While it's true that a BLM doesn't have a ~20sec delay between EACH spell casted, thus they are free to chain spells back to back (automaton frame can't stagger(iirc)), it doesn't necessarily mean that they "out nuke" a BLM frame. A proper geared PUP can actually outnuke a BLM, inside or out. And yet, there's so many people that say otherwise. My linkshell does VWNMs and we have enough people there for staggering, so I'd like to go PUP for hate-free nuking/support(as /rdm or /sch), but no luck. The only times a BLM would out nuke a BLM frame is Empy armor set proc. But, still...
- The automaton can be deactivated every minute, reseting MP pool to 100% and clearing all enmity. It also resets spell casting timers to full.
- BLMs can reset enmity every 10 minutes. Or every time they die.
- A weakened Puppetmaster can still nuke using the BLM frame since "double weakness" does not apply to the automaton.
- A weakened BLM can nuke still, but with a limited MP pool. And should they die again, they're completely useless.
- While the BLM frame is providing damage, a PUP/(RDM or SCH) can be tossing Cures. Granted this is limited to Cure III, PUP does have access to most mage gear to help with this problem.
- Modern day BLMs always sub RDM anyway, limiting them to Cure III as well.
This is back during the 90 cap. Thunder V with Atma of the Lion/Ultimate/Beyond does 5800~.
If anyone else has anything to say, please go ahead. And I'm not saying that a BLM frame is more "flexible" for situations that call for stagger. I'm just saying it seems to be a safer, higher damage output than a BLM nuking would be.
