[mortama]

The upcoming version update will have dancers and scholars across Vana'diel rejoicing in the streets,
as it promises long-awaited features that will make these jobs more effective and rewarding to play than ever before!

Read on for the details!

[mortama]

Dancers and scholars of Vana'diel, this is the day you've been waiting for!

The upcoming version update will see the introduction of two long-awaited features for each of these jobs:
the Group 2 merit point category and relic armor. With release day drawing near,
we've decided to give you a sneak preview of some of the new abilities that await you.
So put on your dancing shoes, crack open those books, and read on!

• Dancer

Job Ability "Saber Dance"
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Increases Double Attack rate but renders Waltz unusable. Double Attack rate gradually decreases.
Recast: 5min. Each upgrade shortens recast time by 30 seconds.
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Job Ability "Fan Dance"
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Reduces physical damage taken and increases enmity but renders Samba unusable.
Physical damage reduction gradually decreases with each hit taken. Recast: 5min.
Each upgrade shortens recast time by 30 seconds.
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• Scholar

Job Ability "Enlightenment"
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Optimizes both white and black magic capabilities and allows access to both addenda for your next spell.
Recast: 10min. Each upgrade shortens recast time by 1 minute 15 seconds.
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Job Trait "Stormsurge"
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Storm-type spells grant a bonus to attributes associated with their element. Initial bonus value: +3.
Each subsequent upgrade increases bonus value by 1.
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[pathwriter]

Not sure I'm really impressed with the palette swap on Scholar.

[Kleiner]

Dancer AF2 looks simply awesome (Tha stark white and blue combination is very nice). The SCH AF, however, is a bit.. lackluster. I suppose there's only so far you can go with the outfit itself, but it's still a bit of a letdown.

As for the skills, Blade Dance seems very nice, depending how long it lasts. It will help DNCs in a DPS and endgame situation to TP properly. although i cringe at the idea of DNCs now touting Blade Dance as their excuse to avoid supportive roles, i dont think it will be effective enough to be a gameplay change for the class.

As for Fan Dance, it seems a little.. late in the game. DNC is one of the most OP tanks i've ever seen In the early levels, up until ToAU's introduction with exping. You're essentially a paladin with instant cast spells, no need to rest, and Curaga. But for the spell to increase Enmity, it can't be used as a "defend myself" in a pinch if you pull agro, and yet i highly doubt that the Damage Reduction is potent enough to warrant a DNC main tanking at 75, even on Exp mobs. It is possible that this is intended to help DNC in merits shoulder a larger role in group play. Based on the potency of the Damage Reduction, it's possible it could be used in multiple situations to off tank, or to simply hold attention of the mob while you store up some TP (a Phalanx equivalent seems like the best idea, with the way it's described, but i highly doubt that potency is there), or it oculd just get you raped thanks to an increased amount of enmity gain.

Scholars just died a little inside, thanks to the +1 effect of each additional merit of Stormsurge, and Enlightenment seems a bit silly. Yes it's nice to be in Light arts and use it to gain full power on one of your dark arts spells, or viceversa, it seems silly on a 10m timer. I also doubt that Dark Arts Stratagems will work with a Light Arts spell gained throuigh Enlightenment, making the possiblity of an OHSHITE AoE or large cure, or an aoE -na spell unlikely for an offensive scholar to whip out.

[Elswood]

Now Scholars can basically be Bards. Here I come with my +7 str buff......

I am not amused, Square.

[ClaudusX233]

XD looks like dnc's new dances are only for self target? or like other dances? X__X if so.. i can see DNC's in tank parties.. but then again.. how often does a pld hit high lvl NMs ;/

[spira]

im pretty certain the new dance JAs are self-target only, given that other than Waltzes, everything else a DNC can do to a friendly target is only to itself... Its also never been a job to buff other party members directly..
furthermore, the JAs come with penalties like unable to waltz and samba.. and it would make no sense to limit those things on jobs that cant use them in the first place...

[Kleiner]

I see SE changing the names of these dances.
"Sword Dance" and "Fan Dance" don't fit into any of the categories currently within dancing abilities.

"waltzes" require two, hence they all target (aside from one) a single person.
"Sambas" Are dances for multiple people, hence why they benefit your party.
"Steps" are single actions in a dance, hence why they inflict one move and build towards bigger moves.
"flourishes" are finishing steps and additions to a dance, so it makes sense they require steps to complete
"jigs" are simple little dancing ditties for one person, hence why they only buff the user.

These two dances are both on 5m recast timer, which is probobly shared (which is fine, since in situations you'd be using Double Attack you wont want increased enmity but you do want your samba procs, and in situations you're holding enmity you need waltzes but not so much sambas). They will probobly be named Gavottes, Gambols, or maybe Two-steps. Throwing them without a category owuld seem silly, and just calling them "dances" well.. that's just lazy.

Now Scholars can basically be Bards. Here I come with my +7 str buff......

I am not amused, Square.

When scholars get Minuet and March, complain. I don't think anyone is bitching that Etude, songs reserved for very unique situations, are being given to scholars in an MP intensive and hard to manage form.

also, FUCKING HUZZAH to me for acing my first final. TAKE THAT mitchener!