridled Learning & Assimilation) while in manticore form.

Job Skills

1.) Mighty Guard (Limit Break)
Description: Reduces damage taken by all party members by 90% for 12s. (New animation)
Level: 1
Cast Time: 3s
Radius: 15y
Notes: Current LB2 uses old animation and receives a new name “Perfect Defense”.

2.) Goblin Punch (Spell)
Description: Deals blunt damage with a potency of 175. Additional Effect - Increased enmity (generates 10 soul essence. /w Crit generating 12)
Level: 1
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 3y
Unbridled Learning: Concussion – Deals blunt damage overtime with a potency of 25 for 30s. (Soul -> Goblin)

3.) Memento Mori (Spell)
Description: Increases magic damage dealt by 20% for 25s.
Level: 2
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 60s
Unbridled Learning: Bestows your Memento Mori to all nearby party members at half potency. (Soul -> Corse)

4.) Mandibular Bite (Spell)
Description: Deals piercing damage with a potency of 230. Combo Action – Goblin Punch (Non-Combo = 2 Soul Essence / Non-Combo Crit = 3 Soul Essence / Combo = 11 Soul Essence / Crit Combo = 13 Soul Essence)
Level: 4
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 3y
Unbridled Learning: Drastically increases enmity. (Soul -> Antlion)

5.) Eyes on me (Spell)
Description: Increases enmity of all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Blind (12s /w deprecation per cast)
Level: 6
Cast Time: 2.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Radius: 5y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Petrify (3s/w deprecation per cast) (Soul -> Ahriman)

6.) Metallic Body (Spell)
Description: Shrugs off attacks, delaying 60% of the damage received, instead taking it over 15s after expiration of the enhancement. (Buff: 30s) (Debuff: 15s)
Level: 10
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 45s
Unbridled Learning: Spreads the damage mitigated (DEBUFF) by the tank to all nearby party members for 15s. (60% divided by the amount of party members = how much damage everyone takes overtime.) (Soul -> Crab)

7.) Seedspray (Spell)
Description: Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 130. Additional Effect - Increased enmity (Generates 7 Soul Essence. /w Crit generating 9)
Level: 15
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 25y
Unbridled Learning: Ingrown sprout – Binds the target in place. (8s/w deprecation per cast) (Soul -> Rafflesia)

8.) Frypan (Spell)
Description: Deals blunt damage with a potency of 120. Additional Effect – Stun, Shares a recast with Magic Hammer (Generates 8 Soul Essence. /w Crit generating 10)
Level: 18
Cast Time: Instant / Recast: 30s
Range: 3y
Unbridled Learning: Loud Banging – Stuns all nearby enemies (Circular Radius 5y) (Soul -> Namazu)

9.) Death Claw (Spell)
Description: Deals slashing damage with a potency of 300. Combo Action – Mandibular Bite (Non-Combo = 2 Soul Essence / Non-Combo Crit = 3 Soul Essence / Combo = 12 Soul Essence / Crit Combo = 14 Soul Essence)
Level: 26
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 3y
Unbridled Learning: Death Scissors – HP below 20% = 750 potency attack, otherwise normal potency. (Soul -> Inferno)

10.) Unbridled Learning (Ability)
Description: Consumes your Azure Lore or Beast Within to bestow “Unbridled Wisdom” - amplifies your next blue magic spell. Additional Effect: Restores 10% of maximum MP
Level: 30
Cast Time: Instant / Recast: 30s
Notes: Unbridled Wisdom remains on the target for the next blue magic spell used, it has no duration so only other way to lose it, is by zoning; when a spell is used under the enhancement of Unbridled Wisdom the soul of the monster whom the spell belongs to appears momentarily to execute the spell and then rapidly disappears.

11.) ??? Needles (Spell)
Description: Delivers an attack with a potency of X to all nearby enemies. The needles are split between the amount of enemies.
Level: 30
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 90s
Radius: 5y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Needle Barrier (30s) – Redirects 5% of the damage received back to the enemies.
Note: ??? Needles will always have a number in front of it. The number varies with level and ilv. Needle Barrier does not only redirect damage but negates that damage. A final point, any damage reduction ability also lowers the damage redirection because it lowers the damage you receive. (Soul -> Cactuar)

12.) Aqua Breath (Spell)
Description: Delivers a water attack with a potency of 120 to all enemies in a cone before you. Additional Effect: Inflicts one stack of Vulnerability Up lowering the enemy defense by 3% (30s), shares a timer with Demoralizing Roar. (15% Max) (Up to a maximum of 5 Vulnerability up stacks) (Generates 7 Soul Essence /w Crit generating 9)
Level: 35
Cast Time: 2.5s / Recast: 15s
Range: 8y (Conal)
Unbridled Learning: Inflicts five stacks of vulnerability up. (Soul -> Ultros)

13.) Cocoon (Spell)
Description: Reduces physical damage taken and increases enmity everytime you are attacked. Physical damage reduction gradually decreases with each hit taken. If the reduction is completely decreased the spell enchantment wears off. (Initial enhancement: 80% / Decrease per hit: 10%)
Level: 38
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 60s
Unbridled Learning: Reduction plateaus at 20% instead of wearing off, resets with recast. (Soul -> Crawler)

14.) Demoralizing Roar (Spell)
Description: Delivers a staggering attack with a potency of 120 to all enemies in an area around you. Additional Effect: Inflicts one stack of Power Down lowering the enemy attack by 3% (30s), shares a timer with Aqua Breath. (15% Max) (Up to a maximum of 5 Power down stacks) (Generates 7 Soul Essence /w Crit generating 9)
Level: 40
Cast Time: 2.5s / Recast: 15s
Range: 5y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Inflicts five stacks of power down. (Soul -> Wivre)

15.) Magic Hammer (Spell)
Description: Deals blunt damage with a potency of 120. Additional Effect – Aspir, Shares a recast with Frypan. (Generates 8 Soul Essence. /w Crit generating 10)
Level: 42
Cast Time: Instant / Recast: 30s
Range: 3y
Unbridled Learning: Starry Hammer – Aspirs the MP of all nearby enemies (Circular Radius 5y) (Soul -> Poroggo)

16.) Charged Whisker (Spell)
Description: Paralyzes all nearby enemies. (12s /w deprecation per cast)
Level: 45
Cast Time: 2.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Radius: 5y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Charged Blaster – Makes the paralyze into a unique status effect allowing it to overwrite most resistances. (12s/w deprecation per cast) (Soul -> Coeurl)

17.) White Wind (Spell)
Description: Restores own HP and the HP of all nearby party members, shares a recast with Magic Fruit. Cure potency: 150
Level: 46
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 25s
Radius: 15y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Removes a single detrimental effect from all nearby party members. (Soul -> Enkidu)

18.) Smite of Rage (Spell)
Description: Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies, can only be executed when your HP is at 20% or below. Additional Effect: Pushback.
Level: 46
Cast Time: 2.5s / Recast: 60s
Radius: 5y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Shook (4s) – A unique stun effect that doesn’t build resistance like the regular stun (Soul -> Evil Weapon)

19.) Self Destruct (Spell)
Description: Delivers a massive attack with a potency of 1000 to all nearby enemies while lowering your HP to 1, and temporarily grants you invincibility to most attacks (5s). Additional Effect: Inflicts on user “Disorienting Blast” lowering stats by 50% for a short duration (30s).
Level: 50
Cast Time: Instant / Recast: 420s
Radius: 8y (Circular)
Unbridled Learning: Automatically enters the user into Manticore form when Disorienting Blast wears off. (Soul -> Bomb)

20.) Assimilation (Ability)
Description: Grants the effect of Azure Lore or Beast Within. Additional Effect: Resets your Unbridled Learning and Convergence ability.
Level: 50
Cast Time: Instant / Recast: 120s
Notes: Assimilations works somewhat similar to Manafication; however, unlike RDM it doesn’t double resources instead it automatically raises your soul essence to 100 points to automatically unlock Azure Lore or Convergence. Which ability is activated depends on your current HP during activation. (HP < 35% = Azure Lore) (HP > 35% = Convergence)

21.) Zephyr Mantle (Spell)
Description: Evades the next attack (10s). attacks that take 75% of your HP or above only have a 50% chance of being dodged and consume all of your shadows. does not work for area of effect attacks.
Level: 52
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 15s
Unbridled Learning: Allows you to evade the five next incoming attacks. (Soul -> Puk)
Note: Does not build Soul Essence if attack is evaded. You must be directly hit by attacks to build soul essence.

22.) Asuran Claws (Spell)
Description: Deals slashing damage with a potency of 380. Combo Action – Death Claw (Non-Combo = 2 Soul Essence / Non-Combo Crit = 3 Soul Essence / Combo = 13 Soul Essence / Crit Combo = 15 Soul Essence)
Level: 54
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 3y
Unbridled Learning: Moonlight Succor – Drains X% of the damage dealt into HP. (Soul -> Gnole)

23.) Firespit (Spell)
Description: Delivers a ranged fire attack with a potency of 100 to an enemy and all nearby enemies. Additional Effect - Increased enmity (Generates 4 soul essence. /w Crit generating 6)
Level: 56
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 25y
Unbridled Learning: Necroburn - deals damage over time to all targets afflicted, and lowers HP recovery methods used on the targets. (8s/w depreciation per cast) (Soul -> Wyvern)
Note: Damage is not lowered by target, similar to Miasma II.

24.) Magic Fruit (Spell)
Description: Restores target’s HP, shares a recast with White Wind. Cure Potency: 800
Level: 58
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 25s
Range: 20y
Unbridled Learning: Refreshing Fruit (Regen), Cure Potency – 150 (12s). (Soul -> Opo-Opo)

25.) Mantra Missiles (Spell)
Description: Deals nonaspected damage with a potency of 400. Combo Action – Asuran Claws (Non-Combo = 2 Soul Essence / Non-Combo Crit = 3 Soul Essence / Combo = 14 Soul Essence / Crit Combo = 16 Soul Essence)
Level: 60
Cast Time: 1.5s / Recast: 2.5s
Range: 25y
Unbridled Learning: Micro Missiles – Makes the Mantra Missile into an area of effect (5y), damage is lowered based on the amount of enemies it hits. (Soul -> Succubus)

26.) Convergence (Ability)
Description: Consumes your Beast Within to transform you into a Blue Manticore (30s) – Increasing all your defensive stats by 50% (VIT/Defense).
Level: 62
Cast Time: Instant / Recast: 120s
Notes: Beast Within remains on the target as long as your HP is below 35%. It has no duration so only other way to lose it is by zoning or by using it as a Azure Lore which is possible if you don't want to use Convergence. While under this effect you cannot use Azure Lore or Assimilation; however, you have access to all your spells.

27.) Harden Shell (Spell)
Description: Creates a barrier around target that absorbs damage totaling 10% of your maximum HP.
Level: 64
Cast Time: 3.5s / Recast: 60s
Unbridled Learning: Spreads Harden Shell to nearby party members (5y). (Soul -> Adamantoise)
Note: It's basically Stoneskin, with the Unbridled Learning Version being Stoneskin II.

28.) Bad Breath (Spell)
Description: Inflicts multiple status ailments on enemies within a conal area from the caster. Slow (12s), Poison (12s), Silence (4s), Paralyze (4s), Weight (6s), Bind (4s), and Blind (6s)
Level: 68
Cast Time: 8s / Recast: 180s
Range: 8y (Conal)
Unbridled Learning: Deadly Breath – Doubles the duration of all status effects. (Soul -> Malboro)

29.) Angel Whisper (Spell)
Description: Resurrects target to a weakened state.
Level: 70
Cast Time: 8s / Recast: 180s
Range: 20y
Unbridled Learning: Nulls the spell Cooldown making it available for reuse. (Soul -> Pixie)

Job Traits

1.) Lancet (Level 1)
Prevents casting interruptions by 50% via damage taken. And receiving damage from special monster abilities replenishes your MP. (This doesn't include telegraphed attacks)

2.) Enhanced Vitality (Level 20)
Increases Vitality by 8.

3.) Maim and Mend (Level 20)
Increases base action damage and HP restoration by 10%.

4.) Enhanced Vitality II (Level 40)
Increases Vitality by 16.

5.) Maim and Mend II (Level 40)
Increases base action damage and HP restoration 30%.

6.) Enhanced Vitality III (Level 60)
Increases Vitality by 24.

1.) Lancet II (Level 62)
Prevents casting interruptions by 75% via damage taken. And receiving damage from special monster abilities replenishes your MP. (This doesn't include telegraphed attacks)

7.) Beast Mode (Level 66)
Critical hits have a 10% chance of granting the "Beast Within", you cannot proc "Beast Within" while you have "Azure Lore" Held.

[Brightshadow]

So I wanted to share some insight about how do some of these mechanics work.

A.) How do they mitigate?

BLU doesn't use a tank stances instead they must recast tanking spells to mitigate damage. their main signature tanking spells are:

-Cocoon: Used for boss fights, or to keep enmity. (w/ Unbridled Learning it functions more like a proper tank stance.)

-Metallic Body: Which is used for regular enemy groups, and tankbusters. (delays most of the damage you receive.)

-Self Destruct: Which is their emergency button, it has damage but that's to keep the BLU flavor, it also has half the duration
of Hallowed Ground, and a 50% stat penalty for the high damage it deals.

-Zephyr Mantle: basically allows you to dodge one attack, or three with Unbridled Learning. It's a great ability for tank busters but it only has a 50% chance of actually dodging them, and it consumes all of your shadows.

-Convergence: One of your main mechanics will mostly only be available at 35% HP as an emergency tool, due to how powerful it is. You get a trait at 66 that allows you to get the Beast Within status effect earlier than that, but it only has a 10% chance.

-Harden Shell: It is interesting, its a Stoneskin which is useful for a hit or two, but what really makes this spell useful is the Unbridled Learning due to it spreading it to all nearby party members.

-??? Needles: by itself it's a DPS skill with little to no use; however, what really sets this spell apart is the Unbridled Version which grants you a spike shield that deals damage to the enemies that attack you, and to put a cherry on top the damage redirect is also mitigated.

B.) Job Resource?
While it seems like it'll be tough to accumulate soul essence for your Azure Lore or Convergence in reality its not so bad and by every 25s you should have Azure Lore or Convergence up, all you have to do is use your combos which do not increase damage but instead drastically increase your soul essence generation, and even if you don't use your combos you should still get a lot from your breath attacks and other utility skills. In addition you have Assimilation which allows you to use two Azure Lore's simultaneously.

C.) Why fending gear?
They suffer from the same problem RDM does which is that RDM doesn't use just Mage gear, they also use medium type gear, as a comprise I decided they should use fending gear to not add more gear sets its just not practical. They will be able to glamour mage gear with the current glamour system by selecting the item, but they will NOT be able to naturally equip mage gear. other than their AF gear and any special gear they might receive.

D.) Are spells hunted?
Sort of, your first quest to unlock the job will have you travel around Eorzea to discover the secrets behind the former master of the job crystal Strago Magus, with the job you activated the quest, so every BLU should have their required skills. After unlocking all the spells of the former job stone you will meet Strago Magus and learn more about the secrets of Blue Magic, unlocking more spells from job quests/w some being automatically learned like the other jobs. So basically the only hunting will be mostly in your unlock quest, and other job quests will deal with the BLU story and perhaps new monster skills.

E.) Pros & Cons?
Well for starters some cons are the Blue Mage has a higher skill level than the other tanks, so it requires more reactive playing than the other tanks because they don't have a proper tank stance making it easier for them to wipe. Another thing is that they have to maintain their mana, if they don't its game over because a Blue Mage without mana isn't going to tank anything. Some pros are its different and something the game could use to attract more players. Its not a Samurai or a Red Mage but Blue Mages are a fan favorite. And they deal insane damage, actually they are the best at dealing damage when it comes to the tanks, but as you can see everything has a cast time, so you have a higher chance of getting interrupted, and wasting your unbridled learning on DPS skills might not be the wisest choice since you might need it for your tanking spells.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Credits:
1.) Square Enix for inventing such a wonderful job, and for past final fantasy skills and some mechanics.
2.) Kazrah for similar title.
3.) To other mmorpgs for some mechanic ideas.

[Kazrah]

Can still tell it's a work in-progress, but not too bad for a start. Some stuff you definitely want to explain for them like how gearing works, why the job resource looks like it'd take forever and a day to build up and the manticore form can only be activated at such an insanely low health threshold with what seems to be a fairly unimpressive bonus to it (25% to "all stats" usually means 25% to key stats).

Also just an FYI, tank 3-bar Limit Break is 90% damage reduction last I checked, and feel free to use anything you want from the thread in the sig below.

[Conquistadork]

Isn't there another thread about this already? Why make a new one?

[Brightshadow]

Isn't there another thread about this already? Why make a new one?

Why not? The only way we have a chance of having the job added to the game is by creating unique ways for it to be added. And I feel that with some inspiration Square will have a better chance of bringing this job to the game. Plus my idea is vastly different from Kazrah, his is a DPS and uses different mechanics.

Can still tell it's a work in-progress, but not too bad for a start. Some stuff you definitely want to explain for them like how gearing works, why the job resource looks like it'd take forever and a day to build up and the manticore form can only be activated at such an insanely low health threshold with what seems to be a fairly unimpressive bonus to it (25% to "all stats" usually means 25% to key stats).

Also just an FYI, tank 3-bar Limit Break is 90% damage reduction last I checked, and feel free to use anything you want from the thread in the sig below.

Thanks it's a work in progress I spent a lot of time redesigning mechanics and such. And also making it more of a tank than DPS. I don't play tanks but I wouldn't mind maining a BLU tank I feel it'll very unique. And it's the best shot it has.

[Sinsain]

"colored brethren"

[Elfidan]

"colored brethren"

Yeah I read that like three times as well...

I love blue mage ,but I fear what made it so amazing in other titles was the seemingly boundless skill list. It was literally the situational tacticians ultimate toolkit job. With the fear of ability bloat already taking hold only two expansions in it seems less likely. Keeping my fingers cross anyway though.

[Shurrikhan]

...what made it so amazing in other titles was the seemingly boundless skill list...
...fear of ability bloat...

Too bad choices beyond the job level will never work.

[Brightshadow]

Updated the thread, its now complete any suggestions or feedback, or a like is appreciated. Its not a DPS, but atleast it feels like a BLU.

[Brightshadow]

"colored brethren"

Yes we aren't Black Mages, White Mages, nor Red Mages; we're Blue and different from our brothers

Yeah I read that like three times as well...

I love blue mage ,but I fear what made it so amazing in other titles was the seemingly boundless skill list. It was literally the situational tacticians ultimate toolkit job. With the fear of ability bloat already taking hold only two expansions in it seems less likely. Keeping my fingers cross anyway though.

If you think about it they really are situational tacticians in this idea since every spell has a unbridled version which is basically two spells in one. So in an essence my BLU would have 50 spells since 3 actions are abilities that work with the job mechanics.