Random Question Thread XVIII: Just an Ordinary Sword of Legend

[Byrthnoth]

Okay, I'm considering getting the Nebula +1 set for a Fast Cast macro. How much Fast Cast is the Body/Hands/Legs?

[Sylvrdragon]

I keep hearing about all these nifty augmented items from quests such as PDT Earrings and whatnot, but I have no clue on how to find this stuff without digging through over 9000 pages of various threads. Does anyone have a list of the worthwhile ones? Just the quests; I know the aug items I can get from gold boxes. Thanks in advance.

[Byrthnoth]

It is my opinion that most quests that reward an augmented item have one rare "Unique Augment" that they can give.

Playing Paparazzi - Konschtat - Black Mantle - Good augment unknown. This quest is high fame and once per day, so I doubt it has been spammed much.
The Soul of the Matter - Konschtat - Behemoth Ring - Only one shot, so I'm not sure it gets a good augment
A Sterling Specimen - Tahrongi - Dance Shoes - Waltz +1,2, and 4% have been reported
Lost Memories - La Theine - Coeurl Mantle - Nothing interesting reported

Dropping the Bomb - Misareaux - Versa Breeches - I remember someone told me they got an interesting augment, but I forget what it was.
Scattered Shells, Scattered Mind - Vunkerl - Darkness earring - PDT-2%
An Acrididaen Aerodyne - Attohwa - Jupiter's Ring - Attack+1-6
An Offer you can't Refuse - Attohwa - Elite Beret - MCrit rate +4 is probably what they think is a good augment?

Slip-sliding away - Ule - Resilient Mantle - I'm not sure
Brygid the Stylist strikes back - Altepa - Stearc Subligar - Refresh +1
Grauberg - I'm not sure.

[Jimothy]

I believe I read someplace that 2 INT = 1 MAB, similar to STR/Att.
Is that correct or am I mistaken?

It is different from STR/ATT, every 2 points of STR will increase you att value by 1 (1h weps anyways). 2 INT does not raise your MAB at all, but the 2 INT = 1 MAB is a useful Rule of thumb for approximating which pieces of gear will be better for magic damage. Its not exact, but rules of thumb are not supposed to be, its to alleviate tedious calculation with the understood potential for minor inaccuracy.

If you want exact values you need to do what waffles said and plug numbers in the damage formula and chug through it. Its inconvenient because it will change based on everything from race, merits, mob, atmas, gear, and even which spell it is; but if absolute maximization at all times is your goal its necessary.


This blog has a derived damage equation which may be useful for figuring out a more accurate int/mab equivalence based on individual variables.

[Greatguardian]

Looking for info for a friend on standard TP/Vorpal/CdC sets for Blue Mage, as well as potentially Atma/Spell combos that must include Grellow procs. I've tried looking around a bit for him but FFXIAH's search function doesn't list R/EX gear and I really don't give half a shit about the job to know what R/EX gear it can and can't wear.

He's always been pretty anal about gearing his BLU but the numbers he puts out and the numbers I hear "career blue mages" fling around are so far away from each other that I'm sure either he has to be doing something wrong or the numbers being reported are just that off base (Ie: I got a lucky TA on this fully buffed CdC, let's pretend this is an average Blu WS").

How much of his damage should be coming from Spells and how much from TP/WS? How much of his time should he spend spamming spells versus swinging, and which, to maximize damage? What swords should he be main and off-handing both before and after the completion of his almace (preferably best 2-3 options)?

[NynJa]

but the 2 INT = 1 MAB is a useful Rule of thumb

Rule of thumb, eh? Well you cant do much damage with that...perhaps it should have been the rule of wrist?

[nikia]

Thinking of doing a Dynamis Xarcabard run with just a few ppl, I heard can go as low as 4, RDM BLM MNK THF. Only want to farm, only really want RDM hat.
Any info on a working setup and strat would be wonderful. I never led a Dynamis Xar run and any info would help a lot. Thank you.

[NynJa]

Thinking of doing a Dynamis Xarcabard run with just a few ppl, I heard can go as low as 4, RDM BLM MNK THF. Only want to farm, only really want RDM hat.
Any info on a working setup and strat would be wonderful. I never led a Dynamis Xar run and any info would help a lot. Thank you.

Kill first TE because you'll probably need it, then sac pull rdm NM and any other NM's you want to target. From there, just stick to small pulls?

[nikia]

Kill first TE because you'll probably need it, then sac pull rdm NM and any other NM's you want to target. From there, just stick to small pulls?

So is four enough or need more? Thank you also

[barber2006]

Does the maint like we had today circumvent any RL day limitations? Like If I turned in guild point items this morning can I do it again? Or if I had a game day wait during a quest could I move forward with it?

[Pandorablue]

Is there anywhere I can find out the specific attribute values and/or acc/atk/eva values of known monsters (eg, ones that have been in the game for a while, or (H)NMs)?

[Neisan]

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/forum.htm...445&howmany=50

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/db/jobs.h...;num=18;page=1

Searched them sometime ago and this was all I could dig up, you would probably have to use the information on the first to calculate it yourself, and some of the calculations on evasion have to be redone since they apply to level 75 level correction.

[Deftscythe]

Is there any way for my to buy the heroes add-on and gift it to someone if I already have it?

[Ophannus]

What does Familiar actually do? I heard it raises Pet's HP by +10% but does it heal it too? Or must you Familiar, then Reward to heal back the +10% HP. Seems kind of lame if that's all it did, pre-Reward.

[Kyte]

Looking for info for a friend on standard TP/Vorpal/CdC sets for Blue Mage, as well as potentially Atma/Spell combos that must include Grellow procs. I've tried looking around a bit for him but FFXIAH's search function doesn't list R/EX gear and I really don't give half a shit about the job to know what R/EX gear it can and can't wear.

He's always been pretty anal about gearing his BLU but the numbers he puts out and the numbers I hear "career blue mages" fling around are so far away from each other that I'm sure either he has to be doing something wrong or the numbers being reported are just that off base (Ie: I got a lucky TA on this fully buffed CdC, let's pretend this is an average Blu WS").

How much of his damage should be coming from Spells and how much from TP/WS? How much of his time should he spend spamming spells versus swinging, and which, to maximize damage? What swords should he be main and off-handing both before and after the completion of his almace (preferably best 2-3 options)?

Can you post any of his gear sets?

[Clave]

What does Familiar actually do? I heard it raises Pet's HP by +10% but does it heal it too? Or must you Familiar, then Reward to heal back the +10% HP. Seems kind of lame if that's all it did, pre-Reward.

Doesn't heal as far as I remember, but does raise max HP. Its main use is allowing you to keep a tougher mob charmed for 30 minutes without charm wearing off. BST in P.Aqueducts used to use this to charm tougher slimes and solo subligars, for example. Wiki also says it can also enhance attack speed and stats, but I'm not sure on that. Honestly I never noticed a difference myself in the pet's actual strength.

[Gun-it]

I have been trying to level my NPC up to 70 for fun and I have done every quest to build my bond with her up and she is level 65 but Luto Mewrilah will not give me the quest raise my npc's level cap to 70. anyone know anything about this?

[Mad Friar Avelyn]

Best Atma setup for a Fudo SAM in Abyssea? I got my Hiradennotachi today and I've been using VV/RR/Apoc up until today. I was wondering if there was a better setup, maybe replacing VV with Stout Arm for the extra attack for Fudo?

[Neisan]

VV aids TP ticks, not too sure on the WoE GK but it does help for Masamune, depends if you can 4 hit or not depending on 3rd Atma.

[Greatguardian]

Can you post any of his gear sets?

I honestly would but he won't give them to me >.>'. It'd be easier on me if he just asked himself but he doesn't like posting on BG. He tends to have issues with people he doesn't know telling him how to play and such. Fortunately, I don't have much issue with it, and don't really mind helping him fix up his gear/spells and getting him on the right track. I simply don't really know where to start with Blue Mage, as the job has held absolutely no fascination for me personally.