Not being able to chain back-to-back Fire IV's feels bad

[LilimoLimomo]

In the lead-up to 7.2, I was concerned about BLM losing the mechanics that made it intellectually stimulating. And I was so focused on that aspect that I never once thought about how the shorter cast times might impact the fundamental way it felt to cast these spells. But since the release of the update, I've had the opportunity to experience these impacts first-hand. So here's my feedback on that.

For a decade, a core part of Black Mage's game loop has involved chaining spell casts. Which is to say, you start charging a spell, and then when the spell finishes casting, you're already starting the cast of your next spell. It felt so smooth to seamlessly transition from one spell to the next, and that felt really good.

Now that smoothness is gone. When a BLM finishes casting Fire IV, there's this half-second gap until they can start casting another spell. And I can only speak for myself here, but it feels meaningfully worse than what we had before. For the first time in a decade, I finish casting a non-instant spell, and I want to cast another spell, and the game tells me, "Not yet, you've got to wait."

And that feels bad. The chained casts felt good.

Obviously there's utility in this forced gap. You could use it to move. You could use it to weave an OGCD.

But BLM doesn't need more utility of that nature. BLM already has plenty of instant cast spells to do this — many of which were DPS gains — along with 2 casts of Triple-cast and 1 Swiftcast. And for movement specifically, BLM even has multiple ways to teleport 25 yalms near-instantly, giving them access to some of the fastest movement in the game.

And if for some reason a BLM were to exhaust all of the above resources...can you imagine how horrible it would be to cast Scathe, of all things? That would mean casting a less damaging spell in exchange for the utility of being able to freely move and weave. I can understand how making that kind of strategic trade-off would be unwelcome in an RPG.

Regardless, I dislike the way it feels to cast Fire IV now, and I don't think what BLM got in return was worth sacrificing this aspect of what made the moment-to-moment gameplay of BLM feel the way it did.

[dairymoose]

They added this spellcasting gap so that BLMs are given a chance to contemplate switching to another class between Fire IV casts. Previously, the class was so engaging you had no time to consider this option.

[Rithy255]

They added this spellcasting gap so that BLMs are given a chance to contemplate switching to another class between Fire IV casts. Previously, the class was so engaging you had no time to consider this option.

Thank you! I was wondering why they made these changes myself I used this trick and switched to Red mage!

[Valkyrie_]

They added this spellcasting gap so that BLMs are given a chance to contemplate switching to another class between Fire IV casts. Previously, the class was so engaging you had no time to consider this option.

Little do they know any class they switch to will soon be gutted and simplified too, I mean I wonder which classes are even left that can match the engagement of old BLM...?
Even if there is a class that can, it will be mostly rotation based skill and not the unique style that BLM had where the skill was based more heavily on fight knowledge and proper use of movement cooldowns.

The turret style gameplay is what we all loved, now it's gone forever....such devastation, this was certainly the develepor's intent.

[HikariKurosawa]

Little do they know any class they switch to will soon be gutted and simplified too, I mean I wonder which classes are even left that can match the engagement of old BLM...?
Even if there is a class that can, it will be mostly rotation based skill and not the unique style that BLM had where the skill was based more heavily on fight knowledge and proper use of movement cooldowns.

The turret style gameplay is what we all loved, now it's gone forever....such devastation, this was certainly the develepor's intent.

Chronomancer with hastaga raid buff, pretty simple. There are thousands of concepts that would fit the niche just as well. Maybe you should put more effort into creative thinking.

[Owyn_Addens]

Chronomancer with hastaga raid buff, pretty simple. There are thousands of concepts that would fit the niche just as well. Maybe you should put more effort into creative thinking.

Wow, I didn't realize that they'd added a 3rd job in Dawntrail that I can play right now. Where's the unlock quest?

[HikariKurosawa]

Wow, I didn't realize that they'd added a 3rd job in Dawntrail that I can play right now. Where's the unlock quest?

Wow, I didn't realize they would never add a new job. You're like "ME ME ME NOW NOW NOW MAKE MY IDEAL NICHE JOB FANTASY RIGHT NOW OR I UNSUB".

With your attitude I honestly hope they never give you what you want and just continue to pander to the majority hahaha.

[Valkyrie_]

Chronomancer with hastaga raid buff, pretty simple. There are thousands of concepts that would fit the niche just as well. Maybe you should put more effort into creative thinking.

Me? why should I put effort into creative thinking? I'm just a player of the game, what power do I have?

Shouldn't you be asking the devs to put more effort into creative thinking?, instead of just gutting all the uniqueness and complexity out of every class to appease players like yourself who want any and all classes to be lobotomized.

Creative thinking would be idk...fixing healers to make them more engaging than 1 button spam across 4 classes?, and keeping the unique BLM style as it was out of respect for the loyal customers who have been playing the turret style BLM for 12 years, especially considering we have SMN who already has been simplified, and now Picto too.

Do you want them to butcher RDM next or are we allowed to at least keep that? Are players who wan't more complexity even allowed to have a class we enjoy playing or must everything revolve around the players like you?

Personally I think we can all share and have different levels of complexity between the classes, but I guess some people just want it all, reminds me how some little kids act when they hog all the toys for themselves and get upset when other kids just want at least 1 toy to play with.

[EreAsha]

I feel you there. I kept missing every 3rd spell I tried to cast because of the gap. It's an added frustration and along with the lack of fail states, it means I no longer want to play black mage.

[Rithy255]

I think in all seriousness they should revert these changes but with scathe being buffed to basically be a "movement fire 4 that can also reset astral gauge timer" would make it a good button for that, make it a slight damage loss and now we got black mage who can be hyper mobile in situations they need to be with a panic button, but it doesn't ruin the entire class identity.