My Idea For Fixing Blue Mage

[Aurturia]

We don't have to wait for the release, we already know that BLU is not what we wanted.

People wanted BLU as a new job, and they added BLU because of these people who were asking for it. But they don't add it as a job, they add it as a minigame. They targeted the wrong audience, regardless of how fun BLU might me.


And honestly: We knew before 4.0 release that the class changes for WHM and DRK would suck, we knew that the adding of Shirogane will be a mess, we knew that the greed-only loot rule in 24 man raids would not work, we knew months ahead that Eureka will just be another Diadem... We don't (always) have to wait for the release...

We also all knew that blue mage was never going to work as a proper job in this game, no other job gets any sort of customization because that's just how the balance is built in this game. The real problem of blue being op was never going to be a single spell like death, it's finding the combination of skills to maximize personal damage and group utility. Imagine black mage damage with bard utility and a tank stance that lets you eat just enough damage to possibly skip a mechanic. This is the reason you can't customize, especially from such a large pool of skills. My example may be a bit exaggerated, yoshi's death example was too, but the point stands. The balance of this game won't allow blue mage that sort of customization.

[ReiMakoto]

We also all knew that blue mage was never going to work as a proper job in this game, no other job gets any sort of customization because that's just how the balance is built in this game. The real problem of blue being op was never going to be a single spell like death, it's finding the combination of skills to maximize personal damage and group utility. Imagine black mage damage with bard utility and a tank stance that lets you eat just enough damage to possibly skip a mechanic. This is the reason you can't customize, especially from such a large pool of skills. My example may be a bit exaggerated, yoshi's death example was too, but the point stands. The balance of this game won't allow blue mage that sort of customization.

If you've seen the BLU skill list theres a very blindingly obvious best skill combination though, the rest of them are incredibly situational or just reskins of other skills

[Shougun]

We don't have to wait for the release, we already know that BLU is not what we wanted.

People wanted BLU as a new job, and they added BLU because of these people who were asking for it. But they don't add it as a job, they add it as a minigame. They targeted the wrong audience, regardless of how fun BLU might me.


And honestly: We knew before 4.0 release that the class changes for WHM and DRK would suck, we knew that the adding of Shirogane will be a mess, we knew that the greed-only loot rule in 24 man raids would not work, we knew months ahead that Eureka will just be another Diadem... We don't (always) have to wait for the release...

I think that part annoys me most, since if they wanted to add this sort of solo content they could have done so with something entirely new. I'm happy some people want that new way to play the game solo content (maybe, it's not clear blue mage is "that" solo friendly). I was sort of excited when I thought it was going to be true to form 1:1 OP spells with extremely strong solo ability but seeing the leaks I'm not sure (they don't look that OP and the fact you need groups for a lot of stuff probably means they're not that strong, will still wait before scoffing though it's literally on our doorstep to wait for lol).

Either way though those who are satisfied for this "new way to approach the game" probably would have been fine with any other job - meanwhile those who wanted Blue Mage to be a job to play as one are now praying they'll make it both limited and not or just abandon all hope (able to be weird and also become balanced).

We also all knew that blue mage was never going to work as a proper job in this game, no other job gets any sort of customization because that's just how the balance is built in this game. The real problem of blue being op was never going to be a single spell like death, it's finding the combination of skills to maximize personal damage and group utility. Imagine black mage damage with bard utility and a tank stance that lets you eat just enough damage to possibly skip a mechanic. This is the reason you can't customize, especially from such a large pool of skills. My example may be a bit exaggerated, yoshi's death example was too, but the point stands. The balance of this game won't allow blue mage that sort of customization.

I don't believe the core of Blue Mage is customization though, besides FFXI that's not been blue mage's "thing". In a FF with jobs that also had blue mage the spell lists have been quite long, and the learning generally open. Learning from monsters and using monster spells is Blue Mage's thing. Cannot agree to a concept that Blue Mage couldn't be implemented just because of customization as that's not Blue Mage (imo).

Although - I think they have the opportunity to give Blue Mage a silly long spell list (limited) AND allow them into duty finder by allowing Blue Mage to be both (limited and not), which could be really interesting I suppose. Really hoping they take a subset of the skills you can learn and turn it into a valid job (balanced for duty finder).. I think that'd actually go beyond my original hopes for Blue Mage in this game (if they were able to have a customized non-df content (circus, pf, etc) and also a limited df part).

First, to have a fix, there has to be a problem, and you'd have a hard time finding a real consensus wether there's a problem or not, and if so, what is the problem..

While I agree the how to fix might be disorganized I'd argue strongly that the problem is exceptionally consistent with people (they want it to work in DF). So I think the consensus on problem is actually extremely clear, for those who have a problem at least. Not everyone has a problem of course; however, everyone doesn't need to agree one exists for one to be so - otherwise very very few problems in the world exist lol (since unanimity or even majority agreement is rare).

Another thing to add to that is most of the people I've read (having read almost all the threads about blue mage here) who want DF are not asking for the solo/SE aspect to be destroyed so in many situations the two groups (those who like SE's version/those who don't) are only at odds with each other in very limited fashions.

Let the job go live first please. There are more important things to worry about at this point. Like drama in the field from people over camping mobs and B-ranks for spells and someone drive-by kill stealing your mob while you wait for it to use the ability you want to learn. Unlike FFXI, all enemies are fair game and any anti-BLU troll or general a-hole can run up and kill your claimed mob. That's the only thing I'm worried about.

That sounds very aggravating lol.. Hopefully that doesn't become a wide spread issue.

[Seraphor]

I'd like to agree with you, but the skills datamined provide a fairly balanced rotation, with the only thing pushing it into unbalanced being peculiar light being a 30% magic vuln (Seriously 30%). The rest of the abilities seem to form together to make a neat interesting rotation and skillset, so the question arises, if they do have this fairly balanced rotation (excluding peculiar light which could just be tuned down) why should it be exempt from stuff?

Edit: Readability

I cant see a neat and balanced rotation myself.
I see a couple of combos, and a few spells you could string together in a way that consensus could deem optimal, but without MP costs or cooldowns its still up in the air atm.

[ReiMakoto]

I cant see a neat and balanced rotation myself.
I see a couple of combos, and a few spells you could string together in a way that consensus could deem optimal, but without MP costs or cooldowns its still up in the air atm.

Here's one I prepared earlier: https://imgur.com/a/aM0qhyM
As you said earlier with mana costs its all up in the air, but this seems solid to me atm.

[splinter1545]

It's good to know that people are coming up with fixes for things we haven't even touched yet.

[Krokov]

How can something need fixed when it hasn't even gone live yet and been utilized by the players?

[DamianFatale]

What if I were to tell you that you could have had what you wanted without sacrificing access to content? It's not so far fetched of an idea as you might think.

Agreed. Im starting to think people aren't against fixing problems like this in the game, but instead troll, because they are annoyed with fans talking about it in the forums. They seem to think that shutting us up, and derailing our threads is going to make it better for themselves, when it negates constructive discussion, and derails potential dialogue in the process.

[Reynhart]

Agreed. Im starting to think people aren't against fixing problems like this in the game, but instead troll, because they are annoyed with fans talking about it in the forums.

A problem is that lots of "fix" threads are simply "wishlist" threads. First, to have a fix, there has to be a problem, and you'd have a hard time finding a real consensus wether there's a problem or not, and if so, what is the problem.

And, like I said, your suggestions would not really fix anything regarding the reason why BLU is this way.

I'm personally more interested in a job that breaks the mold of FFXIV, even at the cost of being denied matchmaking. But I'm still puzzled why the MSQ is restricted...

[RukiaFae]

A problem is that lots of "fix" threads are simply "wishlist" threads. First, to have a fix, there has to be a problem, and you'd have a hard time finding a real consensus wether there's a problem ornot, and if so, what is the problem.

And, like I said, your suggestions would not really fix anything regarding the reason why BLU is this way.

I'm personally more interested in a job that breaks the mold of FFXIV, even at the cost of being denied matchmaking. But I'm still puzzled why the MSQ is restricted...

My guess on the story part is because right now you really wouldn't have much story to complete. You can't unlock the job until you finish 2.0 so you could only do 2.1 to 2.5 story until the cap is increased. So that may change when it is increased to lvl 60