Problem with BLU solutions

[Shougun]

1. Rebalance it/water it down

A lot of people would hate this. The current blue mage is exactly like blue mage. If that gets changed people would complain like they did with Dark Knight and Red Mage.

2. Give Blue Mage two versions. One balanced for solo play, and one for group play.
Nah. Not only would it be too much work, it wouldn't be pracitcal. Where would you learn how to use group blue mage? You wouldn't have the same rotation. Hell, at this point we don't even know if blue mage has a rotation at all? With different traits and abilities it will be like a different job you never played. You can't fight raids with a job you can't use. Or at the very least you shouldn't.

Both of these take a lot of work, especially since they're already onto one direction but I feel you're overvaluing the issue for #2. Cause I mean.. the good players will still learn their class and the bad ones still wont care.. so its just like a normal day in duty finder lol.

I feel besides the work involved #2 isn't an issue, the work required of course being substantial though. Personally I think they can meld the two versions together, for example in that blue mage book we saw - some of those skills would be highlighted to show they're available and required for duty finder (can't join without), some combat mechanics revolve around these sets. When you go solo you can replace some of the skills with the non-balanced versions which will buff your character and skills, the rules for replacement could simply (lol, maybe not that simple) be by category. Like you can have 8 unique spells, 4 replace your oGCDs, 2 replace your combos, 2 replace your debuffs. Slotting in Stool Pelt enhances bad breath, and gives the Blue Mage x% stat boost.

If people played FFXI then it's basically that but with a few more rules, to avoid blue mages without skills you need, and to allow OP unbalanced skills while also making it so SE doesn't need to balance 49++ abilities. Not that I'm saying the above is "perfect" or "easy". Just I strongly believe it could work.

As an FFXI player, I vote for this option.

Of culture I see . I know there have been a lot of moments but one of my more favorite was back when penta thrust gave way too much TP with Samurai passives and you could just penta for days lol.