BLM

[Cherub]

Well if you have swift cast and you're up vs 1 Boss then I'd prefer to use swift cast for FIII, BIII if my rotation gets interrupted for some reason. To get as fast as possible back into my rotation. Let's be honest casting one of those spells without AF III/UI III is a pain because the casting time is so long.
However I agree and disagree with double flare (For multiple mobs it is, not on bosses). It's superb damage but it takes some time to get back into your normal duration.
(Have AF III up) Fire II spam> Flare>Convert >Swift cast> Flare> transpose.
Get raging strikes and quelling strikes into it before you start everything. The only thing thats meh is that after transpose you might cast 2x blizzards or Blizzard III to get back to full MP. But casting those is a paaaaaaain, takes quite long to cast. And if you are unlucky with transpose you might get your MP regeneration from the new gained UI 3-4 seconds later than it appeared.

Damage or faster rotation ?

[Starkbeaumont]

I seem to be the only one that doesn't agree with the current BLM rotation, I even spread sheeted it, and I still find Fire 3 to be superior to Fire 1. I have also out parced black mages that use the standard rotation.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwJf...it?usp=sharing

There is a flaw in your rotation 1. After the second Blizzard III you are not reapplying Thunder, cause it's probably still up. But you are casting Fire III right after. there is no way you'll be at full MP without waiting a bit though. can't cast 4 Fire III without full MP. Also that "faster casting bug" works for the first Fire I as well, when going from Umbral to Astral.

Your first rotation will end up with around 244DPS and the other around 256DPS.

[Jelulish]

I can't see in your sheet any instant Fire III with the Fire I rotation, which is his only purpose, instant casting Fire III without mana.
It's a 40% proc, huge !

I think we should try the two rotation on dummy with the log parser during ~15mn each.

there are 3 gcd fire 3's in the fire 1 rotation, out of 9 fire 1's there would be 3.6 fire 3 procs,

[CoolsTorrey]

here is a fun trick u can do with some stance dancing. at 500 mana, Blizz III > Fire III > Flare (cast time should still be 50%)> convert > Swift Flare

its the double flare without the 4 second cast time on your first flare.
(if someone mentioned this before, i apologize.)

[Jelulish]

There is a flaw in your rotation 1. After the second Blizzard III you are not reapplying Thunder, cause it's probably still up. But you are casting Fire III right after. there is no way you'll be at full MP without waiting a bit though. can't cast 4 Fire III without full MP. Also that "faster casting bug" works for the first Fire I as well, when going from Umbral to Astral.

Your first rotation will end up with around 244DPS and the other around 256DPS.

I did originally have it in, but I took it out because i thought it was not fair to count that damage because it would not fully tick out. I guess I could put it back in with the partial ticks. Either way, just using Fire 3 vs fire 1 with fire 3 procs is only 5% is if your calc is correct, or mine. A slightly noticeable difference I guess but not as big as everyone seems to make it out to be.

[NeoAmon]

I did originally have it in, but I took it out because i thought it was not fair to count that damage because it would not fully tick out. I guess I could put it back in with the partial ticks. Either way, just using Fire 3 vs fire 1 with fire 3 procs is only 5% is if your calc is correct, or mine. A slightly noticeable difference I guess but not as big as everyone seems to make it out to be.

Yeah I tested it extensively....and in short you are absolutely wrong.

Here is how I tested it:

1- Went to AK with equally geared BLM.
2- We both agreed on using the same exact rotation until the first boss (bliz 3 > Thunder 3 > Fire 3 > Fire 1 spam and use Thundercloud and Fire starter).
3- We both did 111k.
4- After killing the first boss I switched to your method until the second boss, while he used the exact same normal rotation.

The end result was ugly I did 16k less damage than him. I have also tested it on Turn 1 and same result I preformed poorly when I'm used to be the top DD in my Coil group.

[Dorin]

A tip for you fellow black mages, and I never see anyone doing it for some reason:

If you're stuck with no mana, don't use transpose... use vials of ether. Under Astral fire III blizzard III only costs 76 mp to cast, just pop a hi-ether and you can continue with Umbral Ice III instead of using transpose and going back to Umbral ice I.

[Jelulish]

Yeah I tested it extensively....and in short you are absolutely wrong.

Here is how I tested it:

1- Went to AK with equally geared BLM.
2- We both agreed on using the same exact rotation until the first boss (bliz 3 > Thunder 3 > Fire 3 > Fire 1 spam and use Thundercloud and Fire starter).
3- We both did 111k.
4- After killing the first boss I switched to your method until the second boss, while he used the exact same normal rotation.

The end result was ugly I did 16k less damage than him. I have also tested it on Turn 1 and same result I preformed poorly when I'm used to be the top DD in my Coil group.

Math is not absolutely wrong, it's a 7.56% dif any way you wish to put it. With the fire 1 rotation you can get higher or lower depending on how lucky you get with your procs but on average its a 7.56% dif. So, fire 3 is slightly less efficient I will concede to that.
(((150*10)+((220*10)*0.4))-(220*10))/(((150*10)+((220*10)*0.4)))*100

[Louro999]

I'm so sick with BLM job skills. Seriously, they are underwhelming.

Convert, Apocastasis, Mana Wall, Freeze, Flare... They are all very situational.
Where are the powers of destruction my job trainer talked about ? Flare ? What a joke.

Most jobs grant useful powers that define the class.
Jumps, Oaths, Chants, etc.
So what defines BLM is Convert and Apocastasis ? That's great.

I'd kill to have Flare being a true nuke power with longer cooldown but NUKE damages.
Yeah I know, L2 use it, blabla. I know how to use flare, but it's useless unless you can aoe on 3 enemies and damages are so-so considering the cast-time + Transpose.
Same for Freeze. I wish it was a real nuke power freezing enemies for real not binding them, with a longer cooldown.

The BLM job brings nothing special to the THM and strips THM from great cross-skills.

That picture reminds me of some great moments as a BLM with true BLM powers:
http://i.imgur.com/BcFD9Wm.jpg

[Satori-ken]

Hi, i need help deciding on which class to play.
I know both are perfectly viable, and it's about "what i want to play", i'm not looking for which one is OP or FOTM, just undecided and got one to 20 and another one to 16, so, what would YOU play and why?
Thanks!