Quick Questions About BST Duos

[Sketch]

Hello,

I have a Japanese friend with whom I always play. Since I brought up that I had read that a BST duo can make good xp, she seemed interested in trying that out. I'll be honest and say that even though I've read a bit about them on these boards, I don't know a whole lot about beast tamers--mine is only level 6 or so, and hers is still 1.

Now, I know about the rather heavy xp penalty associated with having a living pet when an enemy is killed, and I know that it gets better around 35ish when the release ability is gained. However, since we are so low level and our target for now would probably be 40, we can't really be thinking about Release at the moment...

I know that solo, before you have Release, BSTs usually try to let their pet die first so they don't lose the xp. This would be very hard in a duo...

So I guess the question is: even before Release, is it practical for two BSTs partying together to gain good or even decent XP? Should the tactics change from solo? No letting your pets die?

Also, since I'm used to partying, I'm not really familiar with BST hunting grounds. I know there are a few guides around for what to hunt and where, but how should that be adjusted for two BSTs?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Racarant]

it would be the same xp as a 2 person party, only thebst gets the xp penalty, not the PT so youll each get regular xp for 2 people - the 30% penalty

[Sketch]

I figured that'd be the case, but does that -30% penalty make the duo gain bad experience compared to a party? (I've heard that a BST duo can make the same or more xp than a party) I know that solo BSTs try their hardest to get rid of their pets; can duo BST xp still be "good" xp without being able to release them?

Thanks!

[Lurch]

A friend and I have been partying with bst together for a little while now. At the moment we're level 31 and can manage to get up to chain 4 pretty consistently while maintaining a pet the entire time. The We'll end up gaining around 500 exp for the entire chain. It isn't the best exp ever, but it's a whole lot more fun than just going solo. It's much easier to stay alive in sticky situations and you also learn how to read eachother and predict eachother's actions fairly well.

We do a bit of a switching off act, one will melee with the pets while the other one casts and rests during battle, then we simply switch off. We both eat pies to help with the mp since we don't really have much of a pool yet, but you can get by without them. We both sub whm, btw.

Also, if you're worried about race, as long as you make up for your race's weak points, you'll really be fine. My buddy and I are taru and elvaan, I'm taru and have as much str and vit as he does, and he's elvaan with more mp than me! Of course we're both wearing 3 RSE's, so that kind of helps out.

As far as hunting grounds go, once you hit the teens I'd recommend Tahrongi Canyon until 16-17 when you no longer have any even dhalmels. After that you can take on Buburimu for a while. After you're thuroughly fed up with that you can go join the masses of beastmasters in qufim. If you'd like a change of pace at 30 try out Korrokola Tunnel. There is a room full of clippers that is ideal... very few linking monsters and aggros are spaced out evenly enough to take down as you clear the room. After that you can either go back to qufim and deal with acrophies for a while or maybe try out the spiders in East Altepa, I've yet to find out for myself, still being lvl 31.

Goodluck and I hope that I helped out a little bit

[Teejay]

such a long and detailed post George! Thanks! /sarcasm

What Lurch says is true. Although i must say one thing. I found that it is easier to join PT's (or better yet, make them) before u hit level 35. It's just a lot faster than playin solo (or duo), and once u hit 35, then the real fun begins!

But Lurch is a very reliable source of information, and better yet, he's one UBER Taru.

Ok enough of me~

[Sketch]

Thanks for the replies =)

That's kind of what I was looking for, and what I was afraid of. So I guess the real good xp that you can get solo or duo as bst doesn't even start until 35, 5 levels before what our target was anyway Oh well...

[overflow]

exp penalty is not set for all monsters.. the higher level your pet the more exp you lose =X so it's not always 30% and PTing is easier at lower levels just like rebiulding your whm to 30 and solo from there =X.