BCNM 40 Under Observation

[Silent Howler]

Since there are already strategy guides for this fight available at ffxiclopedia, I'll ask a more specific question. Is there any place in this fight for a White Mage or Puppetmaster? I ask this because I am interested in getting Peacock Charm from this fight, but White Mage and Puppetmaster are currently my only two jobs high enough to participate in this fight (White Mage is 39 atm but I would get that to 40 for Haste before going in).

A little info about my Puppetmaster. I have all three frames including the Soulsoother (whm) head, but do not have Spiritreaver yet. Stormwaker is capable of nuking, but may be less effective. Unfortunately the biggest problem I see with using Puppetmaster is the fact that you must have it engage with the enemy to have it cast spells, hence it will always be facing towards the mob and could be hit with paralyze. In all honesty, I'm not seeing a place for Puppetmaster in this fight. Which is why I've started working on White Mage a bit. I’m not as worried about White Mage since it generally works for most situations, although it’s not mentioned in any strategies.

Alternatively I could level up one of the jobs more commonly used for this fight. My Blue Mage is only level 25, but it is one job I will likely take beyond level 37, so I could level it up to 40 for this fight. My Black Mage is 20 and I have no plans for it outside sub job. I guess I'm not a real big Black Mage fan. Never have been. Ninja is the same as Black Mage, no plans beyond 37.

[Aksannyi]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

I've never heard anything about WHM or PUP in this fight, though I've seen BST go in and send their pet after one of the lesser eyes while he and the NIN took care of the other lesser, and RDM kites the big one. I'm not sure if PUP could do the same thing, or if your automaton is automatically going to fight the mob you are targeting. If your automaton can tank one while you and the NIN take care of the other, you could probably do it that way, along with a kiter. Or, if you can get 2 NINs and if you can kite with your automaton, that might work, too.

BLM manaburn is extremely easy, and RDM and NIN x2 is also very easy. Those are stratgies I know will work.

If you're willing to risk 40 seals to *try* it with PUP, I say go for it, and you might very well discover another method of doing it. If you do decide that you're going to risk it, I might suggest that instead of /random to decide who uses their orb first, you take the full burden of being first so that if it doesn't work, you eat the loss, since it is your idea. Most people will respect that.

Honestly, I think WHM would be useless here. WHM can't kite, and WHM can't deal damage. Cure bombing would give WHM hate, and the NINs aren't going to be able to DD the two lesser eyes with no one to kite the big one. Even if you could have one kiter, one healer, and one DDer, you'd run out of time before you even got to the big eye.

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

I've never heard anything about WHM or PUP in this fight, though I've seen BST go in and send their pet after one of the lesser eyes while he and the NIN took care of the other lesser, and RDM kites the big one. I'm not sure if PUP could do the same thing, or if your automaton is automatically going to fight the mob you are targeting. If your automaton can tank one while you and the NIN take care of the other, you could probably do it that way, along with a kiter. Or, if you can get 2 NINs and if you can kite with your automaton, that might work, too.

It may be possible for PUP to kite the Sobbing Eye if using Valoredge, but it would be less effective than BST. Valoredge is the toughest but still not that tough, I don't know if he would last long enough. And with a 20 minute timer on Activate I'm only going to get one shot. I do have some defensive attachments like shock absorber (Stoneskin) and replicator (Blink). Could use auto-repair kit and automaton oil +1 to help keep him alive. But I don't know how hard this mob would hit. It might work or it might be a total joke.

Honestly, I think WHM would be useless here. WHM can't kite, and WHM can't deal damage. Cure bombing would give WHM hate, and the NINs aren't going to be able to DD the two lesser eyes with no one to kite the big one. Even if you could have one kiter, one healer, and one DDer, you'd run out of time before you even got to the big eye.

Yeah I was thinking it may generate too much hate, but level 40 is also when WHM gets Divine Breastplate, so stray hits wouldn't hurt as hard. Although not something I would want to depend on. What if I went in as WHM/SMN and used carby to kite the Sobbing Eye?

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Just level Blue mage. You want to that anyway.

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Just level Blue mage. You want to that anyway.

True. <_< But I actually haven't touched my Blue Mage for quite a while. It would take a few weeks before I get it to level 40, while my other two jobs are already sitting at the appropriate level. If I can fit one of those two jobs into a strategy somehow I would like to do that. And like Aksannyi said, I may discover another method of doing the fight. I'm willing to try, although I'll admit my supply of beastmen's seals isn't too high (230) and the item I want doesn't have the greatest drop rate. I can see the benefit of leveling BLU, collecting more seals in the process, and fighting with a strategy more sure of succeeding, but I am a little eager and would love to get peacock charm for PUP.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

I'm willing to try, although I'll admit my supply of beastmen's seals isn't too high (230) and the item I want doesn't have the greatest drop rate. I can see the benefit of leveling BLU, collecting more seals in the process, and fighting with a strategy more sure of succeeding, but I am a little eager and would love to get peacock charm for PUP.

My static for that BCNM is at two Peacock Charm out of sixty-something orbs, I think. Don't count on getting a PCC anytime soon.

I think NIN is better than BLU for this fight, just because you can be further away, so only one DD would be be hit by Breakga at once. Then again, at least I can picture BLU DD'ing in this successfully, whereas I'm not sure how PUP can be used for a victory at all... I suppose if you can get the Automaton to spam Paralyna and cure you, you can just smack those critters toe-to-toe?

WHM can probably kite the big critter, though not exactly in a safe manner.

Any monster casting spells often enough can be kited. You may have to do something a bit nutty like going as WHM/BLM, pull with a Paralyze with gear swap macro to reduce animation freeze, then ES+Bind after a -ga spell--and keep running. (RDM would just Gravity to start.)

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

My static for that BCNM is at two Peacock Charm out of sixty-something orbs, I think. Don't count on getting a PCC anytime soon.

Yeah, I realize that. There's always a chance of getting lucky and having it drop on the first try. Something has to drop, but I might not get lucky. I'm not expecting it to drop so soon, but I'm not going to get anything if I don't try.

I think NIN is better than BLU for this fight, just because you can be further away, so only one DD would be be hit by Breakga at once. Then again, at least I can picture BLU DD'ing in this successfully, whereas I'm not sure how PUP can be used for a victory at all... I suppose if you can get the Automaton to spam Paralyna and cure you, you can just smack those critters toe-to-toe?

When I first looked at using PUP for this fight I was in the mindset of using one of the mage frames, but then Aksannyi suggested having the puppet kite the Sobbing Eye. I've heard stories about Valoredge having impressive tanking abilities, and with an appropriate attachment setup (see below) it might just work.

WHM can probably kite the big critter, though not exactly in a safe manner.

Any monster casting spells often enough can be kited. You may have to do something a bit nutty like going as WHM/BLM, pull with a Paralyze with gear swap macro to reduce animation freeze, then ES+Bind after a -ga spell--and keep running. (RDM would just Gravity to start.)

I honestly think I might be more confident about Valoredge kiting than WHM kiting. Unless Holy Breastplate's defense turns out to be quite impressive I might not be able to hold myself up, or would the strategy be to try and not let the Sobbing Eye get to you at all? I also mentioned the possibility of going WHM/SMN and trying to kite the Sobbing Eye with carby. Would that work?


As for what attachments to use if kiting with Valoredge, I found this setup to be the most effective.

Valoredge Setup

Reactive Shield
Accelerator II
Pattern Reader
Replicator
Armor Plate II
Shock Absorber
Equalizer
Mana Jammer II
Auto-repair Kit II
Damage Gauge
Optic Fiber
Smoke Screen

2/7 Fire
0/2 Ice
5/5 Wind
6/7 Earth
0/5 Thunder
3/3 Water
5/5 Light
2/2 Dark

Heavily geared towards defense with Reactive Shield being the only offensive attachment. I chose that one because, considering that he's the one kiting, blaze spikes would create a bigger sting than a +10% attack bonus. And it also doesn't give the mob TP. If it's too much trouble to put up a fire manuever once in a while to keep it activated then I'll pull it out for something else. And if you're wondering about Damage Gauge, normally Replicator activates when the automaton is <50% HP, but when Damage Gauge is equipped it rises to <75% HP. That's a big difference.

It seems if I were to enter this fight as either White Mage or Puppetmaster I would most likely be the one kiting. I'm concerned about WHM though since the job has been around since day one and I bet people have tried using it for this fight before. Since it's neglected in any strategies I'll assume there was a problem. But they do mention Summoner so I wonder if WHM/SMN would be an option.

[Aksannyi]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

The thing I worry about is the fact that once Carby dies, that thing will be flying down the lane at you. That's what makes RDM kiters so good, that Gravity saves us. By the time the big eye makes its way all the way to me, the Gravity timer is up again and I can get myself heading back up the lane after another cast (if it's worn). The big eye moves pretty damn fast when it's not under Gravity, and you'd have to watch for literally the exact second Carby dies ... or even just spam the casting macro anyway until it lets you cast so you can get every last second of time to get him out and keep running.

Also seems rather expensive, you're gonna need a good bit of MP to keep it up, won't want to let refresh from a yag drop for even a second, and you can't rest while Carby's out. WHM/SMN might be risky, remember it's a level 20 Carby against a level 40 mob, so he probably won't last too long.

I know very little about PUP to know if your setup is any good, but like I said, it might be worth a shot if you can find two people willing to try it with you.

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Hmm you're probably right. Even with the level 20 solo avatar fights for Summoner carby wouldn't last long. He would be just as tough for this fight and against a stronger enemy. Unless there's plenty of space to run around I might have a problem.

I know very little about PUP to know if your setup is any good, but like I said, it might be worth a shot if you can find two people willing to try it with you.

Another reason why PUP kiting ability for this fight is a mystery. People don't know much about PUP and it's not the most common job played either. I doubt many people have taken the job into this fight and those that have didn't leave many records behind. And attachments play a big role. Valoredge without any of those attachments I listed above would be nothing more than a tin can. I don't have all the attachments I listed and don't feel too confident kiting without some of them. I'd have to do a little saving first. If it does work though then I can let my puppet fight while I assist the other two DDs. He won't automatically start fighting the same mob I'm fighting.

[Aksannyi]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Well, like I said, if you can find people who are willing, do try, and write a strategy on the wiki so others know.

[Mog]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

I've always done it the 2 blm, 1 rdm strategy: Aga the little ones, rest, finish off the big one.

Also done it as rdm, with 2 other blue mages, but that was really, really sloppy.

Truthfully? I wouldn't try it with the current jobs you have. Sure you can pull it off, but why waste the seals if you haven't had the experience? It would be a lot easier on you if you leveled BCNM specific job (like blm, rdm, etc..) and you wouldn't have to jeopardize your seals.

But what do I know? Try to prove me wrong, and if you do, tell me what your strategy was going in. Wonders will never cease.

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Hello! Just wanted to drop in again to ask another question. I still currently have plans to test Puppetmaster's effectiveness for this fight, but I'm waiting on linkshell members or friends to level Ninja or Blue Mage to the appropriate level because I doubt a random shout for help would get me anywhere as Puppetmaster for this fight without me saying "thrust me I've done this before" which I haven't yet.

Anyway, I've started pondering another option which might work better or fail even more miserably than Puppetmaster, and that's Corsair. Would repeated Light Shots against the Sobbing Eye be able to keep it slept until the other two hecteyes are taken care of or would resist rates be too high?

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Found something interesting on killingifrit, one of the comments posted for the Under Observation BCNM 40 section.

this one was very easy for me, 2 nin/whm 1 whm/blm.the 2 nin took killed the compound eyes while i as the whm with stoneskin up at all times kited the sobbing eye. once they finished the compounds they joined me in nuking the sobing eye. just got to stay far enough apart that the petrify AOE doesn't get you as the whm so you can run in and stona the nin's and nuke nuke nuke. didn't get much for drops besides erase but, manage to do it flawlessly all 3 times.

So maybe White Mage could be an option for me.

[Deeke]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

I direct you to someone with first-hand experience of successfully PUPping UO.

FFXIclopedia :: Final Fantasy XI - FFXI :: View topic - Quick bcnm question

Send the chap a PM^^

[Silent Howler]

Re: BCNM 40 Under Observation

Thank you! I was actually reading more on killingifrit and found a post by someone else that successful used Puppetmaster for this fight as well. Looks like I have an option for this fight now.

Btw, still curious about Corsair though.