Red Mage: A few Questions

[theo]

As stupid as it sounds, /SMN is actually better as auto-refresh > conserve MP over time. At the same time, though, you'd be limited to only one useful ability (aerial armor), so it just doesn't make sense.

Personally, I prefer to go /BLM if I had a choice. Aspir + Conserve MP = <3.

:D

Wasn't it like, not? I thought someone proved that conserve MP saved more MP over time.

It completely depends on how quickly you are spending your MP. The faster you cast spells, the more chances Conserve MP has to kick in, thus more MP is saved. If you find yourself sitting idle and not casting, auto-refresh will win out in the end.

I can't recall what the exact number came out too, but I know the Zam RDM forum had some tests on it back when that forum was still marginally useful.


edit: Well I found it. Its from zam so take it as such.

Since you are getting 200MP every Convert cycle with Auto-Refresh, and Conserve MP saves 7% MP over time, you will need to spend (200 / .07) --> ~2857MP in order to break even with Conserve MP.

In other words you would have to spend 2857 MP every 10 minutes in order for Conserve MP to win over long periods of time. In short bursts (CS Nuke?) Conserve MP will win of course, but over time, not so much.

[Ambir]

The tests I've seen had Conserve MP (with a /BLM) at around 8%, which brings the break even number down to 2500MP/10min. For a RDM that's actually achievable (Convert = 1000MP, Hat+Dalm = 400MP, Refresh = 600MP, Bard = 600MP all per 10min). For all other jobs /SMN will give more MP over time.

Obviously that only occurs in really MP intensive fights which are on the verge of being out of control, but I guess they're the fights you're looking to maximise MP anyway. Still debatable though that you wouldn't be better with a WHM sub and handling the status effects and hasting etc, and letting the WHM concentrate on curing. The only way I can see anyone casting 2500MP in 10 minutes is with a hell of a lot of Cures (or with a lot of nukes, and I don't see that as needed too often), and if that's necessary, it'd be a lot better if the WHM was handling the heavy cures because of the hate generated...

In nearly all situations you're worse off with more MP, if you have to sacrifice some of your usefullness (and endgame, handling status cures is VERY useful) to get it.

[theo]

The tests I've seen had Conserve MP (with a /BLM) at around 8%, which brings the break even number down to 2500MP/10min. For a RDM that's actually achievable (Convert = 1000MP, Hat+Dalm = 400MP, Refresh = 600MP, Bard = 600MP all per 10min). For all other jobs /SMN will give more MP over time.

Now I'm a bit curious, where abouts would the break even point end up with /BLM and Magnetic Earring? I wear it for buffs and cures, but have never gone to the effort to test it. In before "placebo"

[Ambir]

I'd assumed the 8% was with a Magnetic, as a Magnetic would be standard in a max MP setup whether you were subbing WHM, BLM, or SMN. Nothing I've seen has indicated that Magnetic has much of an effect. Every little bit helps, but I think it's pretty small compared to the effect of the BLM sub.