[SomeDRK]

Hello. I was recently kicked from a group because apparently my equipment is trash and I'm wondering who I should consider the idiot, me or them.

I'm a 64 DRK/32 SAM, Hume
The group was synced to I believe, 60.
It was Colibri so the reflect was a factor on how played.
I was averaging about 3 weapon skills a fight.

In advance, I don't have a great deal of resources, be it people or money though I do make sure I have all my spells and try to keep my equipment updated as much as possible. However, things that average about 200k are... Well, I can only farm so much before I get bored. Drk is my first main job so it has been equipped from the ground up without hand-me-downs or a previously existing cash-flow. I was sort of proud of him up until now. But, well, obviously some doubts just surfaced. I've been playing since mid-June.

I know of Haubergeon talk but honestly, with food, it's quite rare for me to miss. So getting enough money for it, to me, is a bit masochistic.

Primary: Ivory Sickle (I have a Darksteel Scythe waiting)
Secondary: Sword Strap (-3% Weapon Delay)
Range: Lightning Bow
Ammo: Plain Arrows (intending to get a Bomb Core soon)
Head: Chaos Burgeonet
Body: Chaos Cuirass
Hands: Chaos Gauntlets
Legs: Chaos Flanchard
Feet: Chaos Sollerets
Neck: Merman's Gorget
Back: Amemet Mantle
Waist: Swordbelt +1
Earrings: Fang Earring / Fang Earring
Rings: Assailant's Ring / Venerer Ring

I know you guys could easily make upgrade recommendations to a lot of that and while I'm not against receiving them, my question is, is it really so bad that I'm apparently a waste of a party slot? When I asked what the person's problem was I got something along the lines of that he shouldn't need to tell me and I should know. But, since I didn't, he was nice enough to enlighten me to the reason being my trashy equipment.

I'm pretty certain I was being compared to a 66 drk in the group. But, I actually watched his damage merely out of being curious. The max hit difference was single digit at best and my weapon skills, without the use of a Souleater boost were most times higher than his. Also, they averaged about 2 per fight in comparison to my common 3. It seems as though it really was based on nothing but examining me.

While I'm at it, just to cover everything I may as well mention my general play style. Since these mobs in specific reflect I usually just eat a stun when either the tank's hp gets to a dangerous level or to be more specific in terms of the job that's tanking... If I see a paladin is getting interrupted repeatedly, someone is having issues casting Utsusemi, or the mob takes off towards the casters.

If a mob does not reflect I usually use Absorb-ACC when it's coming in and usually watch the mob's hits to judge a good time for Absorb-TP. I also try to stun-interrupt as much as possible. If there's something specific a mob uses that takes priority, most times I will worry more about getting that and not give lesser things a great deal of attention. But still a bit of attention pending on circumstances. Drain/Aspir... Times for those are probably obvious to anyone. Other absorbs I usually bend uniquely to the group itself and what I think would be most beneficial.

Souleater... depends heavily on my circumstances.

I think I'm done now. Sorry for it being so long but it's bugging the hell right out of me heh

[The Mauva Syndicate]

Hmmm sounds like a crap party to me - I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Feba]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK

But, I actually watched his damage merely out of being curious. The max hit difference was single digit at best and my weapon skills, without the use of a Souleater boost were most times higher than his. Also, they averaged about 2 per fight in comparison to my common 3. It seems as though it really was based on nothing but examining me.

Visual observations are wrong. You simply cannot watch everything.

If you want to make this sort of call, at least get a parser.

[Mog]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK

Primary: Ivory Sickle (I have a Darksteel Scythe waiting)
Secondary: Sword Strap (-3% Weapon Delay)
Range: Lightning Bow
Ammo: Plain Arrows (intending to get a Bomb Core soon)
Head: Chaos Burgeonet
Body: Chaos Cuirass
Hands: Chaos Gauntlets
Legs: Chaos Flanchard
Feet: Chaos Sollerets
Neck: Merman's Gorget
Back: Amemet Mantle
Waist: Swordbelt +1
Earrings: Fang Earring / Fang Earring
Rings: Assailant's Ring / Venerer Ring

I'm gonna have to play devils advocate here.

If you want to play dark knight seriously (or any DD job for that matter), make an effort to keep updated on your gear. This does not necessarily mean that you need to get a hauby or the most expensive gear on your first go. There are other alternatives, such as the Jaridah Body, etc.. But to see a dark meleeing in full AF(which most of the pieces you don't benefit from on TP gain), that makes me question their gear.

You can get to 75 with subpar gear, but there are some pieces of gear that you really need to get. Spike earrings for one, aren't that much more than fang. A scorpion harness/Hauby/Jaridah body for your body.

Make an effort to farm once in awhile. Craft, farm, do whatever you need to to keep a decent flow of gear coming, because I can promise you won't have a very fun time when higher levels are making fun of your gear.(and possibly kicking you from party)

[SomeDRK]

Originally Posted by Feba

Visual observations are wrong. You simply cannot watch everything.

If you want to make this sort of call, at least get a parser.

I was never truly comparing us. It was only in hindsight thinking of what the problem could have been. I wasn't comparing penis sizes with him. It was meant to show that while there was a difference, it couldn't be huge.

We were also both synced evenly, with the same subjob and he wasn't casting at all. My TP gain means I landed more hits, and his hits difference wasn't far ahead at all. That's enough to have a general idea to the extent of being able to say we were far from worlds apart enough to judge one as good and the other bad.

and I'm well acquainted with parsers. I may not have played this long but I've played plenty of others. I simply have no interest in disecting my party members playstyle unless it's killing people.

[Feba]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK

It was meant to show that while there was a difference, it couldn't be huge.

Again. You cannot see everything. If you want to honestly say "We were about the same", get a parser.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK

I was averaging about 3 weapon skills a fight.

Something just does not compute. Average of 3 weapon skills a fight? Does that mean you some times did 4 per fight? The fights must have lasted an extremely long time for you to fit in that many weapon skills.

The gear you listed is rather... unimpressive. Your visual observation was that you were hitting more often than another DRK, and for roughly the same damage. Since your gear is average at best, I hate to think what another DRK would have to be wearing in order for you to be out performing him.

[Ameroth]

First off, I would probably agree with the party if you showed up wearing all that AF. The boots and leggings are trash, and the body piece is easily replaceable. I had the money to buy a pair of Luisant solerets (STR, DEX, ATK, ACC+1). The gauntlets aren't too bad for the +DEX and +WBash, but I actually replaced mine with fourth gauntlets (def13, acc+5). I still macro in my AF hands for weapon bash tho. I won't argue against the head piece too much either.

Personally, I use the Barbarian's Scythe (DMG76, acc-5, atk+25) along with a life belt (+10acc) to offset (and complement) the -5acc. Potent belt works just fine in the slot as well.

You're Merman's Gorget isn't too bad either if you've kept your marksmanship up to date. I haven't so much so I use a Ryl Guard's Collar (Def6, Atk & Acc+4).

As for your rings, they're not bad by any means, so I wouldn't worry too much about them. I use Unyielding(DEX & VIT+3) and Fluorite rings (DEX+3).

I'm not going to stand here and tell you that you need a hauby. However, some people will give you shit for not using one as haubys are easily argued to be one of the best body pieces for almost all melee at 59+.

[SomeDRK]

Originally Posted by Mog

If you want to play dark knight seriously (or any DD job for that matter), make an effort to keep updated on your gear. This does not necessarily mean that you need to get a hauby or the most expensive gear on your first go. There are other alternatives, such as the Jaridah Body, etc.. But to see a dark meleeing in full AF(which most of the pieces you don't benefit from on TP gain), that makes me question their gear.

Of all things to be concerned about...

I could see the earring thing coming because they are actually something I already planned to do.

and while I don't want to direct this at you since you're just being helpful, it's hard not to since you used yourself as an example...

That sort of makes me less annoyed and more sad for some people. I'm not exactly casual myself, but to go so far as to get rid of someone because they're wearing their AF makes me want to join a party equipped with a towel on my shoulder to cry on.

Sounds like the higher levels for this game isn't end game, but more walking on eggshells trying to not wake the babies up.

If the AF truly is my main problem, I think I'm fine with sucking. In fact, I like it more. It apparently has the hidden effect of being able to repel the annoying types who make things more like a second job.

Though, like I said. I don't have you in mind when I say that. It's just hard to not make it sound that way because of the self reference.

[Feba]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK

It apparently has the hidden effect of being able to repel the annoying types who make things more like a second job.

If you don't like doing a very damn good job of whatever you decide to do, FFXI is not a game for you.

[Ameroth]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK, not Feba

If the AF truly is my main problem, I think I'm fine with sucking.

For some jobs, AF is fine. PLD would be a grrreat example of AF working just fine. But I mean, come ooonnn; you have to be a FFXI nub to not see how laaaame the DRK AF is. The boots give HP and MND...? The legs give a minuscule amount of INT and Evasion...? And the onry good part about the AF body is the +5atk, which compared to the STR and DEX +5 (or 6) and the atk+10 (or 12) with the hauby (+1) is still pretty lame.

And if you're fine with sucking, why did you even bother to make a post asking for advice?

[Feba]

Watch your quote tags, ammy.

[Ameroth]

Originally Posted by Feba

Watch your quote tags, ammy.

Lol. I gotta say I'm a tad confused as to how that happened Febby. I for sure highlighted his text and clicked "quote selected".

Hmmmm.

Check it again.
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[Raydeus]

Originally Posted by SomeDRK

I know you guys could easily make upgrade recommendations to a lot of that and while I'm not against receiving them, my question is, is it really so bad that I'm apparently a waste of a party slot? When I asked what the person's problem was I got something along the lines of that he shouldn't need to tell me and I should know. But, since I didn't, he was nice enough to enlighten me to the reason being my trashy equipment.

To answer your question. No, not really.

The problem is most people in this game lacks the ability to observe other players' performance to make a proper judgement about them. So, the easiest way for them to decide wether someone is a good element or not is gear, and unless you are making the party you'll have to deal with their judgement wether it's right or not.

(That is asuming you were playing skillfully but they were unable to see it because they were too busy /check'ing you)

Now, it would be good if some DDs here could give you advice about not-expensive pieces of gear you could use instead of AF. As long as they understand there are people out there who aren't interested in making XI a job they might be able to give you some good advice. Maybe.

And also, you should expect more critisism about your gear the higher level you become (at least among the NA comunity) so you have to prepare yourself for it.

I can assure you it will only get worse.

[Celeal]

Looking at your gear set, I would assume your core accuracy comes from Hasso + Sushi, supplement with Mediate, Absorb-TP, Absorb-ACC... and your core Damage per hit comes from attack+ gear and DRK's native ATK+ job traits?

With /SAM and 2-handed weapon, I would primary use attack food and ACC+ gear to destroy the mobs, only fall back to Sushi (the back-up plan) when accuracy is an issue.