RDM solo ... curious ... how?

[LakshmiBane]

When I solo things as RDM, I typically do Stoneskin + Blink, then Refresh, then (because they all have the same duration) buff up with Phalanx, Enthunder, Haste, Spikes. Then I just go at the enemy, recasting Blink and/or Stoneskin as soon as it wears.

The thing is that this recasting of Blink / Stoneskin takes quite a bit of time, and it wears fast enough that I only get a few hits in before I have to recast.

Is that it then? RDM can solo just fine but it takes for-freaking-ever, or is there something else to it? ^^

Also I notice that Stoneskin vs. EM might only last 2-3 hits (with Phalanx). Is this just accepted as an inevitability and should be buffered with Blink, or am I doing something wrong?

Just curious how you handle it ^^ Thx!

Edit] Meant to be a reply, but I suppose it's an interesting enough topic to warrant its own post~

[Gman]

That's my understanding of how it works... I would also like to know from other high level people who have done it.

Only other thing I can think of is the use of sleep/gravity to allow time to refresh spells.

Right now without Phalanx or Refresh, if I solo Evens (quite different that at level 69 ^^) I do:

Blaze Spikes, En-Thunder, Stoneskin, Blink, then Sleep mob, and cast Blind, Paralyze, Slow, (sometimes gravity) then I cast either Bio or Dia, depending on mob, which wakes it up. When my stoneskin and blink wear off, I let myself take a few hits, and cast Drain to get the HP back, then recast Stoneskin (may require sleeping mob again if it gets interrupted, since it's extremely long to cast)

Once I get to 41, Refresh will be great help as well.

I think it would be crazy doing this at high levels where even match mobs hit for 80-100 damage, but it would be interesting to see.

Maybe Apple Pie will show us a video ^^ ...er, maybe he already has.

[Dtec]

Buff up with Stoneskin, Phalanx, Protect, Shell, Enwhatever, Blink, Haste, Refresh. Then:

1) Sleep the mob, and debuff with Gravity, Paralyze, Slow, Blind, Dispel (if applicable)

2) Start attacking the mob

3) When Stoneskin, Phalanx, Blink wears off, sleep the mob (make sure not to attack it), and repeat with the buffs. If your sleep is resisted, try elemental seal+sleep. If your not BLM sub, then try to reapply the buffs when the mob is hitting you. It helps if you have spell interruption + items.

This is how I kill T's, I have never tried a VT yet though.

[Alcueid]

>If your sleep is resisted, try elemental seal+sleep.

I doubt that sleep would get resisted fighting Toughs or VTs

[Apple Pie]

Sleep hasn't been resisted by VTs or weaker except for PLD orcs (Orcish Warchief and Protector) and those who have resist against dark attribute.

We know how come PLDs resist our sleep spells in Balista, right?

Also I notice that Stoneskin vs. EM might only last 2-3 hits (with Phalanx).

I usually bring and eat Fish Mithkabobs or Steamed Crabs. With these foods, it usually lasts more than 3 hits. I'm not sure if it doesn't at LV69 but it does at LV65.

I can post a movie to prove that but let me eat dinner first I'm hungry...

[Alcueid]

>Sleep hasn't been resisted by VTs or weaker except for PLD orcs (Orcish Warchief and Protector) and those who have resist against dark attribute.

Yes, Bats and Paladins will resist sleep even if they are decent challenges. I assumed that if you are going to solo as a red mage you are going to choose what you fight. Even if you don't fight Orcish Champions all of the time, you should take care to avoid paladins, creatures with dark attribute, and creatures that have a strong single-hit attack.

>We know how come PLDs resist our sleep spells in Balista, right?

Actually when I was in ballista as a black mage it got resisted more often by red mages than paladins. It just didn't last as long for the paladins.

Even in BCs and such, I notice that it usually doesn't get resisted by paladins, it just doesn't last as long.

[Apple Pie]

Alcueid, have you tried Barsleep? I tried it at Balista (No LV restriction) but it didn't help me to resist sleep at all It might be because I was LV65. Wanna see what's gonna happen when I become LV70+

BTW, it is said that Bard's song, Fowl Aubade, helps us to resist it often.

[Alcueid]

Most of the ballistas that I have done have been 40 cap where I went as blm/nin. So I have not had a chance to try barsleep ><;

I thought that the barstatus spells didn't increase resist rate, just decreased effective time? Correct me if I am wrong.

[Apple Pie]

Here you go, Gman.

http://www5.sppd.ne.jp/grendal/FF11/stone.wmv

It lasts till I get 6th hit from Tough (2 LV higher than I) Orcish Dragoon.

I have enhancing skill capped (see the attachment) and when I cast stoneskin, I switch to full MND+ gears because they help it last longer.

BTW Alcueid, it used to decrease effective time but now it sometimes helps us resist the effect. When we succeed to resist it by means of bar-status spells, we see the message saying, "The effect is resisted! (not sure what it is in ENG though)"

Check LV69-70 PTs hunting Ovinnik in Kuftal. RDM/WHM casts Barblizzard + Barparalyze at the beggining of the battle and some of them actually resist group paralyze effect.

[Apple Pie]

we see the message saying, "The effect is resisted! (not sure what it is in ENG though)"

I was wrong for this part. We only see it when we resist the effect by means of our job trait.

[Patchinko]

Ah! I've been wondering if Enhancing affects effectiveness of bar spells. Thank you for clearing that up, Apple Pie. I am anxious to solo like that in your video. ^-^*

[Gman]

/em claps

Another great video... just a few questions about it.

1) what was the spell you used to lure in the Orc? Seemed like some kind of draining spell.. Aspir maybe?

2) Why didn't you cast refresh on yourself sooner? I noticed while you were meleeing, your MP wasn't coming back. Is there a particular strategy invoved, or did you just forget or not want to?

3) When your TP got full, which WS did you use for max damage? (I know it wasnt shown in video, but later)

4) Does Orcish Dragoon drop anything worth hunting it for?

Again nice vid.. thanks.

[Apple Pie]

1) It was Absorb-MND. I was there to train my dark magic skill (2.0 more points to LV65 cap).

2) I just forgot it

3) Vorpal Blade. When all 4 hits land, it does 200-250 damage on EM, 150-200 damage on T with 100% TP. Twice better than Fast Blade. If I eat ATK+ foods, it does better but then stoneskin doesn't last enough.

In conjunction with Last Resort and Soul Eater + Stoneskin, it does 400+. I only use it in the last minutes to finish the battle.

4) Only DRG testimony confirmed so far. However, when we go there with /THF, we're able to steal beastman gold coins. I'll try that and check how many coins I can get in an hour.

[Gman]

Cool, so you were RDM/DRK ... do you find that makes a better soloing combination than say... RDM/NIN, or RDM/BLM?

[Apple Pie]

I don't usually use elemental magic when I solo. Therefore, compared to RDM/DRK, it is obvious that RDM/BLM lacks some firepower for melee. Vorpal Blade is twice as good as Fast Blade at 100% TP and sub DRK gives me +20 ATK bonus at RDM60/DRK30.

As for RDM/NIN, I haven't leveled NIN enough and I have nothing to say for now. However, the reason I choose DRK sub over WAR sub is because I love Aspir/Drain very much.

Although our dark magic skill is ranked at "E," I found Drain sometimes absorb 150+ HP even from ITs and often does the same from EMs and Ts. As for MP cost per performance, it is one of great spells.

When I go to Castle Zvahl to hunt Dark/Ice Elementals, I don't really have to cast Refresh on me by means of Aspir. In addition, Red Lotus Blade is the best WS against them (slightly better than Burning Blade).