Questions coming from a new PLD

[avilaa]

I have a few questions about PLD:

1) Do PLD equipment need +VIT more than anything else? Whats the second most important stat boost after +VIT? (+AGI, +DEX etc)

2) I'm currently a level 10 PLD so there aren't any useful Earrings & Rings at the moment. What Earrings & Rings should I buy while I'm around the lvl 10-15 level?

3) I've seen a high level PLD using +AGI earrings. What do PLDs need +AGI for?

4) Should I equip equipment that increase my HP even though it decreases my MP? (i.e Physical Earring, Cassie Earring)

[Thoronas]

1) After Vit nothing else is really that important. Str might help you keep hate since you will hit harder but honestly you're better off with vit rings than str rings. You won't really need to worry about stat boosts for a long time focus on def for now.

2) At 14 buy stamina rings. Earrings I didn't really start using for quite some time as there arent any really good earrings for a long long time. At 30 try to get a mercenary earring asides from that I can't really think of any other good earring, but I'm sure some other pld will suggest some.

3) Many ppl believe agi decreases the chance of the enemy scoring critical hits on you. Some also say agi increases your chance at blocking attacks with your shield and parrying attacks. This is debatable so don't invest too much in it.

4) Do not decrease your mp for hp. Mp is how you will keep hate. The only race that should ever consider this is taru since they have a greater chance of being one shotted by enemy attacks like screwdrive and sickle slash and also possess a very large mp pool. As a hume you probably have a decent mp pool but more mp wouldn't hurt but hey I'm a elvaan so what do I know :p

Hope that helps.

[imac2much]

1) At your level VIT is 2nd priority in damage mitigation... Defense is much more important at low levels. Get your DEF as high as you can before you even worry about VIT. VIT is more of a factor at 50+ when you already have so much Defense from P3/4, Fish Mithkas, Defender, Sentinel, etc...

2) Honestly low level equipment doesn't seem to make much of a difference in the case of rings and earrings, but you may want to invest in some DEF (first priority) and VIT (second priority)... if those aren't possible, get some of those minor HP increasing earrings or so.

3) High lvl PLD's wear Drone earrings because generally there isn't much else to put in there. For HNMs they use Pigeons/Bloodbead/Cassie (+HP), but for XP'ing it's really debatable. You can also pick up a Mercenary Earring (VIT+2 when subbing WAR). AGI does supposedly lower chance of critical hits and increase chances of blocking/parrying... although in my experience the extra 6 AGI hasn't made much difference. After all, if it was so important, why does Adaman and Koenig set decrease your AGI?

4) Nah.. Cassie Earring is only useful at very high levels for HNM tanking when HP is more of an issue than MP. For all other purposes (except for maybe Taru PLD), especially at lower levels, your MP is precious so that you can throw that extra Cure or Cure II without a refresher in your PT. Besides Cassie Earring is 1mil or so... you can really afford that as a new PLD?

[Reanda]

Sup Rug =P

Regarding the earrings, Drones are very commonly used because

a) they're very cheap
b) even if it's not true that AGI helped with parry/shield ,
(there are some people who absolutely won't believe it),
it's like a placebo.
c) and yeah, they're cheap.

[Radamvice]

This isnt a typical suggestion at all, and many people here ignore it entirely but here goes anyways.

Untill 32, as an elvaan pld, i have noticed a nice difference between myself and other paladins that dont take what dexterity, accuracy, and +mp equipment they can. I seem to hold hate much better than my peers for my level.

I see the comments on elvaan and their low dexterity coming my way already...but i stole the concept after noticing some success from a rank 10 jp hume paladin i was partying with before i became a pld myself. The fellow was equipped leaning hard towards dexterity and mp, without neglecting defence, and all but ignoring +vit.

This seems to be a strong alternative to some of the suggestions that i've read so far that may lead newer players to think min maxing defence and vitality is the only way to go. In the first half of your career as a PLD, untill 37 at least id put money on at the moment, this should be an effective approach...i will repost around here as i gain more experience.

I see PLD for its strength ...we are the best job at *controlling* hate. We are the SECOND best job at taking hits and mitigating the damage (umm, NIN). I would suggest to any pld to get a feel for their job, and then make decisions for themselves with that above note in mind.

Based on this decision for example i recently decided to lose 4 def (negligible) and gain 44 mp +1 dex +2 agi relative to the old equipment in wearing my RSE boots and gloves instead of centurion equipment...and i dont plan on upgrading those pieces for quite a long time after looking ahead at the very small defence i am losing for the very strong mp gain. No brainer decision? I havent seen any other PLD in my level range make such a decision in their equipment. Elvaan low mp the reason i need this upgrade? I feel any race that passes up upgrades like these for so little defence lost ~at this level range~
is making a WEAK decision ^^

I'm NOT saying this works forever,primarily because i havent the experience to say so, but keep in mind that keeping your defensive abilities high is a concern, but if you do it to an extreme that you neglect your primary purpose, you are shooting yourself in the foot. What ive heard, and seen from my level 75 friends that play with high standards is the difference between some average PLD and the better and great pld can begin to be seen through decisions like these...overshadowed by far by your skill as a player...but i digress^^

[Radamvice]

Err i intended to put direct answers to your post in mine as well, i rant too well ><;

1. Early on, no, monsters dont start hitting hard in general untill mid 30's + here is where you want to lean on +vit, beforehand? i think i answered this already above.

2. As you can afford earrings, +mp is the most important stat you can readily find on them, buy the best you can afford, though the bonus is not very large ><

3. Been answered well already. Drone earrings you see on higher lvl pld are there because they are cheap and they provide an easy +6 AGI which as the others mentioned, reduces the chance of receiving a critical hit and enhances the chance of your defensive abilities (parry/block/evade) being successful. I'm a beliver ^^

4. Dont decrease your mp voluntarily ; ; EVER ....bad...BAD!
(i suppose certain extreme situations like HNM and maybe monsters that use some of the infamous 1 hit skills may make you want to min max your hp, but a good pt can usually avoid these troubles by keeping your hp high at all times when engaging these fiends.)

[imac2much]

I agree that ACC is an important trait for a PLD, but not really for hate holding/damage dealign purposes (which is why I don't really think ATK is very important either)...

For example, for Neck I use a Royal Guard Collar (ATK/ACC+4) and belt I use Life Belt (ACC+10). Sure I could use IM Gorget and Koenig Belt/Warrior Belt+1 to get some more VIT, HP and DEF, but actually hitting the monster (ACC bonus of 14 or 15 depending on whether you get a Merman Gorget) gets you more enmity as previously stated.

This really isn't even a hate holding issue. Sometimes I test out things with an RK belt or Warrior Belt +1 and IM Gorget and I still hold hate fine... there are just so many enmity gaining methods available to PLD job that a smart PLD shouldn't have trouble holding aggro 99% of the time. The main focus here is TP (which is why I value ACC).. sure, our WS may not deal spectacular damage, but they can open very useful skillchains which can do 1k+ damage by the skillchain bonus itself (Swift Blade > Fui Cross Reaper) and/or allow for magic bursts.

It's nice to have some +HP gear lying around as well (Pigeon Earrings, Bomb Queen Ring, etc). If I'm not involved in skillchain but still hold hate fine I may occasionally switch to my +HP/DEF/VIT gear, allowing me to smack the enemy with a 750+ damage Spirits Within every 2 or 3 fights... it's no Sidewinder, but not too shabby for a tanking job.

[Lan'Urk]

I personaly favor MP>>ACC...

I use Republican Mytril collar for the +12 MP, and Lucky egg for the +1%(I'm an Elvaan give me a break I need all MP I can get ~.~), and I will definatly get a forest rope at 70 for more MP.... but I think its nice to have both if you can, so after you use the MP you switch to Acc.... Now what I differ from many PLDs is the weapon choice.... I see most PLDs using Gluttony sword at my lvl, and I did for a while myself till I picked up an Espadon just for kicks.... I could notice the difference in the delay therefore enmity gathered, and I totaly sold my Gluttony to get an Espadon +1... yeah I lost a bunch of VIT, but frankly I noticed more on my enmity than on my damage taken.... and if it comes to shit, there is always Earth Staff to save your ass ^.~... I know many people wont agree with my choice, but I would encourage to try out... I only found it cuz I did try out.... now I rarely use any skills other than provoke and cure (maybe when Gekko double attacks, or when the BLM double MB on a 3 way lvl 3 renkei)

Note: I usualy am on a static PT without THFs or DRKs, so I never really get any fuidama.... my PT set up is (SAM/WAR DRG/WAR BLM/WHM RDM/BRD WHM/SMN) and I will hit whoever says that SAM dont do damage, the SAM in my PT has outdamaged every single DRK I have met/PTed with, since lvl 60

~Lanurk

[zorca]

Hey Rad, nice reply...and...umm..... die die die \o/ (tm) :D

[Cedric]

I use rifle belt for skilling staff during some pts. D;/

Umm, personally I just go for mostly vit and defense, no sense in adding some dex for the fact that my attacks do shit anyways. If i cant hold hate with just spells/abilities then something is wrong.

[Elesirdur]

I certainly agree with Reanda about the Drone Earings, price is definitly a factor. There are a set of Rare Earings that increase enmity at around lvl 40-something (forget their name) but they regularly go for over 80k on Bahamaut, if they're ever in stock. Outside your AF stuff do look for +enmity items, every little bit helps, especially when BLMs start using their Ancient Spells and Rangers use Sidewinder too much >_<

I just concentrate on Vit, MP, and Agi. Even at early levels a Silver Hairpin can go a long way. Those extra 15 mp can mean the difference between life and death for you or another pt member with a Cure or Cure II.

[imac2much]

Nemesis and Eris Earrings or some such? I don't believe PLD can equip those. Only earring I know of that with +enmity that we can equip would be Hades or Hades+1 (HQ1 and HQ2 of Death Earrings respectively) which are never in Midgard AH

[Thoronas]

imac is correct Pld can't equip Nemesis. It boggles my mind why they would put those earrings in the game and NOT allow the tanks to wear them. :confused:

[Thoronas]

I just noticed this on Allakhazam. I haven't tried it but this might help pld at lvl 30. Mercenary Mantle: Def 2 Latent Effect: Enmity: 1
The latent effect is triggered when subbing war.

Anyone tried this yet? I was thinking of subbing it during my set to see if it makes any difference compared to the lost def and vit.

[Biterman]

Nemesis can be equip by NIN, who are tanks after all.
About that back piece, I havent even seen it on my AH. It looks like a winner for a lvl 30 PLD. ^^