[pathwriter]

Just hit 48 Ninja and I'll swear I've heard that some people will off-hand a Hornetneedle from time to time. I'm wondering how true and viable this is. I've got a Hototogisu waiting for 55, so I'm not sure if its speed covers for the lack of damage at 55+ against Lesser Colibri.

[draugo]

On birds the piercing helps, and you swing ultra fast. IDK how good it is though for lvl 49ish XP. I got mine when my ninja was 75 way later for my THF.

[Aliadim]

pathwriter, on 13 October 2009 - 09:15 PM, said:

Just hit 48 Ninja and I'll swear I've heard that some people will off-hand a Hornetneedle from time to time. I'm wondering how true and viable this is. I've got a Hototogisu waiting for 55, so I'm not sure if its speed covers for the lack of damage at 55+ against Lesser Colibri.

I think it depends on if you use Yonin or not. I wouldn't bother using Hornetneedle, personally. The damage would be roughly equivalent without Yonin, so with it's a bit in katana's favor.

[Amastacia]

The -Def proc on Yoto +1s fires pretty often, and is great for both yourself and your party.

Given that NIN melee damage is kinda "ehh" in the upper 40s (and Yonin does no favors to your Acc), I'd stick with the utility of the Yoto and swap to a more DD-oriented setup as you get access to more DD gear.

[pathwriter]

I've been soloing this whole way (long story, but I disconnect often during primetime), so I'd forgotten the penalty on Yonin in spite of keeping it up constantly for the Evasion and enemy critical hit rate down effects. I can't see myself devoting merits to dagger skill, so I think I'll just bank my little knife at this point. I'm planning to keep the Yoto +1 for a few levels (I'd be nuts not to off-hand Buboso, though), probably until Muketsu.

As for DD gear, he's a shot of some of the stuff I own for Ninja. This isn't a specific set, just things I threw on to look as little like a Ninja as I could manage:

[Mogar]

What legs are those? Never seen them before, except for Shinimusha, which only Sam can equip.

[pathwriter]

They're Tsukikazu Haidate from Salvage. I'm still waiting on Hikazu Hakama to drop, so I'd rather use those (STR+1 DEX+1) than Republic Subligar or Royal Squire's Breeches or whatever. I'll freely admit that it's mostly a matter of aesthetics.

[evilpaul]

Amastacia, on 15 October 2009 - 08:36 AM, said:

The -Def proc on Yoto +1s fires pretty often, and is great for both yourself and your party.

Given that NIN melee damage is kinda "ehh" in the upper 40s (and Yonin does no favors to your Acc), I'd stick with the utility of the Yoto and swap to a more DD-oriented setup as you get access to more DD gear.

If he's doing colibri (I can't think of any in that range, but people are talking piercing damage bonus) then I don't think he'll see the Def Down proc much/at all. Acid Bolts are worthless on them anyway.

[draugo]

which one took you longer to pop on your gothic? hands or feet?

And how do you like them as a set for the paralysis?

[pathwriter]

Gothic is only good for the Enmity on Ninja (they're not terrible stat pieces for WS, either). The Ice Spikes are moderately potent against Even Match mobs, but the Paralysis is inferior to Jubaku. As for which dropped sooner, I think it took me about an hour to get the one in Behemoth's Dominion, but I spent most of an afternoon in Xarcabard.

[draugo]

Damn you! Behemoths Domain took me about the same, In Xarca however I spammed FoV pages for the relevant levels in there for both SAM and
THF and still have yet to have them drop, Spent days trying on ninja too. Supposedly the NQ dragon can drop brown chests and if it does it is 100% gothic.

[Yhelothur]

draugo, on 18 October 2009 - 05:14 PM, said:

Damn you! Behemoths Domain took me about the same, In Xarca however I spammed FoV pages for the relevant levels in there for both SAM and
THF and still have yet to have them drop, Spent days trying on ninja too. Supposedly the NQ dragon can drop brown chests and if it does it is 100% gothic.

That sounds like a myth to me, very unlikely. I wouldn't be too surprised though, given SE's strangeness at times.

But in regards to Hornetneedle, if you can support the ACC necessary, go for it. It's not that bad, and would be amusing to see just how well it does versus birds.

[Aliadim]

You silly goose, this was weeks ago. He's totally over Needle.

[pathwriter]

Yeah, hit 63 Ninja for what it's worth yesterday.

[Nattack]

still soloing? if you're soloing you're one of my new idols.

nin was a job i felt could solo anything back in the day, i gave it a try a few times but I needed a 75 fast. if i had stuck with my duo partner (bst) back then things would be vastly different and i wouldnt be in the circles I am now (coincidentally id have quit much sooner)

[pathwriter]

No, I stopped soloing at level 50. I'd been leveling Samurai in tandem and although Ninja is practically unkillable, it earns an average of 33% less XP/hour than stronger DDs like Samurai or Monk.

[Nattack]

boo, have you tried/were you trying blm solo spots? i was mid 50's and saw a few nins ninjutsuburning pets

[pathwriter]

No, I was doing standard FoV stuff. I didn't look into killing pets.

Ultimately, it was the opportunity cost that won out for me. I could solo, but I burned through a lot more tools for every point of XP and it ultimately became a waste of gil. I don't have the craft skills to synth my own.