Black magic...kinda sucks

[Malkria]

You mean the system which already exist? Aetherial Manipulation, Between the Lines, Triplecast and Swiftcast allow for near instantaneous movement. Additionally, you can use Firestarter procs to move without losing damage. If all else fails, Scathe remains a lost resort option. Your preceding comparison with Monk would make Black Mage stupidly overpowered. On a 2.4 GCD, Greased Lightning III reduces it to 2.04. It wouldn't be unfathomable for Black Mage to broach a <2.0 GCD with a similar mechanic and enough Spell Speed, thus negating any challenge the job has whatsoever. You wouldn't need any of the aforementioned abilities, you'd simply be able to run away flinging spells with virtually no hindrance. What you're proposing is an entirely new job mechanic, not an improvement.

The MNK comparison was meant as an idea to get the concept across, because of course blindly translating greased lighting to the BLM would be stupid. Sorry, I keep forgetting putting forth alternative mechanic ideas on the internet in any game I should have fully developed, tested, and gotten feedback from three major game makers before I can put forth ideas. Thank goodness I didn't go with my original comparison to the striker gear set from the division, or I would have had people pointing out this isn't a shooter to me.

Furthermore aetherial manipulation requires you stop, locate a team member, and select them to use it. Ley lines and between the lines can only be used as often as you can have ley lines active. Swift and triple cast would only really shine for movement once you know the fight well enough to anticipate...which again makes the job less flexible if you are doing new content far behind other jobs. To which you, and others, are saying the optimal way to play the BLM is only when you have played everything else to get it on farm. Because otherwise if you go into new content with a BLM...you will be at a distinct disadvantage to other DPS classes. Because 'knowing a fight well' comes AFTER playing content and/or watching other people play content.

BLM is a turret. Like it or not, that's the job. You have one of the easiest rotations because the challenge of this job is about adapting it to the fight. It's a unique playstyle to this game, and it's completely perfect the way it is.

Which is why it had to be 'dumbed down' once already? Because it was perfect the way it was?