Gear review time!!

[hongman]

Hi all

Time to review my gear - I dont like to be gimped :p

Ok, for my RDM35 I have now got full RSE 4/4 - a ls buddy helped sooooo much I cannot thank him enough.

Main - Centurion Sword/Pilgrims Wand/Hermits Wand
Main 2 - Targe
Head - Silver Hairpin
Body - Magna Jerkin
Hands - Magna Gauntlets
Legs - Magna whatever-they're-called
Feet - Magna something-or-rather
Back - Cape ***EDIT*** Black Cape
Finger 1 - Onyx Ring ***EDIT*** Eremites Ring
Finger 2 - Eremites Ring/Saintly Ring
Neck - Justice badge ***EDIT*** Black Neckercheif
Waist - Friars Rope
Earring 1 - Black Earring
Earring 2 - Onyx Earring

SMN20 and BLM20

Main - Pilgrims Wand/Hermits Wand
Body - Black tunic
Hands - White Mitts
Legs - Black Slacks
Feet - Sandals
Back - Cape
Finger 1 - Onyx Ring
Finger 2 - Eremites ring/Saintly Ring
Neck - Justice Badge
Waist - Friars Rope


Any improvement suggestions?

[Kirsteena]

Re: Gear review time!!

If you can, pick up a white cape and/or black cape for your back, they will help your mnd and int.

Hmmm. Ditch the mp ring (it won't help you much) and go for a second mnd/int ring. Quest a black neckerchief for those int based spells.

Other than that, pretty much what I used at that level. Elvaan RSE.

[hongman]

Re: Gear review time!!

Ok Ill get rid of the Onyx Ring and go for another Eremites ring.

Thanks for the heads up on the black/white cape.

[Kirsteena]

Re: Gear review time!!

2 mp won't make any difference, but the int and mnd will. Otherwise, looking good!

[Sabaron]

Re: Gear review time!!

I prefer Yew Wand or Yew Wand +1. I only use my Hermit's Wand when I'm doing something solo that I don't want to attack with my sword.

The Baron's Slops have come down a lot. Consider buying a pair they're Grrrrrreat!

[Icemage]

Re: Gear review time!!

Gear looks excellent at that level, aside from the suggestions above.

In the ammo slot you should consider a Morion Tathlum (but don't throw it!). If you don't level any jobs with ranged attacks, I *strongly* recommend disabling your keyboard shortcut for ranged combat (I think it's Ctrl-S?) - otherwise you might end up accidentally throwing your very expensive ammo.

Another thing to watch for in March/April is the yearly Egg Hunt for the Easter festivities. The HQ event item from that is a Fortune Egg, which gives +1 VIT and +1% MP, and there have been other items that have shown up in the past like +1%HP/MP wands.


Icemage

[hongman]

Re: Gear review time!!

Sweets that sounds good.

Also, if I get the Baron's Slops and Yew Wand +1 will i be able to wear those until I can gradually start using my RDM gear?

I basically plan to have these sets of armour so I am always covered (so to speak) at whatever level I am at.

I plan to wear my RSE stuff until my AF.
I plan to wear my current SMN/BLM gear until I can wear RSE

Will that be ok?

Also, was RSE the best choice? I look da bomb in it, but I also read as an Elvaan mage I should haev got RSE asap. Everyone agree with this?

[Icemage]

Re: Gear review time!!

Also, if I get the Baron's Slops and Yew Wand +1 will i be able to wear those until I can gradually start using my RDM gear?

Baron's Slops you can macro in and use all the way to level 75 if you want. There's hardly anything else in the leg armor slot that gives you extra MP recovery, which makes it probably the most flexible low level mage leg armor in the game. Well worth the investment.

I basically plan to have these sets of armour so I am always covered (so to speak) at whatever level I am at.

I plan to wear my RSE stuff until my AF.

I plan to wear my current SMN/BLM gear until I can wear RSE

Will that be ok?

In some cases, your RSE is actually better than AF. Watch the stats on it. Ignore the defense for RDM - you're not generally going to get hit - what you're most interested in, being Elvaan, is max MP.

Unlike other mage jobs, RDM focuses intensely on max MP because of the Convert ability at level 40, which allows you to exchange your HP and MP totals. The closer you can bring your HP and MP totals, the more MP you will have available to spend over time.

Example: Last night I was doing a merit party on Red Mage as RDM75/WHM37. My current gear + Food setup leaves me at 1080HP/989MP, which means Convert was giving me nearly 1000 extra MP to spend every 10 minutes.

Also, was RSE the best choice? I look da bomb in it, but I also read as an Elvaan mage I should haev got RSE asap. Everyone agree with this?

Definitely. Elvaan RSE is heavily MP-based, so it gives a nice healthy kick to what otherwise is a somewhat deficient MP pool.

The only piece of gear I would be a bit iffy about is the hands (which are still awesome with +24MP +1DEX +1INT), but they're overshadowed by Devotee's Mitts(+1) which are +5MND and +8MP (but -4 INT). You don't technically "need" the extra MND as RDM since Elvaan have high MND anyway, but it certainly doesn't hurt to improve your chances of landing Slow/Paralyze/Silence.


Icemage

[Haggai]

Re: Gear review time!!

SMN20 and BLM20

Main - Pilgrims Wand/Hermits Wand
Body - Black tunic
Hands - White Mitts
Legs - Black Slacks
Feet - Sandals
Back - Cape
Finger 1 - Onyx Ring
Finger 2 - Eremites ring/Saintly Ring
Neck - Justice Badge
Waist - Friars Rope

----

I plan to wear my current SMN/BLM gear until I can wear RSE

Will that be ok?

I can't say much about Summoner myself, but you'll want as much MP as you can.

Your setup is good for Black Mage, but as said before, I'd toss in the Yew Wand (+1). Chestnut (Solid) Wand @ 32, Rose Wand (+1) @ 48.
Morion Tathlum like mentioned.
Baron's Slops are good.
Go straight Eremites rings.
Get the Black Silk Neckerchief (lasts until like 65).
Hop on a Shaman's belt at 28.
Get the Seer's Tunic @ 29
Seer's Mitts (+1 if you can), you may want RSE hands, they give more MP
Seer's Slacks @ 29. RSE legs might be okay.
Seer's Crown @ 29 (+1 if possible, it will last until AF @ 60).
Your RSE feet @ 29.
Cunning Earrings @ 29 (one is questable)
You can get Morion Earrings @ 30 if you have the money... they're like cunning +MP
Try to get Wisdom Rings @ 36 (same as Eremite's +1, but MUCH cheaper)

Become friends with a high level Thief so he can kill Mysticmaker Profblix for you and get your Moldavite Earring (level 47) It is best earring for Black Mages, hands down. Also good for a RDM to have for Magic Bursts.

If you come across Light Soleas (13) or Scentless Armlets (16) for cheap, don't ignore them. They might help.

[hongman]

Re: Gear review time!!

cool I got the Black Cape, another Eremite ring....and the neerkercheif thing

[Armando]

Re: Gear review time!!

I just want to add that if that Targe is there for damage reduction, then you're much better off with a Frost Shield, Faerie Shield, or just about anything else that isn't a buckler/targe/shell shield. Size 1 shields have by far the worst damage reduction/proc rate ratio out of the different sizes, which basically means they avoid the least damage on average (well, they also avoid the least damage on a per-hit basis, too...) I would also recommend a Hard Shield at 48 (Size 3's are generally speaking the best shields in the game) :3

[Sabaron]

Re: Gear review time!!

When you can get it, Master Shield is probably the most excellent defensive shield for RDM since we have an awful grade F in Shield. Master Shield and the Warlock's Boots give +20 Shield which goes a long way toward keeping your damage down. As a Size 2 Shield, I believe, it's nearly tied with the Size 3 Hard shield in terms of damage reduction (it has a higher Proc rate but a lower damage reduction).

[Armando]

Re: Gear review time!!

Master Shield was a disappointment when testing it as a PLD with near-capped skill on T mobs. It may perform better for RDM, but I'm iffy. Size 2 and Size 3's have the same proc rate, but Size 2's block 45% damage per hit while Size 3's block 60%. That's a 33.33% difference in performance, which I doubt an extra 10 shield skill can cover.

I'm trying to sell my Master Shield on Midgardsormr by the way, any takers? XD

[Sabaron]

Re: Gear review time!!

It's a good thing I kept my Hard Shield then as I haven't tested either one. Master looks good on paper though I have no idea of the formula for the effects of Shield Skill on blocking as I haven't been able to find such information.

[hongman]

Re: Gear review time!!

Im not too worried about the shield - should I be?

I only got the Targe becuase I got it at 31, and that was the highest level shield I could find for me AT THE TIME.

lol