BLM/NIN in Exp Party

[Sabaron]

The only application of BLM/NIN in exp. party that I can think of is exp. on Colibri that reflect magic (below level 70, non-merit parties, in theory).

I've seen it. It does ok, but it can be hazardous. Your tank has to be NIN because he'll end up eating nukes on occasion. The BLM I did this with focused on AM and tried his best to waste the mob with his cast so it didn't get a chance to mime. The tank had to eat Flare a couple of times--this can be very dangerous if the tank doesn't have hate when your AM goes off and it ends up on the poor little Taru WHM or a front-liner that doesn't have any shadows.

[Electricity Gone Human]

I just ended up thinking that BLM/NIN, in light of this discussion, that it could be a potential puller when in an EXP Party, similar to how BRD/NIN pulls.

Rest assured, this would end up giving the BLM a big hate spike if using big nukes to pull with. This would mean one would have to use either a low-damage nuke to prevent the hate from going all over the place, even when the BLM's utsusemi is still up. Even craftier would be pulling with elejutsus so hate doesn't bounce, and then start nuking from there.

Another flaw presents itself, though: MP Management. They would need to keep their MP above a good percentage so they're ready to pull right before the monster is dead. Ginger/Wizard Cookies a-go-go-go.

Gear sets would also have to be something to take in consideration.

This is just entirely situational however, when the lack of pullers LFGing presents itself.

[IfritnoItazura]

I just ended up thinking that BLM/NIN, in light of this discussion, that it could be a potential puller when in an EXP Party, similar to how BRD/NIN pulls.

Or, just Stun and run. >_>; Can go /RDM for Gravity as well.

Either way, I don't think I want a BLM to volunteer to pull. Of course, given how few melees carry ranged weapons these days, I'd probably end up asking one to do with Poison or something so instead of the good ol' Provoke-pull.

[Vyuru]

Out of curisosity, may have been mentioned earlier.

I know that nin/blm ninjutsu gains a boost from magic attack bonus, what does ninjutsu do as blm/nin?

[Armando]

I know that nin/blm ninjutsu gains a boost from magic attack bonus, what does ninjutsu do as blm/nin?

Debuffs the mob's elemental resistance by -30 for 15 seconds.

[Necropolis]

Out of curisosity, may have been mentioned earlier.

I know that nin/blm ninjutsu gains a boost from magic attack bonus, what does ninjutsu do as blm/nin?

If you're talking about the damage from the elemental nukes, it's neglible. While it gets boosted by MAB and even INT, it's also based on skill in part. Since a blm/nin's skill will always be capped at half of what it should be the damage isn't really noticible. It's main draw for blms is the resistance down for thier next nuke, which can help lower resistance, but doesn't really up damage either if the blm is correctly geared.

Personally I like BLM/NIN. It has plenty of potential in parties, but unfortunatly it's place is not in PUGs or even most LS parties. It's nice for soloing also to ensure a sleep gets off, it gives a nice INT boost, it allows duel wield wands for the pre-staves levels. If properly played in the correct party setup (including properly geared and mental aware party members) it can be a nice addition. The problem, as stated, is rarely do you get those prerequisites to even attempt going to a party that way. And the truth of the matter is that it doesn't really increase effeciently enough to warrent it's place.

Yes the BLM does more damage, but they also have less MP. So in the end they spend just as much time sitting where as a blm/rdm or blm/whm would get another cast or two off while doing slightly less damage. It won't boost the exp/hr up a noticable amount, and it runs the risk of being dangerous and damage the exp/hr ratio without having a back up heal.

It works, but the only reason I use it is when I am bored with the typical BLM in exp party situations and want to try something else for a while with friends

The reasons I love blm/nin for soloing is that it grants a guaranteed 3 (or 9 post Ni levels) free hits. Given my inventory is always lacking in room, it's nice for blms that don't want to carry a MND build for stoneskin. It works for Newton bats where if you're left with a sliver of life on that bat (that will most likely take stoneskin in 1 hit and resist your sleep) you can get a T2 or T3 nuke off before shadows are down. It works on goldfish in sea (I tanked Jailor of Prudence for quiet a while /nin). I can solo Jailor of Fortitude as /Nin as well. It just isn't effecient enough to be a viable exp party sub, especially in PUGs.

As for a BLM puller. If you're in a party with a BLM post 50 (which I find rare) it's already a slower party. It can be a fun and effective party, don't get me wrong, but it's slower than a typical burn style party. Why would you want to have one of the biggest DDs standing when he should be getting MP? While a quick poison may work, I think it would be much better to send one of the wars back to town to get a level 14 boomerang and tell him to put the bomb core away for a bit. 100 extra MP that the BLM could have can more than make up for the little loss of attack power the war (or any DD) would lose.

[Electricity Gone Human]

Or, just Stun and run. >_>; Can go /RDM for Gravity as well.
Either way, I don't think I want a BLM to volunteer to pull. Of course, given how few melees carry ranged weapons these days, I'd probably end up asking one to do with Poison or something so instead of the good ol' Provoke-pull.

Of course. Like I said, it's totally situational.

[Kirsteena]

I came to this late (blame it on absence and frustrations), and wtf? Why drag up something I commented on so long ago and a very specific thing?

All I will say is Elvaan blm functions just as well as any other blm with the right merits etc. Hell, I was outparsing a highly merited taru blm on KS99 Wyrm on Friday, and not by a small amount. Next round he outparsed me, then a hume outparsed us both. Anyone who still thinks race has something to do with how you play your job needs to get his head out of his arse and into 2008.

Always remember the phrase - shit is situational.

Anyhow, back off to my quiet corner.

[Karinya]

Given, if the same person played a Elvaan BLM and a Taru BLM, Taru would win.

Win what? A Deadly Hold for 2k?

Anyone who got out of Yuhtunga alive should know that there is more to BLM than "do as much damage as possible as fast as possible". Other race BLMs are often still alive casting Sleepga II while the tarus are all sucking dirt. If you don't think that's valuable to a linkshell, then I'm glad you and I aren't in any of the same linkshells. Some of the best BLMs I know are mithra, humes and elvaan - and yes, a few galka too.

But this guy's quote was "If you're an Elf BLM you might as well jump off a bridge" - anyone who has half a brain knows there isnt that much difference in racial stats in endgame.
Last post on this "debate", it's so 2006.

Add to that the fact that when you need more BLMs, you need more BLMs no matter what race they are. I used to be in an LS with an Elvaan PLD and BLM. He was sometimes asked to leave the Aegis in his MH and bring his BLM, depending on the fight and how many other tanks and BLMs showed up - because he was actually good at both jobs.