MMORPG.com Final Fantasy XI Correspondent Wesley Bond writes this look at the Black Mage class in Square Enix's forray into the realm of MMORPGs.

No other character has been so indelibly burned into our memory as the image of the Final Fantasy Black Mage. The image of the pointy straw hat, dark robes, glowing beady eyes and shadowed face are forever the icon of the dark arts. To be a Black Mage is to wield the unfettered powers of the elements, bringing their terrible power to bear against any foe that would stand against him. Final Fantasy XI is no different in its portrayal of the Black Mage. The Black Mage's job is nothing short of damage dealer and few jobs hit as hard in realms of magic as it allows. The downside to employing such a furious power? I think that can be summed up in the nickname "glass cannon". The Black Mage can dish out the pain but when the favor is returned by a powerful and angry mob, the Black Mage won't last for long.

Read up on the Black Mage