PLD w/GS

[Ariesknight]

Do high-level PLDs just use Sword and Shield?
I am currently 20PLD/10WAR<--not the 20WAR/10MNK I was last time I was here^^. I was wondering if pulling out a GS while leveling in Qufim and using both at the same time would bnefit me later on or would it be easy to raise GS from 0 Skill later? Is it really practical and used higher up?

[FFXI-FREAK96]

Im In The Same Boat with u.. i wonder that too

[Stormwalker]

Generally, using greatsword in an experience party is a bad idea. You lose shield block, you lose defense, and you lose shield bash. Without shield block and with the lower defense, you take more damage, which is a drain on your healer's MP. Without shield bash, you lose a hate-gaining tool and at lower levels the ability to interrupt spellcasting mobs and some mob WS.

Greatsword can be somewhat useful for farming because of its higher damage, but since I bought my Hunting Sword, I've found I stick to sword and shield even for that, as the damage isn't all that much greater and keeping greatsword skilled up is a pain when I have to do it solo.

Once I hit 50 I'll probably join a skillup party somewhere to go skill up my greatsword, but until then I'm not really worrying about it.

[FFXI-FREAK96]

Thx for the insight

[Grodo]

I get told from high lvl pld that there just used for soloing and there cool and that all they tell me but i dont want to pay 30k gil just for one i might not use for sometime

[Sanhime]

PLD at high levels do use GS, just not for exp purposes. Some high players on their time spent, would particapte in Skill PT, which is basically almost like exp PT except you fight weaker (generally even match and tough) mobs to raise weapon skill point on weapons you dont normally use when you're in exp PT.

I have and use GS, I don't have just for the looks, of course I dont use it for exp PT. When I have extra time that I'm not leveling or farming, I raise my GS skills, and keep as up-to-date as possible.

My sword skill is ~207 and my GS is ~175 (I forget actual numbers since I'm typing this from my office ).

Anyway, there is no real "need" for PLDs to level GS. Some of us just like to have some variety.

[Stormwalker]

(not to hijack thread, but...)

...I thought I recognized your name, Sanhime. I've seen you numerous times around Jeuno, I think. The AF jumps out at me.

Nice to see someone from Caitsith posting here... there aren't very many of us.

And certainly I wasn't meaning to indicate in my post that GS is worthless... I do carry one, I just don't use it very often because it's underskilled compared to my sword and skillup parties below level 50 are rather difficult to find. It has its place, but it's an alternate choice, rather than my main.

[Ungerpurr]

I really wouldn't recommend whipping out the GS during a PT until level 37, at the absolute earliest. To be honest, a properly played war/mnk has better aggro control than a pld/war until pld gets flash. By dropping shield, you take more damage, lose shield bash, and likely DO less damage, making it just that much harder to hold aggro.

[Deodorant]

The only exp PT I've been in with a GS-wielding PLD was lvl 71 fighting Darters in Dragon's Aery. Exp was good, PLD held hate like a rock, and did 500-600 dmg spinning slash to end a light renkei, for something like 700-1000 dmg overall.

[Sanhime]

Originally posted by Stormwalker
(not to hijack thread, but...)

...I thought I recognized your name, Sanhime. I've seen you numerous times around Jeuno, I think. The AF jumps out at me.

Nice to see someone from Caitsith posting here... there aren't very many of us.

And certainly I wasn't meaning to indicate in my post that GS is worthless... I do carry one, I just don't use it very often because it's underskilled compared to my sword and skillup parties below level 50 are rather difficult to find. It has its place, but it's an alternate choice, rather than my main.

Yoroshiku ^^

As far as skill lvling PT, I find that fighting cockatrice in Onzozo is good to level GS to ~130. Lv50 PT should be safe, cockatrice should be decent or even match.

At around lv60 PT, you can skill PT in Kuftal tunnel. Kuftal tunnel is also a good place for exp PT in your mid lv50s PT. Both of which you'll be fighting crabs. Nice thing about crabs is that their evasion tends to be relative lower than other mobs at that level, so they are easier to hit and your weapon lvl will rise at a good pace. You may even fight Tough crabs. Bring a bard, too, make your skill PT go smoothly. Make sure you use equipment to boost accuracy. ie: Life Belt, etc.

[LionhartPLD]

sword and shield is better if you're tanking. I'll often use great sword if im fooling around or farming or something. Trying to get Spinning Slash . GS is such a pain to level.

[Atoman]

In xp pts you will always use 1h sword, but for anything else you can use great sword alot. I have been helping with AF keys and have been using my GS there just for something different and to skill up. I also join skillup pts in an attempt to raise my skill. I just got out of a skillup pt and my GS is now 196, only 4 points to go for spinning slash!! Funny story about that, 2 ppl in my pt fell alseep in the pt and we ran out of mp since one was the bard and I died. Didn't have a whm so I had to take a raise 1 ;;. /em wakes goodbye to 1700 exp.

[Lyonesse]

You're 4 levels from Sickle Moon silly ;D

Anyhoo, sentiments from other people in the thread are right on the money. Use it when you're not XPing or if you do use it in an XP, it has to be a weird situation. Very fun stuff. =D

[Atoman]

Oh my bad, yeah I meant sickle moon, not spinning slash, guess I just have spinning slash on the brain, but then again, who couldn't.