Gear related, Opinions wanted.

[Deneb]

I really dont think most people wear it for practical purposes, quite a few probably wear it because its one of the better looking shields we can equip. For me however, the only time i really melee is when im farming, and most of what I farm I can hit already without to much difficulty, tho perhaps if I loaded up on accuracy gear I could farm things for better drops. It would be easy enough to keep both shields and experiment and see if the +3 accuracy is going to do much, I recall actually buying my balance buckler for like 1k months ago, and i got my dark steel buckler for 12k. Advantage of standing around lower jeuno alot, people sell stuff cheap when they need money.

[cnick]

Originally posted by Uroboros
I don't understand RDMs changing from Balance Buckler to Darksteel Buckler. Balance Buckler is the cheapest place in the game to get +3 ACC and you have a B-grade weaponskill. Screwing around with my WAR's Sniper Rings on, a Life Belt, and the Balance Buckler and capped dagger/sword skill I STILL miss most of the time on VT/IT. If you're not hitting then that +3/5 to attack isn't going to help, and +3/5 to attack is pretty meaningless on its own. You want extra attack in groups of tens and twenties to make a noticeable difference. For example, you take off one Spike Earring (+5) and you won't notice a thing. You miss the bard's Minuet though (30+) and you sure will. Attack doesn't matter unless you get giant bunches of it, but an RDM is unlikely to do that. WWA and DS Buckler will have nice attack bonus for farm enemies but won't be noticeable on anything more than T, and you're dropping a large chunk of possible ACC (RG Fleuret/Balance Buckler) to get it. Then again maybe that's your intent, in which case ignore everything I said.

Still though, most RDMs that don't get ahold of an Astral Aspis or Genbu Shield walk around sporting the DS Buckler, and I don't get it. They can't ALL be wearing it just for the intention of farming too weaks with WWA and DS Buckler.

+3 acc for a B-skill is going to help as much as +3 atk against VT and IT. So the real question you should be asking is why RDMs are using either of these shields.

[Deneb]

After reading through everyones thoughts and opinions, Ive decided to aim for the following things.

Dark Staff + Ice Staff [ Obvious reasons]
Red Cape +1 [ The best cape for a while, might as well get the best one ]
Rose Wand +1 [ Same as above ]
Morion Earring [ At least till I can camp for Moldavite ]
Royal Knights Belt [ Only 30k after i sell my Merc Capt, +1 more to stats ]

Going to hold off on upgrading my weapon and actual armor peices for now, as im so near AF already that it seems kinda dumb to buy a peice of armor to wear for like 5 levels, especially when nothing really jumps out as being that good. Same deal with swords, the better ones start showing up around mid 50s and higher. Thanks for all the replies, and telling me how to set up equipment change macros. I need to do the gobbie bag quest, carrying around all this stuff takes up alot of room! :p