Bard AF questions

[Psychochild]

Woooo, my bard is finally high enough to do the quests and I just finished the AF2 quest last night *Wooo!*

So I'm level 51, and I'm wondering a few things.

1. Should I try to get some parts of the AF quests done before I can equip the gear, or even shoot to complete some of the quests early? I already went and planted my Star Ring in the snow today, so I was thinking of starting some skill up groups for coffer keys...

2. While I'm doing the AF3 quest, I'm wondering, what level should I be to take on the NM? Everywhere I go, they never specify if an alliance is needed, the level range for the quest, or even what kind of NM it is. I'm very confused.

[EcKo]

You can go for the coffers keys early if you'd like, the AF3 NM is a ghost if i remember right, just join a shout if you see one if you don't have enough friends. As for the other AF it's not really needed if you buy up to date armor but me myself i would try to get it before hand.

[Layoneil]

i'm planning to do AF3 today. from what i gathered it's a Ghost (Bogy-type). and i think all AF3 NMs are alliance types, so 3 PTs of 55-60 is usually what is kind of expected to have a chance.

of course the higher level help you can get the better and the safer it is or the less people you would need.

from what i was told you have to activate the Arms quest before you can open any coffers.

the 3 coffers that are needed for BRD are Crawler's Nest, Castle Oztroja and Castle Zvahl Baileys.

Helm Beetles are XP mobs for Lv 52 so you can try to get an XP PT to fight them, they become bad XP at 54 when everyone will want to fight Robber Crabs in Kuftal. 53 is kind of half and half over there, also it's pretty crowded. you can probably also take a 53-54 team to other parts of CN and XP on Knight Crawlers and Crawler Hunters (scorps).

Castle Zvahl coffer mobs are XP mobs for around Lv 55 but no one ever XPs there.

Castle Oz coffer mobs are XP mobs for around Lv 57, i know some people do this but a good camp spot may be pretty hard to find.

so there are no skill-up groups you can get for any coffer mobs at 51, unless you happen to hook up with a Lv 65 or so Skill-up PT going to Oz or Zvahl (the latter i've never heard of).

[Layoneil]

oh yeah, forgot to say.

the Gloves (Lv 60) and the Pants (Lv 56) are the good pieces you'd like to have it at that level if you can get it (though it's no big lost if you don't, stats are much more forgiving for the BRD job than others).

the Body piece (Lv 58) is ok, many BRDs prefer the regular Justaucorps or the +1 version. personally, the regular Justaucorps is the ugliest piece of equipment in the whole damn game. i think the AF piece is passable for BRDs until you can get the Minstrel's Coat or the Series II - AF.

the hat and shoes are both worthless, i still use the Noble's Ribbon or a Gold Hairpin for the head slot, i do wear the shoes as there's nothing else that i find interesting.