Whats better?

[Max™]

They're all pretty angsty about it.

299, 1 away from having another base damage boost is like SE saying "Oh ... oh, so close... but NO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

So I got one.

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Warrior%27s_Cuisses

Informed in game that this was listed as 5%, see it now listed as 3%.

Even if it was 5%, how would it fare in a crit based WS vs 15 Dex from Haidate, my fave, 8 Dex/20 Att from Nsub, 6 Str 6 Dex 2% DA (the ideal, imo) from Are's.

And, hasn't it been shown as just 1%, just like the Calligae/+1?

[Aragon of Odin]

Unfortunately my stupid work is now equiped with Websense so can't get on WIKI, thank god I can get on here still. I gather the link is to WAR AF2 pants tho, in game I was always informed it was 1% DA and read that it was 3% on Wiki, I don't have either the AF2 legs or Ares so stick with BH full time for now altho working towards Are's because they just seem so damn sexy IMO.

Edit: If it was found that the AF2 pants were 5% DA, I think for SC it's be a tough call, it'd basically be 1 STR and 6 DEX vs 3% DA. I've never tested a full Dex build for RR myself, I see that you're a big fan of using Rampager and going for full crit mods so ya NSub would be sexy in that case. I tenld to lean more towards STR as I was never happy with using Rampager, especially when I got my Perdu, soon as I got that I chucked my Rampager and Byakko's Axe and haven't had any regrets.

[Max™]

Yeah, I've ALWAYS heard it was 1% (though briefly I did hear it gave the game another "dice roll" to determine a double or something weird like that) but with the Str in the slot, it screams 2hred WS+Steel Cyclone to me.

Are's 6 Str 6 Dex 2% DA screams War cuisses +3, and I scream love poems back at them.

Haidate is what I swear by though, 15 Dex makes a really silly high Dex build super reasonable. +41 Str +40 Dex atm, Nhead would make it 48 Str 45 Dex, Ebody 53 Str 50 Dex.

[Aragon of Odin]

I just got my N.Head recently and love it, much worth the time and effort camping to get it. I always argue with one of my friends about this tho, so here's one for you.

Altho I can't remember exact stats as I can't acess wiki at all, theres the one breastplate that drops from Einhjar I believe, I always say I'd side with the A.Hauberk but he heavily leans towrds the Valhalla Breastplate I think it's called. IMO E.Body tends to be better all round were as the other lacks in acc and only offers att as an added bonus.

Edit: My bad, he's referring to the Shadow/Valkries Breastplate which has the 10STR 10VIT 5 ACC and 25ATT. He tends to believe that this will outperform A.Hauberk on a full time basis.

[Ferien]

They're all pretty angsty about it.

299, 1 away from having another base damage boost is like SE saying "Oh ... oh, so close... but NO! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

So I got one.

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Warrior%27s_Cuisses

Informed in game that this was listed as 5%, see it now listed as 3%.

Even if it was 5%, how would it fare in a crit based WS vs 15 Dex from Haidate, my fave, 8 Dex/20 Att from Nsub, 6 Str 6 Dex 2% DA (the ideal, imo) from Are's.

And, hasn't it been shown as just 1%, just like the Calligae/+1?

o.O Definitely thought it was just 1%. Someone's probably just trying to make them out to be a lot better than they are.

[Viena]

Chanter's Staff or Monster Signa for Brd pre-staves?
Are lvl 30 (Brd) earrings worth the price?

[Eldelphia]

I was about to go on about how much chanters wasn't worth the gil when I checked out the price... and it's so cheap now I'd go with that. Signa is nice but I never liked the -VIT.

Another option is minstrels dagger http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Minstrel%27s_Dagger and elegant shield http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Elegant_Shield.

That's what I used because a) it was free, b) chanters was stupidly more expensive than it is right now and c) I kinda liked the +eva.

If you have access to Limbus then honestly I wouldn't bother with the earrings cos you'll be going for the musical one. Certainly on a personal note I didn't use any skill items until AF and never had a problem.

[Max™]

The Shadow Breastplate is an Osode +1 for Steel, Are's is an Osode +2 for Steel.

Aside from that and fashion, they're very limited purpose compared to Ebody for me, as a pure War main.

[Seid]

Torques rule for TP, Gorgets rule for WS, unless you've got a Love and are factoring an SA/TA DE or whatnot, which most likely can destroy the boost given by the gorget because of the direct damage whallop of 5 Dex being added on.

Like I said earlier, I use the gorget for SA/TA + DE and Love for the other 2 WSs because DE only has a 30% Dex Mod... so do you think with it having the lower dex mod (Sharkbite is 50%) that the dex Torque would still be better? Just asking your opinion mainly... from using them, Im still a fan of the gorget for DE for the moment.

[Valyana]

Love vs. Gorget for DE:

1.1875 vs 1.2875 fTP on first SA hit (+8.4% to weapon+mod damage, before adding DEX for SA)
+5 vs +0 DEX on SA (first hit) (+5 damage before pDIF mod)
+5 vs +0 DEX for 30% WS mod on all hits (+~1.25 weapon damage)
~8.8 acc vs 10 acc on other four hits

Assuming Blau, fSTR of 3 and 100 DEX (probably too low), you have effective weapon damage of 33+3+100*0.83*0.3 = 60. 0.1 fTP*60 is 6 damage added to first hit from Gorget.
DEX adds 5 damage directly to first hit, plus ~1.25*1.875=~1.48 from the WS mod.

So they add about the same damage for the first hit. Love will add a little more damage for other hits, while gorget will add a little more acc.

So seems like the two options will be about as good.

[Midnightjade]

If you have access to Limbus then honestly I wouldn't bother with the earrings cos you'll be going for the musical one. Certainly on a personal note I didn't use any skill items until AF and never had a problem.

I'm currently using Musical + Singing at 75, but that's mainly out of personal preference. So many other options for second ear depending on gear build, playstyle, other jobs leveled and type of event you attend (Loquacious, Melody +1, Magnetic, Astral, etc etc).

I certainly leveled 30-75 without the level 30 earrings, they're kind of pricy and not required by any means.

And for the staff, I liked the Chanter's 40-51 but if I had the Minstrel's Dagger I'd have used that instead. Could even go Paper Knife + Elegant Shield if you're low on gil, I suppose.

[Ferien]

The Shadow Breastplate is an Osode +1 for Steel, Are's is an Osode +2 for Steel.

Aside from that and fashion, they're very limited purpose compared to Ebody for me, as a pure War main.

I absolutely <3 my Ares's Cuirass.

[Raizins]

For axe/axe:

Iron Ram Pick vs Woodville's

Using maneater as the other axe. I don't have any axe merits since I'm pretty much using great axe. Its fun to dual wield once in a while, but I don't have the gil to buy a juggernaut.

[Aragon of Odin]

I'd go Woodville's Axe hands down. The extra 3 Base DMG and 4 STR more then makes up for the -20 delay and 10 att from Iron Ramp Pick. The pick is good for the level when you ding into it but once you hit 72 I'd go Woodville's and wouldn't look back.

[Max™]

I actually thought the other way, and the couple of people who I've suggested it too have echoed my thoughts. It's basically 3% more dual wield speed, 10 Attack during TP phase, on top of Maneaters 18. It's like a faster Jugg -1.

[Aragon of Odin]

I wouldn't be able to do the math to figure out if the 3% Dual Weild would out weigh the 1 Base DMG and 4 STR that would apply to your WS's, but a much simpler and pretty easy choice if you chose to do Dual Weild would be to pick up a Joyeuse. It's easy enough to get if you have a couple friends willing to help and would help your dmg in overall more than either of those 2 axes.

[Max™]

I'm an axe/axe over axe/joyeuseless guy, yeah you can 8 axe/8 sword now, but you could also 8 axe/8 gaxe.

I never was very impressed with my Joyeuseless, it's sat in storage for years now, Rid/Joy is fun for screwing around, Blau/Joy or P.Harpe/Joy at birds is a riot still, aside from bird camp though, I think the general opinion is that the joytoy TP gain doesn't make up for the loss in damage during TP phase/lower WS damage from the offhand hits.

4 Str basically makes it 51 vs 47 Dmg, about 52 Dmg during WS (without factoring in total Str, which is silly of course) but 288+276 Dly vs 276/268? Without trying to work out what 10 Att would do, the -20 Delay sells the pair to me...

...but what would I know, haven't equipped a 1h axe in years.

[Aragon of Odin]

I'm 8 axe, 6 sword, and 6 G.Axe. I parse way higher with my Axe/Sword combo then my Axe/Axe could ever do. I only Dual Weild now for a change in pace and a little fun. I'm for sure going to drop 2 Axe merits and cap G.Axe no questions asked.

I don't see the problem with using Joyeuse tho, even when fighting Mamool's with all buffs up I have no problem breaking 1K Rampages consistently and parsing 90% acc+, altho that's with using Sole Sushi+1.

I find the DA bonus from Joy is way to great to give up for an axe, the dmg in each singe hit is only mildly lower then that with an axe (and when fighting birds not even that much lower at all) and for ws it's only one of your hits that is off-hand I believe. Just not worth the trade off IMO.

[Max™]

Offhand can double, you really notice the offhand damage when you ding into a joyeuse and watch what it does to your damage in the low 70's.

I did, and then when I got Steel Cyclone an hour after hitting 71, the joyeuseless died for me.

I know the elf I limbus/sky/merit with regularly, basically the same gear I have, makes Man/Ram seem very... meaty.

[Midnightjade]

For axe/axe:

Iron Ram Pick vs Woodville's

Using maneater as the other axe. I don't have any axe merits since I'm pretty much using great axe. Its fun to dual wield once in a while, but I don't have the gil to buy a juggernaut.

I'm BST rather than WAR, so stats and such are different, but I used to use Woods/Man and switched to Man/Ram. I slightly prefer the Man/Ram combo. I have a reasonable Haste build plus Brutal/Suppa, so the lower delay seals the deal for DoT (and the +atk is nice also). Having said all that, the difference really isn't that big.

If I ever get a Temp Axe I'll be going Man/Temp. Limbus LS does some of the Jailers so I might have a shot at it.

Hope this helps, I'm interested to see what other folks think.