Blue Mage Design by Tyrian Jabberwock

[Kabooa]

I'd lose the daggers and go straight for runic claws, IMO.

[GDofLevin]

For the record, "The Jabberwocky" is a very famous nonsensical poem written by Lewis Carroll (writer of Alice in Wonderland) which is where the initial response came from.

I know about Lewis Carrol's Jabberwock. It's the reason my character is called Jabberwock. Because the Jabberwock is the only famous lightning spewing draconic creature. What I was wondering is why you replied that way. No real commentary on your true feelings. Also I don't know what Runic Knight is...but this is a DPS not a Tank.

[GDofLevin]

I'd lose the daggers and go straight for runic claws, IMO.

Thank you for your input...but Claws are covered under Pugilist and Monk. So I can't use them. Also what would make good variations, and end game equipment?

[Kabooa]

Thank you for your input...but Claws are covered under Pugilist and Monk. So I can't use them. Also what would make good variations, and end game equipment?

If they must be unique weapons, then dual short spears could work. Given the aesthetic of the outfit, Blue Mage seems the sort that would be up close but not someone who wants to play the pitty pat melee game. Short spears fit this bill as they're melee weapons, with the added benefit of letting them come together as a staff with the spear points working as the spell focus. An agile, staff-spinny approach to spell casting while the melee oriented aspect is done with relative safety due to the reach a short spear provides over daggers.

The armor itself seems kind of jester-y which is why I suggested claws at first. The mage motif is flowing robes, where a more active approach would want it to be easy to move in. The approach would be masked helmets, perhaps avoiding 'mage hat' silhouettes and instead aiming for veils and hoods. The torso likely being foofy, but fancy unless you want to go for a distinctly frayed appearance. Tight boots and poofy pants would be true enough to a frumpy mage but you could also go for, but your primary concern is likely going to be chest, gloves, and helmet.

[GDofLevin]

They are not daggers. They are dual swords, as for the overall aesthetic appearance...I don't see what I did wrong. And seriously? Jestery? Since when do Jesters wield dual swords and have armor based on beasts? I think my character draws a definite line between Blue Mage, and Kefka. Also Spears fall under Lancer. Blue Mage is melee and magic based. Also Raubahn has demonstrated aspects of the Blue Mage as well as uses Dual Swords. Instead of judging my work at merely its appearance why not take some time to read or ask for more information? Like I said I was willing to give out? On top of that, there are very little restrictive armor parts on it. And finally that IS a mask. It's not a helmet.

[Kabooa]

You asked specifically for variations at end game. Those the suggestions I offered, and if dual short spears aren't different enough, than neither are dual swords because that's covered by paladins.

[Llugen]

I know about Lewis Carrol's Jabberwock. It's the reason my character is called Jabberwock. ...................... Also I don't know what Runic Knight is...but this is a DPS not a Tank.

Wasn't me, br0, just trying to help you out. You appeared to be confused by your own inspiration. It's the first line of the poem lol

I foresee them making a Tank and a Healer job for the next expansion since they did two DPS this one, but there is a possibility that they might do one of each (they said that the toll on making 3 jobs in Heavensward was very great and that they never wanted to attempt 3 jobs in the same expansion ever again, so my guess is they would not do 3.)

Furthermore, even if they DID add another DPS my guess is it would much sooner be a Ranged Physical DPS since there are only 2 in that role category, while casters have 3 now and Melee have 4 now. Therefore, It would be highly likely that they would do BLU as a tank.

[Ekimmak]

I don't see Blue Mage ever making it in, because they're even more of a mixed up jack of all trades than Red Mage is.

The class design is getting hit (tanking), to learn new attacks (dps), but it also happens to have White Wind, an oddly potent healing spell.

It just doesn't sound plausible for an MMO built to adhere so strongly to the holy trinity.

[s3ystic]

So you posted this expecting everyone to go "OH! WOW! HOW AWESOME! COOL PICTURE MAN!" However you mistakenly asked people to like the concept of a Bluemage along side of your picture. This was a mistake. I see you starting to take the Bluemage criticism as criticism against your picture. Next time just say "Hey dudes look at this Bluemage fan art I did" and you might get the response you were looking for. Also, if you can't take criticism from any source its best to keep your work to yourself until you do.

That being said: Nice picture.

However: I don't agree with it as a basis for a BLU class. Again this is not an attack on your picture. It is a nice picture, but when my mind goes to BLU i think of hammers, whips and a single sword which have all been traditional weapons for BLU mages (A quick google and wiki will pack up these claims.) The dual wielding BLU was a FF14 construct. And your picture looks to be very FF11 inspired, which is fine, again... it is a nice picture. I however want to see BLU be something a bit different than its 11 incarnation. To fit in the mechanics of this world I want it to be a tank, get hit by attacks, then cast spells in retaliation to how much damage it is tanking. I want it to have a Blue+Beast thing going on ... Somewhat related to a Barbarian, like ff14 Raubahn but NOT Raubahn. Hammers work, I would LOVE to see a whip, but I don't ever expect a MMO to ever uses whips for anything because they are complicated to animate (but it would be cool, like Quistis.) I think the Blue mage, like the Red mage, needs a easy way to combine their spells with their weapon. For the most part, the weapon has always been secondary in Blue mage lore. As such I still think it should be a weapon that is wielded with one hand, to be freed up for a casting hand. Or the idea I had bouncing around was its main weapon being a MASK, not one you wear, but an over sized shield that looks like a mask (Since blue masks were the core aesthetic of the Blue-mage.) Which would be a fresh take on the Blue mages mask of traditional lore. It gets hit, you cast spells from it (Like a magic mirror.) That would be cool to me.

So let me state again. Nice picture.

No I do not like the concept of it being a BLU in this game. Most of FF11s stuff really only only works in the context of FF11. Which is how that game has kept its relevancy to this day.

For more information on blue-mages and to help with your research I would suggest: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Mage ... as a start, as this is the bread and butter for Blu and something I am sure the FF14 team looks too (the history, not the wiki) when it comes to balancing the traditional with the modern.

However I have a sneaking suspicion that all this is going to get is a rebuttal, and not so much collaborative discussion. So this was mostly for entertainment purposes. Regardless, have a nice day.

[GDofLevin]

So you posted this expecting everyone to go "OH! WOW! HOW AWESOME! COOL PICTURE MAN!" However you mistakenly asked people to like the concept of a Bluemage along side of your picture.

Strange I didn't know you were a mind reader and knew exactly what I'm thinking. That being said. It was never my intention at all. My intention was to garner support for a Blue Mage class to be implemented in FFXIV. I never asked for people to 'Like' the concept of Blue Mage I merely assumed that anyone who knew or wanted to know about Blue Mage would be intrigued.