Part 102: Time Mage
Job dissection: Time Mage
"The Time Mage controls time and space. This sorcerer toys with the laws of the universe."
code:
EQ: Staff, Hat, Clothes, Robe, Accessory
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HPM: 75 | MPM: 120 | SpM: 100 | PAM: 50 | MAM: 130 | Move: 3 | C.Ev: 05%
HPC: 12 | MPC: 10 | SpC: 100 | PAC: 65 | MAC: 50 | Jump: 3 |Pros:
+Haste and Haste 2 are completely amazing and make the Time Mage good by default
+Slow, Stop, and Don't Move are good at temporarily disabling enemies
+Reflect and Float have some applications
+Demi/Demi 2 good against certain bosses who have inflated HP counts
+Teleport may be the best movement ability
+MP Switch good on guys who don't care about their MP and/or have Move-MP Up
+Short Charge can make higher level spells much more practical
+High MP and MA
Cons:
-Tiny HP and PA might as well not exist
-Demi spells are inaccurate without Faith manipulation and damage isn't too good against most enemies
-Because of that, little damage dealing ability
-Stop barely lasts any time. Don't Move doesn't stop ranged attacks. Slow is more of a nuisance than anything
-Meteor is essentially useless for being so slow, even if it is neat looking
Time Mages are... well, I am the hugestest fan of them. I cannot emphasize how awesome Haste is. It's 50% extra CT per clocktick. A dude with 6 speed acts like he has 9 speed. It's awesome. They can use statuses to disrupt enemies if your guys are covered in Haste. I think Teleport is the best movement ability. Some people say Move+3, but I like Teleport because it ignores everything and shit. Girls don't get Move+3 in regular FFT so it's a moot point for them.
Time Mages aren't all good. Their HP is awful, their PA is comically low (2 at level 1, 3 at level 50. Their MA, while good, isn't up to Wizard levels. Ironically, they have average speed. Time Mages can't do much besides Haste allies and put a couple of statuses on enemies, as Demi spells have a faith-based hit formula that makes them unwieldy, and Meteor's utterly pitiful 8 speed makes it utterly impractical. They need a secondary ability to help beyond Haste.
If you can't think of a secondary command for a guy and don't want to commit a support skill to Throw Item, giving a guy the ability to cast Haste isn't bad. Time Magic has mostly faith-based formulae so low MA isn't a problem. It and Yin-Yang magic are complimentary in that the two carry every status but Poison and Frog.
I'm tired of typing the word Haste so hopefully you get the point of Time Mages.