Random Question Thread XVIII: Just an Ordinary Sword of Legend

[hykiri]

What are some mobs in Vunk that do not give Ruby?

[Andradi]

Slough Bats and River Murex according to http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Abyssea_Lights

[Kyte]

Good photoshop torrent?

[Rehn]

Can the "song recast delay -x" gear help exceed the 50% recast time on brd songs?

EDIT: Ok, just answered my own question, and it can't.

[GoggleHead]

What's the damage formula for Drain and Aspir? I'm trying to figure out how much Dark Magic Skill+ gear is enough.

[Innuendo]

Robonosto's work gives evidence for there being no practical cap on dark magic skill increasing damage of drain and aspir. Just keep stacking, I guess.

[Yugl]

Whatever happen to that dude anyways?

[Taube]

Anyone have an up to date copy of that program that checks WS points?

http://apradar.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=4 here be Apnea's LatentChecker.
Remember to read the help on that, getting the amount of WS points of weapon isn't quite as simple as just starting program and reading the points.

[cdgreg]

Anyone have a program that works like Easymac used to before it broke? Basically equip whatever gear you want, designate a name, press a button and it creates a windower .txt or spellcast macro for you?

[Kitrane]

Does Blood Boon + gear need to be equipped before a blood pact is activated or can it be equipped before it processes?

[Byrthnoth]

Okay, so I've been attempting to skill up parrying and parsing it. I use +Parrying Skill gear (2x parrying knives, Parrying torque) and /WAR on DNC (for Aggressor at least as much as Defender).

261 Parrying (+25=286) vs. Aw'Aern Monks, which I know how to find because I spent way too much time in sea. My parrying rate is floored at 5%, and I skill up off approximately 5% of parries (1/400 swings will skill me up). When I look at my parses against xp monsters, I have the same Parrying rate (floored at 5%). I likely have the same skillup rate, but instead of getting .2s I get, like, .5s.


Anyway, bottom line is, I think it's totally worthless for me to skill up parrying. The most ideal case (skill up to cap, Boxer's Mantle, etc) would put me approximately the same relative level parrying skill level to my prey as it currently is to these skillup monsters. Like:
* Right now My Parrying Skill ~= Parrying skill cap for these Aerns. 5% Parrying rate.
* In an ideal case where Parries might matter, my parrying skill would be capped and I'd be fighting hard monsters, so My Parrying Skill ~= Parrying skill cap for hard monsters. I'd predict a 5% Parrying rate in that case based upon my skillup parses with unrealistic gear that I wouldn't use in real fights (double Parrying Knives).

So I no longer care what my parrying skill is. It can stay white forever. I got nothin against white numbers.

Just out of random interest, has anyone parsed higher than a 5% proc rate on Parrying? Does skill even affect proc rate?

[Kirschy]

Okay, so I've been attempting to skill up parrying and parsing it. I use +Parrying Skill gear (2x parrying knives, Parrying torque) and /WAR on DNC (for Aggressor at least as much as Defender).

261 Parrying (+25=286) vs. Aw'Aern Monks, which I know how to find because I spent way too much time in sea. My parrying rate is floored at 5%, and I skill up off approximately 5% of parries (1/400 swings will skill me up). When I look at my parses against xp monsters, I have the same Parrying rate (floored at 5%). I likely have the same skillup rate, but instead of getting .2s I get, like, .5s.


Anyway, bottom line is, I think it's totally worthless for me to skill up parrying. The most ideal case (skill up to cap, Boxer's Mantle, etc) would put me approximately the same relative level parrying skill level to my prey as it currently is to these skillup monsters. Like:
* Right now My Parrying Skill ~= Parrying skill cap for these Aerns. 5% Parrying rate.
* In an ideal case where Parries might matter, my parrying skill would be capped and I'd be fighting hard monsters, so My Parrying Skill ~= Parrying skill cap for hard monsters. I'd predict a 5% Parrying rate in that case based upon my skillup parses with unrealistic gear that I wouldn't use in real fights (double Parrying Knives).

So I no longer care what my parrying skill is. It can stay white forever. I got nothin against white numbers.

Just out of random interest, has anyone parsed higher than a 5% proc rate on Parrying? Does skill even affect proc rate?

Ages ago when I cared about Parrying I found a unique way to test it. Using a Lv1 weapon which you have no skill with (Event GKT or event PLM), engage some lv 40-50ishish monster, and then go afk hours. You'll get parries, and barely dent the mob. When I did this I capped out parry at 25%ish. When I tried testing parry using Parry Knives and max parry skill+ to see how high I could get my parry rate, I wasn't breaking 20%. For a while I just assumed 2H got better parry rate than 1H, but knowing what I know now, it might have just been low sample size.

Anyway, to go on what you're saying, I've noticed parry rate stays floor'd at 5%. Pre level cap increases my SAM and my DRK parried at the same rate despite like a 70 skill difference. And on weak mobs it caps out kinda low. It's just one of those things thats nice, but it's not worth trying for =/.

[Byrthnoth]

Okay, not going to stress out about capping it then, because additional skill won't help in any situation I'd be in where it matters.

[vinguru896]

Hey, question:

I'm currently aiming for a DRG build of around 550~ attack, 8% double attack, 5-hit, and 22% haste in TP build.

The build would be as follows:

grip: rose strap
ammo: thew bomblet
head: brisk mask
neck: chivalrous chain
ear1: brutal earring
ear2: aesir ear pendant
body: lancer's plackart +2
hand: timarli dastanas
ring1: rajas ring
ring2: hoard ring
back: atheling mantle
waist: goading belt
pants: ace's hose
feet: ace's sabatons

Is this high/low/good/bad? What should I improve?

Requoting for an answer or something. Got ignored due to flames about lottery pops.

[Foldypaws]

Grip-> pole
ammo -> white tathlum
head-> DRG +2
ring2 -> blitz
feat -> DRG +2

and use sTP lance.

(the build you posted only has 20% haste, if you're committed to using another 492 delay lance , ammo->White tathlum, head->+2 or zealous are probably the best swaps.)

[Yugl]

Requoting for an answer or something. Got ignored due to flames about lottery pops.

What weapon are you are using? Corsesca (OAT) and sTP have different sTP requirements, so what is "good" will change. I'll give you a set up for Corsesca because sTP Lance uses less sTP in gear.

Rose Strap
Thew Bomblet
AF3+2
Agasaya's Necklace
Brutal Earring
Aesir (There might be something better now)
AF3+2 Body
Timarli
Strigoi Ring
Rajas Ring
Atheling Mantle
Bullwhip Belt
Bestia Breeches (Haste+4)
AF3+2 Feet

The only combination I'm uncertain of (because I just thought of it) would be to change Rose strap for Brave Grip or Pole Grip and change Strigoi to Hoard Ring.

[Kamil]

Capping Crit DMG+ should be my first priority on my WS set right?

[Nightfyre]

Not necessarily.

[tahs]

could someone please post the top NIN TP phase sets with and without marches? i'm not sure what to make of full AF+2, hitting the -delay cap, and whatever else. thank you.

[TacoTaru]

Any real utility for Iga Douchugappa?