Sylph Server Salvaged Soldiers Squalls

[mdkuser]

Ok, I seriously don't know what I am doing wrong. I have been at this for almost a year and not one upgrade what so ever. We are able to defeat NM's along the way some we never even popped. Rampart-NM-Spitters haven't spat out anything in gear since we tried this. (unlucky? expected even after 7-8 months of nothing?)

How many runs you're doing /week? If only 1 or 2 you are indeed wasting your time; Personally I do 5-7 per week and have 5 upgraded pieces and 3 waiting for boss drop. I started in feb 2007 ( doing 2/week at first) and got my first 35 in september ( cause skadi drop rate sucked)... You see it takes time and training.

The main thing you need do do salvage is:

- storm pfife bard.
- a good puller ( rdm or brd): there should never be down time, you should always fight something.
- organisation (learned through training and failures)
- people that know what they are doing and don't just leech like they would in events like dynamis.

Over the last year people have discovered how shitty salvage drop rates are, so the community found it more convinient to low man everything for faster rewards for everyone. It was a little challenge, but it is possible, without notable items like relics, and very enjoying.

Now when you see all those JP shouts runs in WG duing JP prime, and you see they can do any zone or bosses with pickup groups, as long as the leader explains what to do, all with 6-8 people, you see it's no more that hard to low man it.

[pchan]

Ok if you can't kill a boss you are like my group at salvage start. Then I watched a JP video on youtube of a group killing a boss. 1 week later we beat ALL 4 bosses. Just look for "salvage" "ffxi" "boss" or something like that on youtube . Watching a video is better than any speech, and after that your personal experience.

[Scorp]

A lot of groups that struggle to establish themselves churn members and see the problem as not being able to keep people. The fact is that salvage is a massive effort if you are doing it well as it is, if there is no reward in sight people will always leave. Build your group around a core of a mage, tank and a puller that know everything there is to know about salvage. They will be able to carry a group to moderate success.

Eventually the more peripheral members will get to know zones. Familiarity is the number 1 thing with salvage. Suddenly people know what cells should go to what jobs, where to run to on floors, how to gear themselves for certain bosses, nms and areas. That is the main time saving.

[tymora]

If you have access to a COR & BRD, 1 RDM can support 3 melees.

Have a 2nd RDM support 2nd party if needed. Don't do things like have only melees in 2nd party.

Storm fife bard is good to have but not required.

Some random titbits:

Avoid 2h-ring on bosses if you can help it. The resulting TP spam is not worth it most of the time. I would use the 2 hours elsewhere and cut a few min.

RDM/DRK is quite worthless on bosses. Dark magic skill is too low to stun more than once, twice reliably.

While 2 melee/nin only is a good general rule for bosses, you can add more if your mages can support the healing.
------------

Don't listen blindly to other people on strategy, you need to find what works for your group. No 2 groups are identical. Adapt strategy, not copy.

[chinaflying]

Hi all
Sorry Jada for yesterday, i shouldn't have pulled but our group is really slow on pulling mob
I'm Jada's mnk tank >.< most of our members don't have endgame experience

Can any mnk tank explain me how they do? so far i've tried w/o having marchX2 on me since our brd
are really slow -.-' (she mix melee and mage song everytime) and my only experience are LBC (couldn't keep shadow up) and Alexander (ToA mission won).
as for my gears when i tank:
Osode, gear +25% haste, Faith torque, Boxer's mantle, Rajas & Ulthalam's ring, Hollow & Brutal earring, Bibiki seashell and Melee gloves+1.

Also how hard is it to stick Paralyze, Elegy and Slow? our rdm/brd (same person) didn't succeed at all though she aren't well equiped for endgame (i use to be brd75 in Aurorals)

How do you share the cells?
We are just calling which job should lot and when there are 2 monk it really become hard to tank/stay alive (i suxx at lot XD) so i'm half equiped but i do tank since the other mnk gear are really weak (he wears Tabin jupon all the time >.<)

Badly we are doing only 2 runs/week it's because jada and my time didn't match >.< i'm french and her american XD

[mdkuser]

You got 25% hast and cant keep shadow? damn. Your bard seems to suck, tell him to improve lol. He not only has to keep 2 songs at all times on melees and mages, but also pull and sleep add.. like a merit pt.

For the cell order, we do:

wpn: 3 main DDs first then THf then extra DD.
armor: 3 main DD then whm rdm. Exception: 1st hand to thief, 1st body to WHM, 3rd hat rdm etc.
Magic: WHM>BRD>RDM>MONK1>extra BLM>monK2
ABI: 3 main DD>rdm
SJ: 3 mainDD>rdm
melee stats: 3 main DDs
mage stat: mages. INT is very important for DDs fighting gears, as it reduces the dmg by half..

Basically, focus on your main PT before the second.

You should have march+minuet at all times, even bosses ( well sometimes my acc sucks idk why so I ask for madrigal), and haste. For bosses asign
one mage per melee for the paralyna/erase, they should cast it ASAP as a paralized, shadowless monk can die relatively fast.

On bosses always have slow2+elegy. Use shura togi or SH, better than osode.

[Shassira]

Don't get me wrong, but what you are asking is pretty much "How do i play Salvage?". If i was to judge, i'd say you didn't bother reading the tons of threads with tons of information in it, all you need to know to start is really in there. Hell, i started doing this reading the wiki only and figuring it out myself from there.

Either way, from what you are saying, all your members seem to lack experience in the game in general and that's only fixed by actualy getting experience. Ask your members to do things as they are supossed to be done, do your thing as you are supossed to do it. If none of you know what you *should* be doing, read the information in this forum and that will solve all your doubts. Cell distribution, strategies to fight charriots, strategies to pop NMs, group setups, you name it, it's all here really. And if it isn't, then you can ofcourse ask but again, it doesn't seem like you guys actualy checked what's in here.

[chinaflying]

You get me wrong about cell distribution. (sorry about my english >.< french aren't good at language)
I meant if in our case we should give first every "melee" cell (except weapon) to one mnk so he is fully unlock and could stay alive longer or share the cell between each mnk

Badly i don't have shura togi (no money) and i'm taru i don't think that hp-50 would help me :s
as for S.H, I've tried O.hat and eva torque but LBC didn't miss much.
My main prob was to cast utsusemi: ichi T.T as it was hitting me like crazy, I was everytime interrupted

Don't get me wrong, but what you are asking is pretty much "How do i play Salvage?". If i was to judge, i'd say you didn't bother reading the tons of threads with tons of information in it, all you need to know to start is really in there. Hell, i started doing this reading the wiki only and figuring it out myself from there.

If none of you know what you *should* be doing, read the information in this forum and that will solve all your doubts. Cell distribution, strategies to fight charriots, strategies to pop NMs, group setups, you name it, it's all here really. And if it isn't, then you can ofcourse ask but again, it doesn't seem like you guys actualy checked what's in here.

Ok, I seriously don't know what I am doing wrong. I have been at this for almost a year and not one upgrade what so ever. We are able to defeat NM's along the way some we never even popped. Rampart-NM-Spitters haven't spat out anything in gear since we tried this. (unlucky? expected even after 7-8 months of nothing?)

Bosses, even with the strats that are on this site I don't see how 2 mnk/nins, a job that is not good on def will work. plds? maybe?
It seems pointless...

[Suiram]

We've always done MNK1 > MNK2 on all cells. By the time you get to anything like the boss where you really want two equally-unlocked MNKs you'll have at least two of each cell, except maybe getting totally screwed on some particular cell in Arrapago like head from Qutrub. It seems to be slightly better to have one totally unlocked person for the earlier floors, plus it makes cell-distribution smoother. We used to give refresh pieces like head/body/ring to RDM first, but after a discussion here we started giving those to MNKs > RDM > rest too and that seems to work better.

In terms of making everything go faster and smoother, it's easier in my view to have simple cell-distribution rules that everyone understands, rather than a complicated system that people are always waiting on one person's command as for what to lot. Having done the latter for a quite a while when we first did salvage, I know I definitely prefer the former--although I do still find myself calling cells out of habit.

[Scorp]

Hi Chinaflying

Assuming that you have shadows to cast (thats someone elses issue).

If you have 1 shadow left, cast ichi. If the mob readies discharge or inertia stream, begin casting ichi. (you should cast as the move hits and be left with shadows). If the mob uses diffusion ray you may need ni to get shadows up in time. Save ni for when ichi timer is gone or you have 0 shadows.

Merit penance to full, if you are using 2 mnk tanks then the mob has nerfed tp gain for 2minutes every 3minutes. For your gear don't expect bosses to miss you, it won't happen anymore because of gear choice. I'd go with cerb or forager's mantle instead of boxers every time.

I doubt everyone will agree but I prefer to go with sushi accuracy gear and counterstance. It has saved my life more than it has killed me. The positive stats on Shura togi would be beneficial compared to osode but i'm elvaan so hp has never been a consideration for me.

If that fails, iirc you are a damned good bard, so take a back seat and run the group. Bards can control the tempo of a run with pulling, and still have time for cell distribution early on. Jada could then focus on whm etc.

[tymora]

We've always done MNK1 > MNK2 on all cells. By the time you get to anything like the boss where you really want two equally-unlocked MNKs you'll have at least two of each cell, except maybe getting totally screwed on some particular cell in Arrapago like head from Qutrub. It seems to be slightly better to have one totally unlocked person for the earlier floors, plus it makes cell-distribution smoother. We used to give refresh pieces like head/body/ring to RDM first, but after a discussion here we started giving those to MNKs > RDM > rest too and that seems to work better.

Arrived independently at the same conclusion~

Well, do remember to give your AF2 glove THF his fancy little gloves though.

I know I definitely prefer the former--although I do still find myself calling cells out of habit.

I find it strange to have no one calling cells even though nowadays half my group lot the correct ones before I call

[Suiram]

Well there are exceptions. Like ranged cells too, and 3rd cell priority in Zhayolm. JA usually first for THF in arrapago under the remote chance you get screwed on opacus so you still get the SJ steal (don't know how necessary this even is anymore, but it's how we've always done it).

[Uzor]

I've never found steal that useful in Arrapago anymore. Bodies drop a lot on 5/6 F, and SJ's drop plentiful from gear(s).

[Scorp]

Sure you can get them later but a sub job at that point can speed your run up dramatically

[Suiram]

Sure you can get them later but a sub job at that point can speed your run up dramatically

I guess the question is whether it speeds it up more than giving JA to both MNKs before THF does in the offchance you don't get enough before QQA. Like I said we've just always done it this way but now that it's actually being discussed, maybe it does make more sense to give those to MNKs first, too.

[Uzor]

Sure you can get them later but a sub job at that point can speed your run up dramatically

Counterstance and WS's speed the run up dramatically, as well, and takes effect from when you open the chest. I just don't see it worth the risk to give it to a THF at start to potentially steal a SJ, then a MNK that can counterstance and WS to speed up the first floor. Besides, odds are you'll get another ability on 1F that you can give to the THF after the MNK's have their ability.

[Jada]

I ended the group. too little for too long. China was one of the best players I had. I keep at it for a while but what was killing me was the fact that people come and go. I would get the people who are interested but then after not seeing some things for a while they would leave w/o saying anything.

134254123 lvl 15 pieces
0 lvl 25 pieces
2 lvl 35 pieces

the end..

[Crosis]

Well there are exceptions. Like ranged cells too, and 3rd cell priority in Zhayolm. JA usually first for THF in arrapago under the remote chance you get screwed on opacus so you still get the SJ steal (don't know how necessary this even is anymore, but it's how we've always done it).

THF first for ability? Theres plenty of Lamia to kill along the way, THF will always be the last melee to get ability in my group. I don't even leave the first floor unless I have got at least 1 ability drop or 30 minutes have past.

Stealing only seems to work about 50-60% in my opinion on them anyway.

[Zilong]

I ended the group. too little for too long. China was one of the best players I had. I keep at it for a while but what was killing me was the fact that people come and go. I would get the people who are interested but then after not seeing some things for a while they would leave w/o saying anything.

134254123 lvl 15 pieces
0 lvl 25 pieces
2 lvl 35 pieces

the end..

No offense, but first off the 35 piece is fucking rare bullshit drop, everyone else had to deal with it (except the JP on their shout pickup salvages, but that's another story altogether), it's not just you.

Second off, 25 pieces collection depends on your group actually well...killing the boss. It's not the game's problem that you have none...considering it's 100% drop of 2 pieces.

Really you shouldn't expect anything out of salvage if your members are bunch of dickwads that bails at the lack of drops, because frankly, even with the hardcore most skilled bunch of people, salvage will still give you bullshit like 2 months of no 35 on a near-daily salvage runs and failing to procure the wanted 25 pieces from the chariot bosses after tens of kills.

The right of saying "too little for too long" is reserved to those who has seen the actual hell that is salvage.

[Jada]

I ended the group. too little for too long. China was one of the best players I had. I keep at it for a while but what was killing me was the fact that people come and go. I would get the people who are interested but then after not seeing some things for a while they would leave w/o saying anything.

134254123 lvl 15 pieces
0 lvl 25 pieces
2 lvl 35 pieces

the end..

No offense, but first off the 35 piece is fucking rare bullshit drop, everyone else had to deal with it (except the JP on their shout pickup salvages, but that's another story altogether), it's not just you.

Second off, 25 pieces collection depends on your group actually well...killing the boss. It's not the game's problem that you have none...considering it's 100% drop of 2 pieces.

Really you shouldn't expect anything out of salvage if your members are bunch of dickwads that bails at the lack of drops, because frankly, even with the hardcore most skilled bunch of people, salvage will still give you bullshit like 2 months of no 35 on a near-daily salvage runs and failing to procure the wanted 25 pieces from the chariot bosses after tens of kills.

The right of saying "too little for too long" is reserved to those who has seen the actual hell that is salvage.

Look, Mr. I don't know who you are but there is no need for approaching this thread like you did. I type "too little for too long" because I wanted to damnit. I spent months on end pretty much getting now where, fought most of the lvl 35 mobs and got nothing the majority of the time. Couldn't defeat the boss because we didn't have people with the experience to do so. So yes, as the ldr of a salvage group I seen the hell this this has caused me. God wasted a perfectly good asshole to give people like you teeth. Go crap on someone else's thread. I asked for help and understanding, not a dumbass comment like yours.

No Offense though