Trying so hard to decide...

[kyomagi]

So i have been mindlessly leveling both my warrior main and theif sub job, while doing so trying to figure out what class i want to be.

I want two main points, Survivability and DD. I love soloing, i have soloed both my theif to 15 and warrior to 20 and even did the subjob on my own.

Im not too sure but i have been looking at this option, COR/RNG it seems interesting to me and looks cool, but then again i have looked at NIN/THF

So what do you guys think? I want to be usuful and get parties easy so i would love some advice. thanks!!

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

COR has gained a bit of solo endurance as of the August update, but that endurance requires a WHM, BLU or RDM subjob. Its really only soloing to survive. I can take down a VT Puk with little issue, but I can't take it down quickly enough to consider it worthwhile EXP.

COR/RNG is purely a Party combo, no soloability about it.

NIN/THF - I know it sounds cool, but its not. No one invites a NIN to DD as /THF. They invite NINs to tank, only to tank and nothing but to tank. It doesn't make sense, but neither does FFXI. You will be endlessly badgered to party and sub /WAR. NINs can solo rather well, tough.

THF isn't a bad solo job, its definitely well ahead of COR in that regard, but if you're looking to solo for EXP outside of groups at a steady rate, the best jobs for that are BST, PUP, DRG and BLU. They're all just built for the task and soloing as those jobs can be rather rewarding.

But again, these will require mage subjobs, possibly Ninja as a subjob as well. Stroll on over to the BLU, BST, DRG and PUP forums and check them out, see what interests you from those.

[Armando]

First you need to ask yourself what kind of soloing you want, and when. Some jobs can solo for EXP, others are too slow to solo for EXP but can still hold their own almost indefinetely against opponents higher in level than them. Some jobs are also very mediocre soloists until the higher levels (PLD, for example, doesn't become that good a soloer until at 63-68).

But if soloing is important to you, that kinda rules out WAR.

Edit: Oh, and NIN/THF is not a good combination.

[kyomagi]

so what class would be good with RNG?

and COR/WHM would be a good combo? I'll check that out when i get 30

Really as far as when i wanna solo, at any level. If i cant find a party or just wanna play for 30-min to an Hour and get some exp that way. im just so confused T_T

[Armando]

I would recommend DRG. A capable soloer at any level, can solo for EXP fairly well, and is also a good DD.

RNG are usually RNG/NIN or RNG/WAR. But RNG isn't much of a soloer.

[Ameroth]

Also, you should realized that while soloing is possible (much more so now since a few recent updates), FFXI is built upon grouping for exp much more than soloing for exp. Soloing is nice when you have sometime but not enough to party with, but soloing for exp will almost never yield as much exp as a party would get you.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Soloing is nice when you have sometime but not enough to party with, but soloing for exp will almost never yield as much exp as a party would get you.

Partying is nice when you have some time, but partying for EXP will almost never yield as many beastmen and kindred seals as soloing would get you.

You don't have to share loot when you solo. The financial gain a soloist enjoys in the face of slow EXP makes up for the slow EXP. :P

[kyomagi]

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[Ryoii/Nonomii]

THF/NIN is actually a very capable solo job and sought after party job. They are capable of soloing VT enemies at Lv74 due to extremely high evasion, access to Utsusemi: Ni, and access to an assortment of bolts. They can take down EM to T crabs in the earlier levels since crabs do not double attack and THF has high evasion.

You will however have to make extensive use of your marksmanship. Acid Bolts will help by decreasing your enemies defense and removing defense boost effects. You will also need Sleep Bolts to help you take advantage of Sneak Attack, Bloody Bolts will let you regain HP, and Blind Bolts will help you improve your evasion.

If you want to solo for XP, you should probably target BST pets, but you could also solo for XP and Gil simultaniously by targetting EP-DC Birds and Greater Birds. These enemies will drop Fire Crystals, Wind Crystals, Beastman Seals, Kindred Seals, Bird Feathers, Giant Bird Feathers, and Giant Bird Plumes which are all worth a decent amount of Gil.

You could also play THF/RNG when farming TW enemies or helping out other players. Another way to solo with RNG would be to level BST and later play RNG/BST (BST must be greater or equal level to your main job to successfully charm enemies), and THF/BST is also loads of fun. Try a seach on YouTube for "THF solo" to see some awesome videos.

[Wiseman40]

I believe what you want is blue mage. Blu carries some solid DD and excellent survivability particularly with /nin, but you can use /thf as well.

[Ryoii/Nonomii]

I've heard stories of people soloing BST pets with BLU, so I'll have to second that recommendation. It is an extremely versatile job, and both THF and NIN will be useful subjobs.

Additionally you could consider NIN/WAR since it is great in parties if you enjoy tanking and allows you to duo with anyone capable of healing you (BLM/WHM, RDM, BLU, PLD, BRD/WHM, SMN/WHM, DRK/WHM, PUP/WHM, DRG/mage). However, you will not be able to solo particularly well due to a lack of self healing, and NIN can be more expensive than using bolts with THF/NIN.

[Malacite]

If you want a good DD that solos very well, try either BLU BST or DRG (NIN as well actually as you get the better weapons and ninjutsu)

[kyomagi]

well i guess i'll go BLU/NIN, might be fun to try....i just hope i can find a party for my 20 warrior to get leveled up to 30

[Callisto]

Well you could do BLM, b/c it seems that you're almost forced to solo 60-75 nowadays! >.>

[Ameroth]

Partying is nice when you have some time, but partying for EXP will almost never yield as many beastmen and kindred seals as soloing would get you.

You don't have to share loot when you solo. The financial gain a soloist enjoys in the face of slow EXP makes up for the slow EXP. :P

This is a very true and valid point.

In fact, come to think of it, the last stack and a half of beastmen seals have come from me soloing DRK from 1-20, SAM from 1-10 (so far) and various other soloing experiences.

[kyomagi]

how much do beastman seals go for at AH? iv been throwing them away thinking they were still usless from like a year ago

[Lunaryn]

...

Beastmen's seals are Exclusive. They cannot be sold or traded or bazaared. Their sole use is to purchase Rare/Ex Orbs to instance BCNMs.

Because of the large number of seals required to purchase orbs it is always recommend that you save any seals you come across.

[Ryoii/Nonomii]

My luck isn't extremely good, but I think I've made about 3 million Gil from Beastman Seals since I started playing back at NA release. I've probably used about 500 seals and still have several stacks.

In today's economy, they should be worth over 2k Gil each if you use them all on Star Orbs for BCNM40 Under Observation or Royal Jelly. The scroll of Utsusemi: Ni, Peacock Charm, and Archer's Ring are all still worth a lot of Gil. You will need to collect several stacks and do tons of BCNMs to finally see a return, but they are definately worth keeping.

[Lunaryn]

I'd say you could get a much better rate of return than the one cited above on the BCNM20s, but that does require a skilled trio with rather good 20-cap equipment and the right jobs, not to mention the patience to spend weeks bazaaring unauctionable items.

[Malacite]

I prefer to do the 60's pesonally. You can shoot for either the K-Club BC (low drop rate but insanely rewarding) or Jungle Boogey Man which always drops 2 Torques (enfeebling torque is still worth a lot of gil) and other misc. drops.

[IfritnoItazura]

Soloing is a bit boring, IMO; duo'ing and trio'ing are much better.

Our little group of BLU x2 + RNG (http://www.ffxionline.com/forums/journal.php?do=showjournal&j=151) had a fun time killing IT rabbits while spell hunting last night; Lv.28 x3 party vs. Lv.34-38 Island Rarabs.

Blue Mage in small groups means good times. ^_^

* * *

Clickie: Info on BCNMs (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Category:BCNM).

[kyomagi]

Ok, so thats the way im going, BLU/NIN....But my issue is this...as a WAR/THF, am i gonna have a hard time finding parties to lvl 30 on odin?

[Pteryx]

Ok, so thats the way im going, BLU/NIN....But my issue is this...as a WAR/THF, am i gonna have a hard time finding parties to lvl 30 on odin?

It's very possible. THF doesn't give much to a party until 15; therefore, /THF doesn't give much to a party until 30. Because of this, MNK is usually considered a better newbie sub for someone using WAR as their first to 30. (It's not shabby past that either, but most demand WAR/NIN exclusively.) -- Pteryx

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

i've actually soloed the majority of my BLU levels so far since I enjoy being able to solo when and where I can, plus it lets me re-use my knowledge of monster correlation, which would otherwise just be used for BST.

You can get parties as a BLU, but you'll be up against every DD out there while seeking, which is what makes the advantage of being able to solo all the better.

[Malevolent]

Blu/nin I hope you understand is only valid at lvl 20...before lvl 20 use /war enjoy the added HP and def you get untill you sacrifice it for....dual wield. I've gone as blu/rdm since lvl 1 it gives me more mp than blm and whm do.

[IfritnoItazura]

I've gone as blu/rdm since lvl 1 it gives me more mp than blm and whm do.
Lies. >_>

Lv.1 Tarutaru
- BLU/RDM: 31
- BLU/WHM: 32

Lv.9 Tarutaru
- BLU/RDM: 107
- BLU/WHM: 110

Source: http://www.datasync.com/~dsmith/FFXIStats/

[Murphie]

Yeah, /RDM will always give you less MP than /WHM or /BLM. That's been the case since forever.

Of course, at certain times, it may make more sense to sub /RDM, but it's not because you're going to have more MP.

[DakAttack]

Blu/nin I hope you understand is only valid at lvl 20...before lvl 20 use /war enjoy the added HP and def you get untill you sacrifice it for....dual wield. I've gone as blu/rdm since lvl 1 it gives me more mp than blm and whm do.

Blm for MP and Int, Whm for Mnd, and Rdm for Int and Mnd. I believe that's the general rule. Smn if you have Diabolos and want to run around Al Zahbi as a straight up G.

[IfritnoItazura]

Blm for MP and Int, Whm for Mnd, and Rdm for Int and Mnd. I believe that's the general rule. Smn if you have Diabolos and want to run around Al Zahbi as a straight up G.

Well, /SMN actually gives better INT and MND and MP than /RDM. A lot more MP, as a matter of fact. Not that I'd want to use it, of course.

For low level Blue Mage, I find these support jobs all acceptable:

Lv.1-9: /WHM
Lv.10-19: /WHM, /WAR, /BRD
Lv.20-29: /RNG, /WAR, /WHM, /NIN, /BRD
Lv.30-??: /THF, /NIN, /WAR, /WHM

My little static party is usually set up as:
RNG/NIN, BLU/WHM, BLU/(whatever--normally /WAR for tanking.)

[Silent Howler]

well i guess i'll go BLU/NIN, might be fun to try....i just hope i can find a party for my 20 warrior to get leveled up to 30
Most recently I've been playing as Blu/War and then unlocked Nin so I could go as Blu/Nin, although I haven't been in a party with that yet. Not because of no invites, but because I need to take some time to farm. >_<

Blu has certainly been an enjoyable job for me. It starts out pretty slow since you need to worry about learning spells since you start with none. I recommend Windurst for starting out since you can get Pollen and Foot Kick from the start (both good for getting your blue magic skill up) and then Cocoon and Metallic body a few levels higher. Cocoon will be your best friend for a long time. It's probably one of the key factors that makes Blu soloable. It's fun looking at an Even Match goblin and taking it out as if it were Easy Prey. Blu also gets pretty fair invites. For the early stages you will be playing the role of damage dealer or tank. (Blu/War makes a very nice tank at early levels.) But if you're not going to tank, Blu/Nin would be the way to go. Early on the only thing /War has to offer Blu is Provoke, which is pretty useless when soloing. >_>

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Well, perhaps I should just be saying this in-game since Kyo is in my LS, but BLU/NIN is more for solo than anything else. Since I'm stubborn and independent at times, I've soloed most of my BLU levels thus far. I like being able to roam about and learn spells rather than PT, which has made for a unique experience, even if I'm playing off just a little of my BST experieces as well.

I've had like maybe 3 parties as BLU and probably as many levels, I've not actively sought out parties and don't know if I will anytime soon. Maybe if I get an invite while soloing, otherwise I'm content to go it alone.

I'm also working on THF, RDM and SMN as potential subjobs for BLU since I've already covered NIN, WAR and WHM subs. BLU is a bit of work, but its been very rewarding thus far.

We'll see about getting those other jobs unlocked soon.

[Silent Howler]

I've spent some time as Blu/Smn, and I'll admit it got a little overwhelming worrying about your avatar and their Blood Pacts along with your own spells. But if someone spends enough time with it, it might work out nicely. Although avatar performance does seem to lessen when it is set as a sub job. In one of my most recent parties I went as Whm/Smn, but since half of the party was Nin or /Nin I really didn't have to cure very much. So I tried summoning Carbuncle but he missed 90% of the time. It just wasn't worth the effort. And in comparison with Blu, you would get more out of your damaging spells anyway.

But Carby is cool. >_> Soloing with Smn is always fun and nobody cares what you do when you're soloing. So if you feel like using Blu/Smn, go ahead. But if you do get an invite while soloing and decide to accept, might want to change sub first before heading over there.

[IfritnoItazura]

Well, perhaps I should just be saying this in-game since Kyo is in my LS, but BLU/NIN is more for solo than anything else.
Isn't BLU/NIN a fairly standard combo for merit/TP burn parties, since they don't have a dedicated tank? Of course, I suppose you can always "pick" a tank with TA + Frenetic Rip, then SA+something to check out your luck.

May be fun to see a WAR75/NIN37 panic because he's "tanking"?

I've had like maybe 3 parties as BLU and probably as many levels, I've not actively sought out parties and don't know if I will anytime soon. Maybe if I get an invite while soloing, otherwise I'm content to go it alone.
I find it more fun in small party of three people. Then again, one of the member is my sister, and the other a long time friend... Your results may vary.


I'm also working on THF, RDM and SMN as potential subjobs for BLU since I've already covered NIN, WAR and WHM subs. BLU is a bit of work, but its been very rewarding thus far.
Why do you want to use /RDM and /SMN?

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Isn't BLU/NIN a fairly standard combo for merit/TP burn parties, since they don't have a dedicated tank? Of course, I suppose you can always "pick" a tank with TA + Frenetic Rip, then SA+something to check out your luck.

May be fun to see a WAR75/NIN37 panic because he's "tanking"?

Talking about merit PTs now is getting way ahead of this guy. I've been in very few merit PTs with BLU, if I do merit with a BLU, its usually one seeking me out for a Duo/Trio imps in the Nyzul/Caedarva camp.

Why do you want to use /RDM and /SMN?

Just subs I want as options, I'm going to be levelling RDM for COR sub anyway. /RDM obviously offers Fast Cast to BLU. /SMN just because I see a good degree of (party-only) main heal potential and tank support in BLU. BLU main for Diamondhide would take Titan out of rotation.

A lot of the potential for BLU, as I see it, is being flushed down the tubes in favor of DD play, I want a different experience. I have WAR, WHM and NIN done, working on THF and the rest next since they're in-line with other goals.

[LilithAngel]

I've seen and done some pretty interesting things as a BLU that I was never capable of (or could imagine) as any other job. Soloing all my spells (and just about as many levels) on up to the 50s-60s was a blast, and the fact that I was taking out mobs on my own that normally takes full parties to deal with was just a refreshing change of pace.

I ended up using /WHM for a long while. The defensive spells are pretty nice, and work well for a lot of the time. I only did /NIN and /THF in parties for a long time (started off with /WAR and /NIN, didn't use /THF until 60 because the parties I ended up with never were keen on hate control).

BLU's play style is really up to each individual player. Other jobs would also work, but all work a bit differently in execution of solo/casual play.

[Pteryx]

I don't know what the standards are on your servers, but over on Midgardsormr BLU/NIN is the most typical XP party setup from level 20 on. This is because BLU gets more mileage out of Dual Wield than anybody else; while most jobs get a very minor net gain in damage over time and TP gain and an extra hit added to all multi-hit weaponskills, BLU also gets an extra hit added to their multi-hit physical spells. That makes it so that they deal more damage for the MP they spend.

To be sure, there are other subs -- BLU/WAR, BLU/THF (at 60+), and occasionally BLU/WHM if you just can't find any other healer and they don't whine at the prospect. But BLU/NIN is far from being a "solo sub" in the sense of not being an XP sub. (Of course, it works for solo too.) -- Pteryx

[Lucky7]

Question about the DD capability of BLU... Is BLU/BLM not an option because the melee DD > casting DD for the BLU OR is it because getting all the spells is a pia that is just easier to go /NIN and do the same amount of damage?

From all the replies I've seen almost every option except /BLM. Is BLU damage spells that gimped?

[Yellow Mage]

Sort of . . . the thing is, hardly anybody uses /BLM because of lack of native Elemental Skill: your /Black Mage spells will effectively be at half-power.

The only jobs that can get anything from subbing BLM are those with a native Elemental Skill (DRK, RDM), or those who could use the MP and the utility spells like Warp, and have nothing to gain from subbing WHM (WHM).

[Silent Howler]

Question about the DD capability of BLU... Is BLU/BLM not an option because the melee DD > casting DD for the BLU OR is it because getting all the spells is a pia that is just easier to go /NIN and do the same amount of damage?
Neither. A Blue Mage without blue magic is nothing. Yes it can sometimes be a pain to learn all the spells, but you certainly will not be able to make up lack of spells by subbing Nin. Blu has some VERY nice damaging spells, most noteable would be Bludgeon. But just about every blue spell is situational and their strength can vary depending on what you're fighting.

[Malacite]

BLU also gets an extra hit added to their multi-hit physical spells. That makes it so that they deal more damage for the MP they spend.



Proof please? This is the first I'd heard of such.

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Dual_Wield

Job Trait Overview

* Game Description: Allows user to equip two weapons at once.
* Job Traits are always active.
* Further Notes:
o Only one-handed weapons can be dual-wielded.
o Delay reductions are active only when two weapons are equipped.
o TP per hit is calculated using the reduced Delay.
+ When dual wielding weapons with different Delays, the average Delay (reduction included) is used for the TP calculations; both weapons will gain the same TP.
o Only the Weapon Skills of the weapon currently equipped in the main hand are available for use. If you equip two different types of weapons, you do not have access to both Weapon Skill sets at once.
o During non-elemental Weapon Skills, an extra hit is performed with the secondary weapon. This does not apply to elemental Weapon Skills (such as Shining Strike) or special Weapon Skills such as Spirits Within.
o Weapon Skill Damage is based on the damage rating of the main hand weapon.

[LilithAngel]

This is because BLU gets more mileage out of Dual Wield than anybody else; while most jobs get a very minor net gain in damage over time and TP gain and an extra hit added to all multi-hit weaponskills, BLU also gets an extra hit added to their multi-hit physical spells. That makes it so that they deal more damage for the MP they spend.


Yeah, I had suspected this, but couldn't be certain (never had anyone to test it on in Diorama as of late). Post up where you got your info, and some tests, and this'll be something to prove even more worth for /NIN.


As far as /BLM is concerned: subbing it wouldn't be for the attack spells, but more for the INT and MAB (which you can equip through spells at a later level anyways). However, blue magical spells are relatively prohibitive for their costs (mp wise); the dmg/mp ratios are horrible. They also have rather long casting times (for the most part), and by the time you pop one off, you could have done more damage with sword swings and physical spells. You'll also be looking at spending more time gearing up as a mage than a frontliner, and resting as well, since the MP costs are up there (way up there), and a Blue Mage has one of the smallest MP pools of all the mages in the game.

All in all, /BLM fails not for what it does or does not provide as a sub, but for the fact that BLU main nuking isn't really effective until the late (very late) levels, and by that time, BLU main already has all the tools it needs to make it work on its own. /BLM wouldn't give much more.