BRD Debuffing

[LastHope]

I've been a BRD now for many years and I just wanted to see what other people equip to minimize resists, as balancing CHR, Singing, Wind Skill, and Enmity down can be rough. I've read, and tend to agree for the most part that a balance of singing skill + wind skill is the best avenue for debuffs versus max wind skill. I tend not to worry about CHR too much as for me it never really seemed to help, but some people swear the more you can pile the better. I guess another underlying question is with the optimal gear, is it better to go wind4/singing4 merits, or go full wind merits? What kind of gap between the two is the most efficient (example, would say 250 wind, 230 singing be better than 245 wind, 240 singing?) Right now I use:

Main: HQ Staff
Range: HQ Inst
Head: Bard's Roundlet (+5 singing)
Neck: Wind Torque (+7 wind)
Ear1: Musical Earring (+5 wind)
Ear2: Wind Earring (+3 wind)
Body: Errant Houppelande
Hands: Choral Cuffs +1 (+10 singing)
Ring1: Light Ring
Ring2: Light Ring
Back: Astute Cape (singing +5)
Waist: Corsette +1
Legs: Choral Cannions +1 (+8 wind)
Feet: Zenith Pumps

That puts me at:

Wind: 225 + 8 + 7 + 5 + 3 + 8 (merits) = 256
Singing: 225 + 5 + 10 + 5 + 8 (merits) = 253
CHR: 70 + 5 + 10 + 7 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 2 = 110

Any suggestions on what else I could do to help improve resists? Would Jester +1 be a better cape? Would wearing Minstrel's Coat increase/decrease performance? Should I switch merits around? Should I switch AF+1 hands for AF2 hands? Any responses appreciated.

[Zosi]

Honestly, your gear looks fine (nearly identical to mine, I don't bother with Light Rings), and I highly doubt you'll really see any kind of noticeable improvement in resists from anything short of a Gjallarhorn.

[Valyana]

Goliard Clogs?

I've recently switched from Musical/Wind earrings to Musical/Singing, and I like it better. Haven't done anything like rigorous testing though, so YMMV.

I tend to sing debuffs in Sha'ir Manteel/Sheikh Gages for the lowered recast time, but I'll switch to AF+1 if I'm getting a lot of resists.

[Tonko]

I'd go with jester's +1 in the back slow instead of the Astute cape, for debuffing anyhow.

[Bakthi]

That's almost the same as what I wear, except Roundlet refuses to drop ever. I joke with my LS that I will get Marduk's Tiara before AF2 head drops, but it may be true >.> My merits are also 4/4 wind/singing. I've been debating doing 8/8 now, but that seems excessive. It would certainly be "best" for BRD, but I'm not sure it's going to make a real difference.

I also wear Loquacious/Rostrums instead of Wind/Zenith, because...well, I don't have those other two, for one. But I've found for most stuff, I like the fast cast and MP, and I don't really need extra sticking power. Shadow Clogs would be a great foot option if you need extra debuff power, but...yeah.

Giving up Jester's +1 for Astute almost feels like giving up Errant/AF+1 for Minstrel's, but it seems better enough of a trade-off that I do the first and not the second.

[Daahan]

I'd go with jester's +1 in the back slow instead of the Astute cape, for debuffing anyhow.

Yes, lol @ 5 singing skill. I use the Astute Cape as an MP piece only.

[dendryte]

I'd go with jester's +1 in the back slow instead of the Astute cape, for debuffing anyhow.

Yes, lol @ 5 singing skill. I use the Astute Cape as an MP piece only.

Would it be better than Jester's +1 if Astute was Wind+5 instead?

[sisco]

Usually Jester's +1 will be better, but taking the rest of your gear into account, you don't really need a Jester's +1. Around 110 CHR, adding more is overkill and you can get to 110 without a Jester's +1.

[Linsivi]

+5 singing > +10 chr.

Seems like you need more skill to back it up. Debuffs use a combination of singing and (wind or string).

[Angelsin]

I'd recommend some Sha'ir Crackows instead of zenith feet. No point in wearing zenith feet when there is clearly something better for debuffing. Other than that I'd say everything is good.

I've read, and tend to agree for the most part that a balance of singing skill + wind skill is the best avenue for debuffs versus max wind skill.

Got any links for this? I'd like to read those. I'm a max wind person myself and would like to see what proof about singing skill and debuffs are out there.

minimize resists, as balancing CHR, Singing, Wind Skill

The only HNMs that I see are a bit of an issue for debuffing that I've come across are Khim, Cerb, and Bah 2. Each one of them can be debuffed but they are a pain in the ass. How does your balance wind/singing/CHR setup work on these HNMs? I imagine that SE will add more of these 'hard to elegy' HNMs.

[Rena]

CHR is very overrated... I regularly debuff things in my MP set, switching out almost all my CHR stuff for MP, and I hardly notice a difference at all. Gear in the OP looks great, short of a Gjallarhorn, there's not much to get, save a few pieces with m.acc. Valkyrie's clogs for feet would be a bit of an upgrade, but... lol at getting those. A pair of goliard clogs should be easier to get though. There's also an omega ring, giving up 2 CHR for 3 m.acc doesn't sound too bad, but 15k Einherjar points. <_<;

[Septimus]

There's also an omega ring, giving up 2 CHR for 3 m.acc doesn't sound too bad, but 15k Einherjar points. <_<;

My second character's WHM is too busy dreaming about the fun times and frolicking that he will have with Morgana's Choker to even consider an Omega Ring for his BRD.

[spooky]

Errant Houppelande is so ugly. T_T;
I'd recommended Yigit Body, even though it still wouldn't win any fashion contests.

[Fng]

I'd recommend some Sha'ir Crackows instead of zenith feet. No point in wearing zenith feet when there is clearly something better for debuffing. Other than that I'd say everything is good.

I've read, and tend to agree for the most part that a balance of singing skill + wind skill is the best avenue for debuffs versus max wind skill.

Got any links for this? I'd like to read those. I'm a max wind person myself and would like to see what proof about singing skill and debuffs are out there.

[quote:2e9ec]minimize resists, as balancing CHR, Singing, Wind Skill

The only HNMs that I see are a bit of an issue for debuffing that I've come across are Khim, Cerb, and Bah 2. Each one of them can be debuffed but they are a pain in the ass. How does your balance wind/singing/CHR setup work on these HNMs? I imagine that SE will add more of these 'hard to elegy' HNMs.[/quote:2e9ec]

/blm and Elemental seal.. I didn't believe at first, but I am a convert now.

[Charlemagne]

I agree with Rena, Chr is over rated. I think the 110 Chr is over kill. I would suggest throwing in some -enm in there.

PS. astute cape rulez! Wish mine would drop
Any brd+ skills > Chr