Blue Mage: Best thread ever

[Kyte]

I would go with DA/STR if you have the option to get it. I have been eyeing the DEF down sword lately, will be awesome if it goes to -20% def down in future updates.

I completely understand why the DA/STR is a good option, but the problem is that it prevents you from obtaining another option- which may pull out (farther?) ahead in the future.

Another STR Shamshir would take me less time to make than it would for me to finish my Antea from where it is (at the branch point). However, I also have a OA3 H2H weapon to finish.../sigh.

y honest opinion on this at the moment is that STR/STR is a more than acceptable option. The relative value of the DA and OAT swords may change with the next update(s) and there's no telling what other paths might be introduced. STR/STR won't lock up your Khanda and potentially force repeating trials if you're heavy into weapon optimization, and with everything there is to do right now time is at a premium. In addition, it's great for /RDM situations (heavily skewed spell:melee split) and will also be a strong competitor for /NIN at 90 given that DW III will accelerate TP gain. Even STR/OAT will be below 180 delay/hand at that point but STR/STR will still generate better TP/min before accounting for OAT.

Thanks, you seem to understand what I was getting at.

[Draylo]

I completely understand why the DA/STR is a good option, but the problem is that it prevents you from obtaining another option- which may pull out (farther?) ahead in the future.

Another STR Shamshir would take me less time to make than it would for me to finish my Antea from where it is (at the branch point). However, I also have a OA3 H2H weapon to finish.../sigh.

Well yeah, I had just assumed you were gonna go for one now. I am at this point myself, I am waiting for update before I push into making one of these swords. Yeah same... I am doing so many weapons atm heh, but worth it in the end lol. I wanna do another str sword and acc one.

[Nightfyre]

2 STR, 1 DEX, 1 VIT (PDT), 1 MND (MDB) here in addition to weapons for my other jobs ._.; Khanda is definitely on the backburner for me lol.

[Draylo]

Ya kinda thankful in a way that they didn't put on the elemental staves >_> or would have to do a ton more lol.

[ronin sparthos]

Totally annoyed at the reports that the lvl80 add effect weapons have a significantly lower proc rate than their lvl75 counterparts.

[Draylo]

I heard it was around 10~20% proc rate. Not too bad.

[Nightfyre]

Ya kinda thankful in a way that they didn't put on the elemental staves >_> or would have to do a ton more lol.

I'm pretty pissed about that honestly. Planning on leveling RDM at some point anyway so it's not like it would have been extra work for me.

[Samonez]

surprisingly enough, the current linkshell I'm in was specifically looking for people with BLU leveled.


and outside of that, my Abyssea static likes my versatility (Carrying around all your gear in your satchel, allowing to switch your spells/role in a moments notice has it's uses)

[Koyangi]

Since besides possibly AV, there's not 1 single event in this game that absolutely needs a specific DD completely over BLU, what's so wrong with bringing a BLU to something because someone wants to have fun? Whatever the hell it is you're fighting or accomplishing is still going to die anyway even if that same guy had an 80 war and sam.

Especially if the BLU knows what they're doing and they arent a mockery of the job etc, their contribution will be a subtle if noticable difference in the completion of your event.

[Kaslo]

Only because we have had the foregoing argument like a billion times, someone reinstigating is easily a successful troll:

[Khidir]

were my posts deleted? or did my internet hiccup lol, I'll ask again

that helps a little, but i'm not sure how to caluculate skill vs stats or the difference persay

ie

how much a skill tier increase would weigh vs a stat increase (for example we'll say enk hands 4 str and 4 dex +4acc)

I guess I"m asking is what an extra tier of blue magic damage translates into in terms of stat increase. Tiers should still stay the same way if I'm thinking it works same as the difference between phalanx I and II ie the same gap but as level increases they still get better but the formula isnt changed so the same gap exists.

I'll try rereading the link but I'm not mathematically inclined lol.

[Nightfyre]

Maintenance is eating posts from time to time.

Base damage = (D+fSTR+WSC)

Skill contributes to D via the formula floor(skill*0.11)*2+3

So every time (skill*0.11) reaches a new integer value, you gain two base damage (*2). How that compares to stats depends on the spell in question, as they all have different mods.

For increases in base stats, you look at fSTR and WSC. fSTR varies wildly due to differences in monster VIT scores, so the best approach is generally to simply take the difference in STR and divide it by 4. WSC values vary by spell (refer to the tables on the BGwiki page Yugl posted), but you can basically total up the change in stats and multiply by the WSC value for an approximation that will generally suffice. Normally I'd say to total up your entire WSC and also include alpha, but due to spell bonuses our stats can vary by a significant amount so that's not always the best approach.

There's also attack to consider; the current model is that 1 blue magic skill adds 1 attack and 2 STR adds 1 attack to our spells.

How much acc weighs in depends on your current hitrate.

[Yugl]

(D+fSTR+WSC)

For BLU skill, calculate the damage gained using the formula: Floor(Blue Magic Skill*0.11)*2 + 3.
EX:
Skill with item: 250
Skill without item: 230

[Floor(250*.11)*2+3] - [Floor(230*.11)*2+3] = "#"


For STR use: (STR/4)
EX: STR gained from item
(STR gained/4) = "#"

For stats that affect the mods (including STR if it is a mod) use: [(Stat gained*MOD%)*(Stat2 gained*MOD%)]*[.83]
NOTE: (.83) is the value for LV75; it should be slightly higher at 80
EX: Spell has 50% STR 50% VIT mod; gain 5 STR + 5 VIT from an item
1. STRMOD: (5*.5) = [2.5] = 2
2. VITMOD: (5*.5) = [2.5] = 2
3. (2+2)*(.83) = "#"

For each piece of gear you're comparing, add the "#" and add them together. Then compare the numbers to see which piece of gear gives the highest "#". This is a crude way of comparing since the WSC can be more technical, but it should be more understandable.

[huckster]

Have you guys tried soloing Limbus as BLU80 for +1 pieces? Any luck? Suggestions? Tips? I want to get a Luminian Thread (Temenos) and Flameshun Cloth (Apollyon) for my +1 body.

[Khidir]

its possible, the spells are there for blu definitely

there's actually a vid on youtube of a blu soloing gobs on tem floor, with the level cap increase and the next one around the corner it'll be even easier since limbus mobs are pretty squishy(but a little evasive in comparison to most dynamis mobs).

Suggestions treat it like nyzul, equip yawn with your regular setup my own looks something like this.

Big Three
Actinic Burst/Plasma Charge(auto refresh)
Frightful Roar (May have to exchange for yawn or break conserve mp with the next combo below)
Chaotic Eye/ Frost Breath(Zephyr mantle works to save a point but i like a magic ability at my side)
Magic Fruit( Its more mp efficient and is much easier to spam with or without haste than Plenuline Embrace)
Animating Wail
Battery Charge
Cocoon

I have no assimilation merits yet btw, I could have forgotten a spell but I doubt it. And I havent the new WoE Spells either(yet) but even then I'd be hesistant on Conserve MP vs. DA traits. DA should win but when you're solo prolonged fights arent to a blue mage's advantage normally when you use a lot of mp in a short time conserve mp is good for that. DA is nice dont get me wrong but have to survive first.


Tem zones you should be fine since there are no big bosses for most of them on each floor...apolly has big bosses just depends on what you want to take on I think last week my group did NE apolly blu could easily decimate the birds there even the thiazi(rocs) in there as well.

Something I learned the hardway about birds is that still scing with Savage Blade > Disseverment for the SC effect will hurt them more than doing the usual Vorpal > Hysteric Barrage. Normally I'd go with the latter for most mobs but for things weak to piercing its hard to out do normally with the latter combo than the former.

A good thing about blu is that we can inflict all 3 types of damage at the same time with the current cap I'd recommend a fellow blu or mage for duo in apolly. For tem some careful pulling and some well timed sleeps you can scrape by. You'll want shadows to be sure since most mobs hit hard

Night/Yug: Thanks I'll try to pull some numbers and compare and get back to you on it to make sure I'm doing it right.

[shukudai]

I've been trioing (friend + me + 2boxing), and use Temenos - Western Tower. According to wiki that zone gives you 3 shots at BLU I believe, (even though it took me like 9 runs to see 1 ...)

If you're only going for BLU, just treat it like you would a normal run. We go MNK, BLU, WHM/SMN (carby pulling some mobs), and usually clear the zone. We adjust how far we go depending on if we only wanted BLU, or what not, since it's a long ass zone and the last floor doesn't drop BLU. But any 2 DDs and a healer should be able to do it with ease. Solo, well.. Bring shit that removes para, and you should do not bad either, since first floor Tigers are a pain if they para you.

[Draylo]

New JA for BLU:

Efflux (BLU Lv.83 Ability Delay: 3 min. Effect Duration: 1 min.)
If the next spell you cast is a "physical" blue magic spell, a TP bonus will be granted.

New spells!
http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics...67/5767_17.jpg

Dunno what that one is.

[kenshyn]

New JA for BLU:

Efflux (BLU Lv.83 Ability Delay: 3 min. Effect Duration: 1 min.)
If the next spell you cast is a "physical" blue magic spell, a TP bonus will be granted.

New spells!
http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics...67/5767_17.jpg

Dunno what that one is.

This is pure gold hopefully its 100Tp bonus can't wait to get this ability it looks like pure win.

[ronin sparthos]

That looks like a new mob spell.

[Sabishii]

That looks like a Fairy Spell, maybe Cyclonic Turmoil (wind damage + dispel) or Zepyhr Arrow (ranged attack with knockback + Bind). I don't fight many fairies often, but I'm certain it's one of their attacks (unless it's a totally new mob with a wind looking attack). Having another bind attack? I dunno, we have two already (blastbomb and regurgitation), but maybe it's a physical spell that looks like a wind attack (sub-zero smash, hydro shot are physical despite have ice/water names/appearances). Wish they showed more than one picture, or gave names in advance lol