So I went ahead and fixed the BLM spell system for ya.

[Deltara]

Ok, I've posted a simplified version of this elsewhere but felt that it was a little buried under a different thread. I'm pretty short and to the point, so make adjustments if you think it is necessary.

My system is simple enough that anyone can use it, but complex enough that people won't get bored casting thunder thundara all the time.

The Basics:

Any Tier 1 elemental spell can combo with any tier 2 elemental spell, regardless of the element. (and probably with T3s and so on) Depending on the combo, a mage can choose to do straight damage, or damage with status effects thrown in as a combo bonus.

So casting Fire > Fira would be for pure Fire damage. Mixing the combo with another element would decrease the damage of the T2 spell but add a status effect. Damage decreased and status effect strength would vary depending on whether the combo was a pure astral combo, pure umbral combo, or a mixed astral/umbral combo.

Example:

Fire Astral Combos:

Fire > Fira (Highest damage fire combo)
Fire > Thundara (Moderate damage + Moderate Stun effect)
Fire > Aera (Moderate damage + Moderate Silence effect)

Fire Umbral Combos:

Fire > Stonera (High damage + Weak Petrify effect)
Fire > Blizzara (High damage + Weak Bind effect)
Fire > Watera (High damage + Weak Blind effect)

------------------------------------

Earth Umbral Combos

Stone > Stonera (Highest damage stone combo)
Stone > Blizzara (Moderate damage + Moderate Bind effect)
Stone > Watera (Moderate damage + Moderate Blind effect)

Earth Astral Combos

Stone > Fira (High damage + Weak Amnesia/Pacification effect)
Stone > Thundara (High damage + Weak Stun effect)
Stone > Aera (High damage + Weak Silence effect)

And so on for all the elements. This system would flourish were black mage to receive the entire elemental wheel, as is come to be expected from a final fantasy title. (but this thread is not demanding that, only providing a theoretical fix to the broken and boring spell system)


Thoughts:

This system would create versatility in a job that currently has absolutely none. (Though admittedly the THM/BLM is already taking over all parties endgame right now)

This is not a suggestion to make the job stronger, merely a suggestion to make it more fun and strategic. I would actually be for lowering the damage output of the job if needed to make up for any perceived overpowerdness of this setup.

Sorry guys, I'm just tired of the thunder thunder thunder.

[Duelle]

I think BLM would have to be fixed lore-wise before we can talk about fixing the magic system. Your suggestion keeps this in mind. Ideally, BLM and WHM should both stem from CON, and then two other jobs would stem from THM (my own picks would be Oracle/Mystic and Necromancer).

That being said, the concept of elements building on each other is not a bad thing. The fact that they went the Suikoden route with elements (water being healing spells, fire being AoE and Lighting being single-target, for example) is what feels a bit odd.