What's Better?

[Onorgul]

Has this been checked for H2H? Suppose the following (let me know if any of these are invalid from experience):

1) Double attack can occur on either or both hands. (Counter example: lack of observed 4-attack rounds.)

2) Given 15% DA rate, then the observed rate of no double attacks is 72.25% (.85*.85).

3) With 5 kick attack merits, the KA rate is 17.5%. We want to know if the "effective" KA rate is different from the nominal rate in the presence of DA

We are interested in the idea that if a double attack occurs on any hand, a kick attack can't occur, and if a double attack does not occur on either hand, a kick attack can occur. (Counter example: evidence of a 5-attack round.) Shorthand: "DA > KA"


Now, only one hypothesis is true. Either DA and KA are exclusive (directionally) or something else, so you don't need to obtain two samples. I already stated the proposed direction, so the expected kick rate in the presence of 15% DA will be 12.64375% (.7225*.175), a bit lower than 17.5%. If you have the patience to count kick attacks, you want to see if your observed rate is significantly lower than 17.5%.

For a one-sided test of one proportion (null proportion .175), if "DA > KA" is true, then to achieve ~90% power to reject the null, you need n = 469 attack rounds. If you actually reject, then "DA > KA" has some traction. If you fail to reject, then you would have to explain it.

Yes, it's tedious to have to examine kicks manually, so alternatively just consider this problem in terms of "composite" multi-hit rate (effective double attack rate ignoring the distinction between kicks and punches). Then the null proportion would be .4525 (.2775 + .175) and the alternative would be .4039375 (.2775+.7225*.175, still "DA > KA"). The necessary sample size is then n = 889 (for ~90% power).

I haven't examined whether KA occurs when DA occurs so I write this from a position of ignorance, but if everything above holds you hardly need the results of 10,000+ attack rounds to tell the difference.

Admittedly, I'm only skimming this, but I've had 5-hit attack rounds on Monk for years (main hand, double, off hand, double, kick). I think the number they're looking for is whether Double Attack and Kick Attacks are mutually exclusive during Footwork, not normal melee.

[Motenten]

What Onorgul said. DA and KA are completely independent during normal H2H.

And I made a mistake. Don't need 2 full sets of 50k samples, just need 1. So a mere 120 hours instead.

[CDF]

For Footwork, DA, KA, and OAT, adding all the rates together (which would be mutual exclusiveness) gives a result that is rather different from the rate obtained by 1 - (1 - DA)(1 - KA)(1 - OAT) (indicating some kind of dependence that isn't mutual exclusiveness), so a sufficient sample larger than 81 (like 160) will allow one to rule out addition of all three with high probability if 1 - (1 - DA)(1 - KA)(1 - OAT) holds, and it probably does. It was reaching a conclusion from n = 81 and the actual sample that didn't make sense.

I mentioned H2H in case the KA/DA relationship was ambiguous and people were extrapolating from that to Footwork, but a 5-attack round clears that up. As for KA, DA and Footwork, I agree it is very impractical to check that especially without /WAR.

Examining OAT and KA alone wouldn't have been that bad though. What was the point of muddying the situation by throwing in Brutal? Oh well.

[Motenten]

True, if you wish to confirm merely the separation of KA and OAT it's much easier. Need about 1250 sample rounds, then, to get under a 2.9% margin of error, which would allow distinguishing between the two stacking modes. That could be done in about 2 1/2 hours.

The DA/KA separation testing was considered because that's doable by pretty much anyone. The KA/OAT separation is far more difficult because only a handful of people have the weapons right now.

[BroodIfrit]

What are your haste options in other slots?

I can hit the 26% Haste cap (Rune Chopper, Dusk Gloves +1, Velocious Belt, Byakko's Haidate, Aurum Sabaotons), so the only thing I'm torn over are body and head slots. A few friends told me to use Ares' Mask with Askar Korazin when Aggressor is down, and Nocturnus Helm with Zahak's Mail when Aggressor is up, but I figured I'd post here and see what everyone else thinks.

[CDF]

Few expected Wargfangs to work with Footwork given OAT procs only on one hand, so if I were interested in it, I would adopt a posture of anything is possible. I would never count on players collectively to provide anything. Only a few people can and will furnish the desired results.

With 17.5% KA and 40% OAT, it's pretty much either .575 (.175 + .40) vs. .505 (.60*.175 + .40 or .825*.40 + .175). .575 is the result of a very specific outcome (.505 could be the result of several possibilities that reduce to .505 because of a 2-kick cap per round), so it is easy to treat .575 as the "null" and .505 as representing a more likely situation. It is also convenient to think of this as a one-sided test because no one expects anything above .575, so if .505 represents the actual situation, you need around n = 430 attack rounds to rule out .575 with high probability (~90% statistical power). With a KA rate of 14.5%, n = 430 still achieves decent power (~78%).

[Clash Perez]

Well, while I personally didn't make my hat that way, it's still a valid choice because there are still other uses for it beyond CB. You're not *just* getting +4 STR +2% critical damage for CB; you're still getting the WS acc +15 and +4 DEX.

It's something that I've had for a while, and use extensively on BLU and THF. Just an added bonus for Cannonball.

[Lone]

Nocturnus Mail or Iron Ram Body for MDB builds?

[Devinry]

Nocturnus Mail or Iron Ram Body for MDB builds?

I would shoot for -25% MDT in all the non-body slots and then wear the mail on the off chance you absorb.

[Benz]

what should i do for rdm group 2 merits? leaning towards 5 slow, 2 para, 3 phalanx.
i salvage every day so i'd be loathe to give up phalanx merits, is para 2 capped much better than if it had 2 merits? i do fight HNMs every day too >< so i'm lookin for a hybrid grouping i guess.

related question, how much mind should i be using on slow 2 and para 2? thanks.

[Thorny]

5 slow 2 dia 3 phalanx

k, good

[ZhiGaruda]

what should i do for rdm group 2 merits? leaning towards 5 slow, 2 para, 3 phalanx.
i salvage every day so i'd be loathe to give up phalanx merits, is para 2 capped much better than if it had 2 merits? i do fight HNMs every day too >< so i'm lookin for a hybrid grouping i guess.

related question, how much mind should i be using on slow 2 and para 2? thanks.

Seeing as you didn't mention soloing on RDM, I can only assume you don't consider it a major role in your daily routine, so go with what Thorny suggested.

As for Slow/Para - create 3 sets. One for absolute resist (+Enfeebling -> +MACC -> +MND, in order of priority), one for potency/resist (Little of each. No exact order, mix and match), and one for full potency (+MND -> +Enfeebling -> +MACC).

General idea would be to immediately stick a slow on the mob, priority on it landing, even if not very potent. Then re-casting in hybrid/potency gear until you get it to land in the most MND possible.

[Darkmagi]

Another rdm group 2 merit question: Phalanx 2 merits vs Bio 3 merits for a rdm who would be soloing frequently and doing mostly lowman activities. Probably won't be doing salvage on rdm.

[Arkanna]

For Taru RNG.

RSE2 feet (+4 STR) vs Scout's Socks (+10 R.Attack) for both TP and WS? Or perhaps something else beats them both? Light maths would help a lot, thank you!

[Xajii]

Another rdm group 2 merit question: Phalanx 2 merits vs Bio 3 merits for a rdm who would be soloing frequently and doing mostly lowman activities. Probably won't be doing salvage on rdm.

Bio 3.


DRK question:
Sorry if this has been beaten to death.

For scythe, if no access to Perdu currently:

Moliones' vs. Tredecim vs. HQ Death vs. NQ Orichalum vs. other?

Magian seems like a pain in the ass, but even then I couldn't decide between OAT and Ultimatum...

Also which grips to go with, I am seven levels from completing SAM sub and have Brutal and Rajas, plan to try to get Aesir ear pendant soon too. No access to rose strap.

[Salodin]

Sam/Drg

Which earring should I use, Brutal or Bushi. Thanks.

[Darkmagi]

... 5atk 4.9 acc 2str vs 5% DA 1STP(Possibly useless). Unless you are using soboro it's pretty obvious which is better.
ps: Brutal.

[Mercilessturtle]

Moliones' vs. Tredecim vs. HQ Death vs. NQ Orichalum vs. other?

I'd stick with Moli until you get a magian scythe done (OAT).

Also which grips to go with, I am seven levels from completing SAM sub and have Brutal and Rajas, plan to try to get Aesir ear pendant soon too. No access to rose strap.

Pole. Moli is a natural 7 hit /nin with brutal and rajas. When /sam you have a fake 6 hit, you need to land 2 of the 3 additional hits on guillotine. If you only land 1 additional hit you can swap in chiv and ecphoria to make up the missing TP. If you are acc capped without hauby then you can swap in an STP body and switch pole grip for sword strap.

[Dooom]

Another rdm group 2 merit question: Phalanx 2 merits vs Bio 3 merits for a rdm who would be soloing frequently and doing mostly lowman activities. Probably won't be doing salvage on rdm.

What kind of lowman? If you're talking kite-nuke style lowman, then bio3 absolutely; but if you're teaming up with a melee to duo something, phalanx2 may be more worthwhile. Or even dia3.

[Darkmagi]

Probably a bit of both. I plan on getting at least 1 point in dia3 either way. Is 3/5 - 5/5 slow2 a big difference or would it be ok to drop 2 slow2 for 2 dia3?