[headeu]

I've played the game on and off again for a while, and recently started playing again. my girlfriend and i have been duo-ing around with her as mnk, and me as drg. i've played blu some what, and thought it was quite fun, but i'm just curious how useful it is over all. im not too terribly worried about party invites right away considering that my blu is only at 18 for the time being, but just curious as to what role i'd be fitting in to the higher level i get and the more we'd be looking into parties. thanks guys in advance for any responses!

[Terranova]

Higher-level BLU is great for small groups, particularly groups of other BLUs, for anything that ends in -NM. Smart BLUs who know how to take advantage of all the tools that BLU has instead of just smashing out the Big Three over and over can accomplish some amazing things solo or low-man. However, in large-scale end-game events, BLU is generally deemed sub-par. It is an expert of utility; a Jack of All Trades but master of none. Large scale end-game events require specialization, and BLU cannot deliver in that department. But for small-scale stuff, it kicks ass. I've seen some pretty damn impressive BLU solos/duos.

This post has been edited by Terranova: 21 August 2010 - 01:49 PM

[Aeonknight]

The only large scale endgame event that comes to mind would be dynamis.... Which BLU does just fine in. Einherjar, meh not the best choice but we're not terrible either. HNM/VNM's, your mileage may vary, as it does with every DD, but I can't think of a single non-zerg one that i plain "can't" DD on BLU. About the only thing we don't do well on is zergs.

This post has been edited by Aeonknight: 21 August 2010 - 03:19 PM

[Corrderio]

BLU is fun at the start, but it becomes more and more annoying as you progress. More gear, spells get harder to get, etc.

[Terranova]

Corrderio's right about the last part... From about level 60 onward, you're going to need help with 3/4 of your spells. Which can be annoying, if you're like me and feel guilty any time you have to depend on other people. Because you will have to for most of the later spells, especially if you want to use them at the level you get them.

After you get them all, though, it's pretty fun. :3 I got my BLU to 80 two weeks ago, and now that I have all but a handful of spells that I don't care about, I like it more than my octave club 80 WHM. And that thing is fun.

[headeu]

thanks guys for the great responses!! its nice to hear the good with the "bad" about this job class, that i didn't really know that much about. i'm definitely going to give it a thorough shot. thanks again for your responses!!!

[fyreus]

What's pretty fun is a 2229hp Heat breath build with sauron/that new pendant <3 you would swear you leveled blm (unless the mob resists fire then there's ice breath up next!)

This post has been edited by fyreus: 26 August 2010 - 09:45 AM

[kenshyn]

Blu played well is fantastic Blu played poorly is craptastic as f its pretty sad to be around bad blu and servers are full of em. Blu takes work to get all the spells and gear and setting up tons of macros or spellcast xml. if you aren't blinking on blu pretty much your doing it wrong.

With this last update and the one coming up Blu just keeps on getting better in my book still a Jack of all trades and a master of a few lol.....

[fyreus]

kenshyn, on 27 August 2010 - 08:35 AM, said:

Blu played well is fantastic Blu played poorly is craptastic as f its pretty sad to be around bad blu and servers are full of em. Blu takes work to get all the spells and gear and setting up tons of macros or spellcast xml. if you aren't blinking on blu pretty much your doing it wrong.

With this last update and the one coming up Blu just keeps on getting better in my book still a Jack of all trades and a master of a few lol.....

If we can get a WS to SC with after Savage Blade > Disservement then TP drainkiss would make stuff look really awesome. This is where skillchain bonus would shine IF we could get our hands on that as a trait... especially every 1:40.

Blu is bsically a tacticians dream job.

[Kimjongil76]

_{I can't think of a single non-zerg one that i plain "can't" DD on BLU. About the only thing we don't do well on is zergs.}


I disagree. Due to the update and new gear and weapons, blu can zerg very well. Granted you will need a whm or scholar to cure bomb you.

Blu/drk. Use the tripple attack sword offhand. Can use a 2nnd double attack sword as well or any other mog weapon main.

Cast Anaminating wind, "haste: Turump Roar. "attack up" And set "dual weild" Job trait as well as double attack.

Can then frightful roar, "defense down" Last resort what will stack with Tru Roar. Attack on my gallka is around 600. and thats with no brd or outside buffs other than I.

Souleater and rip away, not only do you SE a WS for 1-2k, CA close it for another 1k+ but even in abayessa or ks30's your swords that put 30-80 and now popping 200+ a swing 84-5 and due to multi hit spells, big 3, you can shred watever you want.

But you will need a massive cure bomb.

On a side note this is starting to make a great melee even excluding souleater. Attack up 2 and soon to be 3 by 90. Absorb tp, and as long as any absorb spell lands you get full benefit. Absob str dex for massive spells increase bonus.

And now the new lvl 45 JA, cast magic and get tp. even if its 1 tp a spell. can head butt spam for 1 tp a hit.

When we CA WS SC, we can WS VB, lose TP, absorb TP then CA spell, SC for enhanced spells as well.

I will say unlike sam, war or many other jobs. They cant take advantage of souleater as it only offers one two handed weapon and they need to many buffs. Blu/drk due to our spells we get many and can exploit it.

This post has been edited by Kimjongil76: 27 August 2010 - 09:54 PM

[Aeonknight]

BLU/DRK is a zerg option, but it ain't a great one. Requiring a WHM or SCH to cure bomb you doesn't make it the pre-requisite of zerging well. Why dedicate a WHM to keeping you alive, when they can dedicate them to keeping the silly MNK/DRK w/ hundredfists alive?

Sorry... I don't buy it. We CAN zerg, but it's definately one of our weakest points.

[Kaparu]

BLU works for nearly everything, but you'll never be optimal anything.

You'll also have a pretty nasty job stigma to overcome. Have fun with that.

This post has been edited by Kaparu: 28 August 2010 - 02:12 PM

[fyreus]

The only stigmas we have to deal with are those places on us by other jobs trying to secure their positions. being able to breathe massive amounts of damage every so often (of course we may need to rest or convert once in a while) or upkeeping 36dmg/tic with DoTs and being able to provide more stuns isn't a bad thing especially with the use of convert. There are many options that people don't explore or rather don't understand. I wish they didn't plan on nerfing our 7mp/tic self setup though, i love main healing

This post has been edited by fyreus: 04 September 2010 - 07:21 AM

[Dhragon]

How can a increase in how much we get back with Battery Charge a "nerf". If you "need" the 1 or 2 MP a tic it may drop by, then it sounds like you'll need some meds to keep up anyway. And the spell will last longer...

I don't see a nerf anywhere.

[fyreus]

When i play, i calculate how much mp i should use between self buffs during WS cycle, and i leave 72mp for an emergency heal. That means i need MP on TIME and not over time. I can stomach the 50mp per a use as long as i get my 7mp/tic. Lowering it by 1 or 2 means i'm back to relying on a certain mage that they're 'adjusting' this spell for as well as changing how often i use spells and what i use and when. That also puts a dent in my breathing healing build

Not everyone plays the same or looks at their blu the same way so i can understand how we'll disagree on some things.

*edit* i guess i'll have to explain lol.

606MP in WS/physical spell gear topped off
740ish in haste topped off (this is my prefight buffer or starting buffer since it's also best to buff in haste gear)

0~100mp
i'd better rest and sit in haste gear for mp tics or i'll be stuck meleeling

100-200mp
emergency mp

300mp
i never go below this range unless i'm not paying attention. this is my healing reserve. since this is my resting range, i keep mp for pre and post WS disservement use. i use frenic rips to catch
up in 2h dmg to kinda make quota lol

300-500mp
disservements, frenic rip, corrosive, and headbutts = 183 DD.naguc spells + unaccounted in headbutts. my current weapon setup leaves me at 100%tp by time CA is at :44ish of 1:40 so i headbutt/rip/headbutt. untill i finish upgrading my weapons and get an enkidu subligar/white thalum this is what i run at.

500-600mp (24mp regained in here @6mp/tic without hand or shoe or glove refresh or even signets)
i sit at this range for: att up, haste, refresh, and frightning roar/stinking gas if i have a good def down around then -30vit is best:imo. That's 50+53+36+37/32 = 166/161 and a 30~40mp return in there somewhere by the second round since the first round always uses alot more mp.

By time round 1 is done, i'm gaining back mp and by time round 3 is around, i'm cycling my WS/MB, debuff, phy spell, and getting ready for rebuffing. I don't always get the luxary of a buffer in my groups since we stuff 2h DDs in there instead (LS and pugs standard i assume :/ ). For breathing/magic damage i stick on as many of the stats that's needed for the spell of choice (i get like +60 on mnd/int i forget) along with two breaths or two magic damage spells and amplification. Between cycles i gain 60mp so to cut it back by 1 or 2 would reduce the amount of mp i use and force a rest. This isn't something i'm interested in as a magic dependent melee

TP drainkiss may change this cycle or how much i care about mp tics depending on MP per use and casting time.

This post has been edited by fyreus: 05 September 2010 - 06:15 PM