BLU normalization suggestion

[Jimothy]

As we all know, BLU is currently a limited job as it's been stated that the job has been too difficult to normalize/fit into the standard meta without losing that BLU feel.
I know I'm not alone, however, in desperately wanting to be able to play BLU as my main, through MSQ, through roulettes, through progression, etc., and for that to ever happen, we'll need it to be normalize-able.
With that in mind, I've a bare-bones suggestion that's probably completely unoriginal that I'd like to put out there for derision and scorn - start BLU off, when first picked up, as-is, but set Aetherial Mimicry as a "required" spell to become a "normal" class. With the new Mimicry, FAR more spells should be affected, including not just buffs but debuffs, as well - as an example, Tank mimicry would debuff healing done across the board, and debuff many of the large DPS spells, (or whatever else is necessary to bring the BLUtank in line with mainline tanks.) Same idea for BLUheals and BLUPS.
Once a BLU is in the updated mimicry state, they are able to queue, run MSQ, etc. (If it's an issue, maybe lock spells during roulette instances?)
(Possibly give a toggle to stay a "regular" BLU, keeping the current Aetherial Mimicry effects?)

Ok - Thank you sir, may I have another?

[Nethereal]

"Not keeping the Blu feel" is the lesser evil. Blu simply can't operate inside regular content because regular content is balanced around the holy trinity.
A class that can casually swap between the three roles simply can't exist in content like that without either
A. Being broken, or B. Being nerfed into the ground.

If Blu was nerfed into the ground it wouldn't be fun so they went the opposite direction. The whole class is an experiment.

Outside those two options Blu would need to be entirely reworked or they would need to rework everything that was balanced around the trinity.
(Which wouldn't be so bad if they had future proof labels attached to their data/codes but they probably don't.)

[CaptainLagbeard]

In order to make Blue Mage into a regular class, they'd need to overhaul it entirely.

Just for starters, the entirety of the Blue Magic Spellbook would need to be removed, they'd just learn a set of specific spells as they level like a normal class would.
Most of the spells they have would lose their effects. Just a simple DoT or two, maybe a short 5% Vuln up with a 60 sec CD...

If they started to try turn it into a regular class, it'd probably be just about what Summoner is currently, except no Egi or trance.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Keep it the way it is.
If it was a NORMAL job, it wouldn't be as fun. Many of the Skills wouldn't be as good as they are because they would be Gutted to be "Balanced" It might even lose over half of that Spellbook because of how they would have to introduce and teach you Spells.

And I think YoshiP mentioned that Bluemage works the way it does, because if a Bluemage gets into a Group and doesn't have X skill, then they could be kicked and can't play the job or the content. Bluemage as a concept is tricky for an MMO, but people wanted it so badly, so they made it the best way they could while keeping its identity across the FF-Series. Results?...a bloody mess. But hey, at least its not COMPLETELY useless.

[Lanadra]

If you play BLU you accept it as it currently is. Because the only way to make BLU work for mainline content.. is to gut it and kill all that makes BLU unique. You're not ever going to get access to everything with BLU as it is now.

[CaptainLagbeard]

Let's humor the idea of turning Blue Mage into a regular job... Because why not..
Let's look at the list of Blue Mage spells to see which ones would absolutely have to be taken out of the class to even start, due to certain status effects included in them or certain mechanics involved.

Here's a complete list

High Voltage
Final Sting
Glower
Bristle
White Wind
Level 5 Petrify
Ice Spikes
Self-Destruct
Transfusion
Faze
Snort
4-Tonze Weight
The Look
Bad Breath
Diamondback
Sticky Tongue
The Ram's Voice
The Dragon's Voice
Missile
1000 Needles
Moon Flute
Tail Screw
Mind Blast
Doom
Peculiar Light
Feather Rain
Protean Wave
Northerlies
Abyssal Transfixion
Eerie Soundwave
Avail
Frog Legs
Whistle
Black Knight's Tour
White Knight's Tour
Level 5 Death
Launcher
Perpetual Ray
Devour
Reflux
Condensed Libra
Aetherical Mimicry
Tingle
Cold Fog
Angel's Snack
Chelonian Gate
Ultravibration
Basic Instinct
Dragon Force
Hydro Pull
Malediction of Water
Matra Magic
Peripheral Synthesis

And then most of the Trial boss attacks would also probably have to be nerfed as well with longer cooldowns and lower potency...

[Kadhe]

The problem is that you're thinking of BLU as a job. You should be thinking of it as content. Collect all the actions, beat all the challenge stages, collaborate with other BLUs and work out how to use your unique toolkit to resolve mechanics in old fights. BLU isn't a job. It's just a thing to do.

[SamsonBlacke]

BLU is fine as it is

[Blueyes]

Let me try to set things straight here.

The simplest solution to make it feasible for Blue Mage to participate in all content is to utilize a tool that SE has already created: Basic Instinct.

Allow Basic Instinct to be used for the Masked Carnival and the Blue Mage Log, in addition to the normal solo duty rule. This would be essentially identical to current Blue Mage. Everyone who is satisfied with the current Blue Mage can continue to enjoy it the same as always.

In any situation where Basic Instinct can't be used, which would be all other content the game has to offer, including Duty Finder, Blue Mage would essentially be "toned down" due to the absence of Basic Instinct. Certain spells that would be considered game breaking would no longer be an issue because those spells would be made reliant on Basic Instinct to achieve their full strength.

Nothing has to be removed. Nothing has to be cut. It's entirely possible for Blue Mage to remain "as is" while simultaneously opening the door for more players to enjoy it.