Update: This article is just a brief primer on disciples of magic. Since the time of writing, I’ve found this guide. I recommend you head over and get yourself a copy as well. Not only does it have an insanely detailed chapter on disciples of magic, but an absolutely brilliant leveling guide as well (see my review). I so wish I had gotten that when I first bought the game – it would have saved me a lot of time (which could have been used to improve the design of this blog instead :))
Final Fantasy XIV has a generic party structure of tanks, damage dealers and magic users. Physical damage is generally delivered by the tanking and damage dealing classes whereas magic users primarily utilize magic as their main source of damage and support. Class in Final Fantasy XIV uses this same structure to develop their job system with magic users falling under the category of Disciplines of Magic.
Magic users in a game will tend to be of a supportive nature or damage dealing. Curative, party enhancing and enemy enfeebling generally fall under the supportive spells category. Elemental damage spells such as Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth fall under the damage dealing category. Disciplines of Magic has three main jobs: Arcanist, Thaumaturge and Conjurer. Interestingly, jobs with the Disciplines of Magic have the ability to utilize both supportive and damage dealing spells. The delivery of these spells is the primary difference between the Thaumaturge and Conjurer.
Thaumaturge has a Greek origin and is translated as a person that is capable of being a saint or miracle worker. The Thaumaturge job within Final Fantasy XIV delivers AoE or Area of Effect spells which damage multiple enemies. The same is true for spells that enhance your party. Therefore, it is important when utilizing a spell to be within a specific area for your party or the enemy to get the most effect of your spell.
Conjurer is the second Disciplines of Magic job which focuses primary on elemental magic. The Conjurer is able to control the elements of wind, lightning, fire, water, ice and earth. In Final Fantasy XI elemental magic users were considered to be damage dealers. In Final Fantasy XIV this is not 100% true. Conjurers are able to cast spells that damage but are also able to cast curative spells. It is currently unknown if Conjurers will have – ga spells such as Firaga and Thundaga which are spells that attack all enemies within a specific area of effect.
Square Enix has confirmed that magic users will be able to use a ranged magic based attack that will not consume MP. This is good news for magic users that would like to store up MP as they trek throughout the world. Final Fantasy XIV is set to be released by December 2010 as confirmed through interviews by Square Enix.
On the chance of repeating myself, this article is just a brief primer on disciples of magic. Since the time of writing, I’ve found this guide. I recommend you head over and get yourself a copy as well. Not only does it have an insanely detailed chapter on disciples of magic, but an absolutely brilliant leveling guide as well (see my review). I so wish I had gotten that when I first bought the game – it would have saved me a lot of time (which could have been used to improve the design of this blog instead :))