Solo EXP/hr

[Kuro]

Ok, here’s my problem my exp rate per hour onBSTt sucks.

I will get about 2000exp an hour, this sometimes is with the empress band on!

As you can guess this is extremely aggravating leading me to have quite bad mood swings, which is sort of annoying my friends though they don’t say anything.

Up until 37 I was piggy backing with friends/soloing. But the last load of levels were from party experience. So I lost a big chunk of experience from pre to post leave skill.

Currently I'm lv 42 and my low exp started in Sea serpent grotto 38-40 and I would charm leeches to kill Ghasts, I'd clear the place out yet my exp would still be 2k. I couldn't solo at all at 40 really, but managed to get a lucky pt invite and made it to 41. I then started in CN killing crawlers and saplings, but again I seem to be hitting this 2k/hr ceiling!

Am I doing something wrong? I charm my pet, set it against my prey, wait a few hits then join in. If my pet is about to die I leave it, grab another close DC/EM then finish off my prey and repeat. I leave all my pets where I found them to keep open my pet pool and not have to wait for re-spawns.

I know soloing EXP can be quite low, but this is soul destroying. 1 death and I can loose a lot of time and efforts worth of EXP. I only die when my pet betrays me and something goes very wrong, but it happens and I know its part of the job. It wouldn’t be an issue if my exp was better.

It doesn’t seem to matter if I fight weaker or stronger prey. I seem to get 2k ish by fighting for 150 as I do for 200 exp per kill.

I guess what I’m trying to ask is what was your exp/hr at the low 40’s and if I’m doing things right.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

First off, if you're not buying reraise items, I'd highly suggest doing so, this saves a lot of backtracking and EXP loss. My average was usually about 3k an hour on BST. in the 40s, I preferred to target Goblins. BSTs learn to love things that kill themselves. Late in the 40s, I EXPed of Goblin's leeches in Kuftal

Next, what are you subbing? Depending on the zone, you may want to reconsider subjob options in the interest of survival. At 39-42 I did Riverne Site #A01 I did /NIN and I've never really looked back at any other sub since getting 66 with /WHM - gives me reraise, which really does matter to me.

Also, what gear are you using here. While a CHR build is nifty for charming, it doesn't make with the faster killing. Start to consider a melee build. The WotG Iron Ram Gear at 45 is a fantastic set I've been using for 50 caps of late, its definately going to last you to AF and Hauby and better stuff. I'm still using the hands and legs purely for the boost to accuracy (yeah, don't need whole set to get effect).

45 is also gonna get you Snarl, which can be a real lifesaver in emergencies. Keep Jug pets and Pet Food Zeta biscuts, its costly but it really does help you out in the long run.

[Malacite]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

yeah, don't need whole set to get effect)

Proof?

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

Proof?

You need to have at least two pieces of the set equipped to get partial effects of the WotG gear. I can strip down to my skivvies and put one piece on and nothing really changes, but I gained a point of attack (and likely accuracy) for each piece I put on.

So full set of Iron Ram gives +4 Attack and +1 Attack for two pieces worn, +2 for three and +3 for four.

Equip and De-equip to see for yourself.

Cobra Unit and Fourth Division sets work a similar way.

[Kuro]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

Well I've been useing /DNC for the cure and debuff powers, works quite well, it works a lot better than NIN would because i only die when god/sage sundi intervines and decides to make my pet uncharm and everything near by agro me.

I currently have a CHR build, a OMFG I have to land this charm build and a melee build so i dont think the problems there.

/sigh its just anoying to have such low exp which is usually way below 2k/hr on the only job i want to lv, when i can prety much out DD any pt emmbers when i somehow get my once a month invite.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

Ok, here’s my problem my exp rate per hour onBSTt sucks.

I will get about 2000exp an hour, this sometimes is with the empress band on!

When I soloed BST, 2k exp per hour was probably the low end without empress band. You might think that's slow exp, but keep in mind the time you save not having to LFG. If you're having trouble breaking the 2k exp/hour barrier, I'd suggest trying a different camp. Whenever I struggled as with solo BST exp, a change in camp would usually solve the problem.

Currently I'm lv 42 and my low exp started in Sea serpent grotto 38-40 and I would charm leeches to kill Ghasts, I'd clear the place out yet my exp would still be 2k. I couldn't solo at all at 40 really, but managed to get a lucky pt invite and made it to 41. I then started in CN killing crawlers and saplings, but again I seem to be hitting this 2k/hr ceiling!

For level 42, I highly suggest Yuhtunga Jungle. Camp near the Yhoator zone line in the very SE corner of the map. Use Crawler pets against Goblin Poachers. Exp/hour will spike when you get lucky with botched bomb tosses. Just don't melee with your pet, and instead go for pet swap marathons. I did that camp until 44, when I moved to a similar camp in Yhoator. It was very good exp.

[Kuro]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

I tried that in the western camp, and i had to log 5 times killed 1 gob and died at the end while trying to log then warp fro freedom.

Tried that far SE camp at like 40 (yes stupid guide suggested 40) and there were only like 2 gobbies and nothing for me to charm, but i guess i cna go have another look.

This has allmsot driven me to quit BST/FFXI (seeing as bst is the only thing im interested in anymore)

And as to "no lfg time" I'd much rather do somehting else while lfg then get good exp/hr instead of have to play 4x as much to get less exp =.= but alas, people are retards who ignore BST as a DD.

[little ninja]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

When you play Bst there are so many factors you have to take into account. If your playing Bst/nin in an area where the mobs you fight use AoE poison, bomb toss ect. Then subbing /nin is the worst idea. Also same could be said for subbing /whm in areas where mobs dont use any major AoE moves, or status effect moves.

The next issue is always the areas. Some people have great success in some areas that others don't. You should always seek out the area that best suits you. There was plenty of times that the guides said go to X at Y time. But when I got there exp was hard to come by. What I did was simply go back to the previous area and worked the area a little bit harder.

I tell my Bst friends exping on Bst is an art form. Sure you can play it safe and send in 2-3 pets to kill a mob. Or you can send in 1 mob and battle with it bouncing hate back and forth. Turning around to avoid to much hate. Sending 1 pet in to do a certain amount of damage then pet swapping and meleeing with your second pet the rest of the way.

Death is part of the game as Bst. You should always have RR on. Also you can always find zones to level in that have zone lines some place close. Also when you exp as Bst you need to know that there will always be really fast exp levels and really slow exp levels. Really high exp per hour and really low exp per hour. 2K seems a little low to you. But there are times when 2K was a normal session for me.

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

2000/hour is really not bad in my opinion. Just reading the fact you're killing Ghasts, undead are so amazingly horrible to kill I avoid them like plague.

"little ninja" is right. EXP rolls in fast and slow at times.

You just need a good soloing mindset/mentality and some good information on camps. If I may shed some information for you, all 4 times (BST itself, PLD/BST, NIN/BST, RDM/BST) I have soloed now at Level 42, go to Crawler's Nest and camp at the Nest Beetles camp. Use saplings at pet.

Stick with it until 45, then move to Gustav, fight Goblins/Lizards/Bats/Pugils with whatever you can find (preferably leeches and flies). At 48~ move towards the Bune area and at 50 go downstairs and pull the Goblin's Leech until 53. Go back to Crawler's Nest at 53 until 55, camping at where the "circular" path is (the basement with the secret room). At 55, move to Garlaige basement, do Bats vs Beetles/Bats vs Bombs until 59.

59-61 is slow, I used Torarmai (can't spell it) Canal, but as BST main yourself Ulegrand Range or keep fighting Bombs in Garlaige would be better (I couldn't "leave" my pets so ...)

61-63 The Boyhada Tree, Spiders vs Mushrooms, vice versa. You may be able to get away with it at 62 and go to the Mire (convert saplings to EM, as I said I couldn't do that myself due to no leave).

(This is where EXP really accelerates)

63-67 at the mire, killing birds 63-65/66 and then imps/occasional EM bird at 66-67. Moving on to Wajoam Woodlands is Spiders vs Puks at 67-69, although as BST main you should probably leave at 68 and go to the Red Kisser camp, convert all leeches to EM and fight there. Stay until 72 (this is what I call the "drama" camp, you'll meet all sorts of retards here).

And because campaign is available, do the occasional campaign at 61+.

At 72, I go to Sky and stay there until 75.

I can give more information if you require, just ask. I am near finishing soloing my 5th job to Lv75 (NIN, currently at 71) using the routes above and I will then start on THF or DRK next using exactly the same route.

Oh, since you're using DNC as a subjob, I view (from my soloing experience/perspective) that it is very very powerful. I am actually betting I can do DNC/BST in an extremely short period of time.

Playing as BST or subjob BST isn't very difficult/hard, but you really do need to die a lot of times to pick up the "experience". Trying to avoid death more and more I think (and I'm sure most BSTs would agree) the game will just try harder and harder to kill you. You kinda need to know when to run, when to attack, when to pull hate when needed, or shed hate, movement style around mobs (aggro wise).

The "experience" doesn't automatically come in when you change your job to BST, you actually have to somewhat earn it. And the best way to improve is really by dying (but not ridiculous deaths). Everytime I die I learn to not do that again or learn to approach it in a different way. This is how BCNM/KSNM/Boss/whatever else NM strategies that are out there are formed today. People die and then gradually shape the mould (strategy) up via redoing the same thing. This is how people progress afterall. Don't let a few deaths put you off. It's just part of it. No one is perfect first time.

And also because the game is just so random (i.e. Charm) in some battles you'll never win really it seems. Too many random factors of the game to take into account.

Sometimes I think the game can feel our "fear" during a battle. (and uses that to its advantage. I.e. more horrible spells, more horrible TP moves, random aggro, GM possessed mob, etc)

NOTE: one more thing, have RR on, always. But I'm cheap so I don't, so I homepoint a lot of the time (not as much as you would think though, especially when subbing BST instead of BST main, I'm an escape artist). I find that whenever I have RR on, I'll never die. But the moment it wears off it's like the wings off an aeroplane lost. I die very fast shortly it wears. I guess that extra security of RR makes one more braver . . .

[little ninja]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

Nice guide KiKi my friend is looking for a spot for his Drk/Bst. Ill have to tell him about it. HE is 3k from 61 and having a tough time finding a place to go.

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

No probem. I cannot speak completely as a DRK, as I have not started (fully) yet, but from experience, if he is 60, go to:



Via the backdoor if possible (so you end up straight on that map) (quested). The camp is at F-10, that big room there.

Use Pugils vs Crabs. Pugils are 57-59. I'm quite confident that combined with a Parade Gorget, a DRK can freely Drain/Aspir the crabs. Enfeeble the crab and hell, nuke as well I guess. Absorb VIT might come in handy (I've not noticed it doing so but ...) to weaken the crabs a little.

Not sure if hate is a problem, I can probably imagine it is, but you might want to tell your friend to use a weaker scythe (yes every job I've soloed to 75 subbing BST I've severely fallen behind on weapons due to the over damage as a none-BST job). I know Guillotine is a strong WS, he shouldn't have problems finishing mobs off even at 15%. Again, just a guess of course.

He might want to looking into the item "Aiming Bracelets" (which I have brought in preparation to continue DRK from 37) which comes off Campricious Cassie (can't spell the HNM's name). It has Accuracy +6 and -18 Attack, which offsets the natural job traits of a DRK. It may help to control hate.

Just a thought anyway. If he's comfortable with what he is doing now then by all means disregard this information. But that is how I plan to approach it.

Or go to Garlaige and finish it off there.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

I tried that in the western camp, and i had to log 5 times killed 1 gob and died at the end while trying to log then warp fro freedom.

Tried that far SE camp at like 40 (yes stupid guide suggested 40) and there were only like 2 gobbies and nothing for me to charm, but i guess i cna go have another look.

I'm not familiar with the western camp, so I can't speak to its viability.

As far as the SE camp, I suppose it could be done starting at lvl 40. Target pets are Soldier Crawlers (lvl 37-41) with Death Jackets (33-37) for emergencies. I started that camp at lvl 42, so I was able to use any Crawler as a pet.

At I-12, there is a tunnel heading into Yhoator. Just outside that tunnel is a Goblin Poacher (42-47), 2 Soldier Crawlers and 1 Death Jacket. Head west/north to H-11, and you'll find 3 spots which also have 1 Goblin Poacher + 2 Soldier Crawlers.

That means that altogether you will have 4 target Goblin Poacher mobs, 8 Crawler pets to work with, plus some Death Jackets. The only curveball if a Lava Bomb (47-49) which occasionally pops.

If were you at the correct camp, and you only found 2 Gobs and no charmable mobs, then that probably means some higher level players came through a few minutes before you and killed all of the mobs out of boredom. I've seen that happen with someone who needed to check the Blue Rafflesia nearby for a quest.

[Kuro]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

Well i finished off 44 yesterday, now after update sitting in CN killing beetles with my NPC out getting pathetic exp from "toughs" like 120, damn NPC, swear he never gimped exp before ¬,¬

Its a good camp, I wont deny that, I killed 2 when i was 43 heading out to the jungle but there was a pt and i did not wish to give bst a bad name. However its allmost midnight and I have 9 am lectures tomorrow, not quite sure what to do if i should cary on while the camps clear and make for 45 with very litle sleep or pray its free tomorrow...

[LadyKiKi]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

It ... should be free, but I guess it's completely random. All the time I've been there it was free, I guess I was lucky? Quite unsure.

Why is your NPC out? It shouldn't be required, saplings are quite powerful pets on their own and beetles aren't exactly very offensive.

I don't know, I'm getting the impression you seem to be forcing yourself to play? In my opinion everytime you logon to the game you should have a set objective and after you've accomplished it, stop what you're doing and either do something else or log off to relax. I tend to make my objectives very small, which is getting 2000 EXP (3000 with EXP band, but fighting mobs for 2000's worth to make it 3000)

I'm not one to lecture people on what to do with their time but because you're wanting to level to 45 with a 9am start tommorow does not sound very healthy to me. You might end up killing yourself more (in game) which will only do you no good. I find that if I don't have an objective and the more I push it I will die very quickly and become worst off. But it's your call, I can only do so much to advise.

Still ...

If you can't fight beetles, fight the crawlers on the other end for Decent Challenge EXP at least, if you want to stay. There is not a requirement to chain in this game, although the benefits are there, but sometimes you'll have to grind it out on DCs when there's nothing else available. Forcing yourself to try and chain will result in much more horrible results. Improvise and adapt.

The EXP required to get to 45 is 7200. If you consider this, doing 3600 a night and then log off/do something else/relax and then carry on the night after you would hit 45 in one "more" day but with very much less stress involved. Do use the EXP band for both EXP runs and you'll find progress can be made a lot more easier than just trying to straight out grind.

Just take it easy and relax. I assure you once you hit 75 you'll regret getting there so fast (in a way EXP sucks at 75 due to lack of camps or the requirement to duo).

Lastly, you may want to consider duoing with another BST which will speed things up tremendously, if you can find a BST. It's a bit more fun and safe with another BST too as you learn to back each other up.

Let us know how you get on. Take it easy.

[Kuro]

Re: Solo EXP/hr

Well went to talk to my friends so i had to call it quits.

This camp has probably been the best solo EXP i've had on bst, its a bit hit and miss. With just a cave berry i can kill a beetle but I leave 2-3 berries right by the beetle room for emergancies. I had my NPC out to lv him and to get that little bit of extra DMG out for faster kills, but it does seem to be hacking away at exp (Could swear it never did that before)

Lucky for me im not after BST realy for 75 endgame stuff, I have COR for super fast merit invites and SAM for campaign and merit (though i want BST for campaign too) but i never merit, I never get to go off and do some fun stuff as it usually requires an army to fight.

Well I managed to get 45, last 1k was with a party camping on top of me, God i hate them. Only death in that camp was because they killed all my prey and i had to wait for one to pop, my pet turned and all hellw as let loose.