Job Rebalancing: Who Goes Where

Above, BLM AMII Damage,
Restoring Original RDM < BLU < BLM Damage Distribution

BLU was a pretty weird job. A lot of its high MP cost/Area of Effect spells were supposed to parse it somewhere between RDM and BLM as magical nuker. Of course, the mistake (or perhaps success) the developers made was to make the damage differential between physical and magical spells too low, the MP cost spread too large, and the cast and recast times of the physical spells too attractive. BLU became a DD, not a nuker.

But the Level Cap increase begs a lot of questions: What is a nuker? Does it have to deal magical damage? RDM was originally supposed to be a frontline fighter-mage hybrid and still constitutes a nuker. What difference does it make if it deals physical damage rather than magic damage?

BLU is no longer a DD in the traditional sense--technically, it never really was. It has always been a hybrid class, but the grand revelation is that the mix does not come from physical and magical Blue Magic, but rather from Sword and Blue Magic as a whole. This is why even physical Blue Magic is counted by various sources as magic damage.

As such, BLU is now a "frontline nuker" in the highly conceptual sense. It falls somewhere between RNG and BLM in terms of functionality and design. RNG's DPS was originally inversely correlated to its spike given the distance function of ranged attacks. BLM, of course, has virtually non-existent DPS in exchange for some of the best spike damage in the game. Furthermore, RNG provides physical spike while BLM provides magical spike.

Now we see BLU offering solid, middle-range DPS and weaker spike than both BLM and RNG, which it compensates for with other unique abilities (including the capacity to tank). BLU's best spike is still primarily physical, which begs the question whether another job will fill what logically follows: a solid, middle-range DPS with magical spike and other unique abilities to compensate.

RDM is an ideal candidate, but first SE will have to induce RDMs to use swords and nuke. First of all, give RDM some Swords and Shields with enough MAcc/MAB/Cure Pot to make up for not using staves. Second, En-spells with extremely powerful enfeebling effects that remain in effect via melee would certainly induce RDMs to use their swords, and the decreased attention to casting debuffs would allow them to devote some MP to nuking. Finally, more Weaponskills like Death Blossom would further incentivize RDM Melee.

Of course, for this to work, SCH and WHM will have to take on the mantle of full support. People generally compare SCH and RDM, but SCH should ideally fall between BLM and WHM, not WHM and RDM. While SCH is getting enhanced healing and nuking capacities (and no melee capacities other than Occult Accumen), RDM should be getting more melee and debuff abilities to diversify its position. If SCH and WHM can successfully wrest the healing and support functions away from RDM, RDM can be drawn away from support and closer to offense.

This isn't to say that BLUs can't throw on a staff once in a while or that RDMs can't DoT Kite to their heart's content. But I do believe firmly that is not in the spirit of these jobs to play in those ways. Just in the same way SE has been successful in realigning BLU to suit its original design (in a way that is consistent with player expectations), I believe RDM should receive similar adjustments also consistent with player expectations.

I'm sure RDMs would enjoy opportunities to do something other than -fresh whore and Slow II.