Job Adjustments and Additions: Part I (10/14/2009)

[Arkanna]

The update that BLM's need isn't for their end-game performance, it's for the path leading to end-game; ie, experience parties. An indirect BLM adjustment that would make perfect sense would be a nice exp bonus for any kill that involved a successful SC/MB. Say, an exp bonus that depended on the strength of the magic burst, capped at 100% bonus for MB's greater than 1000 damage. Double exp for a kill where your melees actually had to think about something instead of just spamming WS's. This would open up a lot of options for BLM's; they would no longer be pigeonholed into solo'ing BST pets and puddings for their entire FFXI life.

Of course, such an update would affect SCH, and to a lesser extent, RDM and SMN, but that's fine. In terms of exp parties, SCH's are mostly main healers anyway so that'd be a positive change as well.

I know a lot of people miss the old SC/MB mechanic, myself included.

[Dymlos]

w00t, RNG got a job adjustment. Now only DNC needs one and then this update will be win. (But DNC won't get an update cause SE doesn't give two shits about it.)

[Cream Soda]

Heh why are PUPs hoping for updates? I've seen some pretty amazing PUPs hold their own, much like DNC, have to face facts that the community is so hell bent on not changing the set pattern nothing SE can do will change the player's mind, BLU is the only job that got lucky.

I saw a pretty awesome pup once in Ejar. The guy even has pantin cape yo he was rippin shit up.

[Destinye]

Have you seen SCH recently?

I play a 75 SCH..

SCH is MP efficient which is true, but do you remember how we were seen at release of our job?

"lol ur a gimped RDM lolololol!"

SCH can double as a Healer or Nuker and in order to be great at either aspect it takes A LOT more work than it does a BLM or WHM to be great at their job. While true SCH did have a slight advantage over WHM before their update, SCH gets pushed to its limits very very quickly.

For fucks sake linkshells still won't give SCHs a novio earring unless they have BLM as a secondary job, so while SCH may "keep up" with a BLM or WHM it's still not possible without GOOD gear, ye olde standard SCH will never nuke as well as ye olde standard BLM.

BLMs with more effenciency in MP just spells wanting to be overpowered...BLM doesn't need anything really, because when push comes to shove linkshells will pick BLM over SCH..with good reason in terms of nuking, which SCH will then be pushed to it's supportive/healer role.

SCH =/= BLM, so if SCH being a reason BLM needs an update, then I don't know what to say other than BLMs being butthurt over nothing.

[Corrderio]

In before the SMN update is an astralburn nerf.

And I don't mean to sound like a dick, but if you are hoping that the BST update is something that will make it more party friendly, you should probably just play a different job.

I know it's wishful thinking but seriously... the only reason BST got tagged with the "Solo job" title is because of a variety of reasons. I remember a post on BG a few months back about the history of the game and how most JPs couldn't figure out WTF to do with BST and it seems like that's a blow BST hasn't recovered from since nothing groundbreaking has happened to them.

Anyway I do have my own views on what SE could do to give BST a boost...

1. Raise BSTs axe skill from A- to A+
2. JA that will change a BSTs mainhead weapon DEX/STR formula to that of a 2 handed weapon (Assuming they're not using something like a scythe/staff)

With adjustments like this I don't think it'd break BST, however it could make them a decent DD in a PT.

[Psion]

Have you seen PUP recently?

* More MP efficient than a BLM by an infinite amount
* Comparable damage to a BLM's AMII (and only limited by a lot of pup's half ass approch to the job instead of bringing out it's full potential)
* Unique ability to cast while running and shed hate completely once a minute
* Capable of nuking on all but the highest INT mobs or ones that blm fails on anyways, and can simply swap to a powerful melee frame that keeps up with or beats any melee that isn't soulvoice buffed to high hell(or barring that, swapping to a white mage frame to toss cure Vs on the party)

For events like Dynamis, Limbus farming and Sky farming (and some einherjar tiers) PUP is already a better choice than a BLM due to the efficiency and floored resist rate.

If PUP gets even more pet magic attack bonus and acc/pet magic skill gear (to get thunder IV) for the most resistant mobs (that isn't impossible to get) then BLM is out of a job completely.

The only thing left for us would be stun botting, which a pup/drk could technically do on most mobs anyways.

Fixed for the real truth.

(though sch is a kickass job to have as well)

Don't worry, blm is still the king of -ga nukes and sleepga II...oh wait, sch can manifestation sleep II so I guess sleepga II is out too.

[Midnightjade]

The November version update will feature a host of welcome refinements for three time-honored professions: rangers, beastmasters, and summoners.

About god damn time. BST is broked and needs some serious fixing. Maybe now I can choose which TP move the pet uses, and maybe skillchain with it? So sick of CC using Metallic Body the whole time.

Nice to see RNG and SMN also getting some love. I'm guessing a new avatar may be on the cards.

BLM needs to be next.

[ronin sparthos]

The update that BLM's need isn't for their end-game performance, it's for the path leading to end-game; ie, experience parties. An indirect BLM adjustment that would make perfect sense would be a nice exp bonus for any kill that involved a successful SC/MB. Say, an exp bonus that depended on the strength of the magic burst, capped at 100% bonus for MB's greater than 1000 damage. Double exp for a kill where your melees actually had to think about something instead of just spamming WS's. This would open up a lot of options for BLM's; they would no longer be pigeonholed into solo'ing BST pets and puddings for their entire FFXI life.

Of course, such an update would affect SCH, and to a lesser extent, RDM and SMN, but that's fine. In terms of exp parties, SCH's are mostly main healers anyway so that'd be a positive change as well.

I know a lot of people miss the old SC/MB mechanic, myself included.

Colibri are mindless and BLM has something equally as mindless that rakes in alot of EXP/hr: Chigoes.

Im all for bringing back EXP PTs for BLMs (qutrub-type mobs) but Chigoeburns are a viable way of partying just as fast as any run-of-the-mill DD. I guess to a lesser extent, one could do MMM and party in short bursts there as well.

Id like to see SC and MB return but we all know it'd be compared to Colibri and only one could survive. If SC+MB came back into swing, the new complaint would be that people cant find BLMs to party with or that balance has once again shifted to BLM as the king of a party.

It's a fine line SE would have to walk to balance EXP, it'd make alot of camps viable (alot of WOTG stuff) though and that indirectly makes things more fun - though fun is a relative term I guess.

[Riki]

Id like to see SC and MB return but we all know it'd be compared to Colibri
[...]
It's a fine line SE would have to walk to balance EXP, it'd make alot of camps viable (alot of WOTG stuff)

So far no other camp does even come close to Lolibri. So there is plenty of room for improvements.

[Toth]

The update that BLM's need isn't for their end-game performance, it's for the path leading to end-game; ie, experience parties. An indirect BLM adjustment that would make perfect sense would be a nice exp bonus for any kill that involved a successful SC/MB. Say, an exp bonus that depended on the strength of the magic burst, capped at 100% bonus for MB's greater than 1000 damage. Double exp for a kill where your melees actually had to think about something instead of just spamming WS's. This would open up a lot of options for BLM's; they would no longer be pigeonholed into solo'ing BST pets and puddings for their entire FFXI life.

Of course, such an update would affect SCH, and to a lesser extent, RDM and SMN, but that's fine. In terms of exp parties, SCH's are mostly main healers anyway so that'd be a positive change as well.

I know a lot of people miss the old SC/MB mechanic, myself included.

This and other BLm requests seems more of a game mechanic adjustment than a BLm specific adjustment. As a career BLM, I still find my job as strong and as desred as ever on all things but exp parties. I am also a SCH BUT there are many times I prefer to be on BLM for some of the many benefits BLMs have : Stun, ga spells, Sorc ring Nukes, Elemental enfeebles, Elemental seal, aoe sleep spells that do not require any charges, and the ever useful warp spells.

[Midnightjade]

The November version update will feature a host of welcome refinements for three time-honored professions: rangers, beastmasters, and summoners.

Also, taken from the book of Lhu Mhakaracca:

And yea, there was a vast and continous uninterrupted swath of BST that viewed from a distance resemble a sea of horns, or a rippling ocean of questionable AF and subligaria undulating like fur in the wind. So many BST that they ceased to become a group of individuals and instead resemble a single trampling mass of skins and teeth leaving naught in its wake but very slow xp, no haste gear and a bunch of gimped axes.

[Argettio]

Fixed for the real truth.

(though sch is a kickass job to have as well)

Don't worry, blm is still the king of -ga nukes and sleepga II...oh wait, sch can manifestation sleep II so I guess sleepga II is out too.

I have to say well played.

But either way, -ga nuking isn't common and in nearly every fight I can think off with more than 1 possible target you have to use crowd control to reduce the number of targets to 1.

(Although there maybe some missions that require it)

AoE sleeping is something SCH can do, although they do have to 'waste' charges, which can then limit their potential in other areas (MP conservation or Nuke power).

BLM is still powerful and useful, just imo SCH is verging on being over powered (I am not talking about the MV trick).

[Wulfgang]

These adjustments blow; only thing I am intrigued to see is the effectiveness of popping Camouflage before SW/SS.

[Thiefami]

I have to say well played.

But either way, -ga nuking isn't common and in nearly every fight I can think off with more than 1 possible target you have to use crowd control to reduce the number of targets to 1.

(Although there maybe some missions that require it)

AoE sleeping is something SCH can do, although they do have to 'waste' charges, which can then limit their potential in other areas (MP conservation or Nuke power).

BLM is still powerful and useful, just imo SCH is verging on being over powered (I am not talking about the MV trick).

Every job wants new toys of some fashion so why does that have to be different for blackmage. Whether they need an update or not is not the question, as someone mentioned before redmage really did not need an update either. Also BSTs should be in every single update from here till server shutdown, SE owes them a lot. Heres hoping to an awesome BST update.

[Spira]

Rng thing was nice i guess..
The unlimited shot thing is kinda nice.. means you won't waste it on a miss..
and the enmity down is useful

Ranged messages is nice for telling people who don't use distance how good their attacks are doing relative to the position.. and the velocity shot thing was kinda overdue.. but very nice especially if u're fighting mobs that can dispel you.

really tho, im waiting for BST and SMN updates.. its been too long

[TacoTaru]

Definitely excited about the RNG updates. Now only if they'd increase combats merits.....

[dejet]

Again I'll ask..what do BLMs need? It's still heavily used end-game from what I see so I don't see how it's been pushed aside like..oh say..PUP and DNC which barely even get parties, let alone invited end-game.

My god people stop with the "what does blm need" sam did not need its update, rdm did not need its update, drk; did not need drain II or absorb acc or dread spikes, pld did not the the 5 updates they got (only needed 1). Its not so much that we need to be fixed its we want something. Just like every other job in the game, throw us a fing bone.

-Fix MB's(ya that SC/MB update did not do anything)
-Fix our point in exp pts. I want 30k/hr as well. (maybe ungimp the darn sea burns we use to have?)
-fix how sch can just about do anything as good as us. the jobs are one in the same now with good gear, and SCH can change to a healer if need be on the go.
-Our only JA works better as a subed JA and is in full power as a subed JA.

I can think of other stuff if you give me time, that is a list of stuff that has pissed me off for a long time. BLM ONLY update was a gimp ele skill as you stack it on a mob more and more.


SCH has been proven with gear that for the most part they can hit the 320/120 skill/int(harder for none tarus) With being better on conserving MP sch takes a big jump over blm. Their DoT is better then blm once they do this. Also lets not forget that 320/120 is not needed for everything, so on lower lvl stuff they can also out DoT.

Fact stands that a pimp sch will out DD a pimp blm if the fight lasts more then like 5min. Blm just run out of MP way to fast.

edit: you know what? id be fine with the update being "repeated use of same skill ele magic no longer will induce -dmg from ele magic" id be just find and dandy with that as a update. Then move onto pts... that be more of a "party" update then a blm one tho.

*waits for random person to answer with "QQ more" and not answer one thing I said*

[Therin]

Needs more DRK.

[Classikmage]

BLM will go down in the history of FFXI as the job that never got an update.

I have been a BLM for years, (3rd 75 job), I leveled it back when SC/MB was the in-thing for EXP PT's. I think BLM is fine just the way it is. I don't think it needs an update. AT MOST, I've been hoping for Stoneskin/Blink to be added to SCH pre-37.

On topic, seems like some nice job adjustments, I just got RNG to 75 a month ago. I like all the enmity adjustments, mixed with Steal Shot it could be really nice for end game.

[benny]

And I don't mean to sound like a dick, but if you are hoping that the BST update is something that will make it more party friendly, you should probably just play a different job.

This x1000. BST is the one unique job that has a solid path to soloing to 75 (on real mobs I mean, of course), why do people seem to want to homogenize it to be yet another not-as-good-as-SAM party melee job? There's lots of those to choose from already.