Don't change Black Mage too much

[Caseal]

There is a serious problem if players are afraid of job changes instead of being excited for them in a new expansion

[Elissar]

There is a serious problem if players are afraid of job changes instead of being excited for them in a new expansion

As a lv16 lancer you really know about it

[Keichi]

There is a serious problem if players are afraid of job changes instead of being excited for them in a new expansion

Changes will coming allways. That is clear. No class is the same, as like 2.0 and more. The blm isnt even the same yet, as he was in shadowbringer (he had some nice changes, like Enochian, who was a activ skill to press, for than using fire 4 and so one, it was a little pain to use and was sometimes forgotten).
But, the "fear" of big changes comes from the problem, that the class is than maybe not anymore like the main player liked him.
Whe had some nice changes (at last did i like the rework from CL monk to Beast chakra monk). Some ok changes (the change from paladin is somethinbg, that some people like, some dislike). And some bad/questionable changes (like summoner).
Changing the base concept of a class could create the problem, that the old players dont like the new version anymore. Or lose the ability to play the class (i have no idea anymore, how to use the summoner, after the rework). And some classes never recover from the big changes. Like the bard. Who had like 2-3 bigger changes and is yet something, that simply dont feel complet anymore (to less archer bard, to less support/bard part, he is make low dmgh and at the same time are his buffs not feeling so strong).

So, there are reasons, to wish no big changes for a class. And when whe think about it, that the officiel reason for changing dragoon is, that the devs reached a dead end and stated, that they dont know, how to evolve him futher (at last is it, what i heared), is it not to fare away, that the blm could be one of the next classes. Who could have a bigger rework.
Like people stated in this thread, did he feel mostly completted and feels like, to have little room for improvement.

[dsgawwewerfw]

Actually make Scathe a ten seconds cast time big damage spell or something

[Eraden]

Actually make Scathe a ten seconds cast time big damage spell or something

Mao thinkings is maybe not such a good idea. Mao needs Scathe for when hunts trains get so large that Mao only has time for one instant cast spell before A-Rank monster dies. Is good idea to has really huge long casting spell though. Just needs to be separate spell from Scathe. Mao suggests callings it "DRAGON SLAAAAAAVE". Also, if gonna has much damage, spell might need much setup to be allowed to access casting or else will make BLMs much OP.

[Canadane]

How about a trait that amplifies ley lines so it will affect the spell speed of anyone in them.

[ZiraZ]

How about a trait that amplifies ley lines so it will affect the spell speed of anyone in them.

Pandoras box of the most cursed 2min meta imaginable where nobody wants to do mechanics during 2mins so delaying 2mins needs to become the norm just to end up destroying half the jobs rotations anyways requiring all those jobs to know how to reset their loops.
Also BLM personal dps now needs to take a huge hit and you gotta pray people go into your circle while things are happening, but also now there is 20 puddles baited on top of the ley lines woops.

[VictorSpoils]

The solution is simple:

Buff Blackmage

:^)

[Keichi]

Actually make Scathe a ten seconds cast time big damage spell or something

Questionable.
It has more or less the same function, like many meele's lvl 15 distance attack has.
A weak, fast to use skill for distance or for using in movement. So, that you can attack, when there is no time to cast.

It looks to have his use in low level content (similary to sleep, who has his use in solo content, before you have aoe attacks), but lose his purpose very fast in higher content.
A upgrade of the spell could be nice. But, whe have allready flare, despaire, foul and xeno-something (can not remember the whole name^^), who fill his role now. A upgrade to a casting spell didnt look logical. And, it has to be weaker, as foul and xeno, and all casting spells, because, otherwise had whe no reason to not spam the instance spell all the time. ANd like Mao say, did whe "need" a instance spell for the hunt trains, where the bosses are dead in less than 2 seconds.^^
Im not sure, but the only upgrade for scathe would probally be one, to increase its potency to 200 or 250. And i dont think, that even that would make it to a usefull tool (maybe, its a spell, that whe could truly lose, for making place for other spell).

[dsgawwewerfw]

You've got enough instants to keep running for fourty seconds straight without stopping your gcd already
It's only tight if you want to use instants for massive damage instead of movement