My final post...

...on Blogspot!

New home. New blogging software. http://tgp.itadakiproject.com/. Update your bookmarks, please.

The Sum of Your Parts

So, the last five posts of mine have been: ITEMS ITEMS ITEMS ITEMS ITEMS.

I also got complaints about my last post. Something about being "too technical". And "PERCENTAGE OF THE LATEST TGP THAT MADE SENSE: 0%".

You're all right, of course. It's hard to comprehend the in-game value of such items if you don't have any kind of standard to go by. I guess something about that valor surcoat released some kind of pressure valve that sent all the pent-up rage and frustration straight up into the atmosphere and now I've become some kind of item-centric lootwhore. But I'm straying from the purpose of my post.

In terms of RMT, I've been somewhat lax. I don't like monopolization measures, or price controlling, but other than that, I don't think I really care. Even for those of you who are selling your toons off for several thousand dollars. I'm kind of surprised people have that kind of money to blow in this kind of economy, but to each his own.

If someone offered me cash for my character, I don't think I'd accept it. For one, I think I'd probably be ripping them off. Moreover, I don't think my toon would net more than fifty bucks anyway.

Nonetheless, I'd like to think that I wouldn't do it because I am at this point in the game because I have had to work with people to get to where I am. I know that applies to everyone in this game, even Super Soloist Sailor Avesta. You cannot solo Salvage. You cannot solo Promathia. You cannot solo King Behemoth. And so on.

"Man, you're a fucking dumbass faggot." Someone is likely to say. "If they have all the gil in the world, then they can always buy what they need from other linkshells. Faggot." My reply is, "Well, where do you think they get their gil from? You think they kill seven trillion Goblin Hunters to amass that fortune? Cycle avatar killings for 60,000 a day for 5 years? No, they get it through the auction house, which invovles, yep, other players."

"Fuck off, you pissant faggot. I lead a linkshell and I want what I'm entitled to," I imagine is another reply I'd get. Now, maybe it's just be, but I would think that being the leader of a linkshell means that you often have a bigger point lead than everyone else, and are usually entitled to items first because of it. I don't know. All linkshells are different, I suppose, and Leadership Entitlement Complex is nothing new. Nonetheless, a leader is nothing without its supporters, which goes back to my first argument.

Nobody gets to the point in the game by themselves where their toons are worth several thousand dollars. So when that oil baron's son transfers all that money to your account, maybe you should think about all the people who have helped you gotten to that point as you selfishly indulge yourself.

This is not a post about Dancer

Sorry! I lied! It's another post about Dancer!

Yeah, yeah, I know. Nobody cares about dancer. The job sucks and so does everyone who plays it. You can probably stop reading now.

Anyway! Nyzul Isle finally puts out!



Oh Squenix. You're so silly, you don't even have the name of the weapon skill consistent.

With the unlocking of Kleos, it occurs to me that I should probably start looking into a WS build. The only reason why is that I'd even think about it is that Kleos lowers evasion on the mob. So if you're going to blow all your TP (always risky when you're a dancer, but DNC TP generation isn't that much of a problem when merited and at 75), you might as well make it count.

This is what I currently use for TP. The more astute readers will see a few changes from my last post.



Main: Jambiya
Offhand: Joyeuse
Ranged: Tiphia Sting
Head: W. Turban
Neck: Spectacles
Ear1: Suppanomimi
Ear2: Brutal Earring
Body: Etoile Casaque
Hands: Dusk Gloves
Ring1: U. Ring
Ring 2: Woodsman Ring
Back: Amemet Mantle +1
Waist: Swift Belt
Legs: Etoile Tights
Feet: Etoile Toe Shoes

General Summary: Attack +33, Accuracy +34, Haste +15% (+5% dual wield).

This almost hits what I think is my ideal TP build, barring HQ pieces, some variance, Peacock Charm, and Azoth. The purpose of the build is to be able to eat meat in parties, to bump up the naturally low attack stat of dancer, so the target is to balance out haste and accuracy. The price of the fucking Peacock Charm won't stabilize around 1.5m, and the price of the Azoth is only going up. Seriously. Why are you THFs even contemplating buying an Azoth? Stop it. You fuckers can use a Blau Dolch.

Anyway, Kleos is a 4-hit weaponskill with mods STR20%, DEX30%. Here's what I currently have for WSing on DNC.



Absolutely nothing! -insert round of applause here-

So, okay. Here's my thought process, which is mostly for me, but maybe you can figure it out too.

Obviously weapons and ranged/ammo aren't going to change. Etoile Casaque has +4DEX, +10 accuracy, and +12 attack, so that's a pretty sturdy piece. Amemet has +2STR, +15 attack. That's a potent belt leftover from my WAR dual-wielding days, so +3STR, +8 accuracy. And the last piece is Etoile Toe Shoes, +4DEX, +3 accuracy.

Currently: +3STR, +8DEX, +27 attack, +21 accuracy.

Let's assume, for a moment, I currently have easy access to anything and everything I could feasibly ever want sitting in my inventory.

The easiest piece to call is for the neck, with a Love Torque. +5 DEX, ~+6 attack, ~+6accuracy. I've been avoiding this piece as much as possible for DNC, but I think it's no longer possible to avoid try and getting. +3STR, +13DEX, +33 attack, +27 accuracy.

I also have an etoile tiara -1 sitting in storage, which would net me +5STR, +7 attack once upgraded. +8STR, +13DEX, +40 attack, +27 accuracy.

In terms of hands, I was thinking dancer bangles +1 (+4DEX, +5 attack) over something like Enkidu Mittens (+4STR, +4DEX), though honestly for no good reason other than enkidu mittens look crappy with their pinkness. But I'm weaponskilling, not full time, so maybe it's time I should just get over it. +12STR, +17DEX, +40 attack, +27 accuracy.

Same would go for Enkidu's Subligar for the legs (also +4/4). +16STR, +21DEX, +40 attack, +27 accuracy. This just leaves rings and earrings. It's at this point where I get really lost. My accuracy is kind of low for a multi-hit weaponskill, so perhaps it would just be better to leave my current rings on. +16 STR, +21 DEX, +44 attack, +36 accuracy. Earrings, I have even less of a clue. Probably swap in an Ethereal earring for +5 attack and keep the brutal in.

Final total: +16 STR, +21 DEX, +49 attack, +36 accuracy... DNC needs more gear options. :< I wonder if there's gear I'm missing, or if I'm going about this all wrong. Maybe I should try to go more WAR-ish, and throw an optical hat on my head for flat out accuracy in one spot and buff out the rest of the shit elsewhere.

Would need to acquire:
Etoile Tiara (to +1-ize it)
Enkidu Mittens
Enkidu Subligar
Love Torque

... :<

I Like My Adaman Sollerets

If there is one thing that causes more heated arguments in FFXI more than anything else, it's gear choices.

There is an entire thread dedicated on BlueGartr (I'm talking about them a lot lately, aren't I?) to showing players who have bizarre gear choices. Some do genuinely qualify for the thread, since it shows that they don't understand how basic game mechanics work, and how subpar efficiency can really only hurt yourself in the long run (not that it makes it right, but whatever).

But, as with any metagame, a lot of them don't. A lot of the gripes and mocking are quite ridiculous and silly, and always assume that all players have equal access to all things and all events at the same time, and the only thing that should ever matter is complete and utter efficiency at all times. Forgetting about reasons like, "I don't like the way they look", "Well the difference is pretty marginal", "Shit is too expensive for the payoff", and "I just don't have it"; if you are not using -x- piece of gear, you're fucking gimp, and should go get fucking raped by a rusty fucking chainsaw and go fucking die in a god damn fucking hole you god damn fucking stupid piece of trashy shit gimp because I am so much fucking better than you.

This is one of the areas where I am a fantastically awful endgame player. I guess I just don't get why anyone would care. I will use myself as an example.

Exhibit A: Adaman Sollerets



Now, they're not great, but they do offer +attack and +accuracy, both things that are good when gaining TP. So they're nice, plus they're pretty cheap. Well, they were! Now they're up to 175k, hitting as high as 250k?! I bought mine for, like, 80k! But anyway. I think they fucking look cool too.



They are, most definitely, not the best shoes I could wear in terms of efficiency. I'm currently working towards getting Aurum Sabatons, and will hopefully be getting them soon enough.

Amir Boots are a better option, but require grinding assault points to obtain. I would consider it, possibly, if they weren't fugly-ass pink shoes. Pink shoes! I am not wearing pink shoes! I don't care if they offer +20 accuracy, +20% haste, and +90 attack! They. Are. Pink. Fucking. Shoes!

...okay, maybe I would if they had those stats, but they don't. They're only marginally better than adaman, offering +3 more accuracy and less penalties.

There's also Dusk Ledelsens, which are only slightly ugly, and don't look too bad with Byakko's Haidate (which you can see I'm wearing in the above picture). I, in fact, used to use these. They have +2% haste and +4 attack, (+3% if you're wearing the high-quality version). The real drawback here is that they decrease your movement speed. And I already wear Dusk Gloves. These negative effects stack. I can't tell you how annoying it is meriting or running after a mob, running at -25% movement speed. It's stupid and ridiculous. They're also not cheap, going for 400k a pair.

Some also like Unicorn Leggings, but are even more expensive (1m). Also, the +3% haste only works when your HP is greater than 75%. I already take too much damage as-is on warrior, if I'm going balls to the wall (Which, I admit, I'm not doing as much as I used to. That's another story for another day). I'm not paying one million gill for the luxury of three percent haste when I'm not taking damage.

So, what have I been using? Askar Gambieras. And to tell you the truth, I don't know why. I got made fun of when I began using great axe after the two-handed update and still using adaman sollerets even though I had Askar Gambieras. It has something to do with +STR increasing your overall damage something blah blah fSTR damage blah blah ePenis. They look fine, and if they do what they're supposed to do, then all the better.

Nonetheless, I think I'm going to go back to using Adaman Sollerets for TP gain, until I get (and I suppose if I get) Aurum Sabatons. I don't think you can convince me that Adaman Sollerets are bad to a point of gimpness, but if you want to try, be my guest.

Grumpy No More!*

It took almost four years.

Three linkshells.

A Dynamis adjustment.

Insanely competitive point hoarding/dedication.

Not to mention a Hydra Haubert.

And probably way too much drama.

But, finally:



6/5 Valor! Coronet, Leggings, Gauntlets, Cape, Breeches, and Surcoat!



And it looks so awesome on my mannequin!**

*Note: May still be grumpy. Void where prohibited.

**The surcoat is not going to actually stay on my mannequin. Neither are the boots.