[Vorpal Swordfish]

I used to have an account here, a while back, but since I can't remember it or the email I registered it with, I decided it would be less of a headache just to make a new one. This isn't an introduction thread, though, so on to the topic~.

I've played FFXI, mostly on and off, for a long time (Started on PS2 within a few months of the NA PS2 release back in '04, later moved to the 360 and then PC), though over that time I've likely accomplished a fair amount less than many. Only ever got two jobs to 75 (Plus a 72). Red Mage was the first, though I lost that character back when they still deleted characters after a few months of inactivity. Currently have a 75 Paladin and 72 Dancer, though they are on different characters and the former is pretty much retired, having very little useable gear at this point. That means that, for the moment, any endgame activities are pretty much out for me, barring those few people will actually take a Dancer to (judging from what I've heard, that hasn't changed much since the last time I played, last April).

I've been doing some reading, trying to get an idea of what has changed, and have a bit of a grasp on some things. What I'm looking for advice on, mainly, is how to go about upgrading my gear. I'm going to list what I think I had been using, though I may end up being off on a few. I'll find out once FFXI finishes updating (Had to do a clean install, so that's no short process). I'm aware it's far from optimal at this point, that's why I'm looking for advice. I had been using mainly /SAM and /NIN as subs, depending on the situation, so both are at or above 37.

As a 72 DNC/NIN or /SAM:

Weapon: Behemoth Knife +1
Sub: Behemoth Knife / Cobra Unit Knife
Range: War Hoop
Head: Cobra Unit Cap (TP) / Dancer's Tiara (Waltz/Samba Macro)
Neck: Spectacles
L Ear: Spike Earring
R Ear: Spike Earring (May have a Minuet Earring as well for parties with a BRD... I don't remember if I ever got around to buying one)
Body: Scorpion Harness (TP) / Dancer's Casaque (Waltz Macro)
Hands: Cobra Unit Mittens / Dancer's Bangles (Step Macro)
L Ring: Ecphoria Ring
R Ring: Sniper's Ring
Back: Amemet Mantle
Waist: Life Belt (TP) / Corsette +1 (Waltz Macro)
Legs: Dancer's Tights
Feet: Dancer's Toe Shoes


Before I get too many expensive suggestions, let me just say, I don't think I had a whole lot of money. Certainly not enough to afford most of the 'best' buyable 70+ gear. Maybe ~250k on hand, if not less. I blew a lot of what money I did have on getting my AF, since I got it not long after it was first added, and the needed materials were extremely overpriced. Added to the other stuff I bought (Scorpion Harness, Behemoth +1, Sniper's Ring) means that I spent a lot of what money I did have. While I'm not adverse to farming, I'm not willing to spend my first week back after being away for nearly a year farming the few million gil needed to buy some of the stuff I've seen recommended.

I can see that the price of an Amemet Mantle +1 has dropped to ~170k on my server from the 250-300k it had been, so that's one thing I may look into, and I had been working on getting more of the Cobra gear. There's also the Turban at 75, but otherwise, I'm not really sure what I should be doing. Nearly everything I can use (Or will be able to in the next 3 levels) seems to either come from endgame events or cost a few million gil, so I'm at a bit of a loss for where to start. I likely won't have a LS when I get back, so even the easier NM fights (Unless I can solo them, which seems somewhat unlikely) will be difficult. I'm sure I'll also get a Suppanomimi suggestion, but I'm nowhere near being able to get one. Only on ZM4 (Uggalepih), and never had much luck getting people together to do the missions before.

So, basically, I'm looking for any suggestions. Preferably those that are reasonably achievable at the moment—While I'd like to have a DM earring, CoP ring, and all those nice endgame pieces, I'm nowhere close to being able to get them yet—though I'd also welcome any suggestions as to what to be working toward later.


Thanks in advance for any suggestions~

[kowen]

Excluding AF2, expensive buyables, and the pieces you already mentioned, your equipment is really good.

A fairly cheap weapon upgrade would be to offhand your Behemoth Knife+1 and instead mainhand a Jambiya at 73. Ermine's Tail and Joyeuse are technically free, but if you can't get them yourself or through friends it'll be expensive to pay someone else to help.

Quote

That means that, for the moment, any endgame activities are pretty much out for me, barring those few people will actually take a Dancer to (judging from what I've heard, that hasn't changed much since the last time I played, last April).

People will take a Dancer to most endgame events, it's when you have a more useful job leveled and geared up that they'll require you to come something else. You should be able to get into a Dynamis LS just fine. DNC AF2 legs and body are excellent and all of the pieces have dance bonuses for macro-ing in.

[Kalima]

off the top of my head...

Offhand dagger: at this point i would go for another BK+1 but if you really want low delay go camp sleight kukri...easy to kill pot nm at the bottom of garlaige and I doubt anyone is camping it at this point
Range: war hoop is good for pulling and will add a bit to curing, but probably better off with goblin cracker or tiphia
Body: cobra harness would be an easy upgrade. Best upgrade would be mirke with 10 acc DW +3, but good luck finding a static for ACP at this point.
Hands: dusk on my server has dropped a ton and these are going to be your best TP gloves that are easily obtainable. Only beat by the +1 version of course.
Back: I always have to give this suggestion even though you may not be as lucky. Once you get to doing ACP if you haven't already and are past the Fei'yin battle you can start collecting the shinies there everyday for an azure key. This will give you a shot at getting an augmented beak mantle with acc. I was lucky enough to get one with 6acc, 2STR, and 1 subtle blow. Sure it may take a while for it to pop up, but spending 30 min a day to get a backpiece thats almost as good as a cuchulain's mantle for free is worth it IMO.
Waist: obvious choice is swift for TP but there is also one you can get from AH that has 1% less haste and att instead of acc (always forget the name of it). Alternatively, you can go camp a virtuoso belt (12 acc 4 attack) which isn't bad for TPing but the best belt you can get for steps
Legs: I would use cobra over AF at this point. Optimally you will want relic or ASA pants with 7 acc 3% haste
Feet: Cheap dusk feet will last you a while.

Now for totally optimal builds...probably arguable as to what is the absolute best, but I'll put together a quick list off the top of my head

TP gear:
Main: Machismo with augmented 6 TA +16~20 ws att
Sub: I would probably use Cinquedea for fast TP gain
Head: W turban (capped acc) or Anwig with 3 haste 10 acc (uncapped acc)
Neck: Love torque
Body: Mirke 10 acc 3 DW
Hands: Dusk +1
Waist: ninurta's > speed/V belt
Legs: Desultor's 7 acc 3 haste
Feet: Setanta's ledelsens
Ears: brutal/suppa
Rings: 2X toreadors, toreador/rajas, or Lava's/Kusha's (i would probably go L/K for the added attack)

If you want to know about other builds, or what I personally use, just ask. Too tired atm to post more =P

[Kalima]

kowen, on 26 February 2010 - 05:33 PM, said:

Excluding AF2, expensive buyables, and the pieces you already mentioned, your equipment is really good.

A fairly cheap weapon upgrade would be to offhand your Behemoth Knife+1 and instead mainhand a Jambiya at 73. Ermine's Tail and Joyeuse are technically free, but if you can't get them yourself or through friends it'll be expensive to pay someone else to help.



People will take a Dancer to most endgame events, it's when you have a more useful job leveled and geared up that they'll require you to come something else. You should be able to get into a Dynamis LS just fine. DNC AF2 legs and body are excellent and all of the pieces have dance bonuses for macro-ing in.

Oh and forgot....never use Joyeuse against anything serious (merit parties, other endgame events) Fun toy to mess around with, but in most if not all cases dagger/dagger is better.

[Vorpal Swordfish]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be looking into at least some of those once I actually get in game again (Almost there... I forgot how much I hate the update process for this game. Connection gets interrupted for a few seconds and have to sit through ~30 minute file check again >_<).

Dusk in particular, I hadn't even thought to check. I remember NQ gloves being something like 600k last time I checked, but according to ffxiah they seem to be down to 170-190k on my server (Ramuh) now. That's one piece I'll very likely be picking up. Since I'm probably going to be a lot of Campaign between now and 75, I'll be trying for the other Cobra pieces too (Was working on legs around the time I ended up stopping, and body hadn't been released yet... though need to wait a while before I can get my medal rank up high enough to get it).

Joyeuse was something I had been trying (and failing) to get, though I never expected it to do well on anything too high. There seem to be some new daggers ('new' meaning they weren't around last time I played, in this case) that would be good to work toward as well, though they'll likely take a fair amount of time to obtain.

[Austar2.0]

I like tanking Charybdis. Just send me a tell in game and I'll come show up, bro.