rings...

[DREDD]

I have life belt and 2 rings for +2 dex.

Now should I get a sniper ring for +5 acc or should I get 2 rings for +3 dex? WHich is better for a SAM around lvl 50?

[krycis]

+6 Dex = +3 ACC & greater chance @critical strike.

I've met people of both sides of the coin: some like to only carry ACC gear, hoping the Whiff Fairy stays away; while others favor stat (read: DEX/STR/Etc.) boosts that grant the associated bonuses. I haven't fought the uber monsters yet, only being lv42, but I'm of a mind that if the ACC gear does work...it's better to hit and get that TP up faster than to crit slightly more frequently. So, if you were to ask me...and if you have the cash, buy the Sniper (only if you will not be tanking, the -DEF will hurt you).

[kujo412]

i had a sniper ring and ametrine ring.. and the only real difference i saw with/without the sniper ring equipped was that i got hit quite a bit harder with the sniper ring equipped.. so i opted for 2 phalanx rings instead. =_=

with a life belt, jujitsu gi, sniper ring/ametrine ring, and royal knight mufflers, i hit about 85% of the time.

with a life belt, jujitsu gi, phalanx rings, and ochiudo's kote, i hit 80% of the time, hit for more, and get hit for less.

[krycis]

Yup, as I said....those rings'll get your hamstrung. Of course you went for +DEF, which in the right circumstances make up for the general lack of armor you seem to wear. If you're not a tanker though, those rings wont help too much.

Do you hold agro long enough to need the Phalanx rings? Or do you keep both sets of rings, using each set according to your grouping needs?

[Straith]

If money is not a factor, I'd most definately go with snipers over 3 dex rings.

It's all about maximizing the potential of each gear slot, and unless you are getting hit on a consistant basis, sniper rings do just that for dps melee. I personally chose to go with sniper rings, have one now, saving up for the other. The + accuracy is really noticable.

Playing styles and what everyone does with their character differs, and gear choices should be made around that. My personal thoughts on the matter: Alot of people don't seem to like snipers due to the negative defense, but the only time it seems to hurt me is when im farming. Otherwise if I'm grouped with a competent paladin, I don't take hits unless I screw up and fire a ws too early, or pull when he is low on mp. Although I try to keep my defense as high as possible through gear upgrades, the very fact that I'm constantly waiting for beserk to refresh so I can fire it off again tells me that defense isn't high on my priority list. Nobody (myself included) seems to have any problem wearing Ochido's Kote, even though it has low def and a neg hit to evasion, for example. It just offers too much of a good thing in one slot to pass up.

Accuracy is important, its as simple as that. Thats why all the accuracy items are so pricey. To be efficient as a dps melee , your character has to have some +acc, and it has to come from somewhere. I find it ironic that alot of the people who tell me they don't like the -def on the snipers are still wearing jujitsu gi+sitibaki well into their 50's for 4acc and 1dex when they both have horrible defense in relation to gear of that level.

The way I look at it: If you are wearing sniper rings, and a mob starts hitting you, you can tap a hotkey and take them off instantly. If you don't have snipers, and you get in a PT and cannot hit anything, there really isn't much you can do.

Even before I went to snipers, I had nearly optimal gear for my level defense wise, and I took hits nowhere near as well as the paladin, especially after food was factored in. (I eath mithkabobs for attk) Much in the way subs are chosen for classes, and the way the game is set up in general, I believe its better to enhance your characters strengths instead of trying to bring its weak points up to par.

Take all this with a grain of salt though, cause I still have dreams of being a nin/smn with dual weild carbuncles.

[Solid-UK]

Would a pair pof Archer's Rings not be a midway compromise?

+2 Accuracy +2 Ranged Accuracy on each Archer's Ring but no penalties.

[kujo412]

Originally posted by krycis
Yup, as I said....those rings'll get your hamstrung. Of course you went for +DEF, which in the right circumstances make up for the general lack of armor you seem to wear. If you're not a tanker though, those rings wont help too much.

Do you hold agro long enough to need the Phalanx rings? Or do you keep both sets of rings, using each set according to your grouping needs?

when i pull i hold aggro for the first part of the fight so that the thf can fuidama on the pld =X with a sniper ring i would get hit for like 150 damage .-. with phalanx rings i get hit for 100-110

still stuck on whether i should get spike earrings or dodge earrings.. maybe even drone earrings .-.


EDIT: I also might mention that i normally party with bards, so accuracy isn't much of an issue, as they can toss sword madrigal at me if i'm still missing alot with blade madrigal. =X