[Boldfinger]

I've managed to lvl my Hume Male to BST40 using /whm20, which I pretty much solo'd to 15 and then somehow managed to grab 5 levels in the Dunes without giving up on WHM entirely. I'm wanting to concentrate on BST as my main but have now lvld as high as I can without having a gimp WHM sub.

Even though I also have BLM20, I don't particularly want to PT as WHM because (a) I didn't really enjoy the little PT experience I previously had as WHM and (b) I don't really want to switch away from BST for 20 lvls and then have to switch back and re-learn everything.

I would like to give whm/bst a try and see if I can lvl that from 20 to 40 with any success. I have read a few posts in the WHM and BST forums which talk about it, and how the charm success of /bst is determined by the actual level of your BST and not it's sub level, however there isn't too much information available on whm/bst and more specifically what equipment to use for WHM melee at lower lvls. There are a few posts covering endgame WHM melee that I could find, but nothing I could find for lowbie.

I'll be using my normal charm macro switch gear of:
Head: Noble's Ribbon lvl 14 ~ Chr +3
Neck: Bird Whistle Lvl 14 ~ Chr +3
Rings: Hope Ring lvl 14 ~ Chr +2 (both slots)
Waist: Corsette +1 Lvl 40 ~ Chr +6

I was wondering if (due to my own limited knowledgeable/experience) some of the more experienced among you would have a look at this list of possible lowbie WHM melee equipment. Give me your thoughts, and offer up any general advice that you might have on using /bst on top of that.

Outside of the normal opinion, there are a few basic tips I'm looking for advice on. Like if it's worth sacrificing DEF for a gain in other stats or if it's best just to stick with the DEF being a feeble WHM. In particular, I'm unsure as to the benefits of the Hume Male RSE equipment and which stats I should be concentrating on. The majority of the equipment I have chosen is the highest DEF or STR available at that lvl, but I've also went for equipment with stats like ATK+, EVA+, AGI+, DEX+ & VIT+ although I’m not entirely sure about their individual benefits for one over the other.

All comments are welcomed, now on to the list…

Weapons
Warhammer 20 ~ DMG:17 Delay:324
Windurstian Pole 23 ~ DMG:23 Delay:390 Attack+3
Spiked Club 25 ~ DMG:26 Delay:402 Attack+3
Elm Pole 30 ~ DMG:29 Delay:402
Elm Pole +1 30 ~ DMG:30 Delay:390
Military Pole 33 ~ DMG:29 Delay:378 INT+1
Holy Maul 38 ~ DMG:26 Delay:324 MND+2 Resist Dark+3 Additional effect: Light damage
Oak Pole 40 ~ DMG:37 Delay:402
Oak Pole +1 40 ~ DMG:38 Delay:390

Sub
Mahogany Shield 20 ~ DEF:4
Frost Shield 28 ~ DEF:5 Resist Ice+3
Oak Shield 36 ~ DEF:6
Royal Squire's Shield 40 ~ DEF:7 Evasion+3

Head
Trader's Chapeau 20 ~ DEF:7
Great Headgear 23 ~ DEF:10
Empress Hairpin 24 ~ HP-15 DEX+3 AGI+3 Evasion+10 (0/6 so far though >.<)
Mercenary Captain's Headgear 30 ~ DEF:10 STR+1 DEX+1
Red Cap 36 ~ DEF:12

Body
Trader's Saio 20 ~ DEF:14
Great Doublet 23 ~ DEF:18
Wool Robe 28 ~ DEF:18
Seer's Tunic 29 ~ DEF:18 MP+8 MP recovered while healing +1
Mercenary Captain's Doublet 30 ~ DEF:20 DEX+1 AGI+1
Custom Tunic 33 ~ DEF:18 HP+32 VIT+3 INT-1 CHR+1
Frost Robe 33 ~ DEF:21 MP+6 Resist Ice+2
Linen Doublet 33 ~ DEF:22
Windurstian Doublet 34 ~ DEF:21 DEX+1 AGI+1 In areas under own nation's control: CHR+1
Gambison 36 ~ DEF:23
Velvet Robe 38 ~ DEF:24
Holy Breastplate 40 ~ DEF:45

Hands
Trader's Cuffs 20 ~ DEF:5
Great Gloves 23 ~ DEF:7
Custom M Gloves 27 ~ DEF:6 HP+12 MP+4 STR+3 DEX+3 VIT-1 AGI-1
Windurstian Gloves 34 ~ DEF:7 AGI+1 In areas under own nation's control: Attack+5 Ranged Attack+5
Bracers +1 36 ~ DEF:9
Combat Caster's Mitts 40 ~ DEF:8 Attack+5

Legs
Mage's Slacks 20 ~ DEF:11 INT+1
Great Brais 23 ~ DEF:13
Martial Slacks 24 ~ DEF:12 AGI+2 Evasion+3
Wool Slops +1 28 ~ DEF:14
Mercenary Captain's Hose 30 ~ DEF:14 Evasion+2
Custom Slacks 31 ~ DEF:12 MP+32 STR-1 MND+3 CHR+1
Linen Slacks +1 34 ~ DEF:16
Windurstian Brais 34 ~ DEF:15 Evasion+2 In areas under own nation's control: HP+10
Hose +1 36 ~ DEF:18
Combat Caster's Slacks 40 ~ DEF:17 Evasion+5

Feet
Mage's Sandals 20 ~ DEF:5 MP+3 AGI+1
San D'Orian Clogs 25 ~ DEF:6 HP+3 MP+3 AGI+1
Custom M Boots 29 ~ DEF:5 HP+4 MP+12 DEX-1 AGI+3 INT+3 MND-1
Socks +1 36 ~ DEF:8

Neck
Black Silk Neckerchief 20 ~ DEF:2 INT+1 Resist Dark+3
Spike Necklace 21 ~ STR+3 DEX+3 MND-6
Tiger Stole 24 ~ DEF:2 Attack+5
Holy Phial 26 ~ DEF:3 MP+9 MND+3
Medieval Collar 35 ~ DEF:3 VIT+2

Waist
Mohbwa Sash 20 ~ DEF:2 MP+10 MP recovered while healing +1
Mercenary Captain's Belt 30 ~ DEF:3 DEX+1 VIT+1 AGI+1 INT+1 MND+1 CHR+1

Ear
Beetle Earring +1 21 ~ Attack+3 Evasion-2 (both slots)
Dodge Earring 29 ~ Evasion+3
Trimmer's Earring 30 ~ Latent effect /Bst: Accuracy+5

Ring
Courage Ring 14 ~ STR+2 Resist Fire+4
Balance Ring 14 ~ DEX+2 Resist Lightning+4
Garnet Ring 36 ~ STR+2 Resist Fire+5
Ametrine Ring 36 ~ DEX+2 Resist Lightning+5
Aegis Ring 38 ~ DEF:5

Back
Mist Silk Cape 10 ~ DEF:3 MND+1 Resist Light+3
Sarcenet Cape 30 ~ DEF:3 Resist Dark+5 Evasion+3

Thanks.