Blue Mages are being tweaked?

[tazirai]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I really have no major issues with the way BLU work overall right now, but I do think some of their spells could use some alterations.

There's no reason that Geist Wall should have such horrible accuracy at dispelling effects, for instance (and on the flip side, Bludgeon is just ridiculously good for a short span of levels). Jettatura's miniscule duration doesn't jibe well with the way it works on players, even when the hippogryffs are relatively low level, and the way Pollen doesn't scale is criminal, considering that I've seen Volcanic Wasps in Ifrit's Cauldron use the move to recover over 1000 HP...


Icemage

Thats the problem I see with BLue mages SE, seems to have DRASTICALLY reduced the effectiveness of Many of the BLu spells from the way Beasts use them.

Its like they said theses powers will not scale with level, and theses powers will have reduced effectiveness. On top of that lets make their Magical Accuracy horrid to the point players Waste MP, and the monster is unharmed..Cuz we dont really want our monsters to die.

Sorry for the runon Sentence but you get the idea.

I think they made BLU spells function only at 30% of the monsters ability. Metal body is a joke I hope it scales later, but then again this is SE.. Stilllove em though.

[Gathzel]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

The word "tweak" sounds so dramatic. I don't think BLU will get nerfed because our closing-in-on-75 DD skills aren't superior to other jobs. Sure, we are insanely powerful in the bludgeon ages, i.e. up to 40ish which might require some balancing.

I say many observations on BLUs saying "omg you're too powerful" is based on a too narrow conception. First, if you have only seen low level BLUs in action, you are in no place to say the job as a whole needs a nerf.

The second misconception is the spells we have, having everything from debuffs, healing to strong offensive spells. Sure, we do, but setting resists aside (which I think will be changed with Blue skill + from AF), you have to remember that we are working on a pretty low amount of spell points. We can only equip a fraction of our spells at any single time, and me playing as an all out DD means I have to set spells in accordance to my role.

Setting spells unnecessary to my role (as is often the case with debuffs and certain buffs) will only gimp my DD potential. Please note that a RDM/NIN has both higher STR and DEX than a BLU/NIN at the same level (at least 50+), meaning it is necessary for us to work on those stats.

And to all you jealous RDMs; Who said only you could be the jack of all trades? Seriously, BLU is no threat to you, I love RDMs as much as PLDs do because it's a reliable source of refresh that BRDs and CORs can't match.

On a final note: I agree that SE needs to do something about our abundance of useless spells. Pollen loses it's point too fast, Metallic Body is always useless, Feather Barrier is not worth it in effect or duration, the list can be made long.

[LadyPeorth]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I see no reason for Blue Mages to be tweaked.

BLMs have awesome power
RDMs have survivabilty, healing, refresh, and power
WHMs have curing, super fast invites, and the almighty Raise.
SMNs have unbelievable support, can main heal if needed, and awesome damage.

When a BLU can heal faster and for more than my Cure 4, while DDing better than I possibly can, and probably enfeebling just as well or better, it needs to be tweaked.

You also only had to run to the AH to get your spells. I on the other hand had to smack around monkies for 3 hrs for my Cure IV. I also had to slap the living heck outta monsters nobody goes to in hopes they use one rare move so I can possibly learn it.

The means justifies the spell in my eyes.

[Mycraell]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I hear that Bludgeon is powerful - and could possibly be tweaked down a little, but i have no experience with it as of yet. But then, what's so bad about having one powerful spell? On the same logic as the above poster, we have worked so hard to be able to use these spells - surely we are entitled to some that are actually good. If Bludgeon is just another generic damage dealing spell, then it would be a little boring.

That being said, i don't like what i'm hearing about the future of my BLU career, if many of the spells enter a stage of uselessness. It would be good if they levelled with you.

Also, on an off note, do we eventually learn healing spells that can target anyone other than ourselves? I only have Pollen at the moment, which i was hoping would be able to cure random people when i wanted to, but it seems not. And i understand that Healing Breeze does it on your party? But i was hoping for one that i could cast on any PC's nearby, should i want to.

[Drive]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

Also, on an off note, do we eventually learn healing spells that can target anyone other than ourselves? I only have Pollen at the moment, which i was hoping would be able to cure random people when i wanted to, but it seems not. And i understand that Healing Breeze does it on your party? But i was hoping for one that i could cast on any PC's nearby, should i want to.

yeah it is called "Magic Fruit" you get it from Opo-opo's. I'm not sure if you can cast it on someone outside of party though I only had it casted on me while that person was in my party.

[Gathzel]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

Magic Fruit can only be used on pt members I'm afraid... It's a very potent Cure spell backed up with some MND.

[Maju]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

BLUs burn through MP way too quickly to compete with melee DD at higher levels. If anything, I think BLU might need a buff. Even in RDM+BRD parties I've seen BLUs running out of MP and that just shouldn't happen.

Doesn't help that BLU can't make 2-man L3 SCs, or can it?

[LoneGamer]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

BLU gets Savage Blade, I think. As for the above poster thinking I'm just jealous, I would love to have to work for some spells on RDM instead of just having to raise gil. One thing I loved about WoW is that for some spells, you had to quest instead of just forking out gil. Regardless, there still needs to be a balance of power.

[LadyPeorth]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

BLU gets Savage Blade, I think. As for the above poster thinking I'm just jealous, I would love to have to work for some spells on RDM instead of just having to raise gil. One thing I loved about WoW is that for some spells, you had to quest instead of just forking out gil. Regardless, there still needs to be a balance of power.

You can quest for spells in FFXI but it's just easier to go to the AH. A Blue Mage doesn't have the luxury. We have to beat on are target for a long period of time, hoping it uses the move we want, then kill it for only a chance at learning it. It's exactly like hoping for a rare drop except you can't bring a THF to increase the chance and there is an extra condition.

And it just sounded like you were jealous. Sorry.

[LoneGamer]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I meant quest-only spells. And, there are no RDM spells that can be quested for as far as I know.

[Icemage]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I meant quest-only spells. And, there are no RDM spells that can be quested for as far as I know.

Phalanx and Refresh are "sort of" quested via BCNM (but everyone buys them usually )

Blaze Spikes is quested.


Icemage

[Raydeus]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I don't like the way this turned into a RDM vs BLU debate, but I digress.

BLUs burn through MP way too quickly to compete with melee DD at higher levels. If anything, I think BLU might need a buff. Even in RDM+BRD parties I've seen BLUs running out of MP and that just shouldn't happen.

I've seen this happen a lot too, but I think it's because the BLU I've seen try to use Blue Magic as often as they use a sword. They are mages after all, limited by their MP pool, a BLM can't cast many nukes without having to rest, RDM suffers from the same.

Also, swords aren't the best DD weapons in the game, so it isn't unexpected BLUs don't do much melee damage either, but even so they are good DD, I've seen SA "insert blue magic spell" do some nice damage.

The thing is BLU aren't DRK so they shouldn't get all mad because they aren't doing big numbers, which makes them over use magic, which leaves them without mp after 2 fights (Refresh and Ballad included).


So to end a long post I gotta say I think players still lack the experience to know what BLU can and can't do, right now everyone is learning, specially all those BLU that rushed their way to 75 and now don't have AF and still don't know well what the job is capable of doing.

I'm sure SE will make some tweaking to the job, but is still way too early to have enough info to see what needs to be adjusted and what's just lack of skill.

[JeanRC]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

i dont cast much spell nowdays and my blu is 61 now. Most of the time i just sit back like any other melee using my sword slicing the mob. On most ninja tank, i could even get hate without using any spell. Constant sword damage of 40-50+ and critical of 70-100+ which i think is a good damage although i only using D36 sword ; ;
After i get sata and sneak at blu 60, i only cast spell for sata damage and skill chain. Unless i am needed to stun if the tank cant tank well etc. I am usually a damage pure blu.

[SonikU4ia]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

I don't think BLU is overpowered in the slightest. Sure, in the very beginning with a skewed sense of understanding, I thot it was outrageous that they could basically: Cast Cure, Curaga, & Cure 4, Cast a much stronger version of Dia2 (among other debuffs), Sleep and Stun mobs, participate in self-scs; sub thf to do 700-800 dmg WS's, and have an ACC+ EVD+ buff including Haste and Protect 1-4 and Stoneskin.

Granted, on the surface it seems they can do all these things and are overpowered. But if you ask me, it puts them pretty much on level playing field with all the other other jobs in general when you consider a few things.

Blu mages are not capable of an enormous MP pool (granted using equip or merits, but the former is not viable for DD, or so I'm told.) I've seen a 75 Blu in my HNM/SKY LS as Elvaan have no more than 530MP in DD gear. 530 is pretty scary for an MP pool if you're a WHM or RDM and trying to heal fulltime lol. So this keeps a BLU from overtly healing without sacrificing some battle usage somewhere else (doing DD, debuffs, or add control.) But they can heal in an emergency, something I was quite fond of while as 66 NIN fighting the Fire Crawlers in Mount Zhaylom. (>_> You can pretty much get oneshotted by those if they get in lucky crits + their firebreath and your shadows got dwindled... yes it happened.)

Blu's don't seem to have stellar M.ACC w/DD gear on. Watching BLU's in parties from 50-70 was interesting at best with their spells. I'm not sure if a stat bonus in MND or INT would help or something, but Frightful Roar seemed to get resisted more often than I was comfortable with, and I was just a NIN tanking lol. When I played as RDM, if I got maybe 1-2 resists of my debuffs per spell per battle, I was fine. But more than this and I figured my equipment needed tweaking somewhere or I just had terrible luck (granted some mobs resist elements more than others, e.g. Poison on crabs [No thanks.]) I kinda felt sorry for the BLU when I saw this lol. If a BLU managed to increase stats to raise effectiveness of debuffs, then they'd be losing out on DD somewhere. I don't see a BLU doing both quite viably without some loss of effectiveness on the other. Maybe with some +BLU skill? I highly doubt it will make it more effective and as consistent as a RDM with full gear/stats. I mean, sure, after several attempts you can land your debuffs, but at what cost to your overall effectiveness?

I've also watched Blus try to sleep mobs and to be honest, it sucked. Well..... when I think of someone being able to sleep, I think 1 resist, sure no biggie....2 resists.... >.> ok..... 3 resists <.< now that is just scary and wrong lol. With my RDM, I was use to consistently being able to sleep and sleepga with a very stellar performance and so I could easily rely on it. I don't see (yet anyway) how Blus can rely on sleep except in emergency situations and even then.... would it land?

Blu's DD is rather fun and interesting, but I've seen SAMs at level 60 do the same kind of damage w/Tachi:Yukikaze+SA at 100TP that a Blu can do w/Death Scissors+SA. They are matched consistently in damage IMO. And w/300TP I've seen a SAM pull off a 1300 WS on IT Couerls. Blu's are notorious lately for doing that too are they not? The only thing is, I would think a SAM could crank out more DMG on WS in the longrun vs a BLU, eyeballing those figures of course.

Refueling, Cocoon, Metallic Body, Diamond Hide, Warn-Up, Feather Barrier are really neato Blu Spells. They seem to be pretty effective given some situations and for the most part. These seem to be a Blu's strength so far w/o having to improve in any stats anywhere. So, with all do respect, the job does have some form of kosher abilities that are genuinely useful and good, all things considered.

Nope, I don't smell a nerf or see any major improvements coming. Seems fairly balanced overall, unless I missed something. But this is just my observation.

>_> Don't get me wrong though, I am peeved that BLU magic isn't scaling w/some spells, e.g. Pollen. >.<

[Neomage]

Re: Blue Mages are being tweaked?

When a BLU can heal faster and for more than my Cure 4, while DDing better than I possibly can, and probably enfeebling just as well or better, it needs to be tweaked.

Well, I don't see BLU getting a Refresh spell anywhere, and they suck up MP ALOT faster than you guys...

I say it balances out.

Plus, BLU's 2-hour does nothing I can decern, except add 1-5 damage to my physical spells >.>