Effectiveness of Instruments

[Foamingpanda]

Am I the only person who really don't notice a difference when it comes to using some instruments that enhance songs? For example, those of you who own a cornette. Try playing the song, then memorize the ATK increase.. Now try playing the song WITH the cornetted equip, and look at the ATK increase..

If you're using a stard cornette you'll get a WHOLE ( ONE ) **HINT SARCASM** point increase. Only 1 more ATK will be added!

Now in some cases, like Mary's Horn.. the effect of the song bonus is HUGE. My question is, what instruments REALLY help with songs? It's sort of confusing to tell.. seeing how we can't measure to amount of accuracy added by tranversie +1, or piccolo +1.

[Krumble]

All of them for songs that you use consistently?

More so than +2 ATK or +2 accuracy, when you purchase the +1 versions of the Cornette and Traversiere you get an additional 20 seconds added onto their duration.

If you don't have a RDM sub, this is unbelievably helpful in situations where you've got a BLM and RNG in the party and have to cast 50 seconds worth of songs inside 1 minute.

So in addition to Mary's, I would say Cornette +1 and Traversiere +1 are items you should not play without. That said, I don't carry around my Piccolo +1 in normal groups, it's just too much hassle switching it with a macro then digging through the spell list for the appropriate threnody (assuming it is only a +2 debuff to their element resistance, it could be more). Next on my list is an Angel's Flute +1, since the last 4 groups I've been in have included a ranger, I figure I should pick it up.

I would skip over the +Minne harp, the +Etude harp (only because BLM will prefer ballad2 post Lv55), and any other instruments whose songs don't get used all the time.

[sudo]

I tested that minuet song the other day with my lv 10 brd and I ended up getting from a +8 attack with no instrument/ wrong instrument to a +14 as my wind instrument skills picked up. If you do the math, that's like a 65% increase in power!!!!!! Don't leave home w/o your cornett +1 !

I'm not sure what the gap is later on but I'll repost when I get higher brd levels or unless some other bards beats me to it

[Eldronius]

Yes I will agree with the reply. I tested this out as well because I was interested in its effect.

I am lvl 16 at the moment and with the +1 I get from the Cornette, it added an additional 5 (I believe) to the overall ATK boost I receive from the Maple Harp.

So they may increase with skill, and I definitely think these + items are worth it.

[Rekiem]

Originally posted by Eldronius

I am lvl 16 at the moment and with the +1 I get from the Cornette, it added an additional 5 (I believe) to the overall ATK boost I receive from the Maple Harp.

Thats because your Wind skill is higher than your String skill

[Cymmina]

The only +1 instrument I own is a piccolo +1 (it was a good deal at the time, and I couldn't afford any others). I can tell you that I rarely have a mob resist my threnody with it.

I personally feel that any +1 instrument (+2 song) that is going to directly effect a mob will be worth the money spent. It's not like your party members are going to resist that madrigal or ballad. However, missing out on damage potential for the BLM/etc. while waiting for the threnody of choice to recharge (my threnody macro, which I change depending on the mobs I expect to be fighting, automatically equips my piccolo). If you've got the extra room and cash, having +1/2 to buffing songs isn't going to hurt.

[Krumble]

Problem with having just 1 macro for threnody:

At later levels, if you don't have a RDM in the group, you will want to do Ltng. Threnody before the monster reaches your party. You'll then want to cast Elegy and let the WHM do slow.

After this, you can switch over to whatever element your nuker will be using the most (the monster's weakness, if he's playing smart).

As it comes time for the melees to SC, you'll want to stick the element with the highest dmg effect on before the chain starts. Usually, if you're grouped with a THF, this will be distortion. Ice threnody can increase distortion damage by up to 100 and magic burst Blizzard X by a decent amount as well.

When my TP is around 200%, I will wait on the melees to complete a chain and MB a threnody (usually fire) and can pull off some 230ish dmg WS this way.

[Aniga]

Originally posted by Krumble
Problem with having just 1 macro for threnody:

At later levels, if you don't have a RDM in the group, you will want to do Ltng. Threnody before the monster reaches your party. You'll then want to cast Elegy and let the WHM do slow.

Err... both Slow and Elegy are earth based spells. The yellow-note and circle next to them symbolizes earth--Lightning is purple.

[Rekiem]

Use the Threnody for the most damaging renkei element so that way, the damage will be bigger and the MB will also be bigger.

[Krumble]

Err... both Slow and Elegy are earth based spells. The yellow-note and circle next to them symbolizes earth--Lightning is purple.

That's what I meant, sorry, was late. Lightning is earth based to land, I think, and got confused ;p

[PetriW]

To answer the first post with some real numbers...

Am I the only person who really don't notice a difference when it comes to using some instruments that enhance songs? For example, those of you who own a cornette. Try playing the song, then memorize the ATK increase.. Now try playing the song WITH the cornetted equip, and look at the ATK increase..

Level: 29brd/14whm
Singing: 82
Wind: 81
String: 41
Cha: Mithra+3 (mp gear!!!)

Base atk: 100
Singing: 111
Harp: 116
Piccolo +1 / Flue +1: 122
Cornette +1: 127

So quite clearly skill helps increase atk quite a lot, 6 points extra atk for 40 higher skill. Cornette +1 gives an extra 5atk, or almost 25% at 29. I find it worth it, considering how much I use Minuet.
The difference gets bigger with level it seems, I will test it again for myself when I get Valor Minuet III.
Notice the +2 Minuet also affects duration, back in the teens I remember a +1 minuet giving an extra 10 seconds duration, very appreciated and most likelly higher with +2.