Square One (ish)

[Murphie]

Ok, so imagine, just for a moment, that you're a 75 RDM with virtually no gear at all. You have your AF, and you have all eight NQ staves. But that's it. You don't have any DM rewards, or CoP rewards, or ToAU rewards. You are a Private Second Class, with only a couple of Assaults (and only one successful) under your belt. You don't have any Imperial Standing credits to spend.

You have about 1.5-2Million-ish gil. You can make more, but not quickly.*

What gear would you buy that would allow you to Merit, do things like Dynamis, uncapped Missions, and other assorted level 75 activities without being completely embarrassed by your gear. So I'm not talking about Hedgehog Bombs, or HQ Staves, or anything like that. Gear that will allow you to perform all the functions of your job, without blowing all of your gil on one big-ticket item?

Ideally I'm looking for what you'd get for every slot. Keeping in mind that staves are covered, and body/head are partially covered (AF Feet/Legs/Hands aren't really too useful for the activities mentioned above).

Keep in mind that you're a Taru. A particularly clever and dashing Taru, but still, Taru. So gear that speaks to playing as an Elvaan/Hume/Mithra/Galka won't do you much good.

So again, here is where you stand:
Main: NQ Elemental Staves
Sub: n/a when using staves
Range:
Ammo:
Head: AF Hat
Neck:
Ear1:
Ear2:
Body: AF Body
Hands:
Ring1:
Ring2:
Back:
Waist:
Legs:
Feet:Tell me, fellow Red Mages, what would you get that would enable you to get back into the swing of things?

*Unless maybe you get lucky and find a chance to burn through those 600+ Beastmen's Seals you have. But that would require finding two trustworthy friends who have the time and inclination to run some BCNMs with you.

[MrMageo]

Ammo: Phantom Thatlum
Neck: Spider Torque
Ear 1: Geist Earring
Ear 2: Harvest Earring
Hands: Zealot Mitts (MND), Errant Cuffs (INT)
Ring: Hale Ring
Ring: Zicron (INT), Aquamarine (MND)
Back: Red Cape +1
Waist: Reverend Sash
Legs: Errant Slops
Feet: Erran Pichages

If any money left over Id begin buying HQ staves, any money made from BCNM's would be put to this as well
Pluto>Aquilo>Auster>Jupiter> rest any order.

[Murphie]

To clarify. I'm looking to be frugal. Not gimp.

HQ staves are probably the last thing I'll spend my gil on.

Still, thanks for your input. I'm interested in everyone's suggestions here.

[MrMageo]

NP, errant is a good way to go for the MND boost i really dont think there is anything else we can use that will boost it as much. Since thats our primary draw back as a taru RDM i focused more on the MND set of things. This will help you get your spells full effects.

Also if this is for you and not just as a random topic, Id look into an enfeebling tourque I got mine for 600K a long time ago, funded through the sale of 3 spider tourqes so if your feeling lucky id recomend hunting dune widow. Spider Tourque is a nice bonus, and can save you a chunk of gil for +5 enfeebling skill.

DW is located @ G-8 of eastern altepa desert and is a lotto spawn of the giant spiders in the area. You will know your in the right spot if you see a corpion and a couple worms next to a sand pit. Its on a 4 hour timer, easily soloed (via melee) by a 75 RDM.

[Murphie]

I know where she is. That's not a problem.

I used to have all the gear I needed. But I gave it and all of my gil/seals/IS/CP/etc. away. No sense in crying over it now though.

The problem is that I'm a bit blind when it comes to useful gear that is not all-HQ. I tend to go for the best always, so I'm curious what other RDMs think would be the best way to be at the peak of my usefulness while not buying all HQ or rare/hard to get items.

[IfritnoItazura]

Well, I had (have) cheeapish gear, but I like to think I've been effective in Dynamis, Sky, Sea/Limbus, Merit parties and such.

Main: NQ Elemental Staves, [some HQ staves]
Sub: Bugard Leather Strap +1
Range: <none>
Ammo: Phantom Tathlum
Head: AF Hat, [Elite Barret]
Neck: Spider Torque, Elemental Torque, [Dark Torque]
Ear: Antivenom, Insomnia Earrings, Moldavite earrings
Body: AF Body, Errant body
Hands: Errant hands, Devotee's Mitts (replaced by Yigit later), [Yigit hands] , [Mst.Cst. Braclets]
Rings: Hale, Diamond, Serenity, Ether, Electrum Ring
Back: Rainbow Cape, [Intensifying Cape]
Waist: Penitent's Rope, Hierarch Belt
Legs: Mithra RSE (for MP), AF legs (for bar spells), Errant legs (for everything else).
Feet: Mithra RSE (MP, MND, INT)

Obviously the Mithra RSEs won't apply to you, but I thought I list what I use the slots for. Things in square brackets are the items I added to improve my performance, but I felt I was able to do what was expected of me without them--just that I wanted to do a better job.

The biggest category I'm lacking in is enough enfeebling gears to land enfeebs on major critters, but those gears are mostly from endgame, for which there is a long line. Things I can possibly get from AH with major farming won't make enough of a difference (yet) to be worthwhile. Since you don't seem to be too interested in heavy endgame, I'd say you can just grab a Spider Torque and call it good enough, and maybe an Elite Barret if you're a tad on the obsessive side.

The other major weakness is in my hMP set; I have an Yigit head which I should incorporate, and really should consider other slots like legs, neck, and ear. Maybe even up/downgrade the waist to a Qiqirn Sash +1. Of course, this is only critical useful for reducing down time between nuke-kiting sessions, like when farming Diorites.

So, hMp shouldn't be as much of a problem for what you want to do; your Convert as a Tarutaru can easily shame mine on comparable MP gear anyway.

Once you're back on your feet, you may feel inclined to work on some of the items I listed in square brackets, or the critical HQ staves: Wind, Dark, Ice.

[Akashimo]

Main: NQ Elemental Staves#
Sub: Bugard Stap + 1#
Range:
Ammo:Morion Tathlum#(to be cheap or if you can phatom)
Head: AF Hat
Neck: Spider Torque or Enlightened Chain or Holy Phial# (Elemental Torque# for nuking)
Ear1: Moldy#
Ear2: Morin#/Phantom Earring
Body: AF Body/Errant Houppelande#(nukes, aspir, cures, SS)
Hands: Errant Cuffs(if you have relic, relic then*holds onto Duelist's Gloves# tightly*)
Ring1: Sapphire Ring (my case, nq lvl54 mnd)
Ring2: Diamond Ring (my case, hq lvl 36 int v.v )
Back: Rainbow Cape#
Waist: Al Zhabi Sash#
Legs: Errant slops# (or for stoneskin/phalanx/II af legs, and for nukes, relic#)
Feet: Errant Pigaches# (same deal with hands)

# = what I currently have /cry.

[Murphie]

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far. I asked on LJ, and the responses so far have ranged from "Start by getting all HQ staves" (when I don't have any other gear at all?) to "Buy Jet Seraweels, and full Mahatma."

I guess I'm not the only one who has trouble finding the balance between economy and efficiency.

edit: Oh wait, someone just suggested I get an Enfeebling Earring. I wonder if they actually read my OP? Also, nearly everyone has told me to just finish CoP/ToAU/Divine Might already. Apparently I should be able to knock it out in a week or so. What am I, a loser?

[Aksannyi]

Really Murphie, you could merit in full AFv1, I've seen it, and as a RDM people will allow it. The gloves and feet have INT and MND bonuses if I remember correctly and also MP. You can also get away with the full Errant set if you want, before I had some of my relic pieces I wore Errant in those slots. You're not trying to solo Genbu here, just to Refresh yourself and Haste x4 or 5 so you don't need anything special. Just put some INT and MND on your little taru dude and you'll be good to go.

Oh, and don't forget to get a Bugard Strap +1. It's worth it, and it bugs me to no end when people don't have at least something in the strap slot. SE gave them to us for a reason!

You could maybe work on some assaults and get some of the Yigit pieces but they're not really necessary. In merits your main focus will be on maintaining a steady flow of MP and in Dynamis you'll be concerned with the same thing and also sleeping stuff.

Get an enfeebling torque if you can afford it. Also a dark torque if you plan on doing Chainstun. I think the two level 50 earrings from assault (which are also buyable at the AH) are decent, they give MP boosts and hMP.

I can't think of much else that hasn't been covered, I could list my own gear but you're not looking for most of what I have. (Lots of white boxes and expensive buyables)

EDIT: Re: Jet Seraweels, I think they're better than Mahatma anyway, none of that minus crap going on, and they're a whole hell of a lot better looking. Seriously, SE, those damn slops are ugly. I want to scratch the eyeballs of whomever designed them with an x-acto knife. They are also more affordable than Mahatma, though more expensive than the NQ.

People on LJ sound a lot like me, lol. I'm so incredibly picky about gear, but I know this isn't what you're asking so I'm trying to be helpful. There's a difference between "for now gear to get back on my feet" and "gear that I someday hope to get when I get a more reliable cash flow." And even the most elitist of elitists (myself included, lol) can understand this concept.

[Murphie]

Apparently I should just be able to stand in Whitegate and shout my way to Sea. God, why am I being so difficult?

Jet Seraweels are 195k more than Errant Slops. Definitely something to work on eventually, but they probably shouldn't be at the top of my list.^^

I'm waiting for the people who understand that concept to reply there, Aksannyi. I guess we'll see! (Meanwhile, everyone here has pretty much got me covered).

EDIT: So right now, I'm looking at about...

490k, before Penitent's Rope or any Torques. With Penitent's the total is 790k, and with Spider Torque 990k. Elemental adds another 200k (so 1.19M). Sundries like Intensifying Cape (200k), Jet Seraweels (200k) will probably have to wait.

How hard is it to get Assault runs as RDM? I don't really have a static, nor do I expect to find one.

EDIT2: If only I could get some BCNMs done. But seriously, I think I'm destined to not have any success there, ever.

[IfritnoItazura]

Bah. Use my set (sans the square bracket items) as a template.

Enough MP for merit parties, enough skill to enfeeble and MB for most things, and enough INT/MND for potency. Mostly AH purchasable, and the earring set even had Icemage's approval! (Well, sort of.) Didn't calculate the price, but you should be able to get them them on your budget comfortably, I think.

Obviously the number of items listed indicates heavy macro usage, but you're probably the macro'ing type anyway. Overall, it's more than enough to carry you through lightweight activities like meriting, even allows some funny activities like burning down walls with elemental enfeebs (an Assault thing; need to stack INT), and even sufficient for more serious business like Dynamis, as opportunities come up.

Does use up a lot inventory space, but that's fate of any "I want to be ready for anything" RDM.

And, yes, use AF legs and feet for MP, like Aksannyi says, if you can't think of better options.

* * *

Forgot to add that I have an Enhancing Torque, too. Most people would say that's useless, but I played main healer (i.e. no WHM in party) enough to warren making better use out of bar spells when I was leveling up, so bought one. Don't think most RDMs would want one, though.

As for the Dark Torque, that was bought after I noticed a few Stun resisted during a certain CoP fight. >_> You might well just get it; stun resist is very much not-funny, and you don't want your team mates to be checking your gear after one. <_<;

[Murphie]

I used to have a Dark Torque back in the day. I swapped it in for Drain/Aspir, because I thought maybe it might help. I honestly have no idea if it did or not.

[IfritnoItazura]

EDIT: So right now, I'm looking at about...

490k, before Penitent's Rope or any Torques. With Penitent's the total is 790k, and with Spider Torque 990k. Elemental adds another 200k (so 1.19M). Sundries like Intensifying Cape (200k), Jet Seraweels (200k) will probably have to wait.
:wasted: You're joking? No?

Move to a less expensive server, get gear, screw around for three months, then move back?

Ifrit Prices:
Penitent's Rope: 120k
Spider Torque: 130k
Elemental Torque: 70k
Intensifying Cape: 160k

You can probably find a cheaper World, I bet.


How hard is it to get Assault runs as RDM? I don't really have a static, nor do I expect to find one.
No idea, since I'm in a static. =/

Overall, it feels like my RDM is nice to have, but not irreplaceable by another job. Some examples:

Lamia 13: Dispel, Gravity, lightweight nuking; SCH/RDM or BLM/RDM can replace.

Preemptive Strike, Imperial Agent Rescue: Healer. Can be replaced by WHM, SCH, SMN, especially if there's BRD. Heck, even a BLM may be able to substitute as healer.

Excavation Duty: Solo a Brittle Rock with DoT spells. Can be replaced by BLM.

Seagull Grounded, Golden Salvage: I was a dead weight on those runs.

Saving Private Ryaaf: Supposedly, can slowly get rid of all the Chigoes as RDM/SAM, but I elected to use PLD73/SAM for it--faster TP since in addition to Meditate x2, can use Sentinel and get hit for TP. SAM is the best for this.

I really don't pay attention to shouts much, but I'll hazard a guess that RDM is mostly wanted as healer, and often just one of many jobs which can fill the role. RDM is not critical for success, but nice in many places to have.

[Murphie]

I just moved back to Bahamut. :( So I guess I'll have to ride out the storm. Wish I'd thought to buy all of this stuff before leaving Kujata.

[Karinya]

Penitent's isn't that important anyway. It's nice, but like most expensive gear, you'll hardly notice the difference. Al Zahbi Sash or, since you're taru, Steppe Rope will save you a bundle for only a little worse performance. (Except the -enmity, but that's rarely a problem for RDM.)

Elemental torque is a luxury for RDM, not a necessity. You won't land full damage nukes reliably no matter what gear you're wearing (outside of ES and maybe magic bursts), so getting resisted slightly less, while nice, isn't crucial. Enfeebling/spider should be the first priority once you have every slot filled with something, though, IMO.

Really, nq errant is ok in most slots until you can get something better (relic, yigit, nashira, etc. depending on the slot).

Oh, you might also look into the wise set, if you like swapping for int and mnd (or if you just want to stack mnd and rely on your natural int for the few things that int matters for as RDM). I think the wise hands and feet each have the stat the corresponding piece of errant doesn't.

[Murphie]

I used to use Wise feet for INT swaps. But Devotee's Mitts have as much MND as the HQ Wise Gloves, for a fraction of the cost. It's really a shame about Wise gear, because I personally like the look of it. But it really isn't of much use to me.

[DakAttack]

Buy an Optical Hat for meleeing.

[Murphie]

I already have an Optical Hat!

[Ziero]

How hard is it to get Assault runs as RDM? I don't really have a static, nor do I expect to find one.

IMO, a Rdm should always be welcomed in an Assault, and in some is highly prized. A lot of the missions are kill-em-all TP burn esque stuff so the MP endurance of a Rdm is excellent. And many missions call for specific abilities and skills such as the need for Dispel in Lamia 13 so again Rdm can shine. And for things like Evade and Escape or Saving Ryaaf, it really doesn't matter your main job as you can gain everything you need to win from a sub anyway. (I can easily duo Ryaaf as a Thf with a Rdm, and a Drg/Thf could prolly solo the thing)

Long story short, much like every other kind of event in this game, Rdms rock at assaults.

[Icemage]

I'll cover the bare necessities.

Main: NQ Elemental Staves
Sub: Staff Grip
Range: n/a
Ammo: Morion Tathlum/Phantom Tathlum
Head: AF Hat
Neck: Promise Badge
Ear1: Morion Earring/Phantom Earring
Ear2: Morion Earring/Phantom Earring
Body: AF Body / Errant Hpl.
Hands: Devotee's Mitts / Errant Cuffs
Ring1+2: Tons of options here. Demon Rings, +3/4 INT/MND rings, etc.
Back: Intensifying Cape / Red Cape+1
Waist: Heirarch Belt / Penitent's Rope
Legs: Errant Slops / Vendor's Slops
Feet: Errant Pigaches

This will get you to "functional" without having to spend more than a couple hundred K at most (I think?). Upgrade any/all of these as you feel necessary, but it'll leave you with a decent amount left over for doing so. Your mentioned activities don't include HNMs, so you don't need the hyper-emphasis on +MND that going after level 85+ enemies would entail.

For high budget items, the first items I'd consider are an Enfeebling Torque and a Vermillion Cloak.


Icemage

[Murphie]

Thank you, Icemage. I figured you would get what I was asking for (not that the others who have responded here haven't. I'm thinking more of the LJ folks).

edit: I assume Vendor's/Demon's Rings, etc. are there for the HP/MP ratio? Since in meripo that and HMP are going to be my biggest concerns?

[Mhurron]

You're a Taru, don't bother with the Morion Tathlum/Phantom Tathlum. Get your RSE ammo sachet.

Other then that I'd have to check what gear I have when I get home, since I can guarantee none of it is expensive. Well, most of it probably isn't now.

BTW - What made you re-equip your RDM and your new avatar is kinda creepy.

[greeneyesj]

Not a 75 rdm here, but one option that is economical for neck in addition to Promise Badge is getting Philomath Stole for +3 int, on Fenrir runs for under 10K. Looking at my options available I do believe I will be using these two even after hitting 75.

Also I did see Hale Ring mentioned and for the price it is great covering +3 MND and +3 INT for around the same price as getting a ring for each, it also saves room in macros for more gear swaps, I do find it a very good investment for around 50K

[Murphie]

You're a Taru, don't bother with the Morion Tathlum/Phantom Tathlum. Get your RSE ammo sachet.

Other then that I'd have to check what gear I have when I get home, since I can guarantee none of it is expensive. Well, most of it probably isn't now.

BTW - What made you re-equip your RDM and your new avatar is kinda creepy.

Even on Kujata I didn't really have gear for my RDM. I just kind of picked up some piecemeal stuff, but I had to re-sell it in order to fund other jobs. I only kept the staves.

Greeneyes - It would be a good deal for 50k. But it's 100k on Bahamut. :/ For the same price, I can get two +4 rings.

[Tsrwedge]

Hale Ring can also be had after 6 Excavation Duty Assaults assuming you only go with 4 people. It could be 5 if you haven't done it previously or grab the armband a couple times. Real easy Assault, thinking optional.

[Murphie]

So, yeah. I'm bumping my own nearly three month old thread. Deal with it (or not!).

I'm looking for some inexpensive suggestions for melee gear. Don't get excited! I just want to have something to wear for solo questing, NMs, Campaign/Beseiged, etc. I am not planning on any crazy RDM melee adventures.

Nothing crazy expensive people. I think I've managed to scrape together a casting set for meripo, but I don't want to be penniless.

[Mhurron]

Ogre Jerkin Set - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Ogre_Jerkin_Set)
Jaridah Peti - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Jaridah_Peti)
Warwolf Belt - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki (http://ffxi.wikia.com/wiki/Warwolf_Belt)
Mensur Epee - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki (http://ffxi.wikia.com/wiki/Mensur_Epee)
Walahra Turban - FFXIclopedia - a Wikia Gaming wiki (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Walahra_Turban)

Also, ZOMG! NECRO

[Akashimo]

Is it a bad thing if he asked me of all people about this in game?

[Mhurron]

There is no way anyone would be that silly.

[Murphie]

But they might be that desperate. I am just saying.

[Mhurron]

Other then the Epee, which might be considered expensive depending on how much you have, the rest was put together on the cheap (after suggestions from Armando). I don't use the whole Ogre set, I just can't remember what I do have. You'll have to wait until I get home and can see.

If you care at all that is.

[Murphie]

No, I totally care.

I want to say it is probably boots and gloves from Ogre. If I recall correctly. But maybe more.

[Mhurron]

That could be right, I think I use Wise legs when I'm campaigning.

Come on, someone else say something, I want to see if there's better stuff I could have too.
______________________________
Ok, heres what I equip when I'm doing things like Campaign: (There may very well be better gear choices)

Mensur Epee
Acheron Shield
Sweet Sachet
Walahara Turban
Ashura necklace
Jeridia Peti
Ogre Gloves
Ruby Ring
Amemet Mantle
Warwolf Belt
Wise Braconi
Ogre Ledelsens

Earrings and the other ring are just what I have for normal EXP/Merit

[Karinya]

If you're looking for melee gear, I'd recommend Assault Jerkin. A RDM75, even with poor gear, shouldn't have much trouble soloing Ose, it just might take a while to get him to pop (since your kill rate by sleepnuking won't exactly be stellar).

Joyeuse is also very helpful, but I doubt you'll be able to solo that one.

[Akashimo]

I'd go with something along the lines of:
Pahluwan Khazagand (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Pahluwan_Khazagand)(5 more Lamia 13 in 3 man groups to go for mine, woot!)
SH, or the lvl 72/74 lesser versions
Wise Gloves
AF/Relic feet. Always great defense/stoneskin wise when soloing/holding hate
Raja's Ring/Jaeger Ring or some equivant
AF/Relic legs, Vendor's Slops
Swift belt, warwolf belt
Hexerei cape, mhmm -3% dmg taken
Chiv chain, evasion torque
any dd's earring or casting earring
Bibiki seashell, morion/phantom tathlum, and/or smart grenade
AF hat, turban, o-hat, if you're lucky to have it, relic hat

[Electricity Gone Human]

Tabin Boots +1 are decent for ACC/EVA+3 on feet. Only went for 90K when I bought them.

[Aksannyi]

Pahluwan Khazagand

Seriously one the best pieces of melee gear out there for RDM, if you want to melee on RDM this piece is really great, and it's pretty good for the other jobs that can use, too.

[Murphie]

I've noticed a lot of RDMs on Seraph wearing the Chasuble (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Chasuble) for some reason. Am I missing something? Did it become useful when I wasn't looking?

[Mhurron]

I've seen a more RDM recently in just about full Wise during campaign.

I use my Chasuble in skillup parties.

[Murphie]

I'm doing Sandy 7-1 and 7-2, and the other RDM is wearing it pretty much full time. He's got some nice endgame gear (full HQ staves, Crimson, a bit of Zenith) so I don't really understand. I'll ask him if he ever comes back from AFK.

[Mhurron]

Maybe he just likes the look of it? It looks good on a Taru.

[Murphie]

He's Elvaan.

[Mhurron]

He's retarded then. Just my opinion, but it looks like ass on the other races.

[Aksannyi]

A lot of RDMs make some really odd gear choices. Like on Hades, there's an over-abundance of RDMs who wear Zenith Slacks full time.

...

...

I seriously don't understand it ...

... My head hurts ...

...

Why?

[Callisto]

That happens here too, drives me fucking batty.

At any rate, if you want stuff that's relatively easy/cheap while still somehwhat useful, I recommend:

O.Hat - if you have one, Ogre Mask otherwise
Assault Jerkin or Narasimha's Vest - you should have no problem sleep-nuking Ose, just remember to not face it. Eventually get a Paluwhan body or SH.
Tarasque Mitts
Ecphoria Ring is a nice, easy to camp piece, there's also the new Blood Ring from ZNMs
NQ Amemet - I hate to say use the NQ, but until you can afford better it'll get the job done
Life Belt
Vendor's Slops
Ogre Ledlesens -- Honestly, as a Taru, I would venture to say you should invest in Ogre Ledlesens +1, aside from being a fat chunk of Attack for melee, they also give about the largest MND boost you can get in the feet slot outside of Morrigan feet and a reasonable MP boost, you could pretty much fulltime them if you don't have something better.

Side note: Chasuble is for Drain/Aspir/Absorb spells and maybe Banish, nothing else. Seriously.

[Murphie]

Thanks for the suggestions, Callisto.

I do have an O-Hat. So I've got that slot covered. I have Vendor's Slops too. The rest will require some work. I'll look into Ose camping (I need to camp Moldy some more anyway), but SH isn't too expensive anymore.

[Callisto]

The hardest part is really finding a balance between Acc and Atk since you're hurting in both, and I suppose STR but really you're a Taru RDM so to an extent don't fight what you can't really change, lol...

One note on something I do disagree on in terms of pieces that were suggested, I really don't like Ogre Gloves. Again every bit of Acc counts, and especially if you are using Vorpal, aside from losing the Acc you risk knocking yourself down to a lower crit tier, and really the damage on Vorpal comes a hell of a lot more from landing all 4 hits and getting some crits than it does from the STR mod, same goes for Evisceration if you're using Dagger.
______________________________
Haha, another side note b/c I see your new avatar...I also am not fond of the Elite Beret, the Wise Cap sees the same results for Enfeebling and also can double as a nice Drain/Aspir/Absorb piece, and really isn't that expensive(typically like 20-30k I think). I'd recommend trading in the Beret for it unless you're really hung up on the aesthetics end of things.

[Murphie]

I don't actually have the beret at the moment. I was going to buy one, but Seraph hasn't had one on the AH. For the avatar it was mostly for aesthetics. I like the white/black look.

Not that I'm doubting your claim, but is there any data anywhere to support that the Wise Cap is about even for Enfeebles and still good for that other stuff? Most of my gear is based upon what has been suggested in this thread, or what I used to wear. And I don't see too many Wise Caps floating around. But maybe I'm just not looking at the right people?

[Callisto]

Magic Accuracy is of course pretty difficult to test by the means we know now, the best I can give is anectdotal evidence that I've used both in the past and saw no difference for debuffs. I personally work under the belief that magic skills(aside from BRD ones) equate into Magic Accuracy similar to the way they do for melee, with 1 skill = .9 acc over 200, but I honestly couldn't prove it.

And you definitely won't see many Wise Caps because A) they're ugly as shit, so generally not town gear and relegated to Enfeebling/Drain/Aspir sets; B) they're slightly more expensive than Elite Berets; and C) honestly I don't know many RDMs who carry a dedicated Dark Magic set, I do and a few others I know do, but most don't seem to. It sounds superflous but really in something like Dynamis being able to consistently pull 100+ Aspirs goes a very long way.

My main point is that if you won't see a noticeable difference to your debuffing between either choice(which you won't, this part I'm sure of), you may as well take the one that can serve double-duty for other spell types and save an inventory spot.

[Murphie]

Good information to have. I may as well pick up a wise cap for now and try it out, since I can't seem to find a beret for sale anyway.

I don't exactly have a dedicated Aspir/Drain set, but I'm working on one.

[Aksannyi]

I don't exactly have a dedicated Aspir/Drain set, but I'm working on one.

A few suggestions, if I may, not all of these are "right away" kind of things:

Dark Torque
Glamor Jupon (if you have any luck at all farming subligar) or Nashira body
Crimson Finger Gauntlets (easy to get abjuration in most sky lses)
Merciful Cape (probaby won't see this for a while)

Most wont choose this, but I went with Abyssal Earring from DM because I have always planned to level BLM and DRK next, before really anything else, and the extra INT and Dark Skill is useful. Also, there's really not a good DM reward earring for WHM, so it was all about which wold be more useful on RDM.

I do some excellent drains/aspirs with my full dark setup, and I can seriously rock the Chainstuns with resists very few and far between. So just throwing out a few pieces that have worked for me. There are probably more but hell I don't know every piece of gear in the game. Yet.

EDIT I realized I underlined those but should have bolded them because now they look like links.

[Murphie]

Let's see. I have the Dark Torque. But...well, actually that's it. I don't have Sea, so I can't do Limbus, so Nashira body won't be an option for some time. I'll need to find a Sky LS to join (and good luck with only one 75, but you never know) in order to get the Crimson Gauntlets, but that's something to work towards, and yeah, Merciful Cape will probably never be seen by me. But you never know.

I really need to take something else to 75 that isn't just like RDM pt 2 (such as SCH which I'd like to level, but that I worry isn't different enough from RDM) so that I'll be more attractive to endgame shells.

[Mhurron]

/em wonders where all these other RDM are getting all these inventory slots from.

[Murphie]

For real. When I got my Moldavite this morning, I had to toss something (just a stack of crystals) to make room.

[Aksannyi]

Well I have 9 mules, and also I have to cycle through my delivery box about eightteen times to get new shit out of it. So ... yeah.

If I could finish WAR AF I'd be up 5 slots ... eventually ...

[Kirbster]

I'll need to find a Sky LS to join (and good luck with only one 75, but you never know)


I got into a Sky LS with only RDM75 on my application. I had PLD75 at the time too, but i wasn't very confident in my endgame tanking (well, still am).

Not sayin it'll be as easy for you, but thats my experience with finding a LS.


Edit: Damn, i don't know how to qoute stuff properly :/

[Murphie]

Oh, I'm sure it's not completely hopeless. But RDM isn't exactly an uncommon job, and I know that most good linkshells are looking for members with more than one job to bring to the table. Still, I'm sure I'll find something.

[Nuriko]

I made it into a sky LS with only WHM75, but then, more healers are never a bad thing. If you have /DRK levelled I think they'll grab you just for that. Even if not, you would allow somebody to come as DD or some such instead...

At least you're not likely to end up in the position of outside healing the tank. I was able to do that effectively while still in that LS, so that was space for another job actually in the alliance...

[TheGrandMom]

.. and also I have to cycle through my delivery box about eightteen times to get new shit out of it. So ... yeah.


I know your pain. I believe I counted once (before I reduced it) and I had 65 pages of stuff in my delivery box. When someone said "I sent that back to you" I would just cringe knowing how long it was going to take to get to it. I also had to always go to Upper Jeuno to sort through because it was the fastest. LOL

[Murphie]

I (mostly) figured out the macro issue mentioned in another thread. I don't need to put the Penitent's Rope and the Rainbow Cape in every macro, because once I swap to them (having used up the extra MP from the Intensifying Cape and Heirarch Belt) I don't swap back out of them until I get a chance to rest. So I just put their swap ins in another macro, giving me enough room to fit all of my excess gear swaps into one macro.

So now I have:

Enfeebling Macros.
Elemental Nuke Macros.
Status Removal Macros.
Cure/Regen Macros.
Assorted RDM Macros (Refresh, Haste, Dispel).
Rest Gear Swap Macro.
Convert Gear Swap Macro.

And then three other macros (INT Enfeebles, MND Enfeebles, Nukes). I am going to try and find a way to combine INT and Nukes but the gear is slightly different, so I may just be stuck. All I have to do is hit one of these and then the macro I need.

I swear it makes more sense on my macro palette.