BLM Newb Question Re: Area Effect Spells

[Tyme]

Please bear with me since I am new to the game and new of course to BLM.

I am currently a lvl 16 BLM and enjoying the job. Last night in a PT in the Dunes I was one of two BLMs. We were at White Sands Beach and fighting Snips mostly. I was casting Fire and some enfeebs and surviving the fights with no problem. The other BLM cast Stonega once and was mauled by a nearby Pugil and died. Then after coming back in the next fight he cast Blizzard and was again mauled by a nearby Mob and died. I asked the WHM who is more experienced what had happened and he said it was because he cast an area effect spell.

Since we were fighting I did not want to bother him for more explanation. So, I am asking you here. What I gathered is that some spells only effect the targeted Mob and some hit whatever is nearby. Is this the case? If so, is there a list which identifies which ones? Does this then limit the usefulness of certain spells since it will draw unwanted Mobs to attack? I am getting Blizzard next level and do not want to mess up the PT by dying when I should not.

[neighbortaru]

yes. some spells will only hit one target (the mob). some will hit anything within a certain radius of the target. These are the area of effect (AOE) spells and can be recognized by names ending in -ga (ie Stonega).

you have to be very careful when using -ga spells. If you're in an empty area, then you'll be fine. If you have other monsters nearby (or you are sitting on top of a spawn point), don't even think about it (unless you are absolutely sure they are out of the target radius).

[Tyme]

Thanks for the helpful reply.

Is Blizzard an AOE spell? It does not end in -ga, but it seemed like he drew an unwanted Mob after casting it. Also, is there a list which specifies which spells are AOE? Thanks.

[neighbortaru]

no, blizzard is not. he must've done something else (like target the wrong mob).

you can check the spell list at http://ffxi.somepage.com but just remember, if it ends in -ga it's AOE; if it doesn't it's not.

[Tyme]

Thanks again. It is entirely possible he targeted the wrong mob with Blizzard...he did not seem to be the brightest player I have met.

[Yuanlung]

Originally posted by Tyme
Thanks again. It is entirely possible he targeted the wrong mob with Blizzard...he did not seem to be the brightest player I have met.


No kidding. Using -ga in crowded area will get you a very painful death.


The AoE behavior of -ga spells does limit it's use in exp parties in some areas, but doesn't make them useless. -ga spells are roughly equivelent in power as the single target counter part 1 level higher. So your Stonega would pack as much damage as Stone II when it hits only 1 single target. This lets you do a higher damage on a magic burst, and thus get more damage bonus off the skill chain.


These spells are also great when you need to get rid of a group of weaker enimies quickly. some people farms using this tactic. Gather up a bunch of weak enimies, and wipe them out with 1 or 2 -ga spells for a quick kill.

[Tyme]

Great farming tip...thanks.

[Fingus]

In a party the -ga spells are awesome for magic bursts, I suppose you have done that before? A Skillchain.

Anyway, the -ga spells as mentioned are great for Magic Bursts, just be careful with the surrounding monsters and watch the MP, they cost a shitload. So it's best to use them as a finishing Magic Burst.

I don't recommend using them in crowded areas like the higher parts of Valkurm where leeches and bats is packed together. Pick your spells according to your surroundings and memorize the Elemental Cycle, the basis of a BLM.

[Chibeli]

Hahaha, is this a reminder... I remember the exact same thing happened to me the first time I used Stonega... a pugil got me and i died. I wised up real fast after that (with deleveling and all), but thanks for the good memories! :biggrin:

[Fingus]

I got 6 leeches on my first Stonega. Beat that. :P

[Gavin]

In areas where it is safe to MB a -ga spell I recommend it. Although it does drain MP quickly, the general rule of thumb is the -ga spell has equal power to the next Lv spell of that element. So for example stonega has the power of Stone II and so on.

[tdh]

Personally, I've never fired off an AOE spell at a retarded time. However I've seen many other people do it, and died because of it!

In the 2nd Jungle outside of Kazham we found a kick ass cave to level in. I leveled there as 3 different jobs, and it was great. Pull in Mandys, hack away, and as it says on your shampoo bottle, "Lather. Rinse. Repeat." Well one RDM I didn't want to invite in the 1st place decided to cast Diaga in our little cave. Only problem is there was a White Lizard there for about 3 hours of leveling. We couldn't handle killing it yet, so we left it alone and it left us alone.

Well now Diaga had pissed it off, and the DoT of Diaga wouldn't allow anybody to Sleep it. Well at Lv.28, those White Lizards wipe through anybody in it's reach. Inside about 10 seconds we were all dead. Most of the party was dead before they realized what the hell happened.

For my AOE spells, my macro reads.

Coast is clear - Waterga - <mpp>

I used that one against beetles in Sauro at Lv.18 & 19. Party didn't notice it at first, and then got a chuckle out of it. I was going to make damn sure I didn't lure in an extra beetle to wipe us out!

[Tartaros]

some people get mad if you suggest tips...

people just hate being told theyre wrong...

i remember when i was coming up as a young blm... i listened when people told me things... which made me a better blm today...

i hope that blm pt member of yours chills out with his area spells... for the good of.. well.. himself..

[Tyme]

Just an update...currently at level 2o and have just arrived at Qufim. So far so good. I have not yet killed off my PT by any misfires. :angel:

[Ariagiovanni]

Originally posted by Tyme
Just an update...currently at level 2o and have just arrived at Qufim. So far so good. I have not yet killed off my PT by any misfires. :angel:

Misfires happen to everyone, even the most meticulous person will misfire someday ^^

[CarbonFibre]

The worst thing is when a mistarget gets your whole party killed. I was in Boyahda Tree when I believe the Bard used Horde Lullaby instead of Foe Lullaby and ended up targeting all of the Funguars sitting at our camp. After he died, we all got slaughtered. It seems some mobs will go after the rest of the party regardless of if they have done anything to get hate (unless there's something I'm missing).

[Chibeli]

If the whm tried to heal the bard, the mob would go after the whm, someone tries to heal the whm, etc. etc. >.>