Redesigning fire 1

[Metallus]

F1, despite still being an important spell for our rotation ("fast" spell for refreshing AF and fishing for F3 procs), looks out of place and outdated at max level. It's like an AST casting malefic 1 at lv70.

It would be nice to get an updated animation on this spell, like AST goes from malefic I to III but there could be some problems arising with the current nomenclature (eg we already have fire 2-3-4 which aren't an upgrade but completely different spells).

A solution could be re-designing F3 to be a direct replacement of F1.
- F3: replaces F1, has 180 potency and 40% chance to let you cast an upgraded version of F3 which is instant and has 260 potency (same mana cost as F1).

However, this would also affect the swap time between AF and UI which would be accelerated and easier (remember, current F3 has 3.5s cast time). I don't think this would make anyone unhappy, but if you wanted to keep things as they currently are, then an ulterior change would be to reduce the amount of haste given by UI for fire spells or AF for ice spells. This way, mechanically nothing changes.

This change could be applied to B1 -> B3 as well with no difference in gameplay. This way we'd have B1, F1 and T1 which get replaced by B3, F3, T3 and make it feel more coherent during level progression.

What do you think about this? Have additional ideas?

[Kabooa]

It effectively changes nothing beyond having less initial time in AF. You lose about half a second of dead time with F3 being 1.25 transition instead of 1.75. I honestly don't see a point.

[Metallus]

It effectively changes nothing beyond having less initial time in AF. You lose about half a second of dead time with F3 being 1.25 transition instead of 1.75. I honestly don't see a point.

The point is updating the animation of Fire 1 while not modifying the gameplay at all. By saying that nothing would change you are confirming that this change only affects the animation, which is the only thing I'm looking for.

[Seraphor]

The point is updating the animation of Fire 1 while not modifying the gameplay at all. By saying that nothing would change you are confirming that this change only affects the animation, which is the only thing I'm looking for.

Fire V
Lv. 72 Spell
1s Cast
2.5s Recast
1000 MP
Deals fire damage with a potency of 200.
Replaces Fire when under effect of Astral Fire III.
Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire or removes Umbral Ice
Duration: 13s
Additional Effect: 40% chance next Fire III will cost no MP and have no casting time
Duration: 18s

[Kabooa]

The point is updating the animation of Fire 1 while not modifying the gameplay at all. By saying that nothing would change you are confirming that this change only affects the animation, which is the only thing I'm looking for.

I'd rather not be given the white mage treatment, where one of our valuable ability / trait slots on level up just changes our animation.

[Metallus]

I'd rather not be given the white mage treatment, where one of our valuable ability / trait slots on level up just changes our animation.

Uhm so? What would you like to get? Mine is practically only a visual update suggestion, while trying not to alter the gameplay or nomenclature of blm spells. Are you against this change for some particular reason if it doesn't change anything for you beside looking better?

[Grimoire-M]

Uhm so? What would you like to get? Mine is practically only a visual update suggestion, while trying not to alter the gameplay or nomenclature of blm spells. Are you against this change for some particular reason if it doesn't change anything for you beside looking better?

BLM could see some gameplay updates to be honest. They just need to be minor.

For example, imagine if Fire V was instant cast with a 1.5s recast time and dealt damage with a potency of 140, but otherwise replaced Fire I. This would accelerate the standard rotation by a second and give BLM a minor mobility and singleweaving option that comes at the cost of DPS if you spam it, and you're especially not encouraged to use it as it still robs you of MP for Fire IVs, though if you get a firestarter proc you can use it to preserve your MP and maintain slightly more DPS than pure F5 spam. However, it would in effect restore the ARR style of BLM in a faster and less clunky form than it was originally, but only in situations where you simply need that much mobility in order for your rotation to work, and it would still be better to rely on Swift/Sharp/Triplecast to get around those problems as F4 is the better spell by far, just easier for BLMs in prog to adapt without those cooldowns.

[Sylvain]

With a small change to F3 visual that'd be nice (I mean, it looks like a smoke fart...)

[Zerathor]

Idk, I kind of enjoy the comedic value of all those giant animated explosions having one tiny fire 1 wack weaved in there.

[gumas]

if you are talking visually yeah it does a little bit flimsy, fire 1 spell is basically copy pasta of that fire wisp that you fight in sastasha dungeon (your first dungeon) where you get this a lot of fire wisp with the clamp shell (you know which one)

and when you cast it, it didnt even go straight lol it does this wobbly animation like the spell is cast in novice way or some sort.

but it has the charm i must say