Weighing in on BLU (split from RDM forum)

[Rodin]

Ok, sorry if this seems like a rant, buuuuuutttttttt.....

The job is called Blue MAGE. BLUE MAGE (note the emphasis on MAGE).

What do most mages do? They stand in the back lines and do their things. They usually swap in/out elemental staves and whatnot. So I think BLU will be the same as other mage jobs.

Also, Blue Mage has MP, meaning you will have to swap out your sword for a Dark Staff in order to regain that MP.

My predictions for BLU:

Burst Affinity and Chain Affinity will most likely be able to be used without TP. So I believe a BLU will really be a magical DD more than a physical DD.

Just my 2 cents tho.

[Taskmage]

As LadyPeorth pointed out, accuracy of physical type blue magic, which comprises a large portion of their repetoire, will be dependant on the accuracy of your equipped weapon. Thus even if blu will not melee as a primary damage source, they will need to melee in order to keep their weapon skill on par in order to use their blue magic.

Double Post Edited:
Oh yeah, and most attack-type blue magic has an effect that varies with TP. Usually damage. A blu with no TP is most likely going to output crap numbers compared to a blu who's meleeing.

[Rodin]

Or get skill up parties >.>

The thing is, BLU has MP. IMO, they will be using staves for Spirit Taker if anything. It's just, I have this doubt that BLU will be an MP heavy job, and end up being broken because they HAVE to melee and recover MP, which would create a lot of downtime.

[Aeni]

Or get skill up parties >.>

No, but you just missed Taskmage's post above yours. He says that a lot of the stuff is TP dependant. TP dependant. You don't get TP from /heal or from Refresh last I checked.

:eek:

I do think that RDMs need to have a better sword skill, but then again why cry about it? You know what NINs and THFs have been hurting with their own skill sets too (Why did SE gave them only A- in a weapon they're suppose to be skilled at and/or the only job to really use it is beyond me)

[BurningPanther]

True, but I'd like to point out that while it works for BLU, I'm not picking on BLU. I'm merely using BLU to pick on one small thing about RDM that has been bugging me. Case in point: WHM get access to their final weapon skill, Black Halo, at skill level 230, or level 70 for them. They get Hexa Strikes a level earlier. As a result, all you get endgame are tactical WHMs running around, bashing the hell out of things with a hammer, and for not-unimpressive damage, I might add. I know a Taru WHM who needs only an Optical hat and a couple or STR rings to decimate pots in sky. Now I ask: what the hell does a WHM need that much club power for?! Why not augment the REAL tactical mage(us), and give us better skill acquisition rates, and better skill at each level. If nothing else, it certainly suits us better.

[Taskmage]

More on the blu TP thing. Check this post (http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/blue.mage/54650-blu.abilites-2.html#post554457) to see a list of the blue magic that's been datamined so far. You'll see that the job is geared to be an offensive class that makes heavy use of TP.

[Jei]

blu/sam. yummy

[Sekighara]

The skill list for blue is part magic and part physical so it can be either a magic dd or a physical DD but the fact that he is a mage means little because the original blue mage use to be a tank because they have to be hit with the attack to learn it but SE was kinda enough not to have to risk their lives for the chance of learning ability. This does not push them towards either side i believe it is based of their subjob.

[WishMaster3K]

That was an awfully generalization, Rodin. It's been pointed that BLU are mostly damage/enfeeblers from the front line. I doubt they even have 5 Healing Spells that would be practical. Also keep in mind that BLU stats change when they equip gear.

Tell a BLU that comes to the PT with 1000 needles that you want them in the backline and you'll find yourself short one pt member.

SE said they're looking for more dynamic parties, and now that PLDs can actually exp efficiently with BRD and receive Attack Bonuses, block crazily with their shields and the addition of 3 jobs that change the way the game is played, things are gonna be crazy in Vana'diel.

And fyi, my accuracy isn't that hot, but in full Wise Gear and Squid Sushi, I can build respectable TP during sky farming. With more Sword merits and STR upgrades in addition to the Rajas Ring, I can be a dangerous little Blue Bullet. (My nickname since I do Savage Blade in full JSE ^^ )

[Taskmage]

If that list is complete, then blu doesn't even get a targeted healing spell until level 58. That doesn't mean people won't try to stick it in the backline with a gimp /whm.

They do get an AoE cure at level 16, but it's self target only. Not that it makes a difference if you're standing next to the melee ... >_>a

[Armando]

The most interesting thing to me is that it's both MP and TP-reliant. Every other job that has access to these has always had to sacrifice one for the other. This job certainly seems fun, though, considering the high degree of customization and uniqueness inherent to it.

[WishMaster3K]

[Blue Mage} [Party} onry

Can't wait to hit Valkurm with that.

Entire PTs of BLU. All you'd need is a BRD for Ballad2 and Minuets. . .

[neighbortaru]

started thinking this on my commute home, but BLU/drk might be a nice combo...

[Taskmage]

Hmm good idea. Attack bonus, small mp increase, aspir earlier than blu/blm ...

[neighbortaru]

yup, my thoughts exactly Task

[Apple Pie]

Als LadyPeorth pointed out, the accuracy and strength of their physical Blue magic spells are dependent on their main weapon skills and TP respectively. Also, primary tasks in leveling PT seem to be different between BLU and RDM. Therefore, I am fine with the fact that BLU has higher sword skill.

BTW, I just noticed Joyeuse didn't like BLU. I am rather happy with this.

I may change my mind if I as well as other RDMs am beaten by single BLU in ballista but I guess we won't.:thumbsup:

[Jei]

Apple Pieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Taskmage]

Apple Pieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :rofl:

Good to see you, Grendal-san. :handsdown

[WishMaster3K]

*cries softly*


I have a reason to play the game again. Grendal-dono has returned to us. Let all the angels sing from Paradise, for it has opened it's doorways to us!

[Armando]

zomg. It really is him! This is definetely worth going off-topic.
/kneel Grendal

[WishMaster3K]

Lol, Grendal left us 8 posts before becoming a Brain of Knowledge

[Karinya]

Grendal is back! /cheer

To return to the topic: I think after a certain level, BLU is going to have to choose between a melee-oriented and magic-oriented style. Partly through the stat bonuses provided by blue magic selection directly, partly through choice of subjob, partly through gear and food, they will benefit from specializing in one or the other direction.

So you'll see some BLU staff-swapping, using lots of magical blue magic and sitting, and others meleeing and using physical blue magic, participating in skillchains and generally acting like a physical DD, but still with some enfeebling and possibly a little healing power as well as the ability to do some WS with TP and some "WS" with MP. (This style may be dependent on ballad/refresh if fighting mobs that can't be MP Drainkissed.) Gearing for both is theoretically possible, but you still only get one food and subjob at a time and changing your blue magic set silences you for a minute, so it'll be tough to go back and forth effectively in a short time.

Both styles would probably fall on a continuum between RDM and DRK, with the magical style closer to RDM (mostly use magic, staff swap after 51, rarely/never melee) and the physical style closer to DRK (mostly melee, but use a little magic).

Hopefully, both will be effective in the right situations and with the right gear, subjobs, blue magic selection, food and tactics (which will be very different between the two styles!). It'll be interesting to see what kind of stats their AF gets - there may be a couple of physical-oriented pieces and a couple of magic-oriented pieces so that it's rare to see the whole set equipped at once.


And as a RDM, this doesn't bother me: BLU have crappy shield selection, possibly no shield skill at all (at a time when shields were just buffed *again*), no phalanx, no protect except through SJ, weak heals, who knows if their stoneskin is any good, no stealth spells without WHM or RDM sub... their offense may pack more punch than a RDM, but their survivability is going to be significantly less, I bet. Possibly to the point that they will need /WHM or /NIN (or maybe /PLD with the recent changes?) to survive, while a RDM is free to sub a damage-promoting job like BLM or DRK. Which is not to say they may not be quite a good soloer, but they won't be some kind of uber-job.

Now, if they get Swift Blade, I might be annoyed. But I expect native Vorpal at most.

[Tirrock]

I'm still withholding my judgment on BLU until I see all the new weapons they should be getting, and what original ideas people come up with to make it work in the game. (Like ninja.) I am worried about the reliance on elemental staves though...

I don't really think BLU's existance validates a RDM buff at this point, though. If they're near as effective while soloing, perhaps.

[Taskmage]

These are all the weapons currently available to blu: http://ffxi.somepage.com/itemdb/advanced-search.php?job=blu&limit=4

[Tirrock]

Thanks. I didn't know they had already figured them all out. *reads* I was expecting a few more BLU specific weapons... And I'm disappointed with their endgame selection of swords. Well, the FFXI community better pull a 'ninja' again, because BLU's melee is starting to look like PLD melee to me.

[Taskmage]

Yeah, at present there is only one blu only weapon. There are sure to be more introduced in the future as the job evolves. Remember the AF weapon is missing, too.

[Kittyneko]

Well.. with all the new info gather about the new jobs till now, and with the people already playing at the moment, would Ninja be a possible subjob for Blue Mage? Or Corsair(as alternative to dagger's)? I really hope so, because there's no job using Dual Weilded Swords as main weapon set yet. Some Warrior's use it from time to time.. but usually Axe's or GreatAxe.

[WishMaster3K]

BLU seem to be very versatile. However, like almost all melee, I suspect that they won't see the benefit of /NIN until 50. Technically, a rich player could buy a Sarashi and pump out decent damage, but with the TP update, it might be better for BLU to sub WAR and focus on DDing. Joyeuse is not BLU friendly, it seems, and I'm not sure about Ridill, Kraken or other multi-hit weapons.

BLU appears to be one melee that won't be able to sub THF to compensate for poor damage. Additionally, they also appear to be a job that can't just sub NIN and get all god-like.

Of course, at higher levels with Utsu-NI and multi-hit weaps, if a BLU get's access to, say, Vorpal Blade and/or Swift blade, I could see BLU/NIN being a very potent enfeebler/dd

Edit: Read above post

Changing my opinion on COR DD.

They get slug Shot, and a lot of RAcc gear, so it's completely feasable to see them subbing NIN for Archer's Knives or similar.

[arkaine23]

I suppose I'll sub war more for berserk and eat some sushi. I'm at a point where I stretch my mp to convert easily in xp and losing 97 mp from a different sub and even aspir/conserve mp is no big deal. There is time to take some swings when you're at endgame as long as you're not like KRT'ing or main healing in a burn party. Fights are short for the most part, and ninjas often are landing their own enfeebles anyway, and mobs die from SC or the blm's MB such that our own MB is usually a waste of mp if we get it off before the blm. Might as well swap out to full attack build and whack away with enspell and stoneskin up. But during the grind up to 75, I agree we are more efficient in the back with occaisional nukes or dot's to assist the party with some small damage output in addition to all those things we do. Luckily, a lot of endgame mobs are only VT or low IT.

Also someone mentioned meleeing at around 60... at that point your B rated sword is only maybe 7 levels behind the A rank skilled ppl. By 75 is it 26 levels behind an A+ such as pld and 19 levels behind an A- such as Blu. Or as I mentioned even 6 levels behind a Whm's B+ club. That skill level difference is 0.9 x skill level dif in negative acc and attack for the red mage according to popular belief, which is pretty significant.

Now we can throw max merits to get to 266 skill with a sword, and grab a suppanomimi for an extra +5. There's always the sword belt to nudge it up a little more, although personally I'd take a Warwolf for the raw melee stats, which btw even with /war and a lot of str+ and atk+ gear are still sub-standard.

Our strength is our versatility of course, our survivability, and our unique abilites Convert/Refresh. We don't need to be as good as a specialist. And luckily with enough effort and gear, we can come close to passable at whatever we're striving for. Still, is +6 skill in sword so much to ask? It doesn't even have to come through raw stats, gear would be ok so long as its's in an off slot where we're currently sort of weak... like legs maybe.


I am glad to see blu having a bit limited selection on endgame weaponry (if they could use my joytoy, I'd be flipping out completely). It seems to me that by that point many of them would be focused more on the nuke/enfeeble/use staves/rest mp, than the melee up and use some Tp-modified blu magic part of their job anyway. After all Sword DMG and WS are sort of weak to start with.

[Patchinko]

Als LadyPeorth pointed out, the accuracy and strength of their physical Blue magic spells are dependent on their main weapon skills and TP respectively. Also, primary tasks in leveling PT seem to be different between BLU and RDM. Therefore, I am fine with the fact that BLU has higher sword skill.

BTW, I just noticed Joyeuse didn't like BLU. I am rather happy with this.

I may change my mind if I as well as other RDMs am beaten by single BLU in ballista but I guess we won't.:thumbsup:

It seems to only make sense to have BLU with A skill since so many of their physical Blue Magic attacks depend on TP. A lower skill would just make their physical attacks less useful. Plus, RDM uses his sword mostly when soloing, and gets boosts from our En- spells that these other classes can't get. Seems like a fair tradeoff to me, too.

[Tirrock]

I didn't see BLU added to somepage's listing of ridill (http://ffxi.somepage.com/itemdb/301). I haven't actually looked at a ridill though to see if somepage overlooked it or not.

I think it's sort of silly to get jealous over BLU using swords though.

[Patchinko]

I editted my post as you posted that. :)

(Easy to confuse the sword names after a year off from this game, you'll have to excuse me hehe)

[Tirrock]

I can (and just did) confirm that BLU can't use joyuse. COR can, however.

In all honesty, I'm surprised that BLU can't use a ridill. It seems like it would match their weapon type pretty well.

[Armando]

Yeah, but with their physical attacks tied to TP...imagine what they could do with a Ridill ^^;

[Patchinko]

Kind of surprising that they can't use either, don't you think? Ah well, there goes the dreams of using Joy with BLU. :)

Also, thought that COR was going to be using guns more than swords. Maybe the Joy concession is for soloing...? Interesting itemization.

[Tirrock]

Yeah, but with their physical attacks tied to TP...imagine what they could do with a Ridill ^^;

It'd be as broken as WAR/NIN with it, or THF/NIN.

[WishMaster3K]

Oh shit, wth. Patchinko!?!?!?!?!?!!?

>.<!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/swoon

[Karinya]

It's a Fafnir drop, it's supposed to kick ass. Think what a WAR/NIN can do with a Ridill... do you really think that physical blue magics are going to outperform Rampage with a Woodville's or Jugg MH? (The WAR is also much more likely to double attack during the WS than even a BLU/WAR, because of AF, AF2 and DA merits - and that's assuming DA is even *allowed* to trigger on physical blue magics!)

They should *at least* get Seiryu's Sword. Which isn't nearly as good as Justice and probably not even as good as Joyeuse, but hell, at least it's *something* that's a step forward over Senior Gold Musketeer's Scimitar or Rune Blade. (They can reportedly use Shiva's Shotel. Good luck with that.) Martial Anelace and Dissector could be decent - *if* their special bonuses affect physical blue magic performed while wielding them, which we can't really know at this point.

RDM get Joyeuse, Justice, Excalibur and BLU are (apparently) *more* melee dependent; what do they get? Jack. Seiryu's and Ridill are just about the only falchions they *don't* get. Why is it so wrong for one "melee mage" to get powerful swords, but ok for another?

I don't see why people think RDMs would want BLUs to be gimp. They don't have refresh, good heals, and Chainstun, they're not threatening my party/dynamis/hnm slot, and probably not duplicating my solo style either. But they might be fighting alongside me and I'd love to see a mage busting out 800 damage vorpals on an exp mob - or even 500.

[BurningPanther]

RDM get Joyeuse, Justice, Excalibur and BLU are (apparently) *more* melee dependent; what do they get? Jack. Seiryu's and Ridill are just about the only falchions they *don't* get. Why is it so wrong for one "melee mage" to get powerful swords, but ok for another?
And why is it wrong for one "melee mage" to be powerful with swords, and the other just barely okay with them?

I don't want BLU to be gimp, I only ever used them to cmpare to RDM, just like my WHM comparison(now THEY do need to be gimp... no WHM needs to run around Hexa Striking stuff like he ain't got no sense--sorry, I think my hatred just showed through). I personally only ever wanted just a little more melee love. JUST A LITTLE MORE MELEE LOVE!!! /drops to his knees and cries out to the heavens.

[arkaine23]

I don't think anyone's suggested they want blu gimped. After all, with our merits (sword anyway) current endgame rdm's will make pretty good blu's. More like how about you toss RDM (the other melee-mage hybrid, who hasn't seen significant change or good equip adds in a long time) a tiny bone in the sword dept SE (?) is what I'd like anyway. I mean it's not like our poor base melee stats, busy casting regimen, need to swap staves for magic accuracy to land things, and occaisional need to take a knee because of our heavy casting role don't already prevent us from meleeing in xp.

It's just that blu seems to be able to:

nuke effectively (mp cost)
enfeeble effectively (mp cost)
melee effectively plus flexible skillchain & MB option independent of their native WS
has some cures and defensive buffs
wear a lot of decent equipment (exception: uber endgame swords)
equip extra stats from both equipment AND spells

And is limited by- MP expenditure and the need to recover mp. The number of spells equippable and their blu point cost at any given time.

That's a whole lot of capability, not even delving into subjob choice. Red Mage has a whole lot of capability, but most of it is mediocre at xp levels. And our best abilities are endurance/survivability/mob control.

There's a big difference in the 2 jobs and I see that balance is being preserved for the most part. What bugs me is- I can't even enfeeble well with a sword in my hand. My sword skill is pretty lame even merited. Why oh why are there not elemental swords or some other slot's item that has the elemental staff attributes? Why is my the best weapon to have in a RDM's hand a weapon we have no native skill in?

[Armando]

It's a Fafnir drop, it's supposed to kick ass. Think what a WAR/NIN can do with a Ridill... do you really think that physical blue magics are going to outperform Rampage with a Woodville's or Jugg MH? (The WAR is also much more likely to double attack during the WS than even a BLU/WAR, because of AF, AF2 and DA merits - and that's assuming DA is even *allowed* to trigger on physical blue magics!)
This is true, but we really don't know how powerful high-level physical Blue Magic will be ^^; But you bring up a good point. WAR/NIN and THF/NIN are already pretty broken with a Ridill.

By the way, am I the only one who's excited by the fact that they changed Cursed Sphere from Darkness damage to Water damage? Can anyone check if Barwatera cuts down Cursed Sphere damage against flies now?

Oh yeah, and a 50-ish job trait for RDM that gives swords elemental stave attributes when Enspell'd WOULD be cool :3 But I'm sure someone would call out "nerf!" XD

[Aeni]

BLU can tank. Maybe.

BLU/WAR ... any thoughts? Do they have shield skill? How are their stats? Hmmm....

[arkaine23]

That at least appears to be a blu weak area. Very few sheilds are Blu equippable. And while I have yet to here a full list of Blu skill cap ratings, I'm betting Blu shield skill is abysmally low like drk and blm.

[Armando]

BLM and DRK don't have shield skills XD Even though DRK can use the better shields in the game.

It seems Cursed Sphere isn't the only attack that's had its element changed. Hecatomb Wave was Darkness-based, but is now Wind-based as Blue Magic, despite it still inflicting Blind. Mysterious Light used to be Light damage + Gravity, now it's Wind damage + Gravity. The patch did say some mob TP moves have been changed in accordance with the release of Blue Magic, I need to check that out...

And yeah, I do think this discussion now belongs more in the BLU forum than in the RDM forum :3

[tazirai]

I like how just because mage is at the end of a job name its already lumped to the back line where SQUARE said its both.. silly players.. Hav efun with blue ^^ i'll most likely blu/sam blu/war or blu/whm depending on the PT or situation not all "mages" need /whm at the end .. sheesh.

[Taskmage]

About blu tanking, it looks possible on paper. They get stoneskin, defense up, and cure self-target abilities early on, and have some periodic updates as they level. It's simply a question of how potent those abilities are and whether blu will be able to keep up the mp to make it work. I'm already stumped as to how a blu is supposed to manage resting while keeping a balance between mp and tp for physical blue magic.I like how just because mage is at the end of a job name its already lumped to the back line where SQUARE said its both.. silly players.. Hav efun with blue ^^ i'll most likely blu/sam blu/war or blu/whm depending on the PT or situation not all "mages" need /whm at the end .. sheesh./cheer

[Patchinko]

Yes, Tazi, this is how I feel also. It seems like a natural fit for a RDM main player also, since we often have /BLM, /WHM and /WAR levelled up (or maybe I'm the only one with /WAR for soloing... ＾＾).

Hard to say now where the BLU will be set on the battlefield, but I, like you, think it may well have a versitile role that requires multiple playstyles to be truly successful. Or at least, that's what I'm hoping for!

[Aeni]

I like how just because mage is at the end of a job name its already lumped to the back line where SQUARE said its both.. silly players.. Hav efun with blue ^^ i'll most likely blu/sam blu/war or blu/whm depending on the PT or situation not all "mages" need /whm at the end .. sheesh.

I'm still going with SE's statement last year...

"This game needs more tanks."

ftw baby, ftw. -> BLU/WAR c'mon, you know you want it ... yah baby ... :eek:

BLU/WAR vs. WAR/NIN vs. (WAR/MNK -- f**k you for anyone who thinks this can't be done) vs. PLD/WAR vs. NIN/WAR vs. (WAR/WHM ... ... ... ... okay no comment ... well ... you know, this was actually a great idea on paper ... ... no further comments ...) .... I can't think of anything else that won't die in 10sec on a VT/IT D:

[Armando]

Aeni, you left out RDM/WAR D:

[LadyPeorth]

BLU Physical abilites as seen through the eyes of a level 9 BLU:

1) Your weapon determines roughly the damage you deal.
With a Bronze Sword, my Sprout Smack barely went over 10. When I moved to a Sapara, I noticed alot more over 10 and up to 20 damage.
2) Type matters.
Sprout Smack would often be fully resisted or out right have its damaged halved vs Vermin types (which is what Plantoids fear). To test this, use Sprout Smack on a Crawler, then on a crab. The difference can be seen.
3) TP does matter.
Sprout Smack seems to add 1-2 seconds to a monster's swing time, which is noticeable. With 0 tp, it lasted maybe 5-6 swings for the monster. At around 50 tp, it seemed like a whole fight (which isn't that long at level 9)
4) Learning is pure chance
I've seen Pollen and Cocoon at least 5 times each, never learned. Saw SandSpin and Sprout Smack once...learned first time. It's not "Attack is 100%" either...I still haven't learned Wild Oats.

That's my views so far.

[Atma]

First, important things to note:

Blue Mage is not designed to be a "sit in the back and do stuff" job. Here's why:

1) A- Sword skill. That's the second highest in the game, and better then RDM.
2) Most attacks (at least the ones I have at 12th level), are both melee-range and dependant on your TP.

Metallic Body sucks. Forget about it. It's 19MP, takes 7 seconds to cast, and has like a 1 minute recast. Based on what I've seen so far, it appears to absorb an amount of damage approximately equal to your blue magic skill. Useful for a hit or two, but not "OMGWTFBLUE>NIN" or anything like that.

Cocoon, however, is AMAZING. At level 12 I have 75 Defense with Cocoon... I'm thinking that's probably equal to, if not better than, most level 15ish paladins. I was fairly comfortable with tanking lizards, however pollen doesn't seem to generate the same aggression that cure does.

If people take this job and turn it into another sit on your ass and heal us job, it will make me a sad panda.

[Hyrist]

Just a small note to those who dont know:

"Mage" is not a part of the litteral translation of ANY of what we commonly call 'Mage Classes'

The direct translation of name is:

"<color> Demon Taoist"

Taoism means in the simplest form 'the way' and in real life socieities it ranges as far as passiveness and herbalism, to as physical as Tai Chi and other forms of meditation exersize.

With this in mind the, term "Taoist" can include a decilipine that is physical as well as spiritual and mental. This is why Red and Blue "Mages" have phyiscal leaniancys to them, no matter how heavy or slight that may be.

The term "Mage" was just a shiny europiznation in order to make the job classes look more attracitve on papper to Americans, however it is, in fact, a poor translation, which was held onto simply for the keeping the trend and consistancy alive. Therefore, using the argument: "But it has MAGE in the job name!" is completly and utterly invalid on the basis that 'mage' is not even the correct term for it, let allone how shallow minded such an argument would be.

I just wanted to throw that bone out there to clear a bit of confusion.

[Taskmage]

Demon Taoist may be how google translates madoushi, but I don't think that's the most correct interpretation. First of all, 魔 doesn't necessarily mean a demon. It can simply mean something magical, like in mahou or makyuu. 道士 doesn't necessarily mean someone who ascribes to the ways of Taoism either. 道 means a path or doctrine, much like the word "way" in english can have either meaning. 士 by itself is "samurai". If we put those three concepts together we get a disciple of the ways of magic, which is essentially what the word mage means to us english speakers.

[Patchinko]

This is a silly issue, but one would not really translate 魔道士 to mean "demon Taoist". You're right that 道 can mean "Tao" referring to a Chinese philosophy, but in most usage this word means "path". We use the same kanji for meaning "the street" (みち）, and it is often a part of words talking about the path one follows in life. The word 魔道士 would just mean "magician", the first character representing magic, the second representing the path, and the third representing the person (...think "person who follows the path of magic). Not really a typical word, but it is known in relation to the Final Fantasy series that this is how they spell "mage"!

Still doesn't mean a magician can't kick some butt though.＾＾

Double Post Edited:
Wow, you must have posted that while I was talking with my friend and had my post on my screen, Taskmage!＾＾；

[loeh]

Just wanted to put in my 2 cents on the BLU job getting A- Skill in Sword. I am actually a rdm myself, been one for nearly 2.5 years now. Love the job for everything its worth. I wanted to point out that SE has made it their main target in this expansion to really change the standard way players play jobs I.E. Melee, Mage, Tank.

That being said this is clearly evident in the way BLU works. They have moves that even though some people may say otherwise are very dependent on TP. Also have you begun to realise that alot of skills that you gain from Lvl. 1 - 30 cannot be used when "out of sword striking" range or without being engaged? (with the exception of some of the ranged skills like wild oats) This clearly shows the need for BLUs to be hitting the mob and supporting both the mage side of the team with enemy skills and putting in what little damage they can with their swords.

This is why i think it fully justified that BLUs gain such a high proficiency in sword skill ( 2nd highest in the game) This is not to say they will be out-parsing other main stay DDs like Wars, Drks, etc, or out-parsing blm's in terms of bursts. But this new approach to what some of you would emphasize a "MAGE" is in all an attempt by SE to give us all something different from the standard backlining mage or under damage parsing meleeing rdm stereotype.

Also the job traits that have been discovered so far from spell combos further indicate a very frontline oriented job in that things like killer traits, attack bonus' , max hp up, defense up, show an ablity to be in the frontline and not be a burden on the mages in the back keeping the pt alive.

Is it a bad thing RDM and alot of other jobs got shafted on Sword skill by BLU? Well depending on where you stand its yes and no but think about it SE is going to design new jobs around how players play current ones. Thus why they intend to change ALL jobs in due time as was revealed at the fan-fest to ensure that all jobs get a new breath of life. BLU having a higher sword skill that caps 19 higher than RDM is not somthing i tihnk anyone should be making a big deal about. They hit slighty harder but are they hitting vorpal's for 1k constant w/out SATA on ITs?

So in all i think BLU is fine the way it is, let them have their A- sword skill but in the end it wil come down to the other jobs getting changes made to them whether in the form of weapon skill caps, or spells. You think a WAR is going to complain that a Blue"MAGE" has higher sword skill than him when he already has AXE and Great AXE that probably will still out parse a BLU's damage? There are things other jobs still have going that blu does not.

Oh and Grendal-さん、　v(￣、￣)ノ　お帰りなさい� �

[Balfree]

Has anyone confirmed if Healing Breeze heals party members? Because if it does... eheheheheh, that might just be the skill that gives blu the most hate huh? but still would need injured people to work.. wonder how its gonna work out.

[Meatproduct]

Blu will be a melee mage imo, most of the spells have to be used right next to the mob in order to work.


Edit: er.. wrong thread... :huh:

Double Post Edited:
Blu will be a melee mage imo, most of the spells have to be used right next to the mob in order
to work.

ReEdit: i think i'm doing something wrong... just ignore me :vent:

[Meatproduct]

Blu will be a frontline job imo, most of the spells have to be used right next to the mob.

Edit: heh... 3 pages...
everyone has their noob moments :biggrin:

[massaranger]

well whoever said there the only one solo with war sub no need to fear i do for the def bonus is good so i dont have to use spells i dont use to equip and also melee dmg bonus help also

[Neomage]

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[Randwolf]

I really enjoy all the "this is how BLU will be played" statements. The bottom line is we do not know enough about this job to make set in stone determinations as to how it should be used in a party setting.

The other thing I will throw in here is for all those BLU who are PL'ing all their spells: stop it. The job is totally capable solo. I have solo'd all the spells I have except Screwdriver, got it in a party, and Cyclone Claw which I will need to duo with another BLU to get if I want it now, which I do. But if you PL all your stuff you are really cheating yourself out of learning your job.

btw - Healing Breeze is all party healing, at level 20 I'm giving everyone approximately 60 HP back, and almost immediately steal hate from tank so, be ready to be the tank for the rest of the battle.

[Visper]

blu kicks butt, seriously. I have also solo'd all my spells - all I have left is cursed sphere and cyclone claw for all the spells up to 20. I actually havnt partied yet, all this running around trying to learn all the spells I've just leveled...currently 18 and still able to take EM to T and get a chain #2. with xp ring I'm getting 150-300 xp a fight, about as good as I'd get at the dunes without the noobish action going on. Gonna see how it is when I hit 20, I'm goin to see how far I can solo before I party - its way to much fun right now.