A duo dilemma

[Tickmeoff]

Hello everyone. I've been lurking around this forum for a while, but I am now in need of some advice and figured I might find some here.

I am currently a 48 DRG/BLU and my partner plays DNC/NIN. We've duo'd every step of the way since level 1 and it's been a pretty amazing combination. In fact, the only time either of us die is when House comes on and she starts paying more attention to the TV than my HP. Right now, though, we are having some trouble. We are lacking a decent camp to exp at for the next few levels. I've done a fair amount of research and checked several different guides, and this is what I've come up with:

Goblin pets in Cape Terrigan - We tried this out, and well.. it was full of fail. There are so many Beach Bunnies around that it's nearly impossible to pull the pets without links.

Desert Beetles in West Altepa - We did this from 47-48, and it was acceptable for a little bit, if only because we were trying out Emperor Band. Even with the exp bonus we were barely making a little more than 5k/hour, and once it wore off and we both leveled exp dropped down to less than 3k an hour. They're terribly weak, but just take so long to kill it's not even worth the effort.

Lynx in Meriphataud Mountains [s] - A possibility I just recently discovered but have yet to actually try. Their level range seems reasonable and they certainly aren't beetles or crabs, but I'm a little worried about their TP moves. If anyone has tried this I would appreciate some input about them.

Crawler's Nest - This place has such an enormous level range I am almost positive there would be something here to exp on, but it's full of several things we like to try and avoid if we can: Parties, Beetles and Crawlers. Hornflies seem like a possibility, but I don't know if we'd find a camp with strictly Hornfly onry.

Cockatrice in Onzozo - Again, worried about their TP moves. Though right now I am considering this the next option to try out.

This is pretty much all I have come up with so far. If anyone has some insight or advice about the camps I've listed or maybe knows of another camp that may work it would be most appreciated.

Some additional information:
Neither of us have access to CoP areas yet (these are our highest jobs and we're not in a real linkshell)
We have WotG access and most maws unlocked. Exp camps near pixies are ftw.
My gear - http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/profile.xml?185560
I do have some other things like Life belt and STR rings, I just wear whatever is needed when it's needed. Accuracy usually isn't a big issue since we're always fighting EM-low VT.

I am looking forward to any feedback. Thanks in advance for any help you all may provide.

[IfritnoItazura]

Just out of curiosity, why don't you like Beetles?

With Aspir Samba, you shouldn't run out of MP very easily for triggering Healing Breath.

[Tickmeoff]

We try to avoid Beetles and Crabs because they are both PLD mobs and tend to take much more time to kill. It's true we never have to rest vs mobs with MP, but we rarely make it past chain 3 with the time it takes to kill them. The Desert Beetles also have a large level range (47-51) so with some now being DC we lose even more chains.

Crawlers are pretty much the same story, they're only squishy until Cocoon is used, and then I'm just swinging at a brick wall.

[Lmnop]

Do you usually end up tanking? Is it 50/50?

I was going to say Cockatrice and have you tank the majority of the time, but it appears Healing Waltz doesn't remove petrification. Still, might be worth a shot if they're on the lower end of the level spectrum.

It's great that you have woodsmans and certainly think you should hold onto them. But you're still geared a lot more like a party DRG than you need to be. Considering the level of mobs you guys are fighting, that's basically damage taken +5%. If you swap your belt to Life belt and your rings to something like your STR rings or a pair of Mighty Rings, you'll end up with the same stats w/out evasion -10. I'd also be looking into Nomad's Mantle or similar evasion-upping pieces (would counteract the earrings which I'd consider taking off but -4 evasion isn't much to worry about). Also, I'm not sure what the magic slacks stats will do for a drg/blu. I'm under the impression that any spellcasting you're doing is Cocoon and HB triggers? So none of them should get a boost. Still, I don't know your leg options for that level so party on.

Your gear is definitely good enough that the above suggestions would just be for "optimizing" and wouldn't really change what kills you guys and what doesn't so... back to mobs.

Looks like Demons in Xarcabard are actually 48-52. I bet you could set up a decent camp @entrance to Castle Zvahl and kill for quite a while. Their WSs aren't as bad as people like to think. Don't stand next to each other and avoid both being caught in the cone attacks and the DNC will Healing Waltz as needed (just blind and slow -- but the slow is 50% so Waltz it off ASAP). Also, Demons just inside the castle are 50-52, but there'll be evil eyes among them.

Also, all beastmen are of-a-level inside of Castle Zvahl, apparently. But who likes beastmen, anyway? Moving on I see saplings in Lufaise, crabs and pugils (boo and boo!) in Toraimarai Canal,
certain antica (worse than crawlers), Soul Stingers in CN (scary?), and a bunch of worse mobs.

Final Fantasy XI - somepage.com (http://ffxi.somepage.com/mobdb/list.php?nm_only=2&fish_only=2&hard_limit=1&level_min=48&level_max=53)
I'd push for saplings or demons, but I have no idea how those guys will turn out in practice (I just know the status effects they give will be moot for you 2).

[LadyKiKi]

But if you're fighting beetles, the risk is minimal. Chain 3 is good in my opinion, considering you're a duo. I know what you mean though, I avoid them too, but the fact that they are not very offensive they make solo pets.

3k/hour solo is very good considering your level. If you try to look for alternatives you're going to get yourself killed and you'll end up with NEGATIVE gain on EXP instead of positive.

As for crawler's nest, there's hornflies everywhere in the basement. Surely it cannot be that crowded down there? And it seems like you're trying to avoid just about everything down there. Crawlers ... Beetles ... parties ... 3 of the most common things. What else is left? Saplings, mushrooms, scorpions, all 3 are even more undesirable.

Ok, so you're level 48. Go to ... Fei'Yin. Go to the basement level. There are millions and millions of "Underworld Bats" (trio bat types) levels 50-52. Once you hit 50 or 51 there, head to the basement of Garliage, again, millions of Funnel Bats there levels 51-55. At 53~54 odd, head to Bostaunieux Oubliette, there are millions of "Werebats" (single bat type) there levels 55-59. Being a DRG you'll tear bats up. Plus they're relatively harmless.

Watch out for magic aggro in Fei'Yin, and sight aggro of beetles in Garliage. Sound/Undead aggro in Bostaunieux Oubliette. Let us know if you have any more questions. :)

[Tickmeoff]

Do you usually end up tanking? Is it 50/50?

I was going to say Cockatrice and have you tank the majority of the time, but it appears Healing Waltz doesn't remove petrification. Still, might be worth a shot if they're on the lower end of the level spectrum.

It's great that you have woodsmans and certainly think you should hold onto them. But you're still geared a lot more like a party DRG than you need to be. Considering the level of mobs you guys are fighting, that's basically damage taken +5%. If you swap your belt to Life belt and your rings to something like your STR rings or a pair of Mighty Rings, you'll end up with the same stats w/out evasion -10. I'd also be looking into Nomad's Mantle or similar evasion-upping pieces (would counteract the earrings which I'd consider taking off but -4 evasion isn't much to worry about). Also, I'm not sure what the magic slacks stats will do for a drg/blu. I'm under the impression that any spellcasting you're doing is Cocoon and HB triggers? So none of them should get a boost. Still, I don't know your leg options for that level so party on.

Your gear is definitely good enough that the above suggestions would just be for "optimizing" and wouldn't really change what kills you guys and what doesn't so... back to mobs.


I am the one tanking most of the time, unless something has gone wrong. I usually do wear STR rings over Woodsman and Swordbelt over Life belt for the extra defense, but I carry all the accuracy gear with me in case it's needed. The Magic cuisses I wear only because they have the same defense as Dino trousers but cost significantly less.

Looks like Demons in Xarcabard are actually 48-52. I bet you could set up a decent camp @entrance to Castle Zvahl and kill for quite a while. Their WSs aren't as bad as people like to think. Don't stand next to each other and avoid both being caught in the cone attacks and the DNC will Healing Waltz as needed (just blind and slow -- but the slow is 50% so Waltz it off ASAP). Also, Demons just inside the castle are 50-52, but there'll be evil eyes among them.

Ok, so you're level 48. Go to ... Fei'Yin. Go to the basement level. There are millions and millions of "Underworld Bats" (trio bat types) levels 50-52. Once you hit 50 or 51 there, head to the basement of Garliage, again, millions of Funnel Bats there levels 51-55. At 53~54 odd, head to Bostaunieux Oubliette, there are millions of "Werebats" (single bat type) there levels 55-59. Being a DRG you'll tear bats up. Plus they're relatively harmless.

Will definitely look into these. I was hoping for a response from LadyKiKi :)

[LadyKiKi]

Glad to help.

I would also like to quickly mention that the bats in Fei'Yin and Garliage will most likely link, but the Werebats in Bostanuex~~~~~ would NOT link, but all 3 do most likely aggro as well.

Being a duo I would think those spots are the most ideal and you should kill quite fast, although down in Bostaunieux Oubliette there's no absolute camp, but .......... one camp I can think of is the West Ronfaure EXIT camp, where there's a line of 4-5 bats and no other undead/aggro. Can just pull and go up the steps and that'll be a camp.

EDIT: That camp in Bostaunieux Oubliette is vunerable to soloists, PUPs, BSTs, parties, retards, NPC levellers.

[Ryoii/Nonomii]

Fighting anything other than piercing weak enemies is really going to slow down XP (unless they are pets). I had to avoid triple bats since I didn't have Erase in my SAM/WAR (polearm) and RDM/WHM duo. They are definitely worth a try in your duo. Flys were my preference after single bats and birds for obvious reasons.

I did Dragonflys instead of Werebats, so I cannot comment on those. The Esbats (Lv59-61) in Uleguerand Range is where I went next, but I think I remember now that they drain MP. Eventually you will get to enjoy really easy duoing against Marsh Murre (Lv64-67) in Caedarva Mire.

Sounds like a fun pair. Enjoy!

P.S. - Don't expect to often see more than 4k per hour without an XP ring. I averaged about 5k since I rarely XPed for more than 2 hours at a time. You might do better though since my RDM could not melee, and I leveled before the improvements to 2-handed weapons.

[Tickmeoff]

Well, we just got done trying out the bats in Fei'Yin. It was going pretty well, we were getting somewhere between 6-7k an hour, but Fei'Yin is a scary place. So many magic aggro mobs and mobs behind doors.

For the record, I think it's absolutely retarded that mobs can both detect and attack you through doors.

We were doing pretty well, but ended up dying because I missed 5 or 6 times in a row (Low evasion means nothing apparently), my partner pulled hate and went down to a Jet Stream. I lived, but decided since we had no way of raising I was going to have to die anyway, so I tested my "mobs can't possibly see through a solid door" theory.

For now we are going to use up the rest of our exp rings on other jobs and try Fei'Yin again tomorrow. We are both too lazy to run all the way out there again at 2am x_x

[Ryoii/Nonomii]

I'm really impressed that DRG/BLU with ~33% HP can handle Jet Stream. How much DMG does Jet Stream hit you for with Cocoon active? Do you also use defense food?

I understand your experiences will be dramatically different from mine as SAM/WAR with attack food and berserk. I mostly relied on Seigan+Third Eye to stay alive without overly draining my partner. I had planned on one day leveling DRG/BLU if I ever found a friend interested in FFXI, so I find your experiences very interesting.

Better luck next time. ^_^

[Malacite]

You should really try to fight mobs that are weak to piercing damage whenever possible. Also, I highly recommend EXPing in the past if you can. Sigil is just ever so broken...

[Tickmeoff]

I'm really impressed that DRG/BLU with ~33% HP can handle Jet Stream. How much DMG does Jet Stream hit you for with Cocoon active? Do you also use defense food?

I understand your experiences will be dramatically different from mine as SAM/WAR with attack food and berserk. I mostly relied on Seigan+Third Eye to stay alive without overly draining my partner. I had planned on one day leveling DRG/BLU if I ever found a friend interested in FFXI, so I find your experiences very interesting.

Better luck next time. ^_^


I don't remember specifics, but on average I'd say Jet Stream was doing 90-140. There were some as high as 200, but that only happened once or twice. The idea of using defense food actually never crossed my mind; we've both always used attack food.

I think we may actually be one level early for Fei'Yin, a lot of the bats are still VT. Doable, but a little rough, but still a lot better than beetles as far as exp per hour went. We're both thinking once we level things will be much smoother until 50. That's about as far as we'll get for now, these are our highest jobs and we're still capped at 50 and without any ideas as to how we're doing genkai 1.

You should really try to fight mobs that are weak to piercing damage whenever possible. Also, I highly recommend EXPing in the past if you can. Sigil is just ever so broken...
I try to find camps in the past when I can (she makes me find all the camps x_x). Our last camp was on the Colibri in East Ronfaure S. I wish we could have leveled there forever.

[koyuki]

Rawr of course I make you look for all the camps, I always get us there!

And thank you everyone for the suggestions~

[eticket109]

Just to comment on your original post, stay away from the Lynx. They are a pain and are probably not worth the effort. Their AOE moves hurt like a bitch.

[Tickmeoff]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/Tickmeoff/feiyind.jpg

For the winnnnn.

We stopped there because it was already past 6am. We're probably going to cap exp in 50 and then attempt to find assistance for Genkai 1. I hate these "go fetch X amount of uber rare items" quests, but meh, it must be done. Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

[LadyKiKi]

Genkai 1 should be fairly easy.

The scroll's drop rate has been raised. Save some TP for Leg Sweep to stun any nasty moves. Or find a high level tank/player to assist.

The exorays in crawler's nest can be safely duoed, I think. Try to build TP first on something so you both have 100%, then pull an Exoray and penta thrust immediately to bring its HP down, that way Dark Spore won't hurt as much.

Bomb Coal should be relatively safe too. There are bats near the area, again, build TP and then pull a bomb, so if it self-destructs earlier it won't hurt that much. Plus barfire.

[Tickmeoff]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/Tickmeoff/owned.jpg



Yeah.. we might be going back to Fei'Yin for another level. It was getting really slow towards the end of 49 cause we were running out of bats to kill and had to wait for respawns, but.. wow. Funnel Bats are like Underworld Bats +2.

I dunno about duoing Genkai 1 after this. Bats should be our specialty, both using piercing weapons and bats being relatively harmless. Exoray have dangerous TP moves and no weakness to piercing, Bombs berserk and self destruct and the Lich would have dangerous TP moves and a resistance to piercing. Things are not looking bright.

[Tickmeoff]

Well, thought I'd drop in and update everyone and what's happened since my last post ending on a down note.

We are both 55 now with G2 already finished. We did the bats in Garlaige basement until 54, spent all of level 54 and some of 55 hunting for a Quicksands coffer key for my AF, and now we are sort of stuck again.


We tried out Bostaunieux Oubliette, and it was semi-doable. The spot at the West Ronfaure exit was decent, but the spawn time is incredibly slow. Then we had a BST come in and camp on top of us (this never fails to happen) and decided to just end it there. We came back later and I tried /RDM to see if we could just roam the whole place, but no dice. We had to fight in awkward spots to avoid blood aggro and eventually ended up aggroing more than one bat and getting killed.


We may be taking a break from this duo for a little while at any rate. We sorta went crazy over the past weekend since my partner is on spring break. We were gonna take a break at 60 anyway to farm for all the expensive essential stuff (Scorp. harness, Chiv chain, etc) so I guess I can get started on farming early til we find a decent camp again.

On an unrelated note, is the Jaridah Peti worth it? If I don't buy it I can almost afford a Scorpion Harness right now, and it's only two levels away and seems like it would be much better for duoing.

[Vyuru]

I would say that the Jaridah Peti is worth it.

At 60, you'll most likely have:

GKL: +7acc
2x +acc rings: +8-10acc
Lift belt or Potent Belt: +8-10acc
Chiv Chain: +5acc
Other???

And that's assuming exp party stuff, while it sounds like you mostly duo.

For duoing:

GKL and Cchain are mostly non negotiable, so that's +12 acc right there. Just thinking about my own soloing experiences, you won't need alot of +acc in a solo/duo enviroment to hit the mobs, so either a Jaridah Peti with +5acc, or a Scorpion Harness with +10acc, should be fine. I don't know if you are using +acc rings or what, but if you are, I'd say any reasons to get a SH go down even further.

Also, I have to think of the changes to two handed weapons, which came about long after I was past the stage you are now, and I have to think that there is even less reason to stock up on the +acc with a SH.

In party situations you'll want the +acc rings and all that, and again I'd have to say that the SH is optional.

Myself personally, I'd prefer the extra +att from the Peti rather than the extra +acc from the SH.

I'd say if you are dead set on a SH, skip the Peti, especially if you are duoing. If you are indifferent between them, go for the cheaper one, because frankly they are both good and I don't think you can go wrong with either one, it's all up to personal preferences between those two armors.

[eticket109]

If one of you goes with the Scorpion Harness, I would suggest they use the Dark Mezraq instead of the GKL. The evasion down will benefit both of you when it procs. If you're eating sushi, then you can focus less on accuracy anyway. The Peti is nice but the eva+ in the SH makes it a bit more ideal for solo/duo.

[Lmnop]

The evasion is what's so sexy about the SH, here. I do think you should upgrade to the SH, and if you're afraid the price of SH will go up (or Peti will go down), then you'll have to make the call to nix the Peti in favor SH now. But I don't see why you can't buy Peti now, and take a 1-2 break @58 for the SH.

[Tickmeoff]

If one of you goes with the Scorpion Harness, I would suggest they use the Dark Mezraq instead of the GKL. The evasion down will benefit both of you when it procs. If you're eating sushi, then you can focus less on accuracy anyway. The Peti is nice but the eva+ in the SH makes it a bit more ideal for solo/duo.


Thanks, this is pretty much exactly how I was thinking. Minus the sushi x_x

[Vyuru]

If one of you goes with the Scorpion Harness, I would suggest they use the Dark Mezraq instead of the GKL. The evasion down will benefit both of you when it procs.

A couple of questions here.

I know the Mezraq and that the Thalowhatever lances have high evasion down proc rates that give -20 eva down, how does the Dark Mezraq compare? If it has the same proc rate and eva down effect, then I would seriouly consider the Dark Mezraq over the GKL.

However I also have to ask about how you and your dnc partner party. I don't know much about dancer, so I have to ask if your dancer partner is using the evasion down step and if that is better or more efficient than the DM's evasion down effect.

[Tickmeoff]

She uses both Quickstep and Box step (def down) on every mob. According to ffxiclopedia, Quickstep is -8 evasion on the first application and an additional -4 for each subsequent application, ending up at a total of -24 evasion.

I am assuming it would stack with the evasion down from Mezraq family lances. Quickstep causes "Lethargic Daze" and the Mezraq family proc is just regular "Evasion down".


I was gonna go with the Dark Mezraq anyway just so I could run around and say "fork you" all the time.

EDIT:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/Tickmeoff/archered.jpg


And suddenly I can just buy the Jaridah and not care about monies for a little while.

[koyuki]

Buahahahhahaha

Duo'd by DRG and DNC. Screw those double DRGs with a RDM!

[eticket109]

I just did that BC last night. 3/3 with no decent drops at all. We didn't even get Utsusemi: Ni. ><

[Vyuru]

Grats.

Last few times I've done that BCNM I've made maybe.... 10k....

That used to make me alot of money, now the chest doesn't like me :/

[Clever Ninja]

Nice, out of curiosity what was your general plan? Just kill what slimes you can then just duo the Princess down? Seems like a fun thing to do if I get bored of doing it on my RDM one day.

[Ryoii/Nonomii]

Congratulations! Nice to see a DRG & DNC duo can take down that BCNM.

[Tickmeoff]

Nice, out of curiosity what was your general plan? Just kill what slimes you can then just duo the Princess down? Seems like a fun thing to do if I get bored of doing it on my RDM one day.

Pretty much. We started on the right and just worked our way around in a circle. Only items used were food (mithkabobs) and a Pamama au lait. Koyuki used Desperate Flourish on the ones we were currently engaged with and any others that happened to be near by enough to be in range without moving very far.

Our first run only one Princess made it to the center and we had to fight the Queen who spawned with.. 3% HP. Second run we killed all 8.