Yeah the Gun Mage has been a weird class so far. I think only the TA version of the class felt weirder. I do need to check an algorithm faq at some point because I do find the damage algorithms to be a bit weird. Also, why the hell is Stash Ether such an expensive skill? Sure ethers aren't exactly common, but they're also not terribly useful either. Of the four classes I can think of that need it, three of them can gain an MP absorb skill. There is also a Garment Grid that gives you Osmose for the fourth class (white mage) and later on you can gain Garment Grids that let you use Black/White magic innately regardless of your class so you can easily partner it up with a class that can already use said abilities and not have to worry about it. I feel Mega Phoenix and Ether should have switched.

I have been playing with Garment Grids that let you use other skills. Yuna is equipped with one that lets her use White Magic and Paine has one that let's her use Warrior skills. Rikku has one that lets her use Mug which has been nice to rack up AP for the slow Alchemist class. I was hoping this would seriously open up the gameplay more but it's been a bit disappointing instead. White Magic is not as useful as Alchemist Stash skills and largely serves as a backup for when they go down. Even then, it's faster to use an item then cast the spell. Warrior is also more situational than one would think. Dark Knight is just a better class overall. I've also started working with Berserker and I'm remembering why I don't like the class in this game. They made it into a serious glass cannon. Great for trash mobs, but if you encounter something with high agility/hit or something incredibly tanky with high HP and attack power, and the class goes down super quickly.

I'm currently grinding some AP for classes while raising Chocobo levels. I need a few at Level 5 so I can unlock some things later. When I have more time to dedicate to the game, I'll be going to check on the Chamber of the Stolen Fayeth to rescue some snotty nosed tourists.