WS gear swap feasible?

[Intensity]

So, I'm maybe 1,500 exp from Sidewinder/Slug Shot and I've got a question. Once I get Side/Slug, should I be macroing in as much STR+ gear as possible to increase my numbers or should I try to keep as much RACC+ gear on to ensure all 5 hits land until 60+ when I can macro in a CP arrow+Unlimited Shot? Example:

Should I do:

Ring1: Sun Ring
Ring2: Sun Ring
Neck: Spike Necklace

or

Ring1: Scorpion Ring +1
Ring2: Scorpion Ring +1
Neck: Ranger's Necklace

Keep in mind, I'm only talking about gear swap right before WS. I know to load out on RACC/RATK during TP build. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Cometgreen]

Well first of all, Sidewinder is a single hit WS; it's either big damage or complete miss.

I'm only 60, but I'm not going to bother with macroing in STR gear until 70+, when we get our final accuracy trait bonus. Most of our damage comes from Slugwinder, so I like to do everything I can to make sure it hits. You could go ahead and try it when fighting VTs, but I think most of the WS gear you see on forums are from 75 Rangers with merits.

[Intensity]

Oh wow, I thought Sidewinder was like Jin in the fact that it was possible to hit none/some/all the hits. So, Sidewinder and Slug is an all or nothing type deal? RACC+ all the way til 70+ then I suppose. Well, that makes things easier. =P

[Caspian]

Yeah, slugwinder is single hit for 5x damage, with low accuracy. I'm still sticking with my regular TP build setup at 66. Only gear swapping I do are Hunter's braccae for Sharpshot. Not really worrying about STR builds until maybe 70. Prolly not until merit parties.
Like Comet said, you'll want a lot of accuracy to hit sidewinder, so macroing out a lot of ranged accuracy can really end up hurting you.
Btw, have fun with Sidewinder. If you get a chance, sub WAR and get a brd in the party on something weak to piercing. It'll make your tank crap their pants.

[Intensity]

Oh yeah, I'll be /war tonight after work for sure. I want my very first Slug/Side to make a good sig addition. =P If it misses, I'll sig it just to torture myself.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

People seem to go for STR builds rather early, if you want more "oomph" to your WS pre-70, I'd stick with the accuracy build and just go /WAR instead.

There are some who will tell you that /WAR, too, is "70+ only," but that's misleading. I know many, as well as myself that haven't suffered in performace for going /WAR in EXP. I don't mind going /NIN, but Berzerk is sorely missed when I do.

[Cometgreen]

I've gone /WAR since 35 (I felt new rings + Drone earrings would compensate for extra hawkers), and I've never had a problem. My accuracy is always good, and I have only died twice from 35-60, due to your run-of-the-mill accidents. The few times I've been asked to go /NIN, I die a little inside.

[Jei]

why slugwinder not sideshot?

[Intensity]

Because when you Slug Shot/Sidewinder someone, it's meant to be done RIGHT IN THEIR DAMN FACES!!!! Sideshot might confuse people.

That was a joke, not a discussion starter on positioning btw.

[Caspian]

B/c slugwinder just sounds way cooler.
I prefer /WAR unless I'm pulling fast mobs (colibri get very popular for you around 56-57). I've started going /NIN full time, just b/c every party wants me as that. Shadows can be useful when you get a pop b/w you and a pull and you have to pull a mob the long way around to avoid a link. I never notice the accuracy difference w/o a second weapon though. Infact, when I start staticing with some friends in another level, I plan on all but demanding that I go /war. We have a thf who can pull, so screw them, right? :P

[Intensity]

Thanks for the info guys. I've got another question to tag along with this thread since I've got all our RNG's attention. How do Criticals work out with ratk? Is DEX still the modifier? Also, is it possible to Crit on a Sidewinder to push that "Holy crap!" dmg up to "OMFG WHAT ARE YOU?!?!" dmg?

[Caspian]

I think AGI is the modifier for ranged crit's. I know that up until one of the more recent updates, you couldn't even get a crit on a ranged ws, but that has been changed. Its actually one of the things that made Arching arrow kind of suck. Its supposed to be possible now, but given that our dmg from crits rather sucks compared to a melee's crits, its not something most rng's really work for. In fact, I know of fewer and fewer career rng's who merit crit attacks, unless its for another melee job. Iirc, melee's get around 100% increase from crits, whereas I believe ranged attacks only get 50% (I'm probably off on these numbers, so maybe someone here can correct me, but I do know its a pretty significant difference b/w ranged and melee crits). When you do start focusing on dmg in ws's you'll probably lean far more heavily on str than agi and hoping for a crit'd ws. Consistency ftw.
Also, has anyone else noticed slugwinder doesn't seem to give an actual 5x damage, but rather a little more than that? If I'm hitting for around 150/shot, then I'll sidewinder for usually atleast 1k, usually more. And then if I'm doing Excavation duty in Lebros Cavern, my sidewinders only hit for around 19, when my regular shots are hitting for 8 and 9 damage. I'm guessing its somewhere in the calculation, where r. atk and def play a huge role. Anyway, just something I've noticed, well, that and if I'm eating meat, then I don't notice any damage reduction if I fire in melee range. Didn't know if anyone else had experienced the same thing.

[Intensity]

Anyway, just something I've noticed, well, that and if I'm eating meat, then I don't notice any damage reduction if I fire in melee range. Didn't know if anyone else had experienced the same thing.

Oooooh, I KNOW! I KNOW! /raises hand

The reason for this is because what they did to UN-nerf RNG supposedly, and this is only if I understand this correctly, is RNG's start with a base amount of RACC/RATK depending on their base stats and distance from the mob. All food and Gear bonuses are added to this base rather than how it was before when the distance issue took all of your cumulative RATK/RACC, then nerfed the shyt out of it depending on your distance.

So now, the distance deal is worked out to the degree (From what I've seen) that you can use Sushi and stand way back to compensate for your lack of dmg, or eat meat and move way up to compensate for your lack of racc.

Does that sound right?

[Caspian]

Yeah, and I figured thats what it was, but haven't heard anyone else mention it. Ready to test some of this out with /war and a static bard for 2x mins and see what kind of damage output I get from different distances.

[Intensity]

Posted this in the accomplishments thread but figured I'd update you guys here too.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h306/1nt3ns1ty/slugshot170.jpg

I'm leveling in ToAU from now on, Birds FTW. =P

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Posted this in the accomplishments thread but figured I'd update you guys here too.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h306/1nt3ns1ty/slugshot170.jpg

I'm leveling in ToAU from now on, Birds FTW. =P

Don't count out the old zones entirely. 59-63, the Tragopans in Bibiki Bay are also tasty RNG targets, and nice for DRGs too. VoS lesser roc should be good 58-62ish as well

I SO wanted to kill flys in Boyhada Tree at 64-65, but RMT alliances now dominate that camp near the processionares below the waterfall.

ToA camps can get dull because of the weak loot, too.

[Omni]

make sure you give yourself proper distance when letting go of slug/sidewinder.

i usually stand around ~4-5 distance for gun, ~7-9 for xbow and ~10-12 for sidewinder. Though now with the update, if you arent in those exact ranges, it's usually still ok.

[Caspian]

Omni, have you noticed changes in slugwinder damage dependant on distance? I mean, aside from the inside melee to outside melee range difference?

[VZX]

Posted this in the accomplishments thread but figured I'd update you guys here too.
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h306/1nt3ns1ty/slugshot170.jpg
I'm leveling in ToAU from now on, Birds FTW. =P
That's why you gotta love acid bolt / dispel-type spell

Anyway,
Back to main discussion:
STR is not a viable option before :
- you obtain PPA
- you can get significant STR/attack increase by swapping out your racc gear with them
- you have good accuracy without full racc setup you can wear at that level (something around 50/50 racc/(STR or ratk))

I don't swap any racc gear with STR/ratk except ranger's necklace -> Spike Necklace when I'm firing GMB Slug

and for the case of culverin(+1) + heavy shell,
I'd rather swap in racc gear in exchange of STR/ratk gear

[Omni]

Omni, have you noticed changes in slugwinder damage dependant on distance? I mean, aside from the inside melee to outside melee range difference?

Yea I believe so but it's because food and gear play a better part now. It allows me to free up more slots for str/rng atk pieces. So effectively, yea my slugs/sidewinders are hitting for more.

I am able to wear wyvrens helm and archers jupon full time now and still have good acc. Thats a swing of 30 rng acc by equiping those two pieces when compared to o-hat and af body.

I think if I equipped the same pieces as before, dmg would be the same but i'd be over doing the rng acc to the point that it doesnt even help anymore.

[Saerik]

Sidewinder/Slugshot are innaccurate WS, so i wouldn't recommend macroing acc out for them. Unlike other jobs that macro WS gear in and out Ranger tends to have similar needs for both sets, with the determining factor being the mob your fighting.

Basicly what i'm trying to say is, carry some STR gear to swap in for Acc when your Acc is perfectly fine and you want to add a little damage and adjust depending on your performance in that party. But you shouldn't switch STR in for WS because Slugwinder is so innaccurate, and if you're accuracy is good enough for you to be wearing STR for WS, you should be wearing that STR for tping too.

Ranged Attack for STR for WS is something worth doing, but there aren't many opportunities to do that.