/rdm or /drg

[Raydeus]

Re: /rdm or /drg

For a truly general purpose subjob (not for xp parties) I'd say /rdm would be better because of the little things you get like m.att bonus, Dia, Fast Cast, etc; and while /drg does get acc. bonus very early the truth is if you are soloing or doing quests you wont need it anyway.

For xp parties it depends on your playstyle, as long as you play with skill and don't blow your mp at the beginning of the chain (did I mention how much I hate BLUs who do that? ) you should be able to deal some nice dmg regardless of sub.

[Spinnthrift]

Re: /rdm or /drg

I've played /Drg and /Rdm on Blu a fair amount - and while I definately see the straight forward advantages of /War, /Whm, /Thf and /Nin, my feeling is that the former are frequently overlooked. Mostly, because the benefits you get from them aren't as straight forward as Utsusemi or SATA.

With the belt, /Rdm offers increased sword skill, both acc/attack and improved fast cast via the cape. If my memory serves me correctly, it also means you get Weaponskills early.

/Drg is more of a physical DoT roles with the latent gear, as you don't reduce your tp, while increasing your swing speed (and later on spell recasts), +attack is a really nice trait (also consider /Drk for same reasons, but for an increased MP pool)

This is not to say that they are better than /Thf or /Nin.. they aren't directly. /Nin will keep your Whm's happy (as they aren't healing) and /Thf will make with the big hits (so you can put stuff in sigs and make threads about large numbers). /Whm is godly - as it fulfils both DD and partial healing when played properly, and /War is just /War.

My advice: Firstly level all the popular subs, and maybe one or two of the more unusual subs - if you play with a set that lets you experiment, do so... if you're seeking random pickups, use the standard subs. That way, you don't have to feel outcasted because you're not doing the standard thing, and when you have a willing audience, you can play with other things... In doing both, you'll probably also develop a far better 'feel' for things than you would do with just one sub choice.

Peace.

[Kyrial Arthian]

Re: /rdm or /drg

Then again, who really knows? NIN/BLM can be impressive, so maybe BLU/BLM as well? Anyone here tested BLU/BLM?

I've played with /BLM, but only at 75, with several blue magic skill merits in place (4 to be exact). I went with a BLM friend to fight King Buffaloes in Uleguerand Range, since he can solo them anyway and didn't mind me coming along. For reference, they are level 79-82 mobs. The (offensive) spells that I played with were Eyes On Me, Firespit, Mind Blast, Magic Hammer, Frost Breath, and Heat Breath. I shortly swapped Eyes On Me out, as it wasn't that impressive (about 300-350 damage with +25 or so CHR and Dark Staff). Mind Blast regularly did 350-400 damage + paralyze with about +46 MND. Firespit did about 450-550 (as high as 600 on Firesday) with +46 MND and +20-something INT. Frost Breath and Heat Breath are HP-based, and did about 450 and 550 respectively. Just for note, I only had Magic Atk. Bonus +2 from gear, plus whatever BLM sub gives, and Memento Mori active most of the time (which is apparently Magic Atk. Bonus +20). Wasn't anything to scoff at, though it was obviously child's play compared to the BLM (who was regularly doing 1500-2200+ with his spells). He was happy to have me there though, if only for the Magic Def. Down I could put on the mobs with Enervation (and the paralyze from Mind Blast that sometimes saved him from being hit).

[Icemage]

Re: /rdm or /drg

Just a note:

/THF is a terrible subjob before level 30. Seriously.

Until then, since you already have it at level 15 (per your character profile here), I'd use your WAR 15 subjob. BLU/WAR is a very acceptable tank up through level 30, since Coccoon is just so insanely powerful.


Icemage

[Arctic Wolf]

Re: /rdm or /drg

BLU/WAR is a very acceptable tank up through level 30, since Coccoon is just so insanely powerful.

I can confirm this, I saw an awesome hume BLU/WAR tank, level 18, fighting Goblins in the dunes, while Power Leveling a friend.

[Malacite]

Re: /rdm or /drg

Cocoon + good def gear + Steamed Crab/Crayfish = disgusting amount of def.