Advice for a new Samurai please?

[Vildar]

Hey people. Just recently decided to try Samurai, and at the moment i quite like it. Loving the 2H ability (Cant remember what its called/how to spell it)

I am nearing the level where i will have to party soon in the dunes. Thing is i have herd many Samurais are asked to pull. Now, im ususaly no good at pulling. so i was wondering if anyone can offer some advice/tips on how to be a good puller. Also any good tips for the erly levels of SAM. Thanks in advance!

[Malacite]

http://ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Samurai

SAM has a pretty decent Bow rating (C+) and you'll want to keep it capped.

Learn your maximum range for pulling and always take shots from there. Be mindful of your surroundings at all times (Links and other mobs who may aggro you) and you should be just fine.

[Vildar]

Ok then. Heres an example situation. Theres 2 mobs that link next to each other but facing oposite ways. Is it safe to pull in that situation?

PS ive been told i need to memorize or understand the Renkei chart.
Is there a much simpler one than this? (http://www.gameguidesonline.com/guides/ffxi/images/final_fantasy_xi_skillchain_chart/Final_Fantasy_XI_Skillchain_Chart.gif) For me i cant understand this one atall.

[Murphie]

It depends on how the mobs aggro. If they detect by sight, then you're ok to pull (so long as they are facing away). If they detect by sound, then you need to find one not standing by friends.

[IfritnoItazura]

Hey people. Just recently decided to try Samurai, and at the moment i quite like it. Loving the 2H ability (Cant remember what its called/how to spell it)

Meikyo Shisui.

I am nearing the level where i will have to party soon in the dunes. Thing is i have herd many Samurais are asked to pull. Now, im ususaly no good at pulling. so i was wondering if anyone can offer some advice/tips on how to be a good puller.
Phraust's Pulling Motto (http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/db/jobs.html?fjob=10&mid=108723510633015826).

Don't have to be that extreme, but good words to contemplate about.

Also any good tips for the erly levels of SAM. Thanks in advance!
SAM/RNG and SAM/DRG are good combinations in the Lv.20's. (I used SAM/BRD, I think, in Valkrum Dunes...)

[Armando]

Although slightly outdated and not as useful for looking up skillchains in a pinch, I find this chart (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/Doval/SkillchainChart.gif) extremely useful for memorizing and visualizing which elements link to which, and how.

[Karinya]

Read that whole thread about pulling... it's like frozen FFXI history. "It is TECHNICALLY possible to chain all the way up to 10, I believe." (Actual quote from the thread)

Some of the principles expressed in the thread are good ones, but others need a little updating.

Anyway, there's no magic bullet to pulling - you have to understand the area, the mobs, how they move, how they aggro/link, and then you have to get a feel for what that party can handle and how fast. It's usually the most challenging role in a party (IMO) and has the biggest effect on the party's success, and it's something you just have to have the experience to do well.

And since your overall goal is to maximize the party's exp per hour, you need to understand the exp system and how chains work, too.

Maximizing exp per hour is not the same thing as maximizing exp per kill. A rough estimate is exp per kill divided by mean time between kills - including rest time and pull time. Except in overcrowded areas pull time should never, ever exceed necessary rest time - having your party stand around waiting for you to find a mob is very inefficient (and this is one of the main reasons to avoid overcrowded areas - you can't avoid no-monster downtime.)

[Murphie]

Read that whole thread about pulling... it's like frozen FFXI history. "It is TECHNICALLY possible to chain all the way up to 10, I believe." (Actual quote from the thread)Yeah, reading the thread was interesting in that regard. Then I read another thread where some folks got Chain #9, and people were like "You're a god!"

><;

Still, good philosophy.

[raidenn]

Just go sam/war and you'll be fine.
Macro /shoot <t> with a message /p pulling <t>

[Malacite]

Pulling is just something you get used to over time. Keep at it long enough and you'll get a knack for it in no time.

I remember way back when I absolutely refused to do it. Now I find myself making sure that I can whenever possible in the event that the PT has no puller.

[Magoo]

Sound:

- Mobs that link by sound will link if they are near one another regardless of how they are facing.

Sight:

- If mob A and mob B are sight linking mobs and are facing each other, they will link.

- If mob A is facing mob B, but mob B is looking away, you can pull mob A without mob B linking, but if you pulled mob B, mob A would link.

General linking behaviors of mobs you might be asked to pull in dunes and qufim:

Lizards - link by sound
Goblins - link by sight
Crabs - don't link
Flies - link by sound
Pugils - usually link by sound, but the pugils in Valkurm don't link if I remember right
Gigas - link by sight

[Vildar]

First off, thanks for all the information on pulling, i suppose the only way to really learn is to try in a party or something.
Secondly, i find all these Skill chain charts very confusing. Even more so with this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/Doval/SkillchainChart.gif) one. Is it just me having problems with understanding these charts?

[Malacite]

It took me a while to get used to most of the fan made charts. Oddly enough, it's the one thing the Brady Games Guide got done 100% right (in terms of the format).

Try using the following two charts. One is more simple than the other, but doesn't include Blood Pacts or Blue Magic.


EDIT: Okay, I can't fit the other one in because it's apparently too big, and I don't have time to shrink it atm >, <

[Solymir]

I have always had trouble reading the charts. I finally downloaded a Skillchain Calculator plugin for Firefox that I use quite a bit, however it does leave out Blu spells. Here is a website with a calculator that uses blu spells.

http://magitekarmy.com/skillchain.php

[IfritnoItazura]

The Skillchain calculator (by AlexisLucia) I listed in the The EXP Party Index (http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/party-etiquette-fighting-tactics/64267-exp-party-index.html) has Blue Magic.

[Murphie]

The Skillchain calculator (by AlexisLucia) I listed in the The EXP Party Index (http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/party-etiquette-fighting-tactics/64267-exp-party-index.html) has Blue Magic.It's the same skillchain calculator Solymir just posted. Not that it's not handy to mention your EXP Party index, but I also hate redundancies.

[Amele]

http://adennak.com/blog/wordpress/?page_id=4

is the most complete chart and is almost always the most up to date (he's got -everything- including relic weapons, avatars, puppets, and blue magic)

as for memorizing the chart - just remember the important stuff, know where each of your ws sit, and glance at the chart at the start to look for popular ws your other pt members may use.

for pulling: watch how much mp your healers use per fight (ex. whitemage and redmage started with 300 each and ended with 100 and 120 resp.) don't pull until they have more than the amount they use per fight. (so 200 and 180 in this case)

if you think you might pull a link then wait a little longer.


look up the mob(s) you're likely to be fighting or memorize their families to determine what kind of behavior they have. mobs that are sight and linking would be safe to pull in your example, but mobs that are sound and linking would not.

mobs that don't link are always safe to pull when they close together, regardless of detection method.

don't worry about your archery skill unless you plan to use sam/rng at some point; just always have arrows and a bow along with you until you get to the level when support players pull. (this is like. 60+)

[Ryoii/Nonomii]

Samurai is extremely versitile and fun. Play it the way you get the most enjoyment, and don't be affraid to experiment with different weapons and subjobs. Pulling definately enhances your usefulness in the party and allows you to build extra TP when your arrow hits.

Polearms are also an excellent weapon to keep skilled up. Double Thrust allows you to open for a Distortion skillchain. Also polearms have a 25% damage bonus on most flying enemies (flys, birds, bats, and puk). Penta Thrust is also an excellent weapon skill and lets you close Gravitation.

Have Fun!

[Vildar]

http://adennak.com/blog/wordpress/?page_id=4

is the most complete chart and is almost always the most up to date (he's got -everything- including relic weapons, avatars, puppets, and blue magic)

as for memorizing the chart - just remember the important stuff, know where each of your ws sit, and glance at the chart at the start to look for popular ws your other pt members may use.

I understand this chart much better for some reason. Thanks for the help everyone. Once this server maintinence is over, i shall continue leveling.

[Khidir]

question about sight pulling what if mob A and Mob B are standing side by side looking in the same direction should either link regardless of which is pulled?

[Murphie]

If it's pulled in the direction they are both facing, they will probably link. If it's the other way, then you should be fine.