Blue Mage: Best thread ever

[Vriska]

If that is the case, is 85 almace really worth it anymore, compared to just using 2x STR shikargar with vorpal between SCs?

Aftermath, ability to double-light off a Light SC, the fact that physical spells seem to suck in VW?

[fantasticdan]

With the 2x str sword, you're getting an extra 4 base dmg, 11 str/22 atk on all hits (as opposed to just ODD on main hand), and the str applies to spells too. I wouldn't doubt that almace is still better, but I can't imagine it's by much.

As for VW, when I go blu I'm nuking/curing/proccing. If I wanted to do melee dmg I think I would be better off coming a different job.

Is vorpal really that much worse than CDC outside of SC property thou? If I'm not completely misunderstanding how these numbers work, with offhand hit, it would be 5.25 ftp 60% dex with an extra 10 dex, vs 5.00 ftp 30% str with an extra 11 str 22 atk, and 4 base dmg on the mainhand hits. Does CDC have a higher critrate or something?

[Sekundes]

Almace is 15 to start and scales to 40% at 300%tp.

I have no idea what vorpal's crit rate baseline is or how it scales. I couldn't find anything on it.

[doctorugh]

I would think the ideal thing to do would be to CDC alone (aftermath) and then Renquist->QC when CA is up.

[VZX01]

Not sure if this will help or not, but this is directly out of the magic resource data file.

Spoiler: show

String Table Entry 692 Sudden Lunge Damage varies with TP. Additional effect: Stun.
String Table Entry 693 Quadrastrike Delivers a fourfold attack. Chance of critical hit varies with TP.
String Table Entry 694 Vapor Spray Deals water breath damage to enemies within a fan-shaped area originating from the caster. Additional effect: Poison.
String Table Entry 695 Thunder Breath Deals thunder breath damage to enemies within a fan-shaped area originating from the caster.
String Table Entry 696 O. Counterstance Increases the caster's chance of countering.
String Table Entry 697 Amorphic Spikes Delivers a fivefold attack. Damage varies with TP.
String Table Entry 698 Wind Breath Deals wind breath damage to enemies within a fan-shaped area originating from the caster.
String Table Entry 699 Barbed Crescent Damage varies with TP. Additional effect: Accuracy Down.
String Table Entry 738 Absolute Terror Freezes target in fear.
String Table Entry 739 Gates of Hades Deals fire damage to enemies within area of effect. Additional effect: Burn.
String Table Entry 740 Tourbillion Delivers an area attack. Additional effect duration varies with TP. Additional effect: Weakens defense.
String Table Entry 741 Pyric Bulwark Resists physical damage.
String Table Entry 742 Bilgestorm Delivers an area attack. Additional effect duration varies with TP. Additional effect: Lowers attack, defense, and accuracy.
String Table Entry 743 Bloodrake Delivers a threefold attack. Damage varies with TP. Additional effect: HP Drain.

Thanks for replying,
However those numbers correspond to entry index which currently already provided from windower site. I know those numbers can be looked via POLUtil, but not id number. The new spells entry ID are still "0".

[Septimus]

Thanks for replying,
However those numbers correspond to entry index which currently already provided from windower site. I know those numbers can be looked via POLUtil, but not id number. The new spells entry ID are still "0".

The PoLUtil IDs are the best I can do for you.

[Kyte]

Does CDC have a higher critrate or something?

It most certainly does. As far as I know, the exact crit rate for Vorpal Blade is unknown- however, Rampage was tested a long time ago to be 10%. Given that these WS were made at the same time, I think there's a pretty good possibility that they are the same. Second, CDC's WSC also contributes to crit rate via dDEX.

Self-SCs in a group setting (and I realize you're probably mostly talking about solo) should rarely be a deciding factor on making a fairly drastic gear alteration. When there are so many other melee WSing on the monster, successfully completing one is a matter of luck- not to mention, you'll randomly end up SCing with other people anyways.

As for VW, BLU melee isn't bad at all on many of the NMs. CDC is a fairly powerful WS, and /WAR can be a good option.

[Neisan]

Vorpal is possibly 10% but I'm fairly certain the blog on ws crit rates had rampage/jin at like 5%. Vorpal was originally accuracy varies with TP or something like that iirc and then was later changed to being a crit WS.

[Kyte]

Then the difference is even greater and the choice to downgrade is even dumber.

[fantasticdan]

It's not about 'downgrading' to me, it's whether or not it's worth it to start making an almace for blu at this point, that will most likely not go higher than 85. I'm only really meleeing on blu in solo/small group settings, so the quad c. sc seems very much worth it. I'd really like to see the math between the two, is there a spreadsheet that can be used somewhere?

[VZX01]

If I can full merit a 4th meritable WS, I still not gonna do Requiescat.

BTW, How do you guys plan on setting a room for proc spell or mapping your spell list for voidwatch battle? What is your usual procedure to swap in which spell for trigger, how many slots being left open, how many set points to spare, etc.

[dasva]

Yeah I'm mostly in the small group settings. And granted I only have the WoE swd... but I'm still getting made at my blu friends with meh gear doing much much more dmg on self skillchains than me. Hell half the time CDC CA amorphic isn't any better just saying screw the skillchain any using quadra (really really wish that had lvl 2 properties)

[jimbobsonofgod]

BTW, How do you guys plan on setting a room for proc spell or mapping your spell list for voidwatch battle? What is your usual procedure to swap in which spell for trigger, how many slots being left open, how many set points to spare, etc.

Personally if i'm in VW i'm there for procs I usually end up just going blu/sch wipe my spell list and set nothing but proc spells
If done right you should be able to have about 65% of the procs without having to switch out spells.
Its a different story if there's another blu in the party. At that point I evenly distribute the spell list between both blus then add other spells depending on mob.

[Neisan]

With clarity I don't reset until I hear/see blue proc, then wipe the bottom half of my spell list based on what I set. That's for pug/lower tier mobs however.

Blu is just screwed either way, and I'd rather go /whm (/rdm if standing back spamming regurg) than /sch. At least then I have C4/haste and all -nas.

[fantasticdan]

I just set two elements worth of proc spells, and change if there's a blu hint not corresponding to what I have.

[ronin sparthos]

Usually just BLU/RDM and set nukes (orb, grudge, regur etc.) for dmg until a BLU proc comes up in which I'll then set the element at the bottom.

Certain weaker Voidwatch mobs I'll just come on a typical melee build w/CDC and spam Wings/Fanatics.

[jimbobsonofgod]

I go /sch for the helix/aspir/drain/dispel procs if the fight requires can stay in light arts til its blm darkness hint.(only dont have access to haste and cure IV. Can drop a proc for magic fruit if neded and still retain over 50% of the procs already set)
The goal for me is to have the best shot at proc'n without having to wait the 2 minutes especially when you're firing out procs in quick succession.

Most of the its because of what the guy under me posted. Waiting on procs can make or break some fights.

[Darkmagi]

I prefer having my blus ready to proc things as fast as possible and have as many spells set as they can. Damage output isn't an issue usually, but on some NMs you can end up wiping or losing DDs if you don't proc fast enough.

[fantasticdan]

I go /sch for the helix/aspir/drain/dispel procs if the fight requires can stay in light arts til its blm darkness hint.(only dont have access to haste and cure IV can drop a proc for magic fruit if neded but still retain over 50% of having the proc set)
The goal for me is to have the best shot at proc'n without having to wait the 2 minutes especially when you're firing out procs in quick succession.

Why not have your whms do helix procs? Seems silly for blu to come /sch for that. Not that it really matters I guess if you aren't doing anything beyond proc.

[jimbobsonofgod]

Not melee`n so no need for nin sub, with temp items MP really shouldn`t be an issue so no need for convert, just seems logical to me to lighten the load of other mages. Again if i was there for damage, I`d go another job. Tend to use proc spells for damage while i`m there but i place more value on the ability to proc quickly then i do my damage output.