Blind II Question:

[FFXIFlux]

Guess we don't need to cure either since tanks could just use hi-pots instead.

http://ffxi.somepage.com/itemdb/8030

http://ffxi.somepage.com/itemdb/5937

Is that a joke? <.< Switching out Aegis or +3 enmity or w/e shield you are using for 30 seconds and then making yourself completely useless for the 10 seconds it takes to actually use them damn thing, followed by a recast of 10 minutes making you only have phalanx on for 2 minutes every 10 minutes?

We usually have 2 tanks for stuff, so swapping the shield for 30 seconds (and carrying a couple of them to get around the 10 minute thing) really isn't an issue. But apparantly it's a bigger issue than phalanx is worth. In other words you agree that phalanx isn't godly.

[Jertaru]

Its not about which spells are better, but rather how you're playing RDM.

If you're in the main tank pt most of the time playing support style, Phalanx II is obviously ideal to get.


If you solo a lot using DoT/kite Bio3 is definetly good to have, whereas if you merit with tp burn or dynamis a lot, Dia3 would probably be better.


Putting merits into SlowII and ParaII are wise choices if you're the strongest enfeebler in your ls and are there purely to enfeeble/refresh.


In reality when it comes to RDM merit spells you can't be the best at everything, so imo its best to pick with a style, be good at it, and stick to it.



(I didn't mention blind2 before as said before, I really can't see it being useful to the point where it outweighs any of the other spells.)


edit: hi swatt

[Swatt]

Considering the size of that shield I'm not even sure the enchantment would outweigh how measily the damage reduction will be from blocks.

And, why is everyone only talking about PLDs? As a NIN I love the spell just as much.

not everyone has a -50% dmg reduction trait

[Zetah]

No.... >.> It means it's not worth gimping yourself for like 50 seconds when you could just have it casted on you, and not worth the equipment swap and making people have a harder time just casting on you.

[RKenshin]

Considering the size of that shield I'm not even sure the enchantment would outweigh how measily the damage reduction will be from blocks.

And, why is everyone only talking about PLDs? As a NIN I love the spell just as much.

not everyone has a -50% dmg reduction trait

I don't see why any other NIN wouldn't like it either lol.

[FFXIFlux]

if your pld's getting hit for 600 constantly, i think he should put some gear on. or at least his shield.

If they're getting hit for less than that then 2-box WHM outside the alliance can solo heal the entire fight. You don't even need phalanx or anything, just someone to haste and march the tanks.

No.... >.> It means it's not worth gimping yourself for like 50 seconds when you could just have it casted on you, and not worth the equipment swap and making people have a harder time just casting on you.

My point was that no one used Hoplon before RDM got Phalanx II, so it's hard to call Phalanx II godly when no one would put up with a few inconviences to get Phalanx on themselves.

[Swatt]

Guess we don't need to cure either since tanks could just use hi-pots instead.

http://ffxi.somepage.com/itemdb/8030

http://ffxi.somepage.com/itemdb/5937

Is that a joke? <.< Switching out Aegis or +3 enmity or w/e shield you are using for 30 seconds and then making yourself completely useless for the 10 seconds it takes to actually use them damn thing, followed by a recast of 10 minutes making you only have phalanx on for 2 minutes every 10 minutes?

We usually have 2 tanks for stuff, so swapping the shield for 30 seconds (and carrying a couple of them to get around the 10 minute thing) really isn't an issue. But apparantly it's a bigger issue than phalanx is worth. In other words you agree that phalanx isn't godly.

tank1: OK i tank lol
tank2: i bakup hur hur
tank1: ANNOYING FLASH MACRO!!! UTSUSAMMY NII!!!
tank2: ANNOYING HEAL MACRO!!!
tank1: OK i got hate lol
tank2: k sec i put phalanx on myself
RDM: HAY WUT ABT ME
tank2: stfu phalanx 2 useless i can apply myself
tank1: shadows down o fuck
tank2: 10s more before i can cast, just wait
tank2: ANNOYING HEAL MACRO!!!
tank1: i r hit for 600! i r dying!!!
tank2: i casting phalanx now lol wait

you know how it goes.

[Carbon]

Phalanx II also works on Multi-Hit WS.

[Septimus]

Phalanx II is nice, I'm pretty much always in the tank party because of it when I do stuff on RDM. I just wish it was the same damage calculation as Phalanx and change it back to AoE like it was originally supposed to be... (99 MP to give everyone in the party in the party 27 damage reduction would be really hot.)

[divisortheory]

Defense if broken already so you wont be casting BIO on endgame mobs

If Defense is broken, there's no point trying to lower the mob's defense amirite?

Edit: Just spend your points on Slow II and Paralyze II, that way you can cast the same enfeeble on the same mob that another person in your party/alliance just cast.

[Rocl]

where the fuck is my enthunder2

[Beckwin]

shadows > phalanx

sry.

And slow/para make keeping shadows up even easier.

[Reaper-X]

Get 2 RDM in your alliance with every spell merited!

[Asherek]

My point was that no one used Hoplon before RDM got Phalanx II, so it's hard to call Phalanx II godly when no one would put up with a few inconviences to get Phalanx on themselves.

You've got to be kidding me.

Few inconveniences?

Wait 30 seconds while the timer decreases (granted, you can do other things in the initial 30 seconds, but I digress). Use said item and wait for 10 seconds, during which you can't do anything. After casting time is over, wait another 10-12 seconds because you get an "unable to use ability" when trying to do ANYTHING after using it. Watch Phalanx only last 2 minutes out of the 10 minute timer period.

So in order to have constant Phalanx on, I'd need 5 Spartan Hoplons, which by the way, is a Size 2 shield. It's been pretty much accepted that Size 3 Shield is the best overall damage reduction, so while you're gaining Phalanx, you're also gimping the damage reduction you'd be achieving had you been using a Size 3 shield. Taking off Spartan Hoplon removes Phalanx effect, exactly like High Breath Mantle, so this is a horrible option.

So really, of COURSE noone uses it because that item is trash, not because Phalanx itself is trash. Phalanx II is good. It's not game-breaking amazing, but for that matter, neither are any of the other RDM meritted spells. They're certainly improvements, and given the choices, I'd probably want a RDM to merit Slow/Paralyze/Phalanx in that order of importance, but Phalanx II isn't worthless.

[bebeci]

where the fuck is my enthunder2

Bloodpact: Rolling Thunder?

[Freight]

in an ideal world an LS would have 2+ RDMs with all spells maxed out together yo, too bad everyone is trying to get their own epeen longer

[Fuuko]

What about Blind II as a hate/enmity spell? I use blind a LOT when tanking... it's cast pretty fast and gives a lot of hate, not to mention low MP cost. Ya or nay?

When I was fucking around with a Nin friend, we tested Blind II vs. Kurayami: NI for hate, by casting at max distance, both him first/me first, and before the mob could attack, and it would always go towards me(Blind II). However he was only 73, if that even matters.

Who landed the spell first, you or him?

His spell landed first half the time, and mine landed first the other.

[Ksandra]

Edit: Just spend your points on Slow II and Paralyze II, that way you can cast the same enfeeble on the same mob that another person in your party/alliance just cast.

This sentence is key when it comes to blind 2

if you're doing hnm with a lot of other well-meritted rdms they probably all have slow 2 and para 2. Whereas those are better than blind 2, it might still be an option. Imo blind 2, para 2, and slow 2 on a mob is better than just para 2 and slow 2. I think that's the only arguement for actually getting it. It all depends on how you play rdm, what you do mostly as an rdm, and what spells do the other rdms have in your ls.

[Alibeemac]

I meritted Level 3 Slow II, Level 1 Para II, Level 1 Dia III and Level 1 Phalanx II. I also have Level 3 Earth, Level 3 Ice, Level 3 Wind and Level 1 Convert (May Switch this out for Level 4 Earth at some point since I very rarely use Convert, when I get the 200+ merits I still need to cap my other 5 jobs >.>). I couldn't decide upon maxing Para or Slow but in the end I decided Slow > all.

RDMs all have different ways of working and what they focus upon most. This works best for me based on the way I work and my ls does things however it probably wouldn't work for others. Let people merit what they want. After all they can always remove them and upgrade something else in the future if they decide that they don't like certain things.