Ty SE for BLM changes!

[Jeeqbit]

This change has made me curious about playing BLM.

That is not unexpected.

Most likely, all the existing BLMs will either switch job or quit the game (if they didn't already do one of these things).

But they will likely be replaced by a lot of people trying out the casual version of BLM. And the rates of people playing BLM will likely get higher than they have ever been (it's always been one of the least used jobs statistically as far as I can see).

Obviously, SE knows that. And Yoshi-P knows the meaning of these changes to people because he mains the job. The only reason it probably took this long was because he had to come to terms with reworking his own job.

[Auro_Seldaris]

That is not unexpected.

Most likely, all the existing BLMs will either switch job or quit the game (if they didn't already do one of these things).

But they will likely be replaced by a lot of people trying out the casual version of BLM. And the rates of people playing BLM will likely get higher than they have ever been (it's always been one of the least used jobs statistically as far as I can see).

Obviously, SE knows that. And Yoshi-P knows the meaning of these changes to people because he mains the job. The only reason it probably took this long was because he had to come to terms with reworking his own job.

So, he's willing to literally throw away one paying customer to make another one, who is already paying by the way, try out a different job. Not even make it their new main... just TRY it. And they'll inevitably just go back to whatever it was they were using as their main when they realize it's still too much trouble for them, over braindead SMN or PCT.

By my math, that's a net loss of one player. Good thinking, I see now why he's the God of Videogames.

[Carin-Eri]

So, he's willing to literally throw away one paying customer to make another one, who is already paying by the way, try out a different job. By my math, that's a net loss of one player. Good thinking, I see now why he's the God of Videogames.

Okay - don't get me wrong, I can see why you're angry, honestly.

But, by the same token, does the fact that I'm considering trying a job that I was, four years ago, not interested in change anything or are we all supposed to boycott this change in the hopes that YoshiP will rewind it? I mean, that hasn't worked in the case of SAM's Kaiten so far.

[Fawkes]

Most likely, all the existing BLMs will either switch job or quit the game (if they didn't already do one of these things).

But they will likely be replaced by a lot of people trying out the casual version of BLM. And the rates of people playing BLM will likely get higher than they have ever been (it's always been one of the least used jobs statistically as far as I can see).

Nah, most people will stick with it, it's just the squeaky wheels here that might quit playing it.

And I don't think any of these changes will draw people in, only minmaxers are going to feel any difference in play. Us goobers that don't like playing BLM already aren't going to notice a difference.

[Auro_Seldaris]

Nah, most people will stick with it, it's just the squeaky wheels here that might quit playing it.

And I don't think any of these changes will draw people in, only minmaxers are going to feel any difference in play. Us goobers that don't like playing BLM already aren't going to notice a difference.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, friend. Perhaps you should choose a different metaphor.

[Illianaro]

Nah, most people will stick with it, it's just the squeaky wheels here that might quit playing it.

And I don't think any of these changes will draw people in, only minmaxers are going to feel any difference in play. Us goobers that don't like playing BLM already aren't going to notice a difference.

Which brings me back to the question I keep asking myself: For whom are these changes being made?

Is it for the people who have no interest in playing it, the "goobers who don't like playing BLM"? If so, will that actually draw an appreciable increase in the population of BLM players? Has designing jobs around the people who don't care about them actually drawn them in in the past?

Is it for the min/maxers who have obtained mastery of - and love for - BLM as it already existed? If so, how many will stay on BLM as opposed to those who will switch to something else or - in some cases - outright quit the game over these changes?

Is it for the people in between those extremes like myself, who mostly leveled BLM because I'm a completionist who wants to get all my jobs leveled? Because from my perspective, I grew to love BLM and derived joy from gaining a strong degree of mastery over the job.

Is it for the people who will play savage? If so, how will that affect how non-savage content feels to play?

Or is it for some new purpose? Are they preparing for the 8.0 rework, and is the plan to, instead of "restore" job identity, rather give jobs new identities? Is the new identity no longer "turret mage" but "explody boom boom mage?"

I don't know, and I don't pretend to know the answers to all these questions. I'm just confused.

[Jeeqbit]

Nah, most people will stick with it, it's just the squeaky wheels here that might quit playing it.

It's not the squeaky wheels here. Literally I met lots of people in the game itself the last week that are sad at the changes. I met them in dungeons, PUGs I was in, chat spaces in the game, and any Black Mage mains I've known in the past valued the way it was because planning their movement was the whole point for them.

I don't think any of these changes will draw people in

The reason I believe it will draw people in, is because of what I see in ARR. I see lots of new players pick up Thaumaturge and become a Black Mage. But I do not continue to see them using Black Mage when they reach level 60, and the reason is obvious.

Now that it's changed, those new players will likely continue using it, and that's why I think we will see more of them now.

[Absurdity]

That is not unexpected.

Most likely, all the existing BLMs will either switch job or quit the game (if they didn't already do one of these things).

But they will likely be replaced by a lot of people trying out the casual version of BLM. And the rates of people playing BLM will likely get higher than they have ever been (it's always been one of the least used jobs statistically as far as I can see).

Obviously, SE knows that. And Yoshi-P knows the meaning of these changes to people because he mains the job. The only reason it probably took this long was because he had to come to terms with reworking his own job.

So, he's willing to literally throw away one paying customer to make another one, who is already paying by the way, try out a different job. Not even make it their new main... just TRY it. And they'll inevitably just go back to whatever it was they were using as their main when they realize it's still too much trouble for them, over braindead SMN or PCT.

By my math, that's a net loss of one player. Good thinking, I see now why he's the God of Videogames.

^ This.
These aren't "new" players, they are existing players that just didn't like the job before. And sure, they may try it out but do they actually continue to play it? And that's what you killed it's old playerbase for?
A potential net loss of a subscription just to shuffle some people from Summoner or Picto into Black Mage, most likely not even permanently.

Well, I support this strategy of slow self-destruction, GG.