Soloing: BLM versus SCH

[crux]

I'm looking for a third job to compliment my WHM and BRD. I'm satisfied in either case with their utility endgame, but what I'm really interested in is a job that can solo efficiently endgame (not regarding merits whatsoever).

I have limited opportunities to do things like sea and Limbus (due to scheduling), so it occurred to me that I can give myself more options by leveling something like BLM, whom can solo some areas of Limbus and solo some NMs like Ix'Aerns. Not to mention some KSNMs and ENMs and the like. Then SCH was released, who can solo things like Ix'Aerns even more safely (self-healing on /NIN, cheap form of Herald's Gaiters, stronger DoTs, etc.). SCH is missing, however, stun and things like Elemental Seal (for the Brothers ENM) and native -gas, which can be limiting in terms of stratagems. And before anyone mentions it - I have no interest in RDM. What I'm not sure about is how SCH performs with soloing (or even duoing) things like Limbus or Salvage.

I'm weighing in more heavily on soloing capabilities than anything else, but more generally I'm just interesting in figuring out which job would better compliment WHM and BRD as a third job. Thanks for any advice.

[DaGod]

The things that lacks the more regarding SCH vs BLM to SCH, and that you didn't pointed out, is ga elemental spells. You can't get them via stratagem, and this is where blm can outdo sch. Except for this, i think sch solo better in almost every case than blm. Alot more mp regen helps alot, desert boots (yeah, not if you have herald gaiters, but, well, one is 20 M the other one 20k, and i personnaly can't afford, by far, the gaiters, so if you are in this case too, basically, your sch will have 12% more speed than your blm, which is just HUGE). No stun is not that limitating, and i think the mov speed make a much larger difference in term of safety. You also have a much much more better stoneskin as /rdm, same for phalanx (not that much important, but still). ALot more healing potency.

Anyway, problem of solo as blm will be mainly the lack of mp refresh. Sublimation does alot for that.

Hope it helped you ^^'

I personnally enjoy alot solo, and choose sch over blm

Edit : as for others things than soloing... meh. Blm is just an always wanted job, and sch is a rising star considering that ; not all LS seek massively for sch, but it is not uncommon to have people fight each other to get you in their own party when you come to an event ^^ fun. I would call them on par regarding this, but my point of view is biaised

[[Cookies]]

The things that lacks the more regarding SCH vs BLM to SCH, and that you didn't pointed out, is ga elemental spells. You can't get them via stratagem, and this is where blm can outdo sch. Except for this, i think sch solo better in almost every case than blm. Alot more mp regen helps alot, desert boots (yeah, not if you have herald gaiters, but, well, one is 20 M the other one 20k, and i personnaly can't afford, by far, the gaiters, so if you are in this case too, basically, your sch will have 12% more speed than your blm, which is just HUGE). No stun is not that limitating, and i think the mov speed make a much larger difference in term of safety. You also have a much much more better stoneskin as /rdm, same for phalanx (not that much important, but still). ALot more healing potency.

Anyway, problem of solo as blm will be mainly the lack of mp refresh. Sublimation does alot for that.

Hope it helped you ^^'

I personnally enjoy alot solo, and choose sch over blm

Edit : as for others things than soloing... meh. Blm is just an always wanted job, and sch is a rising star considering that ; not all LS seek massively for sch, but it is not uncommon to have people fight each other to get you in their own party when you come to an event ^^ fun. I would call them on par regarding this, but my point of view is biaised

When do BLMs EVER use -ga spells when soloing? Manafont doesn't count..

[DaGod]

ODS

[Kyreth]

Scholars can do a lot of the same mobs BLM's solo, sure. They just take longer to do them, thanks to weaker nukes till you hit the top levels, and a lower Elemental skill.

On the other hand, Scholars also are generally more party-invited, so you're getting that option better.

[DaGod]

I think the whole point was about endgame solo, not exp solo ; or at least is it the way i understood that. For exp solo, yeah until last levels where us sch can catch up, blm overkill us, purely on their use of AM. THose are just pure win for blm in 50-60, and even after can sometimes go for interesting uses. BLM definitely better to solo exp 1-70

[Eldelphia]

Having a BLM 75 and a SCH 71, already I think unless I ever own gaiters (yeah right) my SCH will have greater flexibility for soloing.

We've been doing Ix'MNK for example, and movement speed, reraise, nukes, dots, enfeebles etc all combine into a mighty package. Add in sublimation, the ability to cut casting time down by half, being able to get reraise and not sub WHM for example and it's all win.

It's awesome for small group stuff, my two BLM chums were calling for me to bring SCH already at 71 rather than BLM because I can buff them with tier IV, AoE a heap of defensive stuff, add some weather, let them run faster with sandstorm and desert boots.

I'd read some posts here for more : http://kanican.livejournal.com/

What's not to like about:

Prot IV/Shell IV
Reraise/Raise II
Weather
Reasonable if not uber DoTs
Good chance at enfeebles, grav/dispel
Reasonable nukes
Reasonable cures
Ability to remove status

If you don't want to go RDM, go SCH. BLM is fantastic and can do a lot when it comes to things like Ix but I think SCH does enough what a BLM does reasonably well and has some other tricks to fall back on. If you want uber damage as well, then go BLM. I would think that it's easier for example for a BLM to solo Apollyon. But anything where time isn't a real issue, SCH must have to win.

However if you're just thinking in the short term about things like Ix'Aerns, once they're done, you *may* get more use out of your BLM in the longer term but honestly, I don't know.
SCH MP efficiency is unreal.

[Nirokun!]

You also have a much much more better stoneskin as /rdm, same for phalanx (not that much important, but still).

properly geared, blm can easily hit the stoneskin cap

[Tsuko_Asura]

properly geared, blm can easily hit the stoneskin cap

Hell, a BRD can hit the SS cap <_>

[Falisa]

Hell, a BRD can hit the SS cap <_>

You have to spend a pretty penny to get enough MND to cap for BRD

[Valisk]

Wait to find out the stats on SCH AF2/AF+1 next month to see if any of the pieces are gamebreaking (/doubt) or job altering before making a decision also.

[crux]

Very good point. I'm only 20 on SCH right now regardless, so I have 17 levels to mull it over some more.

I'm leaning towards BLM at the moment, largely because they can solo Brothers AND Limbus and I'm always strapped for cash with my lavish needs. Plus, I'd largely be relegated towards support with SCH, and I already have a support job. Pure mage DD would round out my jobs rather nicely.

[Niiro]

Wait to find out the stats on SCH AF2/AF+1 next month to see if any of the pieces are gamebreaking (/doubt) or job altering before making a decision also.

Unless I missed something I don't think they're releasing SCH/DNC AF+1 and relic in the update, I thought it was just BLU/COR/PUP.

[Valisk]

Good point, iFail. Carry on.

[crux]

Well, there are still Group 1 merits coming.

[Ryphen]

You can get reraise on BLM without WHM sub.

It's called a reraise hairpin.

[Kimiko]

Depends on really what your fighting in terms of BLM vs. SCH

BLM = Burst damage spikes, fast fights vs. low/moderate HP opponents (puddings, brothers ENM, so on and so forth)

SCH = Long duration endurance fights vs. high HP opponents (bugboy, certain HNMs).

[shukuffxi]

Please, do not count on Desert Boots to give you consistent Movement Speed+ on Scholar. If you can Bind or Sleep a mob, they're fine. If it's something you can't consistently land Bind/Sleep on and require movement speed, you're gonna get in trouble when you stop to recast Sandstorm.

[Tubbers]

How could you possibly hope to cast any spell on a mob if you can't stop to cast Sandstorm on yourself?

[DaGod]

taking time to cast sandstorm on yourself is gonna buy you wayyyy more time to cast other spell afterwards. Just a problem of "investissment"