Job Adjustments and Additions Part II (03/30/2009)

[Corinth]

Some important facts to clarify from the Japanese version of this POL announcement:

Composure is not magical accuracy

The Japanese version does not say this is the second half of job update announcements. It just says this follows on the heels of the WHM POL message. Looking at that, there could always be another update. Or the English version "has more info". It's hard to tell.

[Gwynplaine]

If they're going to increase the range of bloodpacts to be more convenient they could have at least done it to all of the short range ones like Ecliptic Growl...

Well this isn't real shocking. I think players have known for some time now that Square is petrified of accidentally breaking RDM and NIN. They have no idea how to add to them without making them broken so these softballs are par for the course.

As long as you can cancel Composure, it might be nice for casting a few quick spells like Slow2 which already lasts long. Or Dia3/Bio3 which have relatively short duration for high MP cost but can't be resisted. If Composure can't be canceled that will make it pretty much trash, but I have at least that much expectation of them.

Edit: orz I fail, self cast only.

[Isiolia]

Disappointed with this...I mean, sure, RDM has maintained a place in the game thus far...really would only take SCH getting a couple spells or so to remove them though. Sure, Enfeebles...most things that Enfeebles would be that effective against are inexplicably immune to at least some of them (you know that blurb on the wiki about Death Blossom removing those? Yeah, it's bullshit).

Recast penalty on Composure is insult to injury. Where's the downside to the -two- stances WHM got? Right. You aren't using the other stance. Would it have -killed- them to put in a melee ACC and a magic ACC stance in a similar fashion?
Barring that, how about converting the Recast bonus into a delay reduction for melee?

Enspell II, we'll have to see the damage on it. If it builds to 30-40+ additional damage, then I could see why they'd limit it to the first hit only. Using Sword-chucks, or an off-hand KClub might get a mite ludicrous in that case.

Still...for a job that hasn't been singled out for lovin' since before NA release, for an update that's been alluded to for 2+ years now, I really expected something a bit more substantial.


SMN fixes are long overdue, but at least one doesn't get the feeling that the job will henceforth go untouched again until the servers are turned off.

As long as you can cancel Composure, it might be nice for casting a few quick spells like Slow2 which already lasts long. Or Dia3/Bio3 which have relatively short duration for high MP cost but can't be resisted. If Composure can't be canceled that will make it pretty much trash, but I have at least that much expectation of them.

If it was duration for all spells (hell, even just all Enhancing spells), I don't think you'd see anyone complaining. It's duration for self-buffs only.

[Raineer]

SMN fixes are long overdue, but at least one doesn't get the feeling that the job will henceforth go untouched again until the servers are turned off.

IMO, they were lazy on SMN too. The mechanics of SMN need fixing, and this is the update where we would have likely seen any changes they would do. Poor SMNs

[Isiolia]

Well, come now, they can only come up with real job updates for maybe one job a year, if that. It's just too stressful otherwise.

[Ahlah]

Seriously why are ppl so obsessed with enspell II that does 40 damage per proc? How's it going to affect your playstyle? Enspell damage can be easily resisted by VT+ mob. All it does is help you to kill weak mob faster. Your RDM is still not going to replace a melee job in merit party or HNM fight.

[Destinye]

IMO, they were lazy on SMN too. The mechanics of SMN need fixing, and this is the update where we would have likely seen any changes they would do. Poor SMNs

Unless I read things wrong..but doesn't increasing the range fix mechanics? Or...is it the whole "Drop Perp cost, make our avatars do 9999 dmg and give us new avatars!" the fix SMNs 'need'?

[Takedown3]

laughing really hard

[Bregor]

A lot of people don't even think that RDM deserves this shitty update that we got. Another update, especially if it is useful, is going to get an even worse reaction.

So you care about these people's collective reaction, or think that SE does? I doubt if any possible outrage (on these forums or anywhere else) about a future RDM update/buff will deter them from doing whatever the hell they feel like doing. If they want to tinker with RDM some more, they will, playerbase be damned. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you that this is an awful "improvement" for RDM, but I'm trying to find a possible silver lining that they have admitted to some serious problems with intended aspects of the job, and there is more planned three or six months down the road.

[Toth]

This thread has finally convinced me that BRDs no longer deserve the 'princess' title. At the end of the day, RDMs will still be a top choice for the best merit parties, will still be in every alliance for the hardest NMs, will still be able to tank mobs that challenge PLDS and NINs, and will still be a must for nearly every event under the sun. SE promised improved melee options for RDM and they delivered with the expected enspell 2 line and an ability to improve their melee option (and I'd wager that this 'penalty' will only be a 10% slow effect similiar to casting a black magic spell under Light Arts - most likely easily countered by Haste). Put it in perspective people. Geez.

[BRP]

"Hey we are going to give RDM melee enhancements"

"Oh boy! I can't wait until I get a bunch of spellcasting enhancements!"

[Cow_k]

Unless I read things wrong..but doesn't increasing the range fix mechanics? Or...is it the whole "Drop Perp cost, make our avatars do 9999 dmg and give us new avatars!" the fix SMNs 'need'?

The biggest thing they need to fix is "Avatar is too far away from xxxmob. Oh now you get to wait 45 seconds before you can try again".

If these 75 BPs can push up over 1000 damage consistently now, I don't think that summoner is really missing out on that much. Maybe make Max MP bonus traits worth a damn. SMN doesn't do all that terribly in merit with hastega (better than sch at any rate in my opinion), that and we supposedly have these new avatars which we may see in the next five years that could potentially change things a lot.

[Not Kuno]

Holy shit at this fail.

Did SE seriously come down with a case of amnesia or something? They did the whm updates perfectly, then they look at what other jobs need fixing and decided to hit their heads on their desks for ideas? As a summoner I'm insulted if this is what they think needs fixing about the job. Oh boy, the merited abilities you have to work to get are now not as crappy. Whoopy-dee-fucking do. Oh and hastega is now slightly shitarded then it used to be.


And the rdm changes.. at least smn is a useless job for most of ffxi, but giving this to rdms is a slap in the face. If you don't have any ideas then steal some from other jobs. Give em a fast cast/magic acc/buff duration triple stance like how whm and sch has 2. Hey look I just solved all the problems with rdm, thank me later guys.




And the worst part is this means no blm changes. Then again at this point it'll probably be something so terrible like better staff damage or more MB potency.

[Cantih]

Came for the rage, not leaving disappointed.

[DAKPluto]

SE cracks me up everytime they fix something that was broken on SMN as an "enhancement"

[Blasta]

Seriously why are ppl so obsessed with enspell II that does 40 damage per proc? How's it going to affect your playstyle? Enspell damage can be easily resisted by VT+ mob. All it does is help you to kill weak mob faster. Your RDM is still not going to replace a melee job in merit party or HNM fight.

Ceremonial Dagger (or 2 ceres) + Enspell is already a great way to solo shit faster and giving 0 TP. You can always switch Enspells to make them resist less. Obviously RDM is never going to go melee HNMs. Its just extra dmg.

Im not saying Enspell II is a solution that made everyone go omg wow, everyone expected it. I mean lets face it, i myself dont like the enspell idea much but then again SE seemed to listen us players.

[test123]

Enhancing sword price suddenly tenfolds

[BRP]

SE cracks me up everytime they fix something that was broken on SMN as an "enhancement"

It is really unfortunate that they fixed the range only on Ward and not Rage. Maybe there was something lost in translation? I do recall them bringing up the whole problem with Rage pacts at one point in an interview.

EDIT: Not that all of the should have the a range of Nether Blast. Jesus, you want Ifrit to punch something from a couple yards away?

[Cow_k]

SE cracks me up everytime they fix something that was broken on SMN as an "enhancement"

Out of all the complaints, this is probably the only valid one in my opinion.

I'm still glad to see them getting fixed though.

[ringthree]

Because it has been 5 years since RDM got anything applicable from Square and WHM got a "WTF" update a few days ago. If this RDM update had happened in the December patch, people would have been depressed and moved on. Instead, they wait until after what may possibly be the most innovated update for any mage job in this game (not counting the advent of SCH which wouldn't be an "update") and are all "hey fuck your Joyeuse and Utsusemi". This is going to make people slightly cranky.

Sir, let me introduce you to my friend Septimus. He is level-headed and pretty understanding of game balance. You two you get along swimmingly.

I know, I know. RDM is your baby, and you want more than this pile of suck. Which it is. But you know as well as I do that RDM has a mortal lock on pretty much every aspect of the game.

But I give you my freind the MNK. Footwork. At least there are some random times when your randomly useless JA will be useful, but Footwork isn't even worth the space on the JA list.

I am not trying to say that Composure et al aren't going to suck, I am just saying, there are in fact more neglected jobs than RDM, and that RDM doesn't really need that much more because they already have so much.

I know everyone wants their new shinnies, but RDM got their shinnies front-loaded and everyone else has spent years waiting for their upgrades.

That does not decrease my fear that crappy RDM's everywhere are going to try their hardest to destroy this game by meleeing every mob they see...