Magic Fencer Report

Ever since I learned way back in early 2006 that Blue Mage would have A- sword skill and access to its EX weapon skills natively, I have resented that “slap in the face” to Red Mages who like to melee. I resented it so much to the point that if a BLU were seeking party, if another option were there, I would shun the BLU. This way of thinking is probably due to the fact that BLU is an extremely popular job, and as such, tends to have less-than-skilled people playing it.

Is this a bad way of thinking? Probably. I’ve partied with BLUs, done events with BLUs, and came to the conclusion that Head Butt is the most broken spell in the game, Diamondhide is nice, but at the same time, I wouldn’t go out of my way to get one in my merit party. But a great BLU is a large asset to events such as Dynamis and Limbus, mostly due to Head Butt.

So in a huge moment of boredom, I started leveling it past the 10 it sat at for a long while. While the hardcore “flag up when not doing events” leveling of another job to 75 is presently on hold, I figure just goofing around leveling BLU in my spare time might be a useful investment.

Thus far, I’ve actually had some fun with it. I was milling around La Theine doing FoV last night when I chanced upon the FallenEgg, which I clicked and was promptly ambushed by the NM, Nihniknoovi. I was BLU15/DNC7 and had a few meds from caskets, in addition to Regen and Refresh from FoV, so I basically did Sprout Smack then alternated Head Butt and Pollen, eventually felling it and getting a Van Pendant for my troubles. I was quite surprised that I was able to solo it at such a low level.

Needless to say, while learning spells can be a bit of a pain, I’ve got some LS mates that say they’ll help if I need it, so it shouldn’t be too bad.

I’m starting to think that BLU is more of a “magic fencer” than RDM is. BLUs are actually allowed to be engaged to mobs in parties, their main source of attack comes from spells, and they have better proficiency in swords than RDMs do. That thought unnerves me slightly, but with some of the gear I have and my eventual merit layout, I should be rather effective as BLU.

If anything, by the time I am able to equip it, I should have the rank for a Perdu Hanger, Ifrit is a joke, and I may be able to score a Hofud easily. I can always solo Cheese Horder for another Beast Slayer (tossed the one I had…), and I’ll take the next Wightslayer I see drop in Nyzul.

So far, now that I’m over the hell of getting spells, I think I should have a ball with BLU. Soloing it through Fields of Valor and duoing or trioing with friends will be excellent.

Now if Cargo Crab Colin will just drop a Nadrs for me, lol.

Hmm, I forgot to update this regularly, orz.

Since the last post, I’ve made some progress!
DRK is now 75 and needs merits, I acquired Homam Manopolas from a recent Omega, and yesterday the LS did a La Vaule SCNM, which dropped Gnadbhod’s Helm, which I won the lot for. Universal WS head, gooooo.

I also got to use my DRK to zerg both Bahamut V2 and DL, heheh. Luckily, one of my friends is made of money and has a mercurial kris, and some of my LS mates have a KC that I got to borrow yesterday morning for Bahamut. … I think I need to research soloing Up In Arms and do that more. ._.

Sadly at this point, I still need a few more pieces of equipment (aside from my own multi-hit) to get my DRK to the point I want it for zerging (as well as finish its merits). The presently missing are as follows:

1. Homam Cosciales
2. Homam Gambieras
3. Cassie Earring
4. Bloodbead Ring
5. Gigant Mantle
6. Januwiyah +1 (though the NQ is probably fine)
7. Wyvern Earring (and DRG to 37)
8. Velocious Belt (yeah right, lol)

Bahamut’s Zaghnal would be nice, but I’d rather get the Mask from BV2 for my PLD and pass the Zaghnal to the DRK main in the LS, plus I’m not a Galka to take advantage of ridiculously high HP. Although when I finish meriting HP and have the rest of that gear, I should be able to push my HP rather high. In my present gear I have around 1600 for zerging, after using Carbonara.

I also started doing Nyzul Isle again with some LS mates on Sunday evenings after Dynamis. Luckily, we all have runic keys, so we are just farming boss floors for gear. So far I’ve gotten Askar Gambieras, but floor 80 refuses to drop the Goliard Saio for me. One of these days my BRD haste build will be perfected, in addition to further increasing RDM’s.

The last 3 Dynamis-Xarcabards have seen Duke Berith drop Duelist’s Chapeaus, none of which have been for me. But the line ahead of me is now complete, and assuming I can make the runs, the next hat should drop to me. I say should because Fate is a cruel mistress and something will probably go wrong, lol. But hey, I’m hoping the system works to my advantage soon. That will take care of old saga #2.

Additionally, my PLD now has 321 shield skill in full skill gear, as I broke down and bought the last coins I needed for Boxer’s Mantle. Makes a difference when /war, though I think the Valhalla gear would do better for taking hits to the face directly. One day maybe, heh.

Speaking of Odin drops… He continues to drop aquarian bodies, so one day I may get mine, and I don’t have to fuss over not having n.head since I got Gnadbhod’s Helm. 2nd item hadean body, go?

I spent some time last week getting all my macros in order, and I did a good job of it. BRD was by far the most complex as some songs I want pure haste/fast cast, others pure skill, others pure CHR, and others a mix of the three. I also started work on a Stoneskin macro for it, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make a 350 without sacrificing too many inventory slots. It works fine for now, so I’m not too worried about it. I also twinked out my WS builds for PLD and DRK both, even going so far as to make ones for Spinning Slash/Ground Strike, Black Halo and Retribution/Full Swing for PLD. Yeah, I was incredibly bored one day.

On the non-FFXI front, I got back into playing Dissidia between events, and unlocked Shantotto and Gabranth. Still a very fun game.

Oh well, back to work…