SAM vs. DRK

[Antivomit]

In relation to dmg and party role. What is the difference between DRK and SAM from 1-30? Which is most likely to get the party invite?

[raidenn]

from 1-30? I think most melees get the same preference. It doesnt matter really.

[Antivomit]

When does the seperation kick in and what is the main difference?

[Antivomit]

Do you know?

[Taskmage]

Don't bump threads needlessly, please. If someone knows the answer and wants to help you, pinging the thread isn't going to make them any more or less likely to respond.

[Omni]

jobs dont start really coming into their own till 60+

melee, especially under 30 are more or less the same.

drk and sam below 30 are pretty even. nothing that really stands out yet.

[Antivomit]

Ok. What are the main differences of the two 60+? I just don't want to lvl a job that has a twin. What will make me stand out if I choose DRK, and vice versa? I mean I know they have different skills and stuff....

[Celeal]

From lvl 1 - 30, not much different between DRK and SAM.

My DRK is still at low levels, so I won't comment about DRK.

A SAM after level 30 can gain TP much faster compare to other jobs. The usefulness of the TP depends on the player. If the SAM does not know how to take advantage of his TP gain, then there is not much he could get from the job.

[Antivomit]

So if there was a 62 DRK (random #) and 62 SAM seeking a party, preference is the only thing that would affect the choice? Kinda makes you wonder why would SE even make a DRK and a SAM. Why not just make a "Dark Samurai" or an "Imperial Knight" or something?

[Raydeus]

Just play the job you like the most, you'll get to 75 one way or the other.

[Celeal]

Depends on party setup, skillchain options, mobs, etc, it may or may not affect the choice between DRK or SAM for a party.

TP gain and skillchain options is the key for SAM. If the party does not understand the significance of it, or does not know why they invite a SAM, then SAM is just like another average DD to that party (from that party's point of view).

Same goes for DRK and other DD(s).

If your choice between DRK and SAM is based on the rate of party invites, then there is nothing much I can add to this post~

[Antivomit]

Oh, no. I didn't mean it like that. What I was saying is that I, like everyone else, want to feel like the job that I am doing is significant. I was lvling RDM because I loved the role of enfeebler and backup healer, but once you get Refresh the integrity of the job goes out the window. But that's a whole different subject. I just wanted some reassurance that either DRK or SAM is worth it. I mean deciding on your main is not just any decision....it's THE decision.

[Omni]

So if there was a 62 DRK (random #) and 62 SAM seeking a party, preference is the only thing that would affect the choice? Kinda makes you wonder why would SE even make a DRK and a SAM. Why not just make a "Dark Samurai" or an "Imperial Knight" or something?

Well it's something youd have to experience for yourself with regards to which is better.

Drk is geared towards offense. They are great with scythe and 2h swords. They have /ja that use their own life to add dmg (soul eater) and they also have black and dark magic spells. They can absorb attributes from mobs (ie: absorb- str or absorb tp) and they have spells like stun.

Sam is the king of tp. Everything is geared towards getting TP and the skill chain. At 75, sam should be able to participate in almost every type of skill chain possible making it a good job to open and close skillchains. They also have new abilties now that gear towards defense.

Goto the wiki page for ffxi and it should give you the low down on these jobs.

invites goes with what the pt needs. sam is great for tp burns, drk is great for big numbers once it gets spinslash @ 66. Sam also can put up some big numbers too which is why its a lot more popular these days with the rise of tp burn pts. drk have historically been know to have trouble getting pts, but that is just like any other melee too.

good luck.

taru edit: the jobs are worthwhile, its just what you plan on doing with them ultimately? do you want to get into end game when that time comes and be useful there? do you want to just xp? it all depends. but remember, both of these jobs are melee. there are also, thf, drg, mnk, war, and blu that also compete for dd slots. the best advice i have is to pick a job you like the best and stick with it when it comes to melee. melee are always replaceable because theres just so many of them. thats just how things are :\

[Gwynn]

Oh, no. I didn't mean it like that. What I was saying is that I, like everyone else, want to feel like the job that I am doing is significant. I was lvling RDM because I loved the role of enfeebler and backup healer, but once you get Refresh the integrity of the job goes out the window. But that's a whole different subject. I just wanted some reassurance that either DRK or SAM is worth it. I mean deciding on your main is not just any decision....it's THE decision.
Sorry, but I have to dissent on that point. Red Mage getting Refresh doesn't put the integrity of the job out the window. Red Mages job is to Refresh, Haste, Enfeeble, Heal, and do whatever else they can possibly do to make things flow smoother for the party. Without Refresh, there wouldn't be a whole lot we could do to help out mages, which would only make us weaker. A RDM who can hold down all his important enfeebles, a 5 person Refresh, 3~ Haste, and help back up heal at the same time doesn't have any integrity? I don't see how that works out.

[tdh]

Ok. What are the main differences of the two 60+? I just don't want to lvl a job that has a twin. What will make me stand out if I choose DRK, and vice versa? I mean I know they have different skills and stuff....The Variety of Life in FFXI offers the same kind of variety in regard to melee DDs. Same job, just doing it with different tools.

In the case of SAM, WAR, and DRK, come Lv.60 they're going to be wearing a lot of the same gear, doing the same job just with different people around them. SAMs are Skillchain experts, while WAR and DRK are DDs. You're going to be filling the same role as these other jobs, trying to do more damage than they are, all while they're trying to out do you.

[Antivomit]

Sorry, but I have to dissent on that point. Red Mage getting Refresh doesn't put the integrity of the job out the window. Red Mages job is to Refresh, Haste, Enfeeble, Heal, and do whatever else they can possibly do to make things flow smoother for the party. Without Refresh, there wouldn't be a whole lot we could do to help out mages, which would only make us weaker. A RDM who can hold down all his important enfeebles, a 5 person Refresh, 3~ Haste, and help back up heal at the same time doesn't have any integrity? I don't see how that works out.

I'm not saying that I don't admire RDM. I do. You practically have to juggle flaming knives to be able to get everything done that's expected of you. But, lets say, that there's a RDM at level 44 or somthing and they get invited to a party. Lets say that RDM never bought refresh. They would never stay invited to parties. RDM turnes from -> being a helper to melee in the form of enfeb. and helper of mages in the form of back heals/nukes -> to being the parties Refresh puppy. Just seems insulting to the job...

[DR2D2]

:angry: As a level 30 rdm, I have to kind of take offense to the description that after certain levels we loose our importance. I just recently leveled up my non-advanced jobs to at least 14(except white mage--lvl 11). Upto this point the only job where you can do both attack things(black mage spells) and healing(white mage spells) without needing another mage or job is rdm. I realize down the road white and black mage's get far more powerful verisons of these spells,but you still need another mage to heal(in the case of black mages), or a meele job(in the case of white mages), whereas the rdm can do both. Well I realize this game is based on partying, you still have to look at each job indivudally when comparing 2.
To answer the question of the original post:I guess it depends on what is needed in a party at the time, what the party is trying to do, and most importantly which job you are the most comfortable doing at the time.
Remember, the best way to figure out the better job between 2 of them is to actually try them out for a few levels(at least). Once you have tried them out it should become apperant to you whic one is better for you.

[DR2D2]

:angry: As a level 30 rdm, I have to kind of take offense to the description that after certain levels we loose our importance. I just recently leveled up my non-advanced jobs to at least 14(except white mage--lvl 11). Upto this point the only job where you can do both attack things(black mage spells) and healing(white mage spells) without needing another mage or job is rdm. I realize down the road white and black mage's get far more powerful verisons of these spells,but you still need another mage to heal(in the case of black mages), or a meele job(in the case of white mages), whereas the rdm can do both. Well I realize this game is based on partying, you still have to look at each job indivudally when comparing 2.
To answer the question of the original post:I guess it depends on what is needed in a party at the time, what the party is trying to do, and most importantly which job you are the most comfortable doing at the time.
Remember, the best way to figure out the better job between 2 of them is to actually try them out for a few levels(at least). Once you have tried them out it should become apperant to you whic one is better for you.