Pre Endgame Gear Help

[Saren]

I feel guilt about making a thread like this but slightly frazzled could really do with some advice or checking over what I am planning.

My static was originally just going 50-60, honestly the thing holding is us back is my ability to make money fast enough to keep up with the gear especially because, as it’s my first job to 75, I wanted to give myself as much of a gear buffer as possible while I am going through everything the first time and hopefully getting some skill. Killing friends as the main healer makes for a really bad day.

The leader of my ls told me how cheap 60-70 was and so I looked it up and agreed to go straight through to 70. The spells were really really cheap at the time I was pricing up (you see where this is going? :P), most of the gear was rare/ex endgame access stuff that I just don’t have the capability of getting yet and there were only a few things to really buy which I was confident I could make money in time to get.

Unfortunately I think we are now going to 75, the price of the spells from 60-70 more than tripled in the two weeks after I them priced up and Repose came out so I do have all my spells to 75 all ready to go but am about 250k poorer than I thought I would be at this stage and real life got busier on me so not as much time to make money. I talked to my static about it and they said they don’t mind my not having everything as soon as it’s available but I want to do my best to be well geared so racing to get money for gear at the moment.

Fortunately we stopped at 51 and I spent a lot of money on gear so I think I have most of the basics, staves, AF, mp rings, Saintly+1s, Beak neck, Qiqrin Sash, crow gear, that level 55 strap etc. What I would like advice on is what it’s best to spend the money I have on.

At the moment top of my priorities list is a Nobles Tunic and a close second is Blessed Gear (the recast on haste is starting to really annoy me), after that it’s a bit of a blur of accessories: mnd piece upgrades, haste, torques and a few max mp upgrades and then the whole assault/endgame only pieces. Bearing in mind that I don’t have access to endgame yet (CoP/ZM/ToAU static starts after Christmas), is there anything glaring that I have missed out on or should be considering?

[Kirsteena]

Main thing is don't panic. It sounds like you are on the right path. Whm are actually blessed with a fairly useful AF set (well, apart from the feet), and noone will blame you for using it!

As for gear upgrade, yes, noble's and blessed, and also spells first and foremost. The rest can slowly be upgraded as time goes on. Personally, I wouldn't bother with torques, except maybe now for the Divine one - the healing magic one won't help you that much (maybe cure for 2-3 more). When you start doing assault, there are some nice pieces - mp earring (Insomnia and Antivenom) as well as Intensifying cape. What are you using at the moment? That would help to know to figure out what some of the best upgrades are.

[Saren]

Thanks Kirsteena, >< I am nowhere near as stressed as I probably sound but I always say that. Torques wise I was thinking enhancing, divine and possibly enfeebling eventually, definitely not bothering with healing skill, rather get a promise badge. I was trying not to make the post huge which is why I was general but Current Setup:

main: elemental staves
sub: Raptor Leather Strap +1
ammo: Holy Ampula
head: Gold Hairpin +1 / AF head
neck: Beak Necklace +1/ Holy Phial
ear1: Antivenom Earring
ear2: Insomnia Earring
body: Crow Jupon/AF (getting this later today)
hands: devotee's Mitts/ Mycophile Cuffs/ AF hands when I hit 60
ring1: Ether/Saintly +1
ring2: Astral/Saintly +1
back: Red Cape +1
waist: Qiqirn Sash +1
legs: Custom Pants/ AF legs / Baron's Slops
feet: AF boots
Food: Mushroom Stew

I have more Crow gear but they are getting phased out by AF and for the most part, I am not taking hate anymore (unless it's one of those hate bouncing curaga parties and not often then) so I haven't found I needed them.

[Olorin401]

If you can manage it, get yourself a Blessed Briault. Fanastic body piece.

AF Boots are nice but look into getting something else, preferrably JSE and/or Cure Clogs.

[Kirsteena]

Your gear looks pretty good. To be honest, most of that will see you through to 75.

There are a few pieces you could quest for - promise badge, star necklace, pick up an Ajari Bead Necklace cheap. Intensifying cape will provide a back upgrade. Maybe save up for a penitents rope, or BCNM it. As you go through CoP you can open quests up, including one for powerful rope. The main thing is saving for nobles and blessed, then I think you are pretty much set!

[Saren]

Your gear looks pretty good. To be honest, most of that will see you through to 75.

There are a few pieces you could quest for - promise badge, star necklace, pick up an Ajari Bead Necklace cheap. Intensifying cape will provide a back upgrade. Maybe save up for a penitents rope, or BCNM it. As you go through CoP you can open quests up, including one for powerful rope. The main thing is saving for nobles and blessed, then I think you are pretty much set!

Thankyou :)

You weren't kidding when you said cheap on the Ajari Bead necklace were you, I will definitely pick one up where there is one on the AH.
The star necklace confused me a little, I get more mp and no lost hp from my Beak Necklace plus it's a good resting piece too.
Penitent's rope definitely had my eye on I think I will get it after Blessed.

Thanks again Kirsteena.

[Kirsteena]

Ah, I have the star necklace and grandiose chain combo, never got a beak necklace, so just ignore that.

[lionx]

Personally unless you are going to enfeeble alot, i recommend the Hierarach Belt waist:

http://www.ffxiah.com/item.php?id=15295&sid=29

Its much cheaper than P. Rope and has more MP bonus.

[Kirsteena]

But once that mp is spent, it's spent. The Peni rope has - emnity, and +5 mnd, which is useful for those C5s.

[Olorin401]

But once that mp is spent, it's spent. The Peni rope has - emnity, and +5 mnd, which is useful for those C5s.
I finally managed to add Peni Rope to my Cure and Stoneskin macros, now that SE added the ability to string macros together. Hierarch Belt went into my resting macro since I don't wear it full-time anymore.

I also added Peni Rope to my Repose macro.. gawd I'm McLovin that spell more with every passing day!

[Icemage]

Stuff you should prioritize:

Noble's Tunic #1. If at ALL possible, this is your most potent piece of upcoming gear. No one's going to whine at your because you don't have one, but don't let anyone downplay the power of extra MP recovery, because they're lying through their teeth. To this day, this remains the most potent piece of gear in my WHM arsenal.

You've already got staves, so I won't belabor this point, but a Light Staff/Apollo Staff/Healing Staff is a major priority for any WHM for Cure Potency purposes.

Spell-wise, don't miss Flash, Repose, Raise III, Protectra IV, Shellra IV, and eventually Reraise III. Also don't forget to pick up Stona and Erase by this point if you haven't done so already.

The rest of the gears are up to you and your available finances. They're "nice" but not "necessary".


Icemage

[Saren]

hahah thanks for the advice Icemage but >< I don't know whether to be offended. I have always had all my spells ready for the level you can use them at from the point I started partying. Much though I do make a fair amount of effort with my gear spells always come first. If I didn't have all my spells ready in advance then I just wouldn't be leveling.

That said, thankyou for confirming on the Nobles, mp recovery and cure potency in one slot makes me very happy.

Fortunately the exp static slowed down for the tank to catch up and my decent way of making money seems to be stabilizing again and I bought a glut of food when it was cheap so I actually have a hope of having a Nobles in time for hitting 68 now.

[Olorin401]

You've already got staves, so I won't belabor this point, but a Light Staff/Apollo Staff/Healing Staff is a major priority for any WHM for Cure Potency purposes.
It should probably be mentioned that a good alternative to Apollo's Staff for curing purposes is the Templar Mace + Numinous Shield/Genbu's Shield combo. Apollo's Staff is still needed though, since its new best use is with Repose.

[Mog]

It should probably be mentioned that a good alternative to Apollo's Staff for curing purposes is the Templar Mace + Numinous Shield/Genbu's Shield combo. Apollo's Staff is still needed though, since its new best use is with Repose.

My friend tried a templar mace/genbu shield combo, but after the Staff grip update, she sold the mace and went back to light staff. Light staff is probably the better alernative, unless you're going to be soloing and need that extra attack and defense.