Originally Posted by
Sylphet
Hmmm.
I'd have to say that's an unorthodox and pretty risky strategy.
Here's the main issues I have:
You mention the critical nature of barspells and yet you severly gimp them by not having a WHM (121 max barspell w/o enhancing magic merits) or even a RDM/WHM (101 *i think* max barspell w/o enhancing magic merits) in your tank party. Not having a WHM in party also means that you don't get Shellra V. You'll also be very happy if that WHM had Devotion. Out pt WHM is so 2005!
Your first stetup doesn't have a RDM, that would scare me as I've seen MP get drained quickly when things get rough during JoL.
Magus Roll is NOT going to be enough to substantially reduce magic damage to the point where it's going to justify taking up a spot for someone who could provide more useful spells such as a RDM or a WHM. It's one of those things that could make a difference if all your tanks have stacked magic def gear but aside from that I don't personally see it contributing that much to the party.
SMNs are quite gimped as main healers, it's cruel to make them do it. Also, hastega is not very MP efficient considering it doesn't last as long as regular haste. Not to mention that if you have a SMN casting party buffs, that takes a substantial amount of time the they won't be able to main heal in.
I know nothing about having BLU in a tank party so I can't comment on that.
Here's how we (usually) do it:
Tank x3 (chose your tank preference, NIN/WAR can't hold hate for shit here on the off chance you didn't know) If you have PLD/NIN*WHM*RDM tanks than you are correct in that your main hate will come from healing after -ga's etc. As I stated before, anything BRD or /BRD will own hate on JoL.
WHM/SMN
RDM/WHM
BRD/WHM
3 tanks stand on one side of JoL. Tank Party mages stand 90deg. counterclockwise to them, this makes them close enough to cure, buff, etc but not close enough to get hit by -gas (WHM and BRD will run up to tanks as needed for bar spells and songs). 180deg. from tanks are the damage dealers. These consist of (for us) SMNs, BLMs, SAMs and Kraken DRKs (need spare WHMs to spam cures on these guys to make it work). The ONLY thing tanks need to do against JoL is hold hate so that you don't see a sea (pun intended!) of dead tarutaru because someone pulled hate and wiped out all your DD in a single -ga.
If I interpreted your post correctly, your ls doesn't have very much experience with JoL. Personally I'd stray away from an unusual tank party setup until you guys know how to beat him with a more traditional party. It's very risky imo to potentially waste weeks of sea farming on something that has never been tested before.
Unlike CoP wyrms, JoL gets easier as you beat him down. Getting past the first 5-10% is the hardest part.
and btw, if you're going for haste setup to help you keep hate on your PLD then use Capricorn's Staff. If you have Chivalry, you're not going to want to change weapons and lose TP so gogo Cap. Staff but! there are better people to ask about that than I. Oh yeah, some PLDs I know are trying out Numinous Shield+1 just for elemental resists if you want to go sword/shield. But i repeat, there are people who know a hell of a lot more about that than I do lol.
Hope this helps some~ gl!