new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

[Raydeus]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Estoqueur's houseaux +2
[Feet] All Races
DEF: 19 MND +13
Enhancing magic skill +15 Enmity -7
Increases Enhancing Magic effect duration
Set: Augments "Composure"

This I will try to get eventually. The rest is just (Meh -1) so far.

Still hoping for the gloves to have some kind of melee friendly stats* though, but chances are we'll get elemental skill from those.



*Haste +5%, Parrying/Shield +15 or a good acc+dex bonus.

[Karinya]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Estoqueur's Chappel +2
[Head] All Races
DEF: 31 MP +40 INT +8 MND +8
Magic Accuracy +7 Magic Attack Bonus +7
Enfeebling magic casting time -12%
Set: Augments "Composure"

Teal Chapeau
[Head] All Races
DEF: 22 HP +17 INT +6 MND +6 Enmity -2
Set: Enhances "Fast Cast" effect

2 Mind and 2 INT difference. Set bonus difference either enhances composure or fast cast. Fast Cast on Teal is comparable to RDM AF1 head. Composure augment is 'enhances duration of spells cast on others by 10% on the first two pieces, and an additional 10% on all additional pieces.' 40 mp on AF3 head. MACC is nice, but honestly, MAB on RDM - as useful in a party as melee stats would be, SE seems to think magic bursts still happen.

I'm not spending the time getting AF3 +2 head over teal. I just wear my AF1 head.

Teal head is kinda meh for RDM to begin with compared to AF and AF2, so it's not that hard to blow it out of the water. Which AF3 totally does -- 7 MACC is a huge amount to have on any one piece, let alone combined with 7 MAB *and* higher INT than any other available hat. If you ever cast any nuke, at all, you want this piece. And I don't know where you've been exping for the last few months, but if the answer is "Abyssea", then you have some use for nuking stats. No matter how awesome you think your melee gear is, you definitely can't get azure light with it.

As far as enfeebling is concerned, the large amount of MND and -casting time might be worth something, if you're casting on something that you're pretty sure won't resist, or if you don't have AF2. Otherwise, AF2 will probably be better (but teal is not worth much, even Wise Cap would be better IIRC).

Estoqueur's Fuseau +2
[Legs] All Races
DEF: 42 MP +65 INT +9 Magic Accuracy +6
"Magic Attack Bonus" +6
Enhances "Refresh" Potency
Set: Augments "Composure"

Teal Slops
[Legs] All Races
DEF: 32 HP +14 INT +5 CHR +5
Magic Accuracy +3
"Magic Atk. Bonus" +3
Set: Enhances "Fast Cast" effect

Again, MACC is nice but AF3 only adds 3 more to both over Teal, a few more points of INT, and MP again. Couldn't find anything on AF3's refresh potency.

I'm not spending the time on getting AF3 legs, I'll stick with my Jet Seraweels.

"Only" 3 more macc AND mab AND 4 more int than the next best piece? What are you smoking that you would use the word "only" in that sentence?

These *pants* have better nuking stats than freaking Morrigan's Robe. Again, if you ever nuke, you want this. (I do think it's a bit odd that RDM is getting two nuking pieces when nuking is a relatively minor part of our gameplay, but (a) we haven't seen the full set yet and (b) we already have some excellent enfeebling options from AF and AF2. At least they're DAMN GOOD nuking pieces.)

The refresh bonus is nifty too -- if it applies to refreshes cast on other people, it's one of the few ways to improve a spell that normally isn't benefited by any gear whatsoever. If you care about working with other people, of course.

Estoqueur's houseaux +2
[Feet] All Races
DEF: 19 MND +13
Enhancing magic skill +15 Enmity -7
Increases Enhancing Magic effect duration
Set: Augments "Composure"

Teal Pigaches
[Feet] All Races
DEF: 16 HP +8 MND +6 CHR +6 Enmity -4
Set: Enhances "Fast Cast" effect

A bunch more mind, enhancing skill and enhancing magic duration. I'll be honest, this might be worth getting, but it is still not that stellar.

...except compared to the alternatives. Feet normally don't have stats that are directly comparable to head or body pieces. This is another way of improving Refresh (and also Haste) -- and getting more effect out of them for the same MP. On top of that, it's a great stoneskin piece (IIRC they're adjusting the cap so that everyone doesn't trivially hit it regardless of gear) and has a ton of -enmity for situations where you want that.

I wouldn't spend the time getting RDM AF3.

Well, if you spend all your time soloing things by meleeing them, that's understandable, but if you spend all your time soloing things by meleeing them, you would probably have some trouble getting the upgrade pieces anyway. AF3 is designed primarily for people that fight highly dangerous NMs in cooperation with a large number of other players, and that's why it doesn't have melee stats for RDM (because typically meleeing in *that kind of fight* is useless and stupid).

People complaining that large-group content doesn't give them solo/lowman-oriented gear aren't exactly new in MMOs, but I thought FFXI players were smarter than that. Maybe only some are.

[Malacite]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

WTF just happened? I'm agreeing with Karinya.

The AF3 bashers are smoking pot, RDM AF3 is insanely OP. But then I forgot most of you don't bother reading BG like I do. Now granted there's a lot of shit you gotta sift through on that site but they're the best when it comes to digging up info & testing, and so far the tests on RDM AF3 are very promising.

The augments composure affects spells cast on others starting at +10% duration with 2 pieces, and another +10 for each piece thereafter. So with the other 2 pieces in Dec you're looking at a 40% duration increase on buffs to others when you have composure up. Hello greatly reduced buff cycle.

EDIT: And damn the feet are a straight +20% duration as well, so that's 60% with the full set unless they add any more mods (not likely)

[Yellow Mage]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

(I do think it's a bit odd that RDM is getting two nuking pieces when nuking is a relatively minor part of our gameplay, but (a) we haven't seen the full set yet and (b) we already have some excellent enfeebling options from AF and AF2. At least they're DAMN GOOD nuking pieces.)

This. Also, Sanguine Blade . . . and furthermore:

AF3 is designed primarily for people that fight highly dangerous NMs in cooperation with a large number of other players, and that's why it doesn't have melee stats for RDM (because typically meleeing in *that kind of fight* is useless and stupid).

Right, because our nuking is totally going to be so much more valuable in those kinds of fights, and not a waste of time or MP at all!

[Cotners]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Right, because our nuking is totally going to be so much more valuable in those kinds of fights, and not a waste of time or MP at all!

Actually with the proper Atmas and gear, RDM nuking is pretty beast in Abyssea.

[Mhurron]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

RDM nuking is pretty beast in Abyssea.

Second only to everyone who is better at it, as it always has been.

Wow, RDM AF3. PITA to acquire gear that is fantastic for one aspect of the job. Again, SE seems to think skill chains still happen intentionally.

AF3 is designed primarily for people that fight highly dangerous NMs in cooperation with a large number of other players, and that's why it doesn't have melee stats for RDM (because typically meleeing in *that kind of fight* is useless and stupid).

Wow, great gear for one aspect of the game that, guess what, most players do not do.

You still seem to be missing the point. No one intelligent is asking for gear to melee in every situation. We are decrying the fact that there is no meleeing gear for RDM for anything at all. As said, SE often forgets RDM is a mage when adding great mage gear, and then turn around and forget the light melee aspects when adding good light armor. Previous RDM AF *DID* have some melee oriented stats in addition to the Enfeebling and Elemental skill, it was not out of the question to hope that the next set would as well. Simply because it may take a party, or more, to obtain the gear does not preclude that gear from being useful solo or small group situations. I suppose the ability to solo the magian trials made you assume the magian weapons were no good in full party or alliance situations, right?

Intelligent people can see that some people party as well as solo and lowman content, but I guess you're right, just playing FFXI isn't a sign of any actual intelligence.

[Malacite]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

For all you guys know AF3 Hands and/or Body will have your precious melee stats :D


And so far the AF3 covers all of RDM's bases pretty well, except for melee (at least directly)

[Yellow Mage]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Actually with the proper Atmas and gear, RDM nuking is pretty beast in Abyssea.

With proper Atmas and gear, I'm sure our melee would still be a much lesser waste of time.

[Cotners]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

With proper Atmas and gear, I'm sure our melee would still be a much lesser waste of time.

I love to melee on my rdm but with the way things are right now our dd ability falls well behind our nuking ability.

---------- Post added at 11:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 AM ----------

Second only to everyone who is better at it, as it always has been.

I prefer to nuke on my BLM but that doesn't change the fact that RDM is doing very well right now in terms of magic damage.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Yeah, that Magic Burst Bonus we got last update (instead of freaking Fencer, dang Bards) is super use . . . less.

I still insist that an equally well-equipped meleeing Red Mage shouldn't be anywhere near far enough behind in DPS a nuking Red Mage to justify the time and MP spent (as opposed to auto-attack, where you still have your spells on-demand). The main problem, though, is who (including S-E) is even going to let us have equally good melee gear in the first place if the practice itself has become so ostracized?

[Raydeus]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

SE gave us MB bonus just to troll.

Next they will accidentally Saboteur so it actually makes some Enfs worse.




Oh wait...

[ShepardG]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

See you guys would love the way my LS does Abyssea,

We enter w/ 120mins, unsually have that because we usually leave with extra time, and we go and build pearl/azure. We do our best not to get a single ruby light as over the course of 2-3 hours of farming 1 turns into many (accidentals, etc.) so we spend about 30-40 minutes just building up to around 180-200 mins.
This is the fun part, when Pld's are duel wielding excals/joytoys, rdms are meleeing and not worrying about haste, etc.
So you can Melee to your hearts content, until it's time to farm /shrug.

You get to melee and you get to enfeeble/nuke
(speaking of nuking I just got the Minkninan misery atma ((or some f'd up name i can't remember)) )
+50INT, +10 MP/tic, -30Enmity
It is so broken ><

[Karinya]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

With proper Atmas and gear, I'm sure our melee would still be a much lesser waste of time.

...on squishy mobs with low eva, low def and no PBAOE. And even then you can't get azure light with it.

Anything that can be usefully meleed by a RDM can be melee zerged to death by 10+ other jobs that melee better than RDM. There's only two jobs that nuke better than RDM (and one of those *also* gets little gear and no respect).

Not to mention you can nuke-solo monsters quite a bit more dangerous than you can melee-solo, although it can take a long time and some people may find it less fun.

I'm not saying don't melee worthless trash, but who wants to get AF3 gear so they can use it against worthless trash?

[Raydeus]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Do yourself a favor and simply stop replying.

[Hyrist]

Re: new level 85 cap?.... what the hell

Ok, I'm going to stop lurking to actually comment here.

1. RDM is both a Mage and a Jack of all Trades. That includes Melee. Get over thinking that it can't be both.

2. AF3 for RDM is Awesome. It does things for the job no other pieces do. BTW, for those who are crying "Omg no melee stats." Learn how to melee properly before making baseless comments. Composure effect (and enhancing duration effect.) Reduces one of our most major issues with melee dps (Buff cycles taking out of DPS time.) And Enhancing Magic Skill directly translates into DPS increase for our enspells. (Save for Tier IIs cause they're still brokenly horrible.)

3. Dual Weild only slows down Oa3 Khanda. For Sanguine Blade spamming you wouldn't want to be dual wielding anyways. Also note: Sanguine Blade ignores base damage on weapon. RDM/WAR is a great combination for going after amber lights.

4. Anyone who complains about MP in abyssea needs to get smacked. Nuking on RDM in abyssea is fine (and will be at its most potent there and nowhere else) Magic Burst Bonuse we received gives us more efficiency out of bursting, so don't knock it. We nuke at about the same efficiency we Melee, when you compare our nuking to BLMs and Schs the way you compare Melee to Sams and Wars. Note: The more you support, the more you're going to fall behind the guys that do nothing but damage. And that's more than fine, see below.

5. A dedicated DD job will only out DD a RDM if they're doing what they should. It's sad how many people don't, and I can give a crap about a dedicated DD's output when they're still relying on Buffs/Debuffs to augment that. DD's flat out owe a portion of their damage to the jobs that support them, and that's why RDM's lack in self-output. Our support more than makes up for that, and those who say we can't do both, need to practice more.

In short: Red Mage is a beast. Our nuking is better, our Melee is better. Our enfeebling kicks serious ass now, Enspell/Phalanx is uncapped now and all of this is only going to improve when the rest of the Gain-Stat spells come in. This isn't touching the fact that between everything we got to boost our MP restoration, MP costs are a joke.

I'm sick and tired of people on the Melee camp thinking our Nuking sucks, and vise versa. When you put the work into it, and actually do the research instead of idiotically generalizing, you'll realize the developers are dead on when they say "Red Mage is very powerful."

So play the aspects of RDM you enjoy the most, don't forget to support your party, and for the love of Altana shut the hell up about the parts of the job you don't like or explore.

I don't think I've ever been happier with the job, and I'm more excited about what's going to come in the future. Pity though I have to stop playing for a while due to financial reasons.