Should Bio 1 be a cross class skill in place of Ruin 1?

[Rayr]

For WHM and BLM, cross class skills are already rather limited, at 7 each.

WHM has no use for Physick, with Cure 1 being identical as a spell, and being better because of Freecure.
BLM has no use for Hawk's Eye, as it only affects DEX and Physical accuracy.

Then comes Ruin.

Ruin is useless for BLM once it obtains Scathe, as it has an identical recast, deals more damage, is instant, has no travel time, and even occasionally deals double damage due to a trait.

For WHM, let's compare Ruin and Stone. They have the same travel time, cast time and recast time. Let's ignore the heavy part of Stone, assuming the mob is already weighted or is immune. 80 unaspected damage vs 140 earth damage. For a mob to take more damage from Ruin, it has to be reducing earth damage by a little over 43%.

(continued in next post, I hope it's okay to multi-post)

[Rayr]

My suggestion is to allow Bio 1 to be used as a cross class skill in its place. It would allow BLM more damage options during movement (when Firestarter/Thundercloud procs aren't up and Swiftcast is on cooldown), and it would give WHM another option for damage, should it need to be throwing in more damage as well (240 potency being very nice).

In summary: I think Bio would work better as a cross-class skill than Ruin because it falls in line with Thunder/Aero, and because Ruin simply isn't useful to WHM and BLM.

[razorpakk]

No. Just because if you don't diversify SMN and BLM, then what's the point of having different classes? Let's just make one with all the abilities!

[Mychael]

No. Just because if you don't diversify SMN and BLM, then what's the point of having different classes? Let's just make one with all the abilities!

What's the point of a cross-class skill if it's useless? o_0

I can use Thunder from THM to add to my DoTs as ACN/SMN/SCH... so why not a useful skill from ARC for THM/BLM (and maybe CNJ/WHM)? Not saying it's a good idea, just curious about your logic.

Ruin is low in damage because your pet makes up for it, so it does raise some questions about how it could be useful to any other class.

[Malix]

maybe miasma but definitely not Bio. its literally our strongest DoT.

[TraeSnow]

What's the point of a cross-class skill if it's useless? o_0

I can use Aero and Thunder from CNJ and THM to add to my DoTs as ARC/SMN/SCH... so why not a useful skill from ARC for THM/BLM (and maybe CNJ/WHM)? Not saying it's a good idea, just curious about your logic.

Ruin is low in damage because your pet makes up for it, so it does raise some questions about how it could be useful to any other class.

Unless I am doing something wrong, which I don't think I am.

Aero can't be used by Summoner. I do not know why people keep saying it can be used by summoner. >.>

Summoner is a DoT class and Bio, Miasma and Bio II are both unique to summoner skills. (They get bonuses from them) Just like THM gets bonuses from Ice/Fire skills and hence why no one can use ice or fire because it is unique to them. Just like WHM can use cure II and cure III because they are unique to them. (Freecure and all)

[Mychael]

Unless I am doing something wrong, which I don't think I am.

Aero can't be used by Summoner. I do not know why people keep saying it can be used by summoner. >.>

Summoner is a DoT class and Bio, Miasma and Bio II are both unique to summoner skills. (They get bonuses from them) Just like THM gets bonuses from Ice/Fire skills and hence why no one can use ice or fire because it is unique to them. Just like WHM can use cure II and cure III because they are unique to them. (Freecure and all)

Sorry, I was on a roll and included Aero where I shouldn't have.

Still, Cure I is a healing skill but is not exclusive to WHM. That said, it is immensely helpful when cross-classed. However, because Bio I is a DoT skill, it should be exclusive to ACN? The OP's suggestion of bio might not be the best choice--it's actually too strong of an ability, I think--but bringing over an ability that's almost useless to a non-pet class is silly.

[Themis]

No. Just because if you don't diversify SMN and BLM, then what's the point of having different classes? Let's just make one with all the abilities!

That's what the traits exist for. All that needs to be done, is that most cross class abilities should get a trait that enhances them, thus making the main class have a difference from any that cross class it. It doesn't happen with most abilities, which is where the difference is less noticeable.

Having this for Bio I, would help to make the cross class a little more useful. If the normal version of Bio I was only a 20 potency, and the ACN got a trait to make it the 40 it is, then ACN's Bio is still far better and allows other classes to take something useful, even if not as good.

On that note, I'd like to see those stat+ traits removed and just have them inherently part of the level up scale so that they can be used for the purpose of boosting up more abilities. A whole +12 to a stat is like a single piece of equipment, and could easily be added as just part of the natural growth of the character. It just doesn't seem like a huge game changer, which the other traits can be (as they affect how the class is played).

[Rayr]

Looking back, I agree that Bio 1, in its current form, would be too strong to be cross classed, but like the person above me said, why not make the base lower, and have ACN traits that boost it?

(Personally I think 30 base might be more in line than 20, or the base duration could be nerfed and then the ACN-specific duration boosted, either way).

I don't think Miasma would fit the role as well, because the Heavy effect is rather pointless when both BLM and WHM have Heavy spells already, and part of the gap I was hoping would be cleared was BLM's damage loss during movement.


(Also, I think people assume SMN has Aero because it's so useful on ACN I know I personally enjoyed hitting level 10 and throwing Miasma, Thunder, Bio, and Aero on a mob... and then immediately starting to cast those same four on the next while Carby finished off the first.)