Thread: Blue mage at patch 4.5

Originally Posted by Stormfur

When they say it's "not tied to any class" - what does that mean? Do they just mean it starts as its own job like SAM/RDM did?

Correct. They appear to be trying to separate away from the class-job system of ARR and go to a job only game. We saw this as well with DRK, AST, and MCH, and that was further pushed with the removal of the cross class system in favor of cross role. Very likely we will eventually see the devs eliminate the base classes of all jobs. Probably a goal since it will make balancing SCH and SMN easier.

Originally Posted by Nariel

I don't get the point of having a job you can't really play outside of its own duty or in anything relevant.

For the time being, it's likely both a testing phase for the developers, as well as the ability to let interested players test out the job, and learn skills before the main launch of the next expansion, meaning those people who really enjoy it can have the job ready to go.

Originally Posted by Ilenya

Can someone explain to me why the female blue mage outfit appears to have *white* thigh high boots?

The same reason why the male red mage had *black* thigh high boots. Just because.

On a serious note the blue/white serves as a contrast to red/black.

This is pure speculation on my part... but as BLU is not tied to any class, could it be a hybrid class? ie. you learn healing actions you heal, you learn defensive actions you can tank, you learn thousand needles you gouge everyone eyes out with a billion lil pricklies (dps)...?

Originally Posted by Vespar

This is pure speculation on my part... but as BLU is not tied to any class, could it be a hybrid class? ie. you learn healing actions you heal, you learn defensive actions you can tank, you learn thousand needles you gouge everyone eyes out with a billion lil pricklies (dps)...?

Just doesn't need a class requirement to unlock it. Don't confuse class (/jobs) with role (tank/heal/dps).

Originally Posted by Arrius

Just doesn't need a class requirement to unlock it. Don't confuse class (/jobs) with role (tank/heal/dps).

I wasnt confusing them. Just speculating that it could be the case. That said, it'll probably remain a DPS but be "limited" to selecting a certain amount of actions to set.

Originally Posted by Vespar

This is pure speculation on my part... but as BLU is not tied to any class, could it be a hybrid class? ie. you learn healing actions you heal, you learn defensive actions you can tank, you learn thousand needles you gouge everyone eyes out with a billion lil pricklies (dps)...?

No job released after ARR is tied to any class either. Still role-locked. Not saying BLU will follow, but if it doesn't, it's not because of its lack of base class.

Originally Posted by BillyKaplan

No job released after ARR is tied to any class either. Still role-locked. Not saying BLU will follow, but if it doesn't, it's not because of its lack of base class.

My issue with this classless base for BLU is that limited could mean that it's used in "limited content" which means it can't go into raids for 24 man raids, EX primals etc, which would really turn a lot of people off I hope that's not the case. My hopes is that we can use monster abilities to build how we wanna play (DPS/tank/healer) that way the choices are limited not the class.

Originally Posted by Awful

My issue with this classless base for BLU is that limited could mean that it's used in "limited content" which means it can't go into raids for 24 man raids, EX primals etc, which would really turn a lot of people off I hope that's not the case. My hopes is that we can use monster abilities to build how we wanna play (DPS/tank/healer) that way the choices are limited not the class.

I'm hoping that's just for now; I hope we see changes to the other classes/jobs, too, which move towards job identity over mere role identity with 5.0, making those distinctions a non-issue. Thus we eventually get a real job, rather than... leveling ourselves... as if a Kirby-chocobo.

Heck, with the trailer's 1.x flashbacks and seeming emphasis on moment-by-moment details, I'd really hoped we were going to move away from Role Actions finally, and maybe really doubling down on what makes XIV characters unique. I'm no huge fan of the XIII, XIII:LR, or X-2 systems at the far end of that extreme, but at least think that's a better direction than the utter nonsense of Role Actions. At the very least, I hope there are some well-designed and optionally very difficult solo fights that make use of that mechanic.

Design could go even further or broader that that, though. For instance, I'd like to see job changes permitted in raids as well, presumably through a raid-wide vote that siphons a bit of the permitted role pool from 3/15/6 to, say, 3/14/7. Once the role for "More healers!" succeeds, parties' individual members are allowed to volunteer for a swap, with other flagged candidates visible to them from the raid bars. Individual party members, in turn, could request to transfer out of or into a role, whenever they wanted. (Ideally, in such a world you'd want to be then be able to see their commendations, how many were in that role, their ilvls for each (non-redundant) job in role or the top three or so therein, with the one they're suggesting highlighted, and achievements generally and in-role, at a glance, but you could technically do without all that.)

Originally Posted by Vespar

This is pure speculation on my part... but as BLU is not tied to any class, could it be a hybrid class? ie. you learn healing actions you heal, you learn defensive actions you can tank, you learn thousand needles you gouge everyone eyes out with a billion lil pricklies (dps)...?

This is my hope. If it could be any role, that would be brilliant.