A question about merit parties

[Sobie]

As someone without a "real" DD job at 75, I was wondering if someone could shed some insight on a question I have about merit parties.


(presume all members of the following parties are equal in terms of gear, job and merits)

In your opinion, which party will generate the most total damage output in say, an hour at bird camp.

RDM, BRD, DD, DD, DD, DD

or

RDM, BRD, BRD, DD DD DD

or

RDM, BRD, COR, DD, DD, DD

All I am really interested in, is which one generates the most damage over time.

(None of this takes into account smoothness of play, survivability, or exp per hour. I am aware of this)

Thanks in advance for responses

Edit: Seriously, presume they are all ridilberk WAR's or Walmart Monks. I dont care, just presume all the DD's in each scenario are equal in every aspect of gear, merits, experience and player skill (or lack thereof)

[Raen Ryong]

I tend to like the third choice the most, RDM BRD COR DD x3.

You ask for highest damage output but the COR can also use Corsair's Roll which does not boost your damage output but does directly boost your exp/hr more than another attack buff to a top-tier party.

Stuff seems to die fast enough in that setup that the RDM often gets bored at birdies <_< mamool at least you have the TP moves keeping you entertained.

[jimbobsonofgod]

RDM, BRD, DD, DD, DD, DD

RDM, BRD, BRD, DD DD DD

RDM, BRD, COR, DD, DD, DD

again this will state everyone is top of the line shit
best jobs / camp / no downtime on any of the set ups.


rdm brd dd dd dd dd will give you obviously the most Damage done in a 60 min time frame
rdm brd brd dd dd dd will give you more exp/hour less maintaining of party members
rdm brd cor dd dd dd will give you the most exp/hour.

My personal experience I have always preferred at least #2 but #3 is the best

[Xanthu]

I think it's something of a scale. Only well decked out DDs can really use a second BRD or COR to their fullest potential. If they're just scraping by off the AH, lacking haste gear, large amounts of attack, accuracy, or good food, then a one-BRD party probably does them better.

The crux of the debate probably comes on whether a COR or a second BRD. And even that might break down to the jobs you bring. Absolutely ideal in my mind would be having a DRK and a WAR for chaos and Fighter's rolls.

I get the feeling though it might come to a matter of opinion, and as with gear, Shit is Situational.

[Kerberoz]

RDM (or WHM/SCH) COR BRD BRD DD DD

[Jayhawk]

The last option (RDM BRD COR) is what I prefer. However, BRD BRD COR DD DD DD and one of the DD's 2boxing a RDM or WHM as an outside Haste and Cure caster is better!

[Cakes]

RDM (or WHM/SCH) COR BRD BRD DD DD

^

[VZX]

Assuming those that has access to Dia II or III will throw it at every single mob, I'll go with order:
3rd > 2nd > 1st

Otherwise, I can prefer RDM RDM BRD even for a more consistent Dia III and probably extra grav.

[Raineer]

Following this thread with interest, good idea for a discussion.

[ubermonkey]

RDM, BRD, COR, DD, DD, DD

^this

Since I merit on drk, chaos roll and double minuet are fairly interchangable. For pure damage chaos/war is going to outdo minX2 march X2 IMO. For exp/hour chaos/cor is win.

[Spider-Dan]

Assuming those that has access to Dia II or III will throw it at every single mob, I'll go with order:
3rd > 2nd > 1st

Otherwise, I can prefer RDM RDM BRD even for a more consistent Dia III and probably extra grav.

Can't agree.

a) Chaos+Hunter's beats Dia3+Grav
b) Dia2+Light Shot = Dia3 with Dia2 duration

Anywayz:

In straight damage, RDM/COR/BRD/DD/DD/DD is going to beat everything else handily. Compare to:

RDM/BRD/BRD/DD/DD/DD- you are comparing two of Min3/March1/Mad2 to two of Chaos/Fighter's/Hunter's... but then you add in COR's overwhelming damage advantage over BRD.

RDM/BRD/BRD/COR/DD/DD- again, Min3+March1 is not going to increase two mega DDs' damage enough to completely replace another mega DD.

[Nekio]

Yeah, it's shocking to me that people still disclude COR damage. (Good CORs, of course.)

[VZX]

a) Chaos+Hunter's beats Dia3+Grav

Fair enough, but that means the DD needs more than 1 offensive roll to work better on the chain, instead of having Corsair's Roll.

b) Dia2+Light Shot = Dia3 with Dia2 duration

As stated before, if any of those supports that can cast Dia II or III at every single mob, I'll take those on higher priority

In straight damage, RDM/COR/BRD/DD/DD/DD is going to beat everything else handily. Compare to:

RDM/BRD/BRD/DD/DD/DD- you are comparing two of Min3/March1/Mad2 to two of Chaos/Fighter's/Hunter's... but then you add in COR's overwhelming damage advantage over BRD.

RDM/BRD/BRD/COR/DD/DD- again, Min3+March1 is not going to increase two mega DDs' damage enough to completely replace another mega DD.

That depends on the DD I guess.

I never really requested madrigal anymore on any DD job I can bring into merit. If I need madrigal that bad, I'll pop crab sushi instead in colibri, or sole sushi if we're fighting non-food eating creatures.

If I have 1 BRD, I'll request them do 2x Marches. If the kill speed is not fast enough, that's Dia II thrower responsibility to do that at every single mob. 2x Marches and Haste should help a lot on /NIN DD to keep shadows up everytime they gone -> more MP saved for curing -> more MP can be used for Dia II to enhance the killing speed.

If I have 2 BRD, I'll request 2x Marches 2x Minuet. If one of the DD need madrigal, have them eat sushi.

[Arthars]

i dont care if the cor is doing any damage

i want my chaos roll and corsair roll

thats all

going for RDM BRD COR DD DD DD

[Fridell]

RDM BRD COR (BRD when COR not avalible) and 3 x DD.

[Okan]

BST, BST, BST, BST, WHM/COR, BRD *cough*

Seriousness: In one hour, I'd have to say 4 DD, BRD, RDM will do the most damage total. I don't see how a COR or another BRD will increase the total damage to a point to exceed one more DD player. Given more time (3-4 hours?) and continuous battles, I could see that maybe 3DD, COR, BRD, RDM might be able to come out on top.

However, I suffer from the same thing as the OP. With WHM (No SCH SJ yet), and BLM as my only 75 jobs, I'll never get to see Bird merit parties.

Edit: Parallel question - With the EXP changes, does a 4 MNK, BRD, WHM PT still get good xp/lp an hour in KRT skeles or not really? Birds are always being camped at and maybe this might be a nice alternative?

[isladar]

RDM BRD COR Me, Some dude with Ridill, other melee, + outside WHM at MJSP.

[Ahrana]

Edit: Parallel question - With the EXP changes, does a 4 MNK, BRD, WHM PT still get good xp/lp an hour in KRT skeles or not really? Birds are always being camped at and maybe this might be a nice alternative?

Bones parties are a lot of work compared to facerolling a bird merit party. They go down just as fast, but skeletons can do AoE damage which sucks ass. Add in dogs and the AoE enfeebles are a frustration. They can get good xp (not great xp), but they're usually too much work which makes it harder to get a whitemage to do them, let alone a prissy bard.

[Rocl]

Stuff seems to die fast enough in that setup that the RDM often gets bored at birdies

You have described every merit party on Red Mage.

[Sobie]

You have described every merit party on Red Mage.

I wish I had the parties that you guys got into. Most parties I see as RDM involve me blowing out my entire MP pool plus a convert and 80% of the rest, often in under 8 minutes. That is with Refresh, Sanction, and a Duelist's Chapeau. I also have capped MP merits. This is not an exageration.

In my experience, DD's rarely if ever come with their own regen sanction, do not care whether or not they have shadows, and most take offense to the idea of using seigan. Third eye is a chore to use, and even those with some form of hate grabbing ability stare blankly as the BRD is getting pummeled running back to the party. As the RDM it can be extremely frustrating. Sometimes I think myself and the BRD are the only ones who aren't watching TV while we play. And lets not forget the odd MNK who "forgets" to come /NIN...

I was also curious when I asked about the setups, if those who wanted more support jobs in the party than other DD's were doing so strictly for the bennefit of the party, or because it was an epeen thing. "I want to see bigger numbers on myself" etc.

Thanks for the replies though, it has been interesting to read others' points of view.

P.S. Rocl you missed our BLU burn the other day