[Yellow Mage]

Bump. Almost all that there is to know about Composure and the Enspells II is known (read: you're usually going to want both of them always on whenever on the front line, doubly so for Composure as you're going to want to keep that always on even in the back line, because triple-duration Refresh is just that sweet), and I just can't wait for the finished guide.

[Cotners]

Hyrist, your guide here is an admirable one, but I fear it's just too little too late. Unfortunatly, most forum goers have a strong opinion on the matter and any post of this kind is usually just asking for debate. I personally love to hit stuff with my joytoy while on RDM and would like to try it in a meripo sometime with friends for kicks. However threads like these really aren't helping RDMs melee any better and stating that the information presented here is fact is only making you seem slightly errogant.

Forgive me if I have offended you, I am not flaming or trying to further negative debate.

EDIT: Sorry, just noticed this thread is a month old.

[Raydeus]

Last post was last week so it's not like you Necromanced anything.

Man I really want to get Morrigan body, but it looks like it would be pretty unlikely for me to obtain with my play times and all that, not to mention the gil.

[Mog]

I'm sure RDM's can DD very well in parties.

But unfortunately, unless the DD is complete shit or the RDM has insanely good gear, RDM will more than likely not be outparsing him. I'll take my 4 DD's and x2 brd prz.

[Ziero]

I don't think anyone has every really doubted whether a highly skilled, properly equiped DD rdm can melee well, it's just that having a pure melee DD with similar attributes (high skill/good gear) will surpass the melee Rdm. And while having back up support for your backup support, having too much support is actually detrimental to the overall exp gain. As Shepard pointed out, the difference between a pure DD and a Rdm DD may be as small as an extra 3k exp per hour, but for those who hardcore merit, that 3k an hour matters. It's not about everyone having "fun" to the average hardcore meriter, it's about being the most efficient. And no opinions or faqs or anything will really change that.

[ShadowHolyFlyingDragon]

Originally Posted by Ziero

I don't think anyone has every really doubted whether a highly skilled, properly equiped DD rdm can melee well, it's just that having a pure melee DD with similar attributes (high skill/good gear) will surpass the melee Rdm. And while having back up support for your backup support, having too much support is actually detrimental to the overall exp gain. As Shepard pointed out, the difference between a pure DD and a Rdm DD may be as small as an extra 3k exp per hour, but for those who hardcore merit, that 3k an hour matters. It's not about everyone having "fun" to the average hardcore meriter, it's about being the most efficient. And no opinions or faqs or anything will really change that.

I agree with this. It's a nice gesture to want to help the RDM community to try to sharpen the image of a Front Liner, but I merit hardcore on a consistent basis with a static group of veteran players and if we had a RDM trying to DD in party, we'd sadly have to ask him to switch tactics. Some more opinionated colleagues of mine would have more "intense words" on the subject.

That being said, I love the aspect of what the En-II spells have brought. When I solo now, its just that much more fun. Dude, it's like so sweet to have super-long-lasting-refresh now.

[Yellow Mage]

Don't want to post anything really long right now, I'll keep things brief: if you expect a Red Mage frontliner to perform on par with a job whose sole dedication is dealing damage, you're expecting far too much.

S-E wanted to give us more incentives and bonuses to actually utilize our swords more: for incentives, we got Composure Accuracy, and for bonuses, we essentially got AMs-on-a-stick. Honestly, I'm happy with that.

S-E has also said, though, that we shouldn't be all front-line all the time, either, and I accept that: jack of all trades, master of Enfeebling onry. Don't expect a DD RDM to be anything game-breaking: only expect it to be a much more viable setup. That is all I ask.

[Taskmage]

Thought crossed my mind a minute ago. With enspell IIs not procing in the offhand, do you think Guespiere would be useful now as an offhand weapon? It would mean less Eviscerations but perhaps the additional defense down effect coupled with Dia would be enough of a benefit to the party's other DDs to be worthwhile?

[Electricity Gone Human]

Good Question. I've mainly passed on that sword since I've got Joy/Justice as well as Death Blossom, but for someone without any of those swords, I'd figure it would be a viable option. Someone's gonna have to try that.

[Murphie]

I noticed that about the Enspells as well. I thought there was something wrong at first, but clearly not. I'm off handing Mensur at the moment, because I don't know anyone who can help me get a Joytoy, and I don't have the time to camp it (or even get the ToD) so I'm making do with AH bought items. Should I consider a switch?

[Yellow Mage]

You know, TM, I had never thought of that. In the offhand of a /NIN main-handing a dagger, it sounds like it may actually be worth it.

Of course, if only we had Hyrist's opinion on the matter . . . it sounds like it may actually be his style.

[BurningPanther]

Not a bad idea, but I don't recall ever seeing the Guespiere's Def reduction proc against anything higher than DC.

[Mhurron]

I wonder if Guespiere's !0% def down is worth more then Martial TP bonus.

[Raydeus]

A 10% defense down that applies to all your hits is probably worth more than the slight increase in WS dmg from to Martial. Unless you are killing eles and/or using WS like Spirits or Energy drain.

And I'd much rather main Mensur than Martial.

Originally Posted by Taskmage

Thought crossed my mind a minute ago. With enspell IIs not procing in the offhand, do you think Guespiere would be useful now as an offhand weapon? It would mean less Eviscerations but perhaps the additional defense down effect coupled with Dia would be enough of a benefit to the party's other DDs to be worthwhile?

What element is Def. down effect? Because if the proc rate can be enhanced lowering elemental resistance then both En-spells II and Death Blossom would work pretty well for this.

I was thinking about testing the same thing when I got Death Blosson, but it's pretty low on my priority list so...

TM, I'm are counting on you.



PS > I've been thinking a lot about RDM/DNC with a joy, but the hassle of getting that sword makes my head hurt. So brutal will have to do.

[Mhurron]

Originally Posted by Raydeus

A 10% defense down that applies to all your hits is probably worth more than the slight increase in WS dmg from to Martial. Unless you are killing eles and/or using WS like Spirits or Energy drain.

That's what I was thinking. Looks like I'll be selling the Martial and going Mensiur/Guespiere and getting a hold of some Enspell II's.

Def down from the sword is almost like being able to stack Bio and Dia on a mob, not so bad.