Ty SE for BLM changes!

[Carin-Eri]

Hello fellow wizards! I just wanted to chime in as a new Black Mage player (as of 7.2), I am very happy with the changes. I tried black mage a few times this expansion and I just COULD NOT keep up my enochian timer or manage these procs. I'm so glad that SE has finally listened to the players and made the job more accessible and EVEN MAKING IT STRONGER (Take that artist mains). I know they nerfed leylines to 20s, but honestly it doesn't seem too bad because you never really got the full duration of it anyway (damn aoe mechanics)

I always used to default to spamming the Ice combos because I kept running out of mana using the fire combos for some reason, so I still have a ways to go before I master all the elements, but I'm super excited to see one of my favorite jobs getting the love it deserves. How do you all feel about these changes?

Whilst my view here is liable to be unpopular, I'm going to say it anyway.

This change has made me curious about playing BLM. I tried Thaumaturge, briefly, back when I started playing the game. I hated it. I won't go into why as it doesn't really matter, but the fact is I haven't looked at it since that time - but I may take another look at it with these changes implemented.

[ForsakenRoe]

It's possible BLM being immobile was no longer possible to really design every encounter around, I am guessing. But we will see.

I personally found it to be too much effort compared to other jobs doing similar numbers, but sorry for those who really enjoyed the challenge. I'm not really sure what is supposed to keep the job unique at this point.

BLM was far from immobile, its mobility just required a bit of pre-planning and saving up tools in preparation. Like, I thought it was possible to do 14 GCDs in a row of mobility (25ish seconds), but I then got corrected by someone who knows BLM more than me, who says it was possible in 7.1 to bank up to about 55s of pure movement.

If anything, it's RDM that is the 'immobile' caster, and has been for a while

[Auro_Seldaris]

It's possible BLM being immobile was no longer possible to really design every encounter around, I am guessing. But we will see.

I personally found it to be too much effort compared to other jobs doing similar numbers, but sorry for those who really enjoyed the challenge. I'm not really sure what is supposed to keep the job unique at this point.

This is my hypothesis: "new and improved encounter design" just means "Faster", BLM too slow for new design, therefore BLM need fix. This is fix. Yay.

Whilst my view here is liable to be unpopular, I'm going to say it anyway.

This change has made me curious about playing BLM. I tried Thaumaturge, briefly, back when I started playing the game. I hated it. I won't go into why as it doesn't really matter, but the fact is I haven't looked at it since that time - but I may take another look at it with these changes implemented.

Is it just not possible for people to accept and admit to themselves that something just might not be for them? Must everything be turned into the same homogenous grey goo before everyone is satisfied? Great, you're going to play it more. That's nice for you. Meanwhile, I, a BLM main since I started in HW? I'm unsubbing because of it. SE could have had two players, but now they've chosen to only have one of us subbed. Bravo, Yoshida.

[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.

[Carin-Eri]

This is my hypothesis: "new and improved encounter design" just means "Faster", BLM too slow for new design, therefore BLM need fix. This is fix. Yay.



Is it just not possible for people to accept and admit to themselves that something just might not be for them? Must everything be turned into the same homogenous grey goo before everyone is satisfied? Great, you're going to play it more. That's nice for you. Meanwhile, I, a BLM main since I started in HW? I'm unsubbing because of it. SE could have had two players, but now they've chosen to only have one of us subbed. Bravo, Yoshida.

No, not going to "play it more" - that's not what I said.

I said I'm more liable to reconsider trying it.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.